Is 2025 the year I finally lose the last ten pounds?
Just a month ago as I was formulating goals for the new year, I specifically said I was not going to focus on weight and prioritize cleaning up my diet. However, I would like to lose the “last”10 lbs that have eluded me for the last decade. Five of these pounds are the pounds that I gained since my lowest recent weight post-Covid. I just weighed in this morning at 135.5 pounds this and would like to be at my goal weight of 125 pounds in 8 months.
For some context, I’ve hovered at my current weight for a good chunk of my 20s. It’s the weight I seem to revert to when I’m eating “normally” and incorporating some exercise. 136 pounds seems to be my “set weight.” During Covid I gained a lot of weight, with a highest weight around 155 pounds right around the time I got laid off in 2022. During my mini retirement, I lost 25 pounds and since 2023 have gained back about 5 pounds.
Like most women and perhaps people, I have a complicated relationship with my body and body image. I’ve struggled with my weight for most of my life. It’s been a major source of stress and insecurity and it feels like I’ve been trying to lose weight since forever. I struggled with bulimia in college. I hit a low weight of 115 pounds during the summer of my sophomore year but I was exercising 2+ hours a day, eating very little, and purging a lot. Because of my eating disorder history, I have erred on the side of being more lenient with myself as a way to safeguard against falling into unhealthy, disordered patterns again.
As a more confident and self-appreciating woman in my early 30s, I’m in an interesting place in terms of my body mentality. While I don’t hate my body like I used to and frankly give it less time and thought than I did when I was younger, I still want to lose weight and be in better shape. I also don’t want to spend another decade waiting to fit into the clothes that I fit into when I was twenty one. I am ten years older and changes in our body are natural. That said, I know that things will only get more challenging from a physical and metabolic perspective as you get older and I want to set myself up for success for my 40s and beyond, which means taking care of myself in my 30s.
Maintaining my weight for the most part in the last year has been a good thing, especially after coming off a major weight loss year. I also know I can do better. I have cleaned up my diet quite a bit in the last six months and feel better and know there’s still room to improve here. I am in a healthy mindset where I can introduce weight-related goals without having it turn into an eating disorder, which in and of itself is awesome! So let’s see how things go this year. Getting back to 130 pounds would be great and 125 would be amazing! I haven’t been that weight since I was 23.
Regardless of my weight goals, focusing on healthy eating, movement, and lifestyle routines are critical. I am focusing on eating more vegetables and fiber, properly supplementing, increasing whole foods and reducing ultra-processed foods. I am also prioritizing incorporating more frequent movement throughout the day and continuing a workout mix of strength, cardio, and yoga. Lastly, I am prioritizing stress reduction and management (meditation and getting off the emotional rollercoaster when I feel myself going for an unpleasant ride) and good sleep (which currently includes mouth taping).
Wishing everyone who is on a health journey good luck and encouragement — let’s make 2025 the year we worked hard to improve our health and fitness!