What 11 Pounds Means to Me #RealYouYMCA

I am participating in The Real You Weight Loss program courtesy of the Parker Hannifin YMCA to facilitate this conversation. All opinions are my own.

It's been one month and 27 days since starting the Real You Weight Loss Program at the YMCA.

And, I finally hit my first ten-pound goal!

I've lost eleven pounds total and almost two inches everywhere - waist, arms; even calves!

I did not think that the Real You program would have such an impact on how I view exercise and diet. But, it did. This experience has been amazing.

The only way I've lost weight in the past was to drop high carb foods from my diet. No pasta, no bread, no fruit, no sugar. I hated it. Sure, complex carbs were okay, but the fact was - I set myself up to fail. As soon as I ate bread or ice cream, it was over.

I also liked low carb diets because I didn't have to count calories. I just ate. I lost the pleasure that came with eating something that tasted good.

Real You has taught me that counting calories and 'clean eating' allow for a more realistic relationship with food. I find pleasure in eating good, healthy food again. I'm not just eating to eat or when I'm bored. I love that I'm incorporating fruit into my diet! Even eat bread! Whole grain bread with a reasonable amount of calories. I still can't bring myself to eat it every day or every other day for that matter, but that has more to do with how I want to spend calories.

I still hate working out, but l-o-v-e that I get more calories. Linking my Fitbit to MyFitnessPal keeps track for me. I just have to record what I eat. Even though I have the calories, I don't often spend them all. Of course, when I make questionable choices my coach Denise is quick to comment. Accountability is a pretty big motivator. I'm less likely to eat something if I know that someone is keeping an eye out for me.

Don't let our smiles fool you! @jeetkunedo1 gave @vicsnoordinarylife and I such a workout at @clevelandymca. 🏋 Boy, do I feel it this morning! 💪🔥 He's just one of the great trainers at the #dtcle #YMCA. 👊 #fattofit #fattofitcle #trainerlove #fitness #realyouymca #week6of8 #weightlossdiary #busymom #lunchtimeworkout #workoutbuddy #sponsored

A photo posted by Mary Johnson (@mryjhnsn) on Jun 2, 2016 at 2:48am PDT

I would love to get to the point that I won't have to record every single bite, but that is at least 74 pounds from now.

What do 11 pounds mean to me?

11 pounds means that others have noticed

11 pounds means I've lost what the average human head weighs

11 pounds means that I've lost what my son weighed when he was a month old

11 pounds means I had to buy a smaller sports bra. Why must the girls get smaller?

11 pounds is the size of my tabby cat

11 pounds is what a large bag of potatoes and a package of butter weighs together (both of which I eat a lot less of!)

11 pounds means I can ride 5 miles on the Expresso bike for a total of 44.6 miles in May

11 pounds means I've accepted that I will not lose every week, but to keep going

11 pounds means I met my first ten pound goal

11 pounds means I'm nine pounds away from the next ten pounds gone

11 pounds is one more than ten!