Week 12: From 147.4 to 145.4

Saturday, March 24, 2012

TWO POUNDS! MINUS two pounds!!!

THAT is a great way to start a challenge! Since January 2nd of this year, I have lost 25 pounds, and am now only 5 pounds away from my first goal of getting to 140... The only reason I don't have a final goal is because I've never been this small, so I have no idea what my ideal weight is. I've seen other's with the same problem here, isn't SP the bomb?



I am going to a wedding this week, and I am not afraid to go out and buy a dress, be in pictures, or see people I haven't seen in a while. I feel very confident and proud of what I have accomplished so far!

I mentioned yesterday that I had read somewhere (turned out to be a fitness/wellness quote floating around the interwebs- thanks THINKSHRINK!), that says it takes 4 weeks to notice your body changing, and that it takes 8 weeks for your closest friends/fam, and finally, 12 weeks for everyone else. Well, I can tell you in week 12 that EVERYONE has started to notice. Last week, I don't think one person mentioned weight to me, but in week TWELVE, a handful of coworkers, my building manager, and no joke, the check-out lady at my grocery store all told me that I look... "Skinny." YAYAYAYYAYAYYAYYYYY!!!!! I felt this was worth sharing because I did have a few rough weeks where I thought my loss wasn't noticeable, but for some reason this time I stuck it out, and now, 12 weeks in, people are noticing. And it is freaking awesome.

In week 13, no black cats will cross my path. I am going to continue to log all of my food and be active every day (even when out of town for the wedding!). In addition to the Spring 5% Challenge, a LITTLE extra inspiration arrived at my door this week:

... ... ... Bikinis.


Have a great week everyone, and THANK YOU for the motivation, inspiration, love, and support!!!

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Week 11: from 147.8 to 147.4

Monday, March 19, 2012

Hi Friends!

Because I started the Spring 5% challenge, I had to weigh-in a couple days early (on Friday in stead of Monday), so this weight loss reflects my effort from 3/12-3/17. I am totally fine with this paltry little loss because I know it will mean a slightly bigger loss for the next weigh-in! Thinking positively here

I did have an amazing week capped off poetically by a tremendous non-scale victory. Because I can't keep secrets/hide my emotions/contain my excitement- I have already blogged and updates my status to let you know that I went shopping and purged my closet of my bigger Nat clothes and was fitted for a bridesmaid's dress yesterday, but I think I'll go into a little more detail here...

After a really nice day off, I went to Old Navy on Wednesday to buy some new basics. About a month ago, I realized that all of my clothes finally FIT again (I didn't realize that they weren't fitting until they DID, lol!), but lately everything is too big. Some things are huge, others are okay, but they sure aren't doing anything to make me feel good. Solution: new clothes (right. on.). I only pulled size 8 pants and medium tops. Pretty uncharted territory for me- I've owned a couple pieces in those sizes here and there, but usually it is because they are blouse-y or straight-up wrongly sized. Well on this day, I felt like a REAL medium. Everything fit. Some things were too big! It was thrilling, I'm sure I was squealing inside the fitting room. Positive. When I got home, boosted from the float of my shoppers high, I purged my closet. I tried on almost everything, and if it didn't fit- it went in a trash or donate bag. I've NEVER felt so confident to do that after losing weight.


On Saturday, I went to a cooking club St. Pat's feast (not as bad as it sounds, lol!). I brought classic corned beef and cabbage and a fruitsalad that looked like a rainbow. Here's a pic because... why not?


I thought that shopping and size 8 was as good as it gets. That I would never feel an achievement or pride that could match it... And then, yesterday (the day after the feast where Guiness and heavy foods were indeed consumed), we had a fitting for bridesmaid's dresses. Last year, I wore a David's Bridal size 12 to my best friend's wedding. It was TIGHT and I was spilling over. This time around, I'll be in a David's Bridal size SIX. That is epic. No matter how blouse-y or terribly mismarked, I have NEVER repeat NEVER gotten into a size six! The only reason I even tried it on was because they didn't have an eight, and the ten was too big, so by process of elimination I figured I'd be good in the middle, but the six zipped right up- no problem... Amazing. The wedding is June 30th, I wonder how much I will change before then. I am so elated. Here's a pic of the dress from the website:


In week 12, Mike and I continue training for a 5k, I will continue to eat well and work out5-6 days a week, and I will continue to celebrate this crazy NSV.

Best to all of you in this new week!

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I Feel Good!

Saturday, March 17, 2012

If someone told me last December 31st that by March I would be in the 140s, training for a 5k with Mike, and completely OFF of fast food and soda, I would have LAUGHED.

Don't get me wrong, some days are harder than others (hungry days, busy days, TOM, etc.), but I've hit this stride and am NOT turning back to my fatty, crappy, sedentary lifestyle.

This week, Mike and I took a hike, and we took pictures. No makeup, sweaty, workout clothes (not the cutey kind!), and I like ALL of them! I did the Spark thing (lol) and made a couple split screen before after shots and was amazed at what a big change -22 pounds has made...


I'm so happy to have a partner to help me through this, and I'm so proud of his hard work!


I went shopping for new (smaller!) clothes on Wednesday, and felt inspired to go though my closet and remove/donate the clothes that are too big for me now (!!!!!). It was such a cathartic feeling! I really felt like I was pulling these symbols of dissatisfaction out of my closet. I could SEE how far I've come, which made me feel like I can achieve any goal. It made me feel GOOD. I felt so good, in fact, that I did something a little crazy... I ordered TWO... ... Wait for it... ... ... ... ... Bikinis. Oh lawd! More on that later (when they arrive, I suppose!)!

Thanks to my Spark friends and fellow Sparkers for keeping me accountable, and for the daily motivation and inspiration to take good care of myself. I just adore you all!

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When BRAIN and BODY just don't match up...

Wednesday, March 14, 2012

My Spark friend APONI_KB brought up a recent (and yet already forgotten) memory for me. She mentioned feeling bad after seeing pictures from a race- MAN can I relate!

Last August, in an attempt to force myself to exercise, I signed up and half-heartedly trained for a HALF MARATHON in November... I completed the race and was elated. I felt accomplished, strong, and capable... And then I saw THE PICTURES. They told a different story. I looked 20 pounds heavier than I thought I looked. The tight running pants that I THOUGHT pulled me IN and made me look sleek, actually highlighted how big I had gotten (and did me NO favors). My size large racing shirt still clung to my mid-section, and every picture on the down-step (when my fat was following me back down to Earth) made me look like I was MELTING.

Before today, I've only shared this picture (pre-race, still wearing a giant hoodie):

But today, inspired by my friend's post, here are a few of my wake-up calls:




This is ONE example. Usually, we don't realize how good we look, how healthy we have become, but at this point- I thought I looked great and had pictures tell a completely different story. It sucked.

Because of moments like this, I find it hard to embrace my new-found health and figure. Sometimes I feel like I will wake up and be at my heaviest again. I still stand up really straight, dip my chin, and half-hide behind someone else when a picture is being taken. Last weekend at a bridal shower, I found myself doing this (sucking in my stomach for dear life, posing, praying that I didn't look like "the fat one" in the group). How stupid. This is as big a crime as thinking I looked good when I didn't.

How have YOU overcome this? When will my body and brain have a conversation (or whatever it takes) to match up?

UPDATE: Here are the two pics (posed/not posed) from yesterday! Thanks for the idea, OMMAMA, it really made me feel better...

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Spring 5% Challenge Assignment 3

Tuesday, March 13, 2012

I am posting here in a blog because I would like to look back on this during and after this challenge. I have had my head down and pushed like a dog to get where I am now, but it is definitely time to look up and evaluate these questions:

1. List all the reasons you want to lose weight.

To feel comfortable (in interviews, on a beach, in bed, in my own skin), to never be called out for my weight (I was once ON A DATE and some drunk middle-aged man yelled out of his truck "That's a HUGE b*tch!" I was beyond mortified) by strangers or family members, to LIVE a long life, to outrun zombies (that one is for Mike), and to never feel constrained by my own body. Wow, I could list those forever...

2. What do you want to change?

I want to push myself OUT of the comfort zone., i.e. RUN.

3. How do you want to look?

Sleek, graceful, tall, strong, proud...

4. How do you want to feel?

Strong, energetic, powerful, capable...

5. What things will you be able to do in the future with a slimmer healthier body?

Honestly, anything I want to- races, hikes, or try a new physical activity without fear, but really, the day I don't dodge a camera like it's a grenade will be a good day.

6. And list all the OTHER things that you want to change!

Above all else, I want to stick with it. I have gone forwards and backwards like a defeated wave forever. I am tired of quitting. I am only going forward from now on. That is IT.

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