This CANNOT be me!?

First I want to say, as of today, I've lost 23 pounds and 25 inches.

I was so proud when I put on these particular pants a few weeks ago...used my "tummy sucker thing" to let them fit perfectly, strutted into the office.  I felt pretty awesome wearing these pants.  Especially since the last time I tried to wear them they wouldn't even come up past my thighs!

On occasion I will wear them, but not terribly often because I hate wearing the "tummy sucker thing."  I decided to give them a shot today fresh out of the wash.  I successfully pulled them on with no "tummy sucker thing" and they are loose in my waist and thighs.  It feels great to wear them to work today knowing that I'm wearing them without any support from undergarments and they are loose!

I do not own a full length mirror, but I caught a glimpse of my reflection in my work window and had to share in my excitement.  This can't be me!?  I should be far more bulgy and lumpy.  I quickly flipped through some photos of me from 2009 when I bought my new car and was wearing the same outfit (the last time I can remember really wearing this outfit).  It was tight on me through the thighs then.  The pants fit me better now than they did before! :o

This is me in 2009 when I bought my car.
You can see my reflection in the car.
The pants are tight through my thighs.
And my shirt is a little tight.

This is me today!  My pants are loose, my shirt is loose.  I'm in shock!

It's Time to Celebrate!

I'd like to take a moment to review my successes since January 17th:

1) I have lost 20 pounds
2) I have lost 20 inches
3) I have QUIT smoking
4) I have given up fast food
5) I exercise [in some way] every day

These are some REAL big successes and I'm celebrating [via blog].

I've decided that at each 20 pound loss, I'm going to capture my success by taking my picture in my wedding dress - as reminder of my [heaviest] starting point and how far I have come!

Three Months & 25% to my goal!

For the month of April I have committed to not looking at the scale.  Yea....well, it seemed like a good idea at the time!  So here I am two weeks into April and I'm feeling down about my inability to "track" my progress.  So put together this collage of photos from late December/early January until this past Monday.

The worst thing that I do to myself, is I tie my success in getting healthy to a number on a scale.  That number doesn't define my results!  With the help of my husband, I've been talking through some of these conflicting thoughts of scale results versus actual physical results.  I started to really looked at myself and I can see (and feel) muscle definition in my legs, my stomach is getting smaller, and I have a chin again!  These are things I have failed to recognize previously because I was so obsessed with the number on the scale.

Does this mean I won't ever weigh myself again?  It absolutely does NOT mean that.  You can bet your ass that I will be on the scale, May 1st, as soon as I wake up.  With that said, I think what this challenge has given me is the ability to see success in other forms - progress in my running, muscles developing, and clothes not fitting (because they are too small).

25% there.  I can do this.

My third month...

So much has changed since January!  Last I knew I have lost 14 pounds, 16 inches, gained some muscle and endurance, quit smoking....oh the achievements seem endless.  Only (almost) three months in and I feel like I am creating a new life.

Took Westley (who's 6 1/2) with me running tonight.  He did great!  I love seeing how the kids are realizing how important exercise and being healthy is to me.  We don't eat fast food, we make stuff at home or choose responsibly at a restaurant (on occasion).

I tried on my wedding dress in March and was SHOCKED at how much bigger it was - mostly because I couldn't believe I was that big.  Started looking through wedding photos and almost cried....but then I had to bring myself back to reality and say - look, you're working on changing and see how far you've come!  :)

I have committed to this month (April) of not looking at the scale or taking measurements.  I think the reason I accepted this challenge is because I have made this into a lifestyle change and by not looking at the scale I am forced to concentrate on that instead of the thrill of the loss (or disappointment of no loss).

I can do this.  I can.

Readjusting to life as a nonsmoker!

Day 5 of readjusting to life as a nonsmoker: I feel like I'm constantly forgetting to do something or just not quite complete.  After dinner with a friend last night, I awkwardly walked to her car....it was like I forgot to pay the bill or left my purse in the restaurant.   The between transitions of doing things is when I miss it most....I feel like I'm missing something.  It's lovely to know when I stood in a room of people last night that I didn't stink like cigarettes though.  Just wanting the coughing to finally leave and the awkward missing something stage from not smoking to leave.  Day 5.   The longest I've ever succeeded before.  If I can make it a week, two weeks, a month.....then I know I've got this in the bag.

As for my weightloss journey...14.5 inches gone from my body!! 13.3 pounds never coming back. This is a healthier 2011. This is a healthier me.

NSV for me!

Non-scale victor(ies) for me!

1) Yesterday I got THREE compliments in one day.  Felt good to know that others can see a change in me, even though I may not see it (or allow myself to see it).

2) My work pants - the only pair I have because I would not allow myself to buy more than one pair in this god-awful size - are dragging through the snow and puddles of spring because they are TOO BIG!

3) My kids have seen how much I care about what I eat and counting calories and comment positively on it - Mommy, how many calories does this food have...etc.  It's nice to see them taking notice of the changes in my eating and habits.

Where did it come from?

So as of Sunday I have lost 9 inches and 8.5 pounds.  I'm feeling frustrated because I feel like I should see more results by now, it's been 6 weeks!  I know where the inches have come off from, but at the same time, I feel like I don't know!  Some clothes fit different, like my "fatter" clothes are loose, but my "smaller" clothes are still too tight.  As my dear husband says "stay the course" because truly, 7 months to go and I should be where I want to be, but 7 months is so far!