Then & Now

I've been looking back over some photos of years past and comparing them to how I look now.  Like almost every other red-blooded American, I've not only gained knowledge and understanding of life itself, but I've also gained a few pounds over the years.  These pictures have been taken over the span of the last 10 years. 

Right now, my goal is to look as I did in 2005.  My ultimate goal is to look as I did in 2000.  I know that its a shot in the dark, but I know with dedication and determination I can do it.   In actualilty, my weight in 2000 is the lower end of the range for my "recommended weight range" for my age and height.  (BTW, those ranges are ridiculous!) 

Let's take a step back in time and check out these photos.....

Fall 2000

Quick Photo before heading back to College.

Spring 2003

My Roommate and I at Cherokee Dam hanging out on a Saturday afternoon.

July 2005

Matt and I in Hilton Head, SC. (we look scared of each other! HAHA)

December 2005

Matt Surprised me with a trip to Biltmore for my Birthday.  (You can see me slowly expanding)

March 2006

Cruise to the Bahamas.  (Def getting larger.....ugh)

July 2006

Pigeon Forge with Friends.  (my face is getting pudgy...boo.)

May 2007

My sister and I at a wedding.

May 2008

Orange Beach, AL.  (Def expanding way too much)

October 2008

Photo Shoot for Christmas photos.  (This was my largest.  I look SO uncomfortable...and felt uncomfy too.)

April 2009

Started loosing weight and lost a total of 12 inches.  (pants were abt 2 sizes too big!  YAY!)

May 2009

After a walk at the Greenway.  (My face isn't as round, arms are a little more toned)

June 2009

Smallest I've been in a LONG time.  -25lbs.  (I cannot believe I wore a bikini last year!)

September 2009

Shopping trip in Asheville.  (I'd stopped working out by this point, and was slowly gaining back.  BOO)

December 2009

Weight slowly coming back to my face.

February 2010

Little more on the face....little more on the hips and waist as well.

I am so excited about going back to the gym.  I've decided that I am going to try going a couple times a day at least 2 days a week.  We'll see how that works as well.

I was going to post about my first week on the 1200 calorie diet.  BUT due to an unforseen stomach issue that I had last week and the bloated female problems of this week, I've not stepped on the scale to see how I done.  I was only able to exercise one time last week and that was a 3 mile walk in town on Monday evening.  Monday night I ended up being really sick and I was that way all week.  I am still having some problems.  If it continues I will have to go to the doctor, but slowly but surely I am feeling better. 

Well here's to a successful week!

Ready, Set, Go

For the last 5 days I've been on my newly revised goal for weight loss.

After mulling over a blog, Kevin & Amanda, I happened upon a while back I've reinvented my goal and expectations. 

Although Amanda has some really great blogs all bundled into one (recipes, scrapbooking, photographing, etc) I've really enjoyed reading what she posts, regardless of the subject content.  I really like her recipes though.  Yumm-o!  She posted a blog about weightloss a while back and I'm putting some of those things into action for myself.  You can see her weight-blog here.

Start Date:          March 10, 2010

End Date:           June 23, 2010

Weight Loss:    -30lbs

Goals:                  1)  Drink water and/or Coffee

                             2)  Exercise 5 days a week, regardless of whether its a walk or a complete workout

                             3)  1200 Calories a Day

                             4)  One Cheat Meal per Week

                             5)  Take a Multivitamin

I will tell you right now as I type, that I'm about.to.die.of.stomach.devouring.intestines.disorder.  I cannot tell you how HARD it is to eat only 1200 calories a day!  OH MY GOSH!  Well, its not that it is hard, it's just being conscious of it and not allowing yourself to eat anything unnecessary or excessive.  I've really been paying a lot of attention to the nutrition labels.  

I do have a fantastic cookbook, 200 Under 200, that I will be using more often to assist in reaching my goals.  All of the recipes in the cookbook are 200 calories or less.  Most are actually less, and they sound so wonderful.  A lot of the ingredients are things that wouldn't normally be in your pantry, but HG (Hungry Girl) has a list of items that are her pantry staples.  The 1200 calories has made me plan ahead as to what I will be eating so that I stay within my caloric intake.  So this weekend when I knew I would be eating a meal that would have more calories, I cut back on other meals.

A few of my favorites so far have been: 

     Light & Fit Yogurts weighing in at 80 calories

     Smart Ones Turkey Medallions weighing in at 200 calories

     Smart Ones Chicken & Cheese Quesadilla weighing in at 220 calories for one

     Smart Ones Broccoli & Cheddar Roasted Potatoes weighing in at 240 (this is prob one of my faves!)

     Subway Turkey Breast Salad weighing in at 110 calories

     Kraft Catalina Free Salad Dressing weighing in at 50 calories for 2Tbs.

     Coffee-Mate Fat Free Original Creamer weighing in at 10 calries per Tbs.

     Splenda weighing in at 0 calories per packet!

     Weight Watchers Giant Latte Ice Cream Bar weighing in at 90 calories

So here's to my goals that I hope to reach with in the next 14.5 weeks.  I hope to lose at least 2 lbs a week....we'll see how this goes!!  I won't be heartbroken if I don't reach it, but I will try my hardest to reach it!

I'm always looking for new things to try and am open to suggestions...so send them my way!

This is my goal

This was April 2005

My brother, David, and I with our doggies.

Bentley (mine) & Gizmo (David's)

Me and Bentley...he was so little!

I wanna look like this again!  What's so ironic, I had just left the gym when I had gone to my brother's house for a visit to show off my new puppy.  I seriously need to get back in the groove.....and tonight is the night!

Today is the Day!

I am freed to go back to the gym, starting tonight!  Yay!  I cannot tell you how excited I am to be going back.  I know that the first week is going to be tough, just trying to get used to it, and getting back in my groove of going daily....but I am oh, so excited! 

I had plans to go back after Valentine's Day, but when I got burned, I had to wait until my hand had healed enough to have the bandage off, and to have it in the nasty elements of the gym.  Today is the day! 

I could have started yesterday, but I am a part of the Beth Moore Bible Study on Esther at church and we meet on Monday evenings, so I was there and boy did I receive a blessing! 

I'll try and post tomorrow to let you know how my 1st day back at the gym went.  haha

Oh yeah - Matt is going to be my "trainer."  I'm even more excited about that!

Dumbfounded

How in the world I lost 3 lbs in the last week or so is beyond my comprehension.

To be quite honest, I'm surprised I haven't gained 3lbs since I've been a total lush since my accident.  (More to come on that!)  But seriously, all I done last week while I was out of work: I slept, I ate, I slept, I went to the doctor, I slept.  I pretty much stayed in either pjs or yoga pants all week (mainly b/c that is all that I could get on my body by myself...but still you get the point.)

However, I am happy with the progress and makes me excited that HOPEFULLY I will be able to fit into the new swimsuit that I purchased yesterday that is a size-to-small.  (Its my incentive to lose this unnecessary weight!)

Granted I will never look like this in a swimsuit...but it is super cute.

It is both mine and Matt's team colors.

Carson Newman College Eagles - Me

University of Florida Gators - Matt

Burr

Walking in 27 degree weather isn't a good idea. 

Walking in 27 degree weather with a windchill that makes if feel like 18 degrees is hardly a good idea either. 

Walking in 27 degree weather with a windchill that makes it feel like 18 degrees and its snowing, definitely is NOT recommended for anyone.

However, I do feel as if I have worked off the chocolate covered strawberries I had at lunch today.

 I didn't do too awful bad today as far as intake goes.   Definitely could have done better, but ya know how it is.

Breakfast:  Oatmeal with fresh strawberries

Lunch:  Healthy Selects Tomato Bisque

Snack:  2 chocolate coverd strawberries, and a chocolate covered pretzel.

Dinner:  Hot Turkey & Cheese Sandwich with Baked BBQ chips.

And as always, I had at least 2 cups of coffee and drank about 5 glasses of water.

I will strive to do better tomorrow.

Moving on Up.....er, I mean DOWN!

I am down 4.8lbs!  WOOO HOO!