I Feel Pretty

Today I got a new accessory. {I embrace my dorkiness}



Everyone has these and I thought I should have one also.



I'm just not sure what to do with it...

Ahh. There we go.

I am learning to love accessories. For so long I just felt like it was pointless to wear them. I thought I always looked bad so I just put my hair in a pony tail, slapped on a little make up (sometimes) and that was it.

I felt bad about myself. I felt UGLY. Plain and simple. It makes me so sad to think about that.

The remarkable thing is that after just a few weeks, days actually, of nurturing my body with appropriate food and activity, that outlook began to change. I began to feel LESS ugly. I began to care a little more about the make up. I began to take more time on my hair. I would sometimes consider earrings or even a necklace.

I began to actually look in the mirror. I began to do it more often and for longer periods of time. One day when I looked--the reflection looking back at me didn't seem ugly anymore. It seemed a little bit pretty. This mini transformation happened without me losing hardly any weight at all. More proof that this is SUCH a mental game.

I know that life is not all about how we look--believe me! Some day I'll get on my soap box...but as a woman, I need to feel pretty. It helps with confidence and social interaction and treating your husband right ;) and all that good stuff...

So, I'm curious...what helps you feel pretty? Besides chartreuse scarves of course.

Someday. . .

Someday I want my calves to look like this.

Oh wait. This IS my calf.

Inch by Inch

Tonight I was measured for the first time in 10 weeks. I got some surprising but overall pleasing results.

Chest: 47 inches (-1.5)
I am super excited about this small loss, for obvious reasons. I don't want to lose too much volume up there;) I am still seeing the back lose fat and I am probably gaining muscle too.

Waist: 43.5 inches (-8.5)
This seems like a lot to me. We tried measuring in a couple of different spots to make sure but each time there was only a slight difference. Obviously I am thrilled with these results. My waist is the biggest problem area I have and it has always been the hardest to see results in. This time is different! I attribute that to my running (which I did about 2 miles today!)

Hips: 50 inches (-2.5)
This is good. It is important to note that my hip measurement and waist measurement were practically the same to begin with. Now they are 6.5 inches different. Can you say hour glass?

Thighs: 26 inches (+1 per leg)
I have a couple of questions on this one. Is the gain due to muscle? Also, when you gain inches, do you subtract that gain from your overall loss (total inches lost)? I really don't want to, but am guessing I am supposed to.

Arms: 12.75 inches (-1.25 per arm)
Happy with this. I suspect that at some point my arms may level off and even begin to gain back inches in muscle. Has anyone found that to be the case?

I am happy with these results. This is a total of 14 inches lost (2 gained, but whatever) in 10 weeks!

Progess Makes Me Happy

The highest weight I have listed on the sidebar of my blog is 229 lbs. I am pretty sure I was over that in the "before" pictures above. Not exactly a time I wanted to jump on the scales everyday. Know what I'm sayin'?

Today I decided to put on that lovely striped shirt again and see what a difference 34 (or a little more?) pounds can make. A big one, apparently.

These are my beloved 12's. Isn't it funny how I am so excited to be in these today and pretty soon they will be on the ground like my 18's are now? I love it!

Pardon the "rear view" but I had to show off the silver sparkle on the pockets of my new jeans. Back pocket decoration: not something I've given much thought to in the past. Back pocket decoration nowadays? Yes, please.

Tomorrow night I will post weigh-in and measurements update after my FP4H meeting. I am getting measured for the first time in 10 weeks! Super excited!

These are the lyrics of a Chris Tomlin song. They spoke so loudly to me this morning.

Take my life and let it be consecrated Lord, to thee. Take my moments and my days, let them flow in ceaseless praise. Take my hands and let them move at the impulse of thy love. Take my feet and let them be swift and beautiful for thee.

I hope this is a fabulous week for you, my friends!

A Happy Mistake

One of my new favorite things to do is try on clothes at stores like Ross, Marshalls, TJ Maxx, etc. Today I tried on a pair of 14 skinny jeans at Old Navy. Skinny jeans aren't my favorite but the 14 DID fit. :) I also tried on a dress that I really liked--they only had a medium. I thought, what the heck? I'll give it a shot. And guess what...the dress FIT too!

When we were in TJ Maxx I saw some Seven7 jeans that looked really cute. I had found a pair of 20s in that brand earlier this year that actually looked decent on me so I bought them. I decided to try on a 14 today. I got in the dressing room and began to pull them up. They went all the way up easily, buttoned and zipped. They felt pretty good but they were a little snug--my mini muffin was visiting.

I was disappointed because I thought if a 14 from two different brands fit well then I could officially say I was a "Size 14." Bummer :( I was taking them off when I happened to look down and catch a glimpse of the tag. Turns out the hanger was mislabeled. They weren't a size 14.

They were a size 12!



A few months ago I was sucking it in to get these on:

Here are my new jeans (of course I bought them!) on top of my old jeans.

These pics of me in my 20s aren't quite as dramatic as I would like them to be...

At first I tried to fit both of my legs into one side but I think I was getting a bit ahead of myself. On the bright side, I did get a nice workout in while trying to get both my legs unstuck.

More Guns n' Stuff

Dress size 14

Jacket buttons again!

Tying things around waist is sort of fun:)

My son took this picture and I noticed how great my arm looked even when smooshed up against something. So I took a closer look...

Guns, baby.

Pants on the Ground (Almost)

What you are looking at here is a little thing I like to call "ROOM." It's a nice quality to have in certain parts of clothing like, say the waist of a pair of jeans. A buttoned pair of pants that I can actually pull away from my flesh is totally cool. Too bad they look like this from behind now...

Doesn't it kind of look like these clothes are falling off of me? Yeah. Cause they are.

Tonight was my FP4H meeting. This is when I usually weigh-in, and I did, but I have decided to change my official weigh-in day/time to Monday morning on my own scale. It is too confusing to always wonder. Just to kill the suspense, I did not reach Onederland tonight, although it is possible that I could be there in the morning. We shall see.

On another note, a sort-of somber note, my meeting leader was not there tonight. Her father is terminally ill and in the final days, likely hours, of his life. Our leader is a strong woman of the Lord and she is an inspiration to me. While at his bedside, this is the text message she sent our group shortly before the meeting this afternoon:

Watching my dad laying here holding onto life, while the Best is close if he would just let go, I am reminded of our study this week. He wants to transform us. What are we waiting on? Let go and let Christ change you. He is waiting.

If you know Christ then you understand the profound nature of that message. If you don't know Him, you really should. He makes this journey so meaningful. I'd love to tell you about Him so email me if you want: keeliesue@live.com.

Please say a prayer for my leader and her family. She's also my mom...

A "Flab"ulous Diagram

These pics were taken a couple of weeks apart. You know me, always have to compare:)

Subtle Changes

I am assuming no one gets tired of progress pics, 'cause I sure don't. These "before" pics were taken 20 days ago. I was really surprised to be able to notice changes in that amount of time. But I did.

• Comp #1: Changes in my face are evident and hips, perhaps?
• Comp #2: Check out the bottom of the shirt--it is covering half of my rear in the second pic. The "butt in front" is getting smaller, too.
• Comp #3: The shirt is fitting much better now. Less dented flab on the arms. Lower abdomen is flatter. Significantly less boobage. Why are they always the first to go?

Again--I must encourage you. If you aren't taking pictures, START! I have never done this before and I assure you it is helping me so much. I am seeing the little changes that I would probably not notice otherwise and that's what is keeping me going.

Sometimes it seems like the scale is lying to us, but I promise photos never do!

Weigh In: 1.5 lb. Loss

Tonight I weighed in at 203.5 for a total loss of 25.5 lbs. YES! I was a bit of a slacker this week as I had a cold and didn't feel like giving it my all at the gym. And then there was the Doritos incident...but next week is a different story. I have big plans for next week.

My internet is not cooperating, or I would show you a picture of how my muffin is morphing! I'm still not ready to wear the size 16 jeans out in public, but if I had to I don't think I would qualify as one of the People of Wal Mart anymore. Now if that ain't a NSV, I don't know what is.

Other NSVs

• rediscovered my legs


• walk/jogged 3 miles in 45 minutes


• met goal of 1.5 miles @ 4.7 pace on treadmill 3 x's


• fat roll on lower abdomen no longer wraps around my body--just sits in front, thus making the front view sillhouette much more tolerable

If you'll excuse me, I need go pack for this week's trip now. Got a one-way ticket to Onederland, baby!

I've Got Legs-- Because I Use Them!

I was passing by a mirror this morning, still in my nightgown, when I happened to notice my legs. I did a double take! I know they have a bit more mass to them than I would like, but I was so excited!



I went and found the only pair of heels I own, put 'em on and proceeded to check myself out for a while. Whoo hoo! I can show my knees again. This will be very helpful come June when it is 2,000 degrees.



On another note, I was reminded yesterday of my pesky food-addict tendencies still lurking dangerously nearby. I wanted to eat all day long. Like seriously stuff my face with anything I could get my hands on kind of eat. The only slip I had was eating about 2 servings of Doritos while feeding my kids lunch. (My husband bought those, not me.)

Instead of polishing off the whole bag, once I stopped long enough to realize what was happening, I decided to go for a 3 mile walk/jog to my parents' house for dinner instead of riding in the car. It worked out nicely and I did the 3 miles in about 45 minutes.

Old habits die hard I suppose, but new ones provide the balance needed for success. Now, let's take one more look at those legs...



Back later for weigh in results! Have a great afternoon.

I Went Shopping

Please pardon my vulgar display of vanity, but I went shopping. I love to go shopping when it's not depressing--and when you are dropping sizes, it's not that depressing! I actually bought a MEDIUM top (black and white striped thing). Can you believe that? I also downloaded a new photo editing program that I needed to mess with. I like it. I will return tomorrow with weigh-in results. Until then...

Have a fabulous LOVE Day!

XOXO,