Never Forget

        ...where you came from

     ...or where you are going.

I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. Phil 1:3-6

FYI: I created this tracker in Microsoft Publisher. I use the "Snipping Tool" (a program that came with my computer) to take a screen shot of the completed tracker every day. I am happy to share the tracker in PDF form. Feel free to email me at keeliesue@live.com.

Weigh In: 2.5 lb Loss

192.5 lb

Two years ago I lost quite a bit of weight. I weighed 193.8 at my lowest. After several successful months on WW, I found out I was pregnant. Ironically I didn't gain much weight at all during the pregnancy. In fact, I was back down around 195 lbs. a month after giving birth. But I could not get back into "diet mode" and unfortunately gained back all of the weight I had lost over the next few months.

Since beginning my current journey, I have eagerly anticipated the day I would break through that lowest number (193.8). Today is the today! I am sailing into uncharted waters and it feels amazing. I really imagine this is what an early explorer would have felt like. The beauty and wonderment of discovery; self-discovery for me. There really is nothing like it!

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!

Reward Outfit(s) Revealed

This is a summery top from Old Navy (late addition to reward) that I paired with a brown corduroy jacket. I (re)discovered the jacket in my closet this week and was thrilled to find I could actually button it! Clinton of What Not to Wear says that you can not buy a jacket unless it will button. I would argue that you can not buy a jacket unless you are committed to future buttoning!

Meet my photographer for the afternoon. I bribed him with fruit snacks. I hope he doesn't have some kind of long lasting psychological issues because his mother made him take pictures of her. Surely not. He didn't seem to mind.

This is my reward top that required the purchase of a strapless bra. I love the back! It feels so good to be outside with temperatures in the upper-60's. Sunshine on my shoulders makes me happy.... Loved it when my well-trained, 4 year old photographer asked, "Mommy, is it okay if I get your bottom?" My reply, "Yes! By all means Son, get my bottom!"

Hope you can enjoy some sunshine today!

Workout Update

Here I am sporting a pair of my cute new shorts. SHORTS! I still can't get over it.

I decided to change up my workouts this week. I alternated 10 min hard cardio with 10 min strength for about 40 minutes. I think it really paid off judging by the scale. If I don't screw it up over the weekend this could prove to be a monumental weigh in. Stay tuned...

In other news, when I saw myself doing the weight machines in the mirror this week, I didn't want to puke. That's major progress!

Oh yes, I have added bike riding to my regimen. I am still trying to get up the hill outside my house. It will happen.

Remember the Muffin?

Yeah, well it's officially and completely gone. In this size anyway. The way the shirt looks in the second one is kind of like shirts look when they are on a mannequin. It's just hanging on my body, not sticking to every curve like white on rice.

I thought I needed to commemorate what I looked like in a pair of 16's. I don't plan on staying in them for long. These are actually not a true 16, just my estimation. They are a size 2 in the Lane Bryant Right Fit jeans.

If you don't know about these, you should. Go check it out. Those are some smart people over at Lane Bryant--giving us big girls a chance to wear single digits, too. Gotta love 'em for that even though they seem to value their merchandise a little more than I do...

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.

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!

The Incredible Shrinking Muffin

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.

The One Where I Put On My Swimsuit

That's all folks.

Workout Update

I am super excited about what exercise is doing for my body. It really is quite helpful. Imagine that...those health nuts were right all along.

I began going to my gym about 2 months ago. I was experiencing some major anxiety/depression. For some strange reason I felt drawn to workout. The only way I could make myself feel better was to do something physical.

Although I did begin a medication for the anxiety (which has helped tremendously) I have to believe that the regular exercise is doing its part as well. There is a bunch of scientific stuff to prove that, but I'll leave it to you to go searching for it.

The important thing is that I feel great! And even though I am still in Twoville, my body is changing and you can see that in these pics:

about a month ago

tonight

By the way, I never wear my shirt tied in a knot like that, just for this blog.

In crunching news: After much deliberation and with the help of all your thoughtful input, I decided to go ahead with crunches but not spend too much time on my abs. I took the advice of someone to really focus on all core muscle groups. However, I am spending the majority of my activity time on cardio at the moment.

Today I ran 1.5 miles (ahead of my schedule) at a 4.7 pace. I think by next week I will be up to 2 miles and that is going to put me at my goal 6 weeks early! I will have to come up with another goal.

It feels so weird to type that. I am not a "goal-setter." Especially when it comes to exercise. We are talking about a girl whose idea of upping her activity level was to scrub a little harder in the shower that day. That was me two months ago. Looking like this:

Fat. Sad. Miserable.

But today...

I know it doesn't have to be like that. Life is not SUPPOSED to be like that. Praise the Lord Almighty for pulling me out of the pit I was in!

Here's to staying out of the pit...