Success

It's been awhile since I've posted and today I'm here to share my recent victories. Two weeks ago, I went shopping for jeans at the Lucky outlet and I purchased size 4! Last week, two co-workers mentioned that I look like I've lost weight. Today was my weekly weigh-in and I lost 1.6 pounds! Finally, my landlord mentioned that I've lost weight. 

This has been a long journey with lots of ups and downs. I've gained weight and I've lost weight. My goal today is to maintain a healthy weight. In the last 10 years, I've had to lose 10 pounds three different times. This third go around irritated me more than anything else and I promised to myself that I wasn't going to gain again. 

Truthfully, my weight has fluctuated but that appears to be normal as I gain muscle. My clothes have continued to fit and I've been able to buy smaller sizes. My journey started when I was 16 years old in a size 16 (pushing into size 18s.) I have learned a lot over this journey and I plan to keep learning. From personal experience, I've learned that I have to stay focused almost all the time.

 Me in the Bahamas in 2008.

Me in the Bahamas 2013. I have another trip to the Bahamas planned next month!

Weight Loss Wednesday: Guest Post Edition

Welcome to Weight Loss Wednesday! I would like to introduce you to somebody who has encouraged me and helped me stay on track. When I was thinking forgetting the working out or counting calories, this gal was all over me, with caps on, getting me back on track. She's great and has an awesome post for you today!

Hey y'all!

I am Marcy and you can finding me spitting word vom over at E-Diddy as I prefer to call her asked me to guest post on her space of the inter web and how could I deny her of that???

So here I be.

 

Wednesday's you can typically find me linking in with Erin & Alex for Weigh-In Wednesday.

E-Diddy wanted me to preferably talk about something health related so this works out quite nicely.

Without keeping you reading for days you can read my post I have yo-yo'd and dealt with serious weight loss issues all of my life.

Until the birth of my last child.

I finally said enough is enough and this time I meant business.

A little over 8 months ago before having this sweet little thing...

 I looked like this...

I was HUGE.

I was miserable.

I had been put on bed rest for toxemia from three months on.

I was depressed.

I don't know about y'all but when I am depressed I eat.

I eat A LOT.

On my 5'2 frame 265 pounds doesn't hide itself very well.

Literally as soon as I had delivered Miss P I was already thinking of ways to drop the weight.

I immediately starting throwing down H2O like it was my job and tracked what I ate.

The first 85 pounds came off Then I realized that I was actually going to have to do something other than count my calories and chug water like it was a cold beer on a hot summers day.

Who knew?

So I took the leap and joined the gym in my building.

Yes, I have a gym.

Yes, I have worked at the same place for the past five years and never used it.

Anyways...

Moving right along.

I was determined to do it.

To actually stick with it this time.

I was tired of feeling so worn down and out of shape.

Not to mention feeling like the Michelin Man on the reg.

A few weeks in I officially

I could hardly believe it myself.

Once again this week I am still at the same number on the scale.
In prior years I would have given up at this point.
I mean I am not losing on the scale so surely this isn't working right?
WRONG.

I had a breakthrough today.
I have seemed to have a lot of those in this process and if you have ever went through it or are currently going through it then you know what I am talking about.
My first big one you can read about

I honestly was not going to post this photo initially. I was only going to share it with some of my IG ladies and that was it... but then I said F*&^ that! I have worked entirely too hard to not share and there are people that follow me simply to be motivated and share in my progress.

 SO... This is basically a breakdown of pics from week one until today. The today picture was seriously another breakthrough for me in this journey. Like crocodile tears breakthrough. Seems silly to some who have never gone through this BUT I felt skinny. Dare I say it? It may not be YOUR idea of skinny but to me it is. ...and skinny sounds so cliche but it's true.

Skinny to me means I feel good in MY skin for the first time in so long and it's lasted more than just a couple of minutes. It has lasted days. This is HUGE! Loving yourself is such an awesome feeling. I feel on top of the world. Literally. If I can do this anybody can and in another month I cannot wait to compare those results with these! It is NEVER too late to start living your life. FINALLY I am living the life I have always wanted... happy and healthy!

I will be the first to tell you

Because Lord knows I never will be.
I also know that it isn't cute and my Man likes some junk in the trunk...


And in the words of my homegirl Nene

DREAMS REALLY DO COME TRUE IF YOU JUST BELIEVE!

Please take it from me that it is never too late to take control of your life.
Why start tomorrow?
Every minute is a new minute...
A new chance to succeed.

Thanks Marcy for sharing your breakthrough today! I am looking for more guest posts for Weight Loss Wednesday and Make A Difference Monday. Let me know if you have something to share. Please stay tuned for Thankful Thursday!

Weight loss Wednesday

Welcome to weight loss Wednesday. I have invited many successful bloggers to visit and guest post. There will tips and success stories. The holidays are over and I'm dreading the scale. I plan to check in with you next week. I will be working on reasonable portions and reducing all alcohol to Friday and Saturday. Here's to a successful 2013 for you and me!

Water Wednesday

It's the middle of the week and I was thinking about drinks. I have created a new challenge for myself. I am cutting soda pop out of my diet. None. No more. It sounds crazy to me but it might be just what I need. I am with Whit of  Whit Likes Fit and I need to lose about 8 pounds. I am keeping tea and water in the diet because tea is healthy and water is essential. My goal is to dump fake sugar and regular sugar. That's where the real challenge is. I have a sweet tooth to overcome.

 What challenges are you running into? Feel free to share your successes and lessons learned.

E

Celebrate

Whenever you have accomplished a goal, remember to celebrate the success. I forget this sage advice often because I’m always pushing for the next goal. Perhaps, I’ll find more satisfaction when I’ve taken time to congratulate myself.

It's another fresh start

Today’s rating is Positive.

I managed to get really frustrated and upset at work and then turn things around before the end of the day. I was upset because I thought that one of two things were going to happen: 1) my move would be messed up or 2) I’d miss out on the bonus payout. Through my strong negotiation skills, I managed to tread some tough waters and find a happy ground for myself and the company. What’s weird is I have to work one hour on my last day to qualify for the bonus. Its totally worth it.

I met up with a friend for dinner which was great! We needed to catch up and hang out. I hope to hang out a few more times before moving. Its always encouraging to be around good company. I also met my neighbor, who is a nice guy going through a rough patch. If I can get through tough times, I bet he can too.

At the end of the day, I can say its been a success. Tomorrow, I will be working on prettying the home up for showings. Thanks for your prayers and Happy Weekend!

Healthy Choices

Today’s rating is Positive.

I made some healthy choices today. First I spent some time planning with a health coach. I got this service for free from work. I always take whatever is free especially when I need it. After that, I went to the gym and met with a personal trainer. I am excited to see the progress I will get from the extra help.

One of the important issues to watch out for is stress. I read in The 24 Hour Customer that a stressed individual will have a more difficult time making decisions and rely more on the routine function side of the brain. How can we be expected to make healthy choices when we are living with bad habits?

Today, I made some goals. I plan on finding some new friends, find a new job, and get more fit. These are some big goals but I know if I can keep my focus, I will be successful.

Wonderful Wednesday

Today’s rating is Positive.

Not only is the week half over, nachos for lunch tomorrow, and friends coming over on Friday but my counselor said that I am making healthy choices. I am a success and it feels good. I know that I will find a good job and be successful there too. I have successfully lost weight and maintained it with the help of www.myfitnesspal.com. Its important to stop and celebrate the successes in life and that’s what I’m doing today.

First Born Complex

Today’s rating is Negative.

It’s not an all around bad day but I found myself wallowing in self-beating thoughts. I am hyper-sensitive and I see how that makes me miserable. I’m trying to move the focus to where it belongs, on positive thoughts.

First born kids tend to be conscientious and put attention on perfection. This is impossible. Now that I understand this, it is time to loosen up. I don’t feel that today was a success. Thank goodness for a new day and tomorrow is Friday!