Goodbye 25!!!!!!!!

I have lost 25 lbs!!!

I am so excited and I want to share a bit of my journey.  I while back I posted about biting the bullet and joining Weight Watchers  I gave it about a month and I only lost 2 lbs... and needless to say I fell off the bandwagon and went back to my junky ways.

From July to the beginning of August  I noticed my clothes becoming tighter and some unwearable, and I was already not able to wear 80% of my clothes.  From my trip to Cuba, to a food and drink filled weekend in NOLA and my birthday I was quickly loosing control of my weight and my self esteem.

I was feeling uncomfortable sitting or bending over and I was mastering the one pose for pictures that I could disguise my arms, and midsection some.  Or I was avoiding pictures altogether, which is so unlike me!

So a week or so after my 29th birthday I decided I couldn't take it anymore and no food was worth the temporary satisfaction and it was time for a major sacrifice.  Mostly time to get healthy and get control over my body!

This time I opted for low carbs, no bread, pasta, potatoes, sweets, or starches in general.

I eat lean protein, eggs, lo fat cheese, apples, berries, citrus fruit and lots green veggies.  

I don't eat any processed foods, basically nothing that comes in a box!  Fresh healthy foods every meal and snack.  I have tried to eliminate diet sodas but I still have one every once in awhile.  I also drink as much water as possible!

The second major change was portion sizes... until I started to make conscious decisions to limit my portions, I didn't realize just how much I was eating.  And how many times I ate out of boredom and when I wasn't hungry. 

This is not easy to do.  In the beginning I went 6 weeks without going out to a restaurant for dinner.  Lunch isn't as hard to eat out since I can get a salad with chicken or something along those lines.   You have to really plan your meals and have snacks ready to go.  I carry an apple in my purse and keep sliced deli meat and low fat cheese sticks in the fridge at work.

I could stand to work out more but I have been power walking with hand weights a few nights a week.

Ok so here is my progress!

Me in July

 In August on my 29th birthday

It's so hard to admit what you really weigh.  But I figure it's time to be honest with myself and maybe someone who reads this will be inspired to make some better decisions towards a healthier lifestyle.  On August 23rd was my first weigh in was a little over 171 lbs and I am 5'4.  

(notice the pose, shoulders and arms back half hiding behind my boyfriend)

 On Sept. 13th I was at 161 and this pic was taken the weekend before that weigh in.

This was taken on Oct. 2nd and I was at 155

A week later I lost 4lbs and hit 20lbs loss and 151lbs.

Today I hit the 25lb mark and am 146lbs. and I have lost over 5 inches in my waist.

I would still like to get down to the 130-135 range as that was the weight I was in my young twenties and a weight I was able to maintain easily.

All of my clothes are getting big and I feel fantastic!  I have so much more energy and I just feel good about myself.

I must admit I don't know how I was able to do this without my boyfriend Chris.  He has been doing this diet right along side me every step of the way!  And he has lost 38lbs!!!!

When you cut carbs there are so many foods that you think you are going to miss.  But I don't miss bread as much as I thought I would or potatoes and pasta.  I do miss sweets but I think I enjoy them more now when I let myself splurge a little.

I I'll post again at 140:)