It's not over!

Throughout the past year and few months I've had a lot of people talk to me about this change. At first it was words of encouragement. Then it became statements of congrats. Towards the end of the year, about when I ran my half marathon, it became questions of how. How did you do it? What diet did you use? What exercises did you do? How did you find the motivation? How did you stay motivated? Can you help me do what you did? It reminds me of an awesome quote:

I didn't go into this trying to inspire people. I went into this trying to find myself again. The woman who you see in my before pictures, you read about her. Jealous. Miserable. Lethargic. (If you missed that post you can find it here.) All I wanted was to be the woman my husband married. Always smiling or laughing about something. Who loved shopping, loved getting dressed up for her man, loved going out, loved RUNNING, loved laying out in the sun and wasn't ashamed of what I looked like. All I wanted was to be the mama I pictured myself to be. Running after my baby, playing with my sweet boy, rough housing with him, cooking healthy meals, teaching him new things. I never in a million years thought taking control of my health would lead to so many other amazing things! I've met so many wonderful people, I feel amazing and I feel like I found myself again. I have confidence again. And that alone has opened up so many doors! 

So without further ado...my transformation images!

Before: Jan 2, 2013
Current: Mar 16, 2014

I look at these pictures and I am overcome with emotions. Definitely mostly positive.

I HAVE LOST OVER 50 LBS!!! How crazy is that??? I need to do my measurements as far as inches go, but I can tell you that in my waist alone I've lost 11 inches. ELEVEN. I have gone from a size almost 16 (refused to buy them and started this journey not too long after that day in the dressing room) to a size 2 or 4, depending on where I shop. At the risk of sounding braggy (is that a word?!) I have to say I am incredibly proud of myself!

I think H is happy he has a healthy mama!
Also, don't judge! I look like poo and
needed a shower! lol!

But there's something I want to warn you of. It is so easy for me to look at these and think of my next goals. To see the pieces of me that I'm still not happy with. To think of my next workout, or list in my head what I ate that day and if it's going to get me closer to my goal. I am constantly reminding myself to STOP.

STOP focusing on these little flaws.
STOP talking junk about yourself.
STOP putting yourself down.

LOOK HOW FAR YOU'VE COME! (Yes, I talk to myself. All the time. Don't act like you don't! Ha!)

Instead, I have to remind myself to celebrate how far I've come. Celebrate each pound loss. Not because the scale measures my worth, but because the majority of those pounds lost added years to my life! Years where I'll be able to enjoy my family. And one day Harrison's family.

And maybe this is a tangent, but I gotta say it. A lot of people see me today, or will see these pictures, and think "why is she working out still? who cares if she has a cheeseburger? she's "skinny" now. she's fit now. it doesn't matter!" I know people are thinking this because A) I used to think that (remember the whole jealousy thing?!) and B) I've been told already. Either behind my back and via a friend or even to my face. Well, guess what got me where I was in those before pictures?! That kind of mentality. LAZINESS. Thinking "I've arrived." Umm, no. SORRY! It doesn't work that way!

 FITNESS, HEALTH, EATING WELL...those things don't just stop one day because my scale says "oh, you're ___ lbs...yay you. Now go eat all the food and don't exercise!" Those things don't just stop because my pant size goes down. I worked really really hard to get here! Now I need to keep working hard to stay here! Fitness never ends. And that's what I love about it! There is always something new to learn. A new class to take. A new person to talk to. It's a huge reason why I decided to coach through BeachBody. But that's a post I'll save for another day!

So I leave you with this...and don't forget! In the end, all I care about is being STRONG. For myself, for my boys, for my family, for my friends. For my life. And I care about it for you too!

Alright, enough rambling. Deuces.

(Trying out a new tagline...whaddya think?! I don't have a mic to drop so...! Oh, and I guess I didn't mention it in my previous post, but I'm also corny. It's sad really. Just humor me! <Insert winky face sticking his tongue out here>)