Wednesday Weigh-In: Week 2

I'm feeling great this week.  Sure I want crap because I like it, but I don't like feeling like crap so that's what helps me stay the course.  Last week I did pretty good with Patrick gone.  We survived mostly on hot dogs.  One of my goals for 2019 is to try one new recipe each week.  Last week I made Fried Cauliflower Rice.  It was pretty good.  I don't love to cook.  If it's got more than 5 ingredients or 5 steps I'm out.  I bought my cauliflower already riced frozen at ALDI.

This week I made Sausage Egg Muffins.

I needed something easy and quick I could eat for breakfast and the recipe I made up (based on a few is saw) made 18 muffins.  So I've been having one of those for breakfast this week.  Patrick and the kids can also grab one if they want, so that's nice too.

I'm down 3.2lbs this week.  I'd be lying if I said I wasn't hoping for more, but you have to start somewhere.  I'm also frustrated because I've already lost these pounds once (actually 3 times now if we're being honest).  I got to workout yesterday for the first time in months.  It was a "hurts so good" situation.  I'm trying to workout during the day now since my work hours are flexible.  My goal is to get in 2-3 workouts per week.  So I'm 1/125 for the year.  (I've got to pick it up in this area).  I'm meeting a friend to walk/jog today. Slow and steady!  Consistency is key. We got this!

Wednesday Weigh-In: Week 12

Week 12.  I really thought I'd be at my goal by this point in 2018.  I'm not.  I'm trying to be patient and consistent but it's not easy.  I have to keep reminding myself of what I've already accomplished.  It's easy to get caught up in the little bit left in the journey and forget how far you've come.   Some days I'm so proud I can hardly contain myself, and some days I'm so discouraged I'm not at my goal I want to quit it all and eat all the things.  I am feeling much better since getting back on track last week.  It's amazing how much better I feel physically when I'm eating to fuel my body and not just eating because I want to.  I really don't think I'll ever not want to eat cupcakes or drink margaritas.  I just keep telling myself I will be able to have those things again in moderation.  Baseball has me scrambling to get my workouts in.  I'm still managing to get there twice a week and I'm hoping to keep that up.  I need to throw in an at home workout at some point during the week but I haven't yet.  I really love how strong I'm feeling these days and seeing muscles doesn't hurt either.  

Now, for this weeks weigh-in...

147.0

I think that's my lowest WW so far on this journey, so that's exciting!

I'm down 2.4lbs from last week!  I'm down 0.6lbs from the WW before that!  So, finally trending down again!  It's amazing, when you eat right and so what you're supposed to the scale goes down!  Imagine that!  I'm 12lbs away from my goal.  I need all 12 of those pounds to come from my gut.  I've got 5 weeks before our anniversary trip.  I'm going to work my tail off to make my goal before then.  I'm soooo close!  I have to get back to the mindset of "it's not worth it".  In the beginning I would ask myself  "is it worth it?" when I wanted to cheat and most of the time it isn't! 

Thanks for following along! 

Wednesday Weigh-In: Week 10-11

Wednesday Weigh-In didn't happen last week.  I think I've been pretty honest lately that I've been struggling to get back on track.  I needed something to get back in gear so I decided to try a KETO ReBoot.  My cousins did it back in February and said they liked it so I decided to give it a try this month.  I'm tired of losing and gaining the same 5 pounds every two weeks.  I'm ready to lose this weight for good.  I feel like I'm doing great maintaining, problem is this is not the weight I want to maintain.  So the ReBoot kicked off Sunday night at 8:00pm.  It's basically a 60 hour fast.  In the kit you get meal supplements that are packed full of ketones to send your body into ketosis.  Yall, this was one of the hardest things I've ever done.  The supplements were awful.  I can usually eat just about anything and I could not choke these things down.  One wasn't too bad but that was it.  Monday night I was nearly in tears I was so hungry.  I decided to go to HIIT to get my mind off of food.  I actually had a really good workout.  I had more energy than I'd had in a long time.  The ketones were definitely working.  I struggled through Tuesday.  Considering giving up several times but I'd made it that far I wasn't going to quit now.  I made it all the way until this morning.  I couldn't wait to get up and make bacon and eggs and drink a cup of coffee.  It was delicious.  Will I do the ReBoot again?  Probably not.  I feel like I can achieve the same results without buying the kit, especially since I didn't like most of the products.  Am I glad I did it?  Yes, I wanted to try the products anyway and I needed something to reset my system and get me back into ketosis and I accomplished both of those things.  My goal is to stay in ketosis for 5-6 weeks.  I'm not sure I'll survive Easter but I'm going to give it my best shot! I really want these last 14 pounds gone forever! and I really do feel so  much better, I sleep better and have more mental clarity when I'm in ketosis.  You'd think that alone would be motivation enough but sweets are a powerful thing.  

I'm up 1.8lbs from two weeks ago.  I'm not happy about it but I'm not going to let it undo everything I've worked so hard for.  I'm still so close to my goal.  I'm more focused and determined now.  I'm confident I can knock these last pounds out before summer!  If I didn't eat for 60ish hours, I'm pretty sure I can do this.  

Wednesday Weigh-In: Week 9

Hey, Hey!  It's Wednesday!  I feel like I've been so busy this week (not really sure why though).  We had a busy weekend and we've got a couple of busy ones coming up.  I'm afraid we're going to be busy for a couple of months.  I hate being busy.  My diet is the first thing to go when we're busy.  I'm trying to plan ahead so that doesn't happen this time!  (How many times can I say busy in this post?)  I've been to the gym 3 times a week for 9 straight weeks now and I can definitely see results.  When I was doing my hair the other day, I noticed I have biceps now.  So that's exciting.  I feel like there's not a whole lot to talk about these days but I need these posts to hold myself accountable.  

-1lb from last week.  I know I say it every week but slow and steady.  Each pound adds up.  I'm only 12.6lbs away from my goal weight.  I'm feeling stronger than ever. 

I had to share this before and after.  That was me at AveryAnn's birthday party last year.  There weren't many pictures of me.  I did a pretty good job avoiding the camera.  Then, there's me last Saturday at AveryAnn's birthday party.  Not scared to be in a picture with my daughter.  It is so freeing not being so uncomfortable in my own skin.  I know I say it every week but the hardest part is getting started.  I promise it is so worth it.  It's worth the work and sacrifice.  I'm so glad I started and now I'm down 55lbs and I'm 12lbs away from my goal.  This journey has been life changing for me.  I've learned so much about myself.  If you're on the fence, just start.  Take it one day at time.

Wednesday Weigh-In: Week 8

I'm finally feeling more in control this week.  I'm feeling stronger than ever in the gym.  I'm starting to really love the definition I'm seeing in my muscles.  For the first time in my life I'm not dreading summer and swimsuit season.  (Even when I was at my goal weight and working out, I still dreaded wearing a swimsuit because my boobs were so big and didn't fit into any normal swimsuits).  I can tell a difference in my overall energy level this week since I've been eating better. I feel like this week was what I needed to get myself back in gear.  

I'm down 3.4lbs from last week.  (Down 1.2lbs from my lowest WW weight.)

Making my total loss 55.4lbs.  Only 13.6lbs to go!!  I made mashed cauliflower this week for the first time and I was actually impressed with how much we liked it.  Even Patrick liked it.  It will definitely be added to the weekly rotation.

Wednesday Weigh-In: Week 7

Week 7!  I really had every intention to be at my goal by this point in the year.  But I'm not.  I'm trying not to get discouraged but it's hard.  But I also know I'm not putting in the work that I need to put in to get there.  I can't really be surprised that I'm not losing weight when I'm still eating whatever I want whenever I want.  It just doesn't work like that.  In my head I've moved on to maintaining and I've still got 15 pounds to lose.  So I have to get back into the losing mindset and I can't seem to make myself do it.  I've had several people ask me about keto lately and how to get started.  I feel like such a fraud telling them what to do  when I can't seem to get myself back on track.  But I did have a lot of success and I do think it works.  My problem in me right now.  I think if I can get back into the mindset of "one week at a time"  that was I had to do in the beginning and it worked.  I'm so worried about 3 and 4 weeks from now that I'm sabotaging myself.  So this week, I'm focused and ready.  I want to lose 2lbs this week.  I'm cutting out sweets.  I'm done with them for now.  I will eat sweets again one day just not right now.  It's just not worth it.  It's hard to believe that when you really want that cookie but its true.  The moment of pleasure is just not worth not reaching my goals.  

I'm up 2.2lbs this week.  I'm not shocked at all.  I've eaten like crap.  And because of that I'm feeling like crap.   I'm making all my workouts but you can't out work a terrible diet.  I know all of these things but I still couldn't convince myself to eat better.  It's a new week and another chance to do better.  I know I can do this.

Wednesday Weigh-In: Week 6

It's Wednesday again, and I'm exhausted.  I'm not getting enough sleep and it's starting to wear on me.  I know that sounds like a lame excuse but it's true.  I've been getting up early for my quiet time each morning but I haven't been able to get in bed to make up the 30 minutes.  I know that doesn't sound like a lot but it has been for me.  I have got to start going to bed earlier.  I've felt so busy lately during the week.  I've been so tempted to skip working out so I could get to bed at a decent time.  But I really enjoy it once it's over and I don't want to skip.  So I'm going to have to start going to bed earlier.  My diet has been crap this week.  I'm blaming it on the lack of sleep.  

No change, (I'm not complaining).  I know I sound like a broken record but I have to start eating better.  I'm seeing great results from being back in the gym but I know it could be so much better it I was eating better foods.

We went for our body fat analysis this week for the first time since October.  I was pleased with my results. I was down 8 pounds from the end of October.  Which doesn't sound like a lot but since it was over the holidays I'm happy with it.  I measured 2" smaller in my chest, this is crazy to me considering this was the first measurement since my breast reduction. I was -1" in my waist.  I was 1.25" bigger in my hips but I really feel like that might be the result of a lot of squats.  Minus 0.5" in my arm and -1.5" in my leg.  Over all a loss of 5".  We've been taking progress pictures since our first meeting with Lisa in August.  I wish I had taken some when I first started but these after I'd already lost 30lbs are bad enough.  I've never shared them but I going to add them here because I just can't get over the difference.

The breast reduction helped my overall proportion tremendously but I still can't believe the little definition in my stomach.  I know I say it every week, but I've still got some work to do but I'm still so proud of how far I've come.  

Wednesday Weigh-In: Week 5

Here we are, five weeks in, feeling stronger and stronger each week.  I'm seeing the number on the scale go down (slowly but surely) and I'm seeing muscle definition return after my 6 week hiatus from the gym.  There have been a lot of new people at the gym this month and so many of them remind me of myself 6 months ago.  As much as I miss all the free space before the new year, it's exciting to see people motivated to reach new goals.  I feel like I'm proof that it works if you commit to it.  I'm committed.  I know it's only going to get harder as our kids get older and busier.  So I want to make it as much of a habit as I can now.  I'm somewhat of a homebody.  When I get home in the afternoon, I like to be home.  So getting back out to go to the gym (especially when it's dark and cold) has been hard.  But it is so worth it.  Eating well is so worth it too, I'm having a harder time convincing myself of that one though.  I'm eating what I have to eat to reach my desired goal.  But I'll be honest, I'm not enjoying it.  I do feel better so that helps, but man why do cookies and chips (and margaritas) have to be so bad for you.  I went shopping this past weekend and I can't explain to you the feeling of being able to choose something off the rack and it just fit.  Part of this is the breast reduction but a big part of it is the weight loss and workout regimen.  I even tried on some shorts that I was afraid were going to be to small and they were too big!!  I feels so good to feel good in my own skin again.  (Now if I could win the lottery or somehow have a big pile of money fall in my lap so I can buy all new clothes that would be great!)

-1.2lbs this week.

I wasn't kidding when I said slowly.

But again, Rome wasn't built in a day.  I'm getting so close to my goal that I'm getting antsy and ready to just be there.  I feel like these last 14.8lbs are going to be the hardest, even harder than those first 15-20bs.  But they are going to be so worth it.  I could easily sit back right here and be happy with what I've accomplished.  But I'm determined not to settle for good enough.  I've got a goal and even if it takes me another six months to lose 14lbs, I'm going to do it.  

My tip for this week isn't new but I want to share it again.  Get an accountability partner!!!  Dave Ramsey defines this person as "someone who loves you enough to hurt your feelings."  and that description couldn't be more perfect.  (I realize Dave Ramsey is a money guy but this definition fits here too).  I may be biased but I think I have the best accountability partner.  We are pretty brutal to each other when it comes to honesty but I know she wants what's best for me and I want the same for her.

Wednesday Weigh-In: Week 4

I'm officially back in ketosis!!! Finally!!!  I know some people need more variety in a diet but I need something that eliminates certain foods.  I needed to get myself back in ketosis so I wouldn't want to eat cookies or sweets for fear of knocking myself out.  It's not worth it.  I feel like you can be a little looser with "good" carbs once you're in ketosis.  I don't know why but it was a lot harder for me this time.  I just kept telling myself that it was worth it.  I would feel better.  My workouts would yield better results.  I would sleep better.  I would wake easier.  For the most part these are all true.  I know from past experiences it'll be another week or so before the intense cravings for sweets goes away.  I've got a couple of  keto friendly recipes I want to try for sweets.  Another benefit of getting control of my diet and eliminating soft drinks...I went to the dentist yesterday for my cleaning and I had zero cavities.  I've almost always had at least one cavity every visit (twice a year) for most of my adult life.  So no cavities is huge.  (My dentist is probably sad for that $300 he was probably counting on from me this month.) I'm afraid that the next few months are going to be busy for us.  I really am making it a priority to workout but it's going to get tricky fitting it all in.  Patrick is having to do a lot more at home than he is used to (which it totally fine, and he doesn't mind.  It just makes me feel a little selfish.).

I'm -1 lb this week.  Doesn't seem like much but every little bit counts.  That's how I've lost the first 50lbs, one pound at a time.  That's how these last 16lbs will come off too.  Just have to be patient.  I want to wake up and be at my goal and that's just not realistic (well actually I guess one day I will wake up and be at my goal, but not without a few weeks of work first.)  

I wanted to share kind of what I eat most days.  

I have the same thing for breakfast week day.  A cup of coffee with 1/4 of a vanilla premier protein shake.  I'm not usually hungry in the mornings so I don't usually eat anything but if I am hungry I'll have a mini babybel cheese.  On the weekends I usually cook breakfast.  I'll have bacon and eggs or sausage and eggs.  This weekend I made these keto sausage balls.  I've been eating them some this week too. 

You can find the recipe here.  They were so good.  A little greasy but Patrick thought they might be better than regular sausage balls.

For lunch during the week I'm spoiled and my boss buys my lunch nearly everyday so we eat fast food most days.  I'll have a grilled chicken club without the bun, hot dog without the bun, bacon cheeseburger without the bun, salad with grilled chicken and ranch, buffalo chicken wings with ranch or steak fajitas without the tortilla.  You can have all the toppings with the fajitas so I don't even miss the tortilla.

For dinner I usually cook something.  My son and husband are somewhat picky.  Patrick will at least try everything, Barrett won't even try stuff.  My favorite is Mexican.  We do that at least once a week.  Everyone else will either eat taco shells, tortilla or use chips to make nachos.   

This is my favorite dinner.  I've made several pinterest recipes.  Another favorite is chicken baked with broccoli, cheddar cheese and bacon.  We usually have hot dogs at least once a week because everyone will eat them.  We mostly eat chicken.  And I usually just bake it and then add some sort of side, usually something starchy for them and then green beans, broccoli, or Brussel sprouts for me.

I've made fat bombs from pinterest as something sweet I also will have a spoonful of Halo Top ice cream for a sweet treat.  I also found this week Planters Salted Carmel peanuts.  They are a little high in carbs but if you've got the macros for them in you day they are a great little treat.  

So that's a little peak into my daily food diary.  Some days my macros are perfect.  Some days I'm just surviving.  My biggest tip if you're to eat keto is at first just focus on staying within your carbs.  Eat as many calories as you need to stay full without going over on carbs.  You probably wont go over by much but it will help avoid the need to snack and make bad choices.  I still use this thinking in some situations.  

That's it for this week.  Let me know if you decide to start so I can cheer you along! 

Wednesday Weigh-In: Week 2

I've had a pretty good week for the most part.  I've cooked at home several nights.  I went to the grocery store (finally) Saturday morning and stocked up on snacks.  I struggled trying to stay on track during the ball game Monday night.  I'm a nervous snacker.  It was a very nerve wracking game.  I should have taken something to eat but I just knew I'd be fine.  I was not.  It's just a bad day and it doesn't mean I don't make better choices the next day.  It's a choice everyday, every meal to eat things that nourish my body and make be physically feel good, not just things that I want to eat because they taste good.  Which is hard, because I really like food. (which is probably why I've had a weight problem most of my adult life)

-3.6lbs this week. 

I'm happy with that.  My goal for the gym is to do HIIT 3 times a week.  When it gets warmer I'll add back running stadiums too.  So far it has felt so good to be back in the gym.  The first class I was so sore I could barely walk the next day.  But this past week I've been the good kind of sore.  You can still move but you know you worked hard.  Overall, it was a good first week back in the grind, i'm excited to get these last few pounds off for good!

Wednesday Weigh-In: It's a New Year!

It's a new year!  I'm really looking forward to all 2018 has in store!  I guess you noticed I took a few weeks off from Wednesday Weigh-In.  I didn't really mean to, it just kind of happened.  I decided that I would relax after Thanksgiving and not be too strict.  Look, I love food.  I enjoy a good party with food and drinks.  I love watching football while eating pizza and drinking beer.  I don't think I will ever not feel this way.  All these people that say they just don't want sweets anymore are lying.  I will always want a cookie.  Now I do recognize that I don't feel great when I have a lot of sugar and junk.  That does make me want to eat better and take better care of myself.  But the desire to eat a cookie every now and then isn't going away.  What I have learned is I can't eat cookies 7 days a week.  I also can't eat 10 servings of cookies when I do decide to indulge.  All that to say, I gained a little weight back over the holidays, but I'm still 47lbs lighter than I was this time last year.  And I'm still very, very proud of that.  I've definitely lost some muscle tone while I was recovering from surgery but I'm back at it and I'm ready to see the results of my hard work.  I've missed working out a lot.  My mental health has suffered from both not working out and not eating well.  I can tell a huge difference in my sleep and mood when I'm out of my routine.

+7lbs from my last Wednesday Weigh-In.  Not ideal but I don't really regret anything.  I started back eating Keto yesterday.  I felt so good when I was in Ketosis and that is my goal.  Not only did I feel better but I felt like my workouts were more efficient as well.  I'm working really hard to hit my goal by April.  One of my goals for the new year is to work out 3-4 times a week.  I did that consistently for 4 months last year and it definitely made a difference.  Another goal in continue meeting with Lisa for a body fat analysis to measure progress.  It was a huge motivation last year and I want to continue.  

If you've got plans to get healthy this year my advice, just start.  Start making better choices everyday.  They don't have to be great choices just better than you made yesterday.  Trust me, I know it am be overwhelming when you feel like you have too much to lose.  But I also know, you can do it.  You just have to get started.

Wednesday Weigh-In: Week Twenty-Three

I'm feeling good this week.  Recovery is going way better than expected.  I can pick up AveryAnn most of the time and I was afraid that would take several weeks.  My eating has been all over the place because we've just been so out of routine.  Truth be told, I'll probably continue to eat whatever I have through the weekend and get back on track Monday.  I'm not going to go crazy but I'm not going to stress about it.  I finally got to go walking this week and boy did I need it.  More for my sanity than my fitness.  I've missed that time away from the house, I didn't realize how beneficial it was for my mental health.  I went to the civic center during HIIT so I got to see all my workout buddies.  I'm looking forward to getting back in the class with them.  I've been pleased with the scale this week but I'm a little worried that I'm just losing muscle mass. 

-3.2lbs this week.  When I started this journey I really wasn't sure I could do it.  I had so much weight to lose.  More than I'd ever had to lose before.  Plus I've added two kids to the mix and free time is just hard to come by.  But I'm doing it.  I have to remind people that you have to take it one week at a time.  In the beginning those 1 and 2 pound loses don't feel like much but it adds up.  Pretty soon you're down 15 and then 20 pounds and then one day you realize you've lost nearly 60lbs and you're so glad you started when you weren't sure you could do it.

2.9lbs away from a 60lb weight loss!!!  I know I sound like a broken record but I am so dang proud.  14lbs away from my goal.  I know I won't make it by the end of the year and I'm okay with that.

Thanks for following along!

Wednesday Weigh-In: Week Twenty

I've worked hard this week to get things headed back in the right direction.  This time of year is hard.  There are temptations everywhere.  I love candy so Halloween is a tough one.  I let myself have few pieces but didn't over do it.   I know I will feel like crap if I have too much so that has been motivation enough to not go crazy.  I've kept up my 3 times a week at the gym through the busy month of October.  I'm hoping to get at least one class in next week before surgery, maybe two.  I'm going to miss working out while I'm recovering.  I'm hoping to be able to get out and at least do some walking.

-3.8lbs from last week.  I'm so close to my pre-surgery goal.  I don't know if I'll make it or not but I'm going to work my tail off this week to get there. 

I still can't believe I've lost 50 pounds.  I'm less than 20 pounds from my goal weight.  I'm still so proud of the progress I've made. 

(I feel like these posts are somewhat boring and redundant but the accountability is important for me.)

Wednesday Weigh-In: Week Nineteen

Week nineteen!  A few weeks of bad decisions finally caught up with me this week.  It is what it is and I can't let it derail my whole journey.  While it's disappointing its not the end of the world and its not a reason to throw in the towel.  I've come to far to give up now.  We did our monthly body fat analysis yesterday and I'm very pleased with the results.  They would have probably been even better last week but whatever.  I'm still getting in my 3-4 workouts each week.  It's going to be really hard when the time changes and it's dark when I have to leave the house.  I really love HIIT.  It's a 30 minute class and you can't beat the results.  I can tell I've gotten so much stronger since starting and I can definitely see the changes in my body.  It's worth all the effort it takes to get there.

+2lbs this week.  It happens.  It's not the end of the world.  It does make my surgery goal nearly impossible to make.  But I'm still going to work really hard to get there.

My measurements this month were much better!  I lost a total of 5.5" this month and I think you can really tell.  I'm so glad we started doing this.  It adds another level of accountability.

Those totals will be -30+ and -50+ pounds next week!!!  I'm going to work my tail off and make it happen!

Wednesday Weigh-In: Week Eighteen

I've noticed that the closer I get to my goal weight the harder it is to stay motivated.  You'd think the opposite would be true.  I haven't figured out why this is exactly.   I don't know if its because I'm feeling good about what I see and how I feel.  One thing that helps is I will think I'm looking really good but then I'll order an outfit and when I try it on I realize, "yep, this will look better after I lose another 15-30lbs".  Ha!  I'm still very proud of my progress but I know there's still more work to be done.  I was afraid this week was going to be a dumpster fire when I finally stepped on the scale after a fun weekend!  But it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be.  I'm to the point now where I can be a little more flexible for special things.  I don't like to do that too often because it's hard for me to get back on track but every now and then is ok.  Even when I eat more carbs I still try to be conscious of calorie count so I'm not just going nuts.  

-0.8lbs this week.

Not great but still progress!  I'm still 6.4lbs away from my surgery goal. Surgery is in 3 weeks and 2.2lbs a week is totally possible.  I'm going to buckle down and get serious these last 3 weeks.  I also really need to get more serious about my diet again because after surgery I'm not going to be working out for several weeks and I don't want to lose all the progress I've made.

Eighteen weeks ago, I really wasn't sure I'd ever get to say "I've lost 30lbs".  But I'm so glad I didn't let that keep me from getting started and making the change.  Fear of failure has kept me from trying so many things in my life but I'm glad I didn't let it stop me here.  It's time for us to have our body fat analysis done again.  I was disappointed by the results last time but hopefully that won't be the case this month.

Wednesday Weigh-In: Week Seventeen

We've had a pretty good week around here.  I'm feeling good.  Workouts are going well and it is really starting to show.  They say it takes 12 weeks for others to notice the changes in your body and I'd say that's definitely true.  My neighbor stopped me the other day to ask what I was doing because they could tell I'd lost a lot of weight. I told him and he said he was going to start too.  Yesterday he told me he's lost 13lbs.  We went out for Brittany's birthday Friday night and it felt good to not want to hide in the back of the group picture.  I can't tell you how long its been since I felt that kind of confidence.  We went to a bar to sing karaoke and had the best time.  It was so nice to just have fun and not be self conscious about how I looked.  I actually felt pretty.  I also ate a burger with the bun and French fries, drank margaritas, beer and had a cupcake.  I was sick as a dog Saturday.  It was the worst hangover I've had in a really long time.  I didn't drink that much (especially for me and I mix margaritas and beer all the time) but I couldn't keep anything down Saturday and I really think that the food I ate had a lot to do with it.  All the sugar was like poison to my body and it was terrible.  I've learned my lesson. 

Now for the scale!

-2lbs this week!!! That number is coming down and I'm so proud of it!  I'm 7.2lbs away from my surgery goal (which is 4 weeks away). and 22.2lbs away from end goal.  I'll be honest (and I think I say this every week) 6 months ago I never thought I'd see this number.  I'm still a little surprised when I look in the mirror.  It's a good feeling.

You're probably sick of hearing me say this but I'm so proud of those numbers.  I'm so proud of the person I see when I look in the mirror.  Yes, most of the time I still see the areas that still need work but I also am so proud of the muscles I see too. Just ask Brittany, I send her pictures of my muscles all the time.  Patrick thinks we're crazy. (Maybe we are just a little bit.)

That's all for this week.

Wednesday Weigh-In: Week Sixteen

Almost four months of Ketogenic living, (with a few treats here and there).  I'm feeling good and let me tell you, it feels good to feel good again.  Twelve weeks of consistent workouts 3-4x a week.  I told Brittany I could cry I'm so proud of that alone.  Working out has been a real commitment this time around.  Having two kids and a husband that works a lot are two easy excuses but I have stuck with it and my husband has done everything he could to make it as easy as possible for me to get there 3 times a week.  I feel stronger than I have in a really long time.  I can tell a huge difference from week 1 to this week.  Brittany and I talk a lot about why we've been successful.  Part of it is we were both in a desperate place.  We both were at rock bottom weight wise and had just had enough.  We were ready to make a change and you have to be ready to be successful.  Another thing, and I've mentioned it before, is having an accountability partner.  The third thing is having people invest in you.  People cheering you on.  When people take time to encourage you and invest in you it makes you want to work that much harder.  The instructor that teaches the HIIT class we've been going to has been such an encouragement to both of us.  Since he realized we were committed he has really invested in us.  He wants to know where we are when we miss a class.  He lets us crash his personal workout on Saturday mornings (there are several of us that join this workout and it's a fun way to start the weekend).  He asks about our progress.  He and his wife both are so encouraging.  He pushes us when we think we can't do another squat, pushup or stadium.  He entertains my kids when I have to bring them so I can workout.  He would do this for anyone in his class, not just us.  I think these three things have been crucial in my success.

Now, for the scale this week.

-1.2lbs this week.  I'm finally below 160 pounds.  I wasn't sure this day would ever come!  Not quite the two pounds I was shooting for but every little bit counts.  Progress is progress!  I've got 9.2 pounds to lose before my surgery in 5 weeks.  I've got 24.2lbs to reach my goal weight.  

I know I say it every week, but I am so proud of those numbers.  I don't say that to brag but six months ago I really wasn't sure I'd ever be here.  I thought I'd be a size 14 forever.  If you're not happy, you can make the change.  You just have to commit and get started.  Those are the two hardest things.  You can do it!

Wednesday Weigh-In: Week Fifteen

It's Wednesday!!

We're fifteen Wednesdays into this journey.  That's almost 4 months.  Some days it feels like I started yesterday and some days it feels like I've been at this forever.  I can definitely see big changes in my body.  I still have a long road but seeing progress is so encouraging.  I've been consistently working out at least 3 times a week for 11 weeks now.  I feel stronger than I have in a really long time.   Also I can tell if I've eaten more carbs than normal because I feel like crap.  I feel sluggish and heavy and just blah.  I was shocked by how bad I felt.  It was definitely the motivation I needed to stay the course.  I don't want to go back to that feeling all the time.  It took one day for me to realize how far I've really come and how much better I really feel.  I'm not going to lie, sometimes I look in the mirror and wonder if I'll ever get to my goal.  Sometimes it feels like an impossible task to lose these last 25lbs.  But I just have to sit back and look at how far I've already come.  I've lost more weight, done more push-ups, more burpees and run more stadiums than I ever thought I would do again.  When I'm feeling down about the size of my pants and what I left to do, I redirect my focus to what I've already accomplished.  I don't focus on the flaws, I choose to celebrate the progress, even when it feels like I have to dig to find any progress to celebrate.

-1.6lbs from last week.  Not quite 2 pounds but I'm still on track to hit my goal before surgery.  So close to kissing the 160's goodbye forever.  I can finally wear my wedding band again which is my favorite non-scale victory so far.   I can get my engagement ring on but can only wear it if the humidity is low. Ha!  

The -25.5lbs is what I've lost since starting Keto. I've lost more than 42lbs total. I've got around 25lbs left to lose.

Wednesday Weigh-In: Week Fourteen

We've been trucking right along this week.   Trying to make good choices.  I've been committed to working out 3 days a week for 10 weeks now and I can definitely see the changes in my body.

The other big news this week is I'm having breast reduction surgery.  It's something that I've thought about since I was 18 years old but I always wanted to wait until after I had kids.  Well I've had two kids and it was time to seriously consider it.  I went for a consultation back in August and I liked the surgeon ok but I wasn't convinced I wanted to do it.   I did get approval from my insurance company that they would pay 100% so that was good but I wasn't sold on this guy.  I talked to a few other friends and decided to go for a consultation with another surgeon and I really, really liked him.  He was so nice.  I never felt rushed.  We talked about exactly what I wanted the end result to be and I was very encouraged.  I left that day knowing I wanted to do it, we just had to decide when.  I originally thought I wanted to do it in January but after talking with this surgeon about recovery and my weight loss goals I felt confident that I wanted to go ahead and do it as soon as worked with our schedules.  So I went ahead and scheduled it for the first week of November.  I'm very excited.  I'm a little nervous to not be able to work out for several weeks.  Everyone that has had it done said it's 100% worth it. 

I'm down 2.4lbs this week!  I'm excited for this progress.  Every little bit counts!  I've got about 15lbs I'd like to lose before surgery in 7 weeks. 

I've lost 41lbs since March. (I think I'm going to change my graphics to reflect the total weight loss.)  I did another body fat analysis this week and the results weren't what I'd hoped for but I did lose 1.5" in my arm and .75" in my thigh.

I posted this on Instagram and facebook yesterday for "transformation Tuesday" yesterday.  That picture from Disney popped up on my timehop last week and I couldn't believe what I saw.  I knew I was overweight but I had no idea how big I really was.  I was 6 months postpartum and still breastfeeding but I was miserable.  Not necessarily with how I looked (I didn't love it but I because my body had just grown another human and was still feeding it I was ok with it) but I felt terrible.  I was so exhausted all the time.  I had zero energy.  I just didn't feel like myself and I wondered if I would ever feel like me again.  Here I am a year later and I feel great.  I love fitting into old clothes but I love the way I feel even more!  I'm so proud of how far I've come but I've still got a good way to go.

Wednesday Weigh-In: Week 13

I feeling better this week and slowly but surely getting back on track.  If I had one piece of advice for this whole weight loss journey it would be get an accountability partner.  Someone that has similar goals and someone that will challenge you.  Someone that will call you out when you are slacking.  Someone that will truly encourage you.  They celebrate the success and they pick you up when you feel like you can't eat one more hamburger without the bun and run with you when you think you can't run one more stadium.  I had a great accountability partner in 2010 when I was successful (she moved away) and I have a great one now.  I feel like I have my own little cheerleader. (Hopefully she feels the same way.)  I've fallen off the Keto wagon too many times to count in the last month and honestly if it weren't for Brittany's encouragement I would have probably gone back to my old eating habits.  But we are in this together and I want to see her reach her goals as much as I want to reach my own.  So we tell each other to put on your big girl panties and deal with it. While we still have a ways to go to reach our goals, we are so much closer than we were even a month ago.  We've also been lucky to find a fitness instructor and class that we both really enjoy.  The instructor is so motivating and encouraging.  Sometimes I feel like he feels sorry for us but either way he's been good for us.  He challenges us every week and we've surprised ourselves at how far we've come.  I am so surprised by the changes in my body in just 9 weeks of working out.  I'm excited to see what progress looks like in another 9 weeks.  

-2.8lbs this week!  I might do a backflip when I get below 160bs.  This is the smallest I've been since I got pregnant with Barrett.  I'm so proud of that.  

My total loss since March is 38.4lbs.  Hopefully I'll hit 40lbs next week.  We're going for another body analysis this Friday and I'm anxious to see the results.  The scale hasn't moved that much for me but I feel like I've lost inches and fat.  I'm hoping I'm not wrong.

Find a partner and get started.  You won't regret it!