Oh Sunny Day...

Hello everyone! I hope you are having a good day! I know I am even though I somehow just deleted all of my posts :( I have no idea what happened! 

So here I go again...It has been a while since I have been on here and so many things have changed in my life. First and most exciting is my 70 lb weight loss. I started completely changing my eating and exercise habits last March (2012). A year later, I am down 70 lbs! Yes! I said 70 lbs.

My weight gain started in 2004, when I started college and dating my now husband. The stresses of life and eating out all the time will pack on the pounds fast! I know that is really not an excuse, but it is mine :) Seriously though, I was an emotion eater. I ate when I was sad, happy, excited and angry! When my mom was diagnosed with Huntington's Chorea in 2007, I really became depressed and eating was my outlet. My weight gain only made it worse. I had worked myself up to a tight size 16. The dress I am wearing below is a 16w.When I had to order a "wide", I knew something had to change and fast. I am now in a loose size 8 :)

This needed to change, so I tried to relieve my stress by jogging. At first, I could only run for a few minutes, but gradually worked myself up. In fact, in February (2013), I ran my first 10 miles! My goal was to complete a half marathon, but a stress fracture in my foot has put that on hold. I guess I was running a little too much! Since I have to wear a boot and do no pounding whatsoever, the bike and I have become very good friends over the past four and a half weeks. The bike is a nice change, but I can not wait till I can run again!

Here are a few before and after pictures of myself, husband and mother. All together we have lost a total of 130 lbs. That is another person!! The before images are still embarrassing for me, but the after make me so proud!!

Me at my heaviest

70 lbs lighter March 2013

If I can do this, you can too!! Have faith in yourself and never give up trying.I have not met my weight loss goal 100% yet and would like to lose another 15 lbs. For now, I have started to eat "clean" and lift more weights. The past two and half weeks of eating clean have gone very nice. This will allow me to get lean and nice muscle tone. I will be posting pictures of my progress along the way.

I will also be sharing recipes and pictures of the meals I make. I LOVE food and that use to be a big problem. Now, I have control and LOVE all the right foods. Do not get me wrong, I still need some chocolate every ONCE in a while. Th key word there is "once". :)

I hope you have a blessed day!JP