Weekly Wrap Up!

Sunday: Jillian Michaels Ripped in 30 Week 2
Monday: Ran 3.25 miles
Tuesday: Ran 2.15 miles (Got caught in the wind from a storm)
Wednesday: Hot Yoga
Thursday: Rest Day
Friday: Ran 2.67 miles
Saturday: Hot Yoga

Weighed in Wednesday down .4 lbs. Its not much, but at least it wasn't an increase :)

Friday Fave!

Who do YOU run for?

God gave me the gift of mobility. Others aren't as fortunate. I run for Paolo. Who do YOU fun for?

My Friday fave today is a very special one.  IR4 is an organization that matches runners with people who cannot run.  Many of them are children with physical disabilities.  Once matched the runner dedicates their miles and/or workouts to their buddy.  I've had the privilege of being matched very recently. The group is experiencing tremendous growth, so it can be a long wait to be matched.  I was on the list for several months. Runners post at least 3 times a week to the Facebook group tagging their buddy's parent.  Most of us send race swag or little gifts periodically. My buddy is a little boy in Washington who has Down Syndrome, Autism, and Global Apraxia.  I have already come to adore him and his dear family.  The pictures and videos his mom shares with me absolutely make my day.  It is such an honor to get to run for this beautifully special little boy.  If you are a runner, I strongly encourage you to check out the group.  I can't imaging anything more rewarding or worthwhile.

Marathon! (Well, 1/2)

I am so excited!  I signed up for my first half marathon.  I still can't believe I'm actually going to do this.  No, I'm sure I won't run all of it, but I definitely will complete it.  I'm planning to run the Rock -n- Roll half marathon in Savannah this fall.  Its actually my birthday gift from my grandmother.  If you had told me two years ago I would want registration in a half marathon for my birthday, I would never have believed you.  Its completely official.  I'm registered and everything.  Wish me luck!

Weekly Wrap Up!

Ok, its late, and I've been AWOL for weeks.  So sorry.  There has been so much going on lately (mostly good and exciting things), that I just haven't gotten here.  I'll be getting some posts up to share some of the goings on as the week progresses. For now, I'm not going to try to go back and update the past weeks.  My memory isn't that good :)  I'll just pick up with last week.

Monday: Jillian Michael's Ripped in 30 Week 1
Tuesday: Ran 3.25 Miles
Wednesday: Hot Yoga
Thursday: Ran 4.02 Miles
Friday: Rest Day
Saturday: Hot Yoga.  Had date night with hubby and also did a lot of walking around downtown.

Weigh in on Wednesday was down 4 lbs.  Don't be too impressed though.  I've been up and down a lot lately.  Overall, this still put me 2 lbs over where I was before Spring Break, and the eating on the previously mentioned date night is not going to make my scale friendly this week.  Oh well!  It was a lovely evening, and I"m not going to regret it.

Friday Fave!

Yogitoes is today's Friday Fave!  If you do hot yoga, you know you need to have a towel on your mat unless you want to slip and slide all over.  I love Yogitoes mats.  There are lots of brands on the market, some better than others.  Yogitoes run around $65 on the company's website.  Sometimes you can find them for $40-$50 on Amazon.  I actually got mine for around $45 on Target.com, but they do not currently have them.  I know this sounds like a lot for a towel, and if you haven't tried hot yoga yet, or don't know how you feel about it, I wouldn't suggest investing right away.  A beach towel will suffice for your first couple of classes.  What makes Yogitoes great?  First, they are super absorbent, which is their obvious purpose.  They have little nonskid nubs on the back to keep it from slipping on your mat or the floor.  My towel is light and easily portable.  My sister actually uses hers as a travel mat when she stays in hotels.  Yogitoes also strives to be socially responsible by using recycled materials and environmentally friendly dyes.  They also come in really pretty colors :)  Other yoga accessories are offered as well.  I, personally, also love their headbands. They are inexpensive, can be worn wide or folded thinner.  They are soft and stretchy and stay in place.  I've used mine for running as well.  If you are committed to a hot yoga practice, these towels are for you!

Inspiraton=Responsibility

I've reached the point in my journey where people have started viewing me as "successful".  Its not uncommon now for me to be told by someone that I inspire them.  That they stayed on the treadmill when they wanted to quit, that they're beginning to make changes in their diet.  It always excites me, and I'm so thrilled for them.  Let me be perfectly transparent, though.  I don't feel like a success.  I'm still fighting to drop another 30 pounds.  There are so many days when I don't want to get off my couch and exercise.  Days when my runs feel like epic failures.  I guess in my view, a person who is inspiring hits their goal without setbacks, wants to go run instead of doing it even though they don't, never falls off the wagon. That's probably not the case at all.  It just looks that way from the outside.  In essence, being told I've inspired someone inspires me.  It makes me want to do better and to do more.  As much as I don't want to fail myself, I want even less to fail someone one else.  So it turns out being someone's inspiration is a big responsibility.  Thanks for making me want to keep going.  I'm not quitting on me, and I'm sure not quitting on the people looking at my story with hope for their own.  Just keep  moving forward!

Weekly Wrap Up

Since, I never seem to get this done on Sunday, it is now the Weekly Wrap up which will be posted either Sunday or Monday :)

Monday - Ran/Walked 3.1 miles.  Should have been 4, but the humidity was terrible, and I was feeling Sunday's 10 miles.

Tuesday - Ran/Walked 4 miles

Wednesday - Hot Yoga

Thursday - Ran/Walked 6 miles
Friday - Ran/Walked 5 miles
Saturday - Hot Yoga. I also did the grocery shopping.
Sunday - Ran/Walked 8 miles

I weighed in down 1.8 pounds on Wednesday.  That still leaves me up 2.8 from where I was before Spring Break, but at least I went in the right direction this week.

Friday Fave!

This week's fave is my new favorite money maker.  Ibotta is a free app for Apple or Android devices.  You do simple tasks (take a poll, learn a fact, etc.) to unlock rebates.  When you by a qualifying item, you scan it to verify and then submit a picture of your receipt. In my experience, the earnings are loaded super quickly.  I  urge you check this one out.  I literally earned $14.75 last week.  My favorite rebate right now is on milk.  You can earn 50 cents on a gallon of milk, but if you redeem the milk and two other rebates, you earn an additional 50 cents.  You can cash out for gift cards from Starbucks or Itunes or select a Paypal payout. I'm planning to cash out for Paypal to purchase running gear, so its fitness related too :) Happy saving!

Sunday Wrap Up!

Sorry for posting late again.  I got busy with Mother's Day yesterday and forgot to post :)  Hope all of you mom's had an awesome day.

Monday-Rest Day
Tuesday-Ran/Walked 5.42 miles (Should have been 6, but I literally ran out of daylight)
Wednesday- Hot Yoga
Thursday-Ran/Walked 5 miles
Friday- Ran/Walked 3.25 miles (Should have been 4, but my right knee was really bothering me)
Saturday- Rest Day/Grocery Shopping
Sunday- Ran/Walked 10 miles

Wednesday Weighed in up 2.4 pounds

I'd say this was kind of a rough week.  I'm still struggling with my runs since the temperature and humidity have increased so much, and I'm still discouraged by my recent gains.

Today begins a new week.  I'm planning to make it great.  Hope you are too!

Friday Fave!

If there is anything that gets me as excited as my fitness journey, Its saving money. One of my favorite places to earn free money is Swagbucks. Its a search engine that you use like Google or Bing, but you can earn swagbucks which can be redeemed for rewards.  What are the rewards you ask?  Well, they have lots of options. I typically redeem for gift cards (Barnes and Noble, iTunes, Starbucks, etc.) or paypal money.  I'll be honest, if you only earn rewards through searching, it will take a long time for your bucks to add up to much, but they offer other ways to earn as well.  My favorite way to earn is by participating in their paid surveys.  I typically earn between 50-100 swagbucks per day (Most $10 gift cards are around 1,000 swagbucks. Paypal payouts start at $25 for 2,500 points.). It may not sound like much, but I say free money is free money!  Go check them out!

Transparency and Accountability

This is a discouraging week.  I weighed in yesterday up another 2.4 pounds.  I've gained 5 pounds since Spring Break.  I'll be completely honest and tell you, its because I'm completely off track with my eating.  Over Spring Break, I ate at old favorites in my hometown which were not the healthiest.  I grazed when the kids snacked.  Coming back, I fell prey to Easter candy, then we had my son's birthday last week.  I've given in to more temptation in the past few weeks than in the past year. Even though, I know all the little things add up, I've allowed myself to nibble while cooking and munch on whatever the kids are snacking on.  No more!  I know deep down, its not worth it, and I'm getting back on track starting today.  No more beating myself up for the bad choices. Its time just to pick up and start making good ones again.  No one ever said this journey would be without bumps in the road, but I'm not giving in, and if you're struggling don't you dare give in either!  You aren't alone.  Every day is a new beginning.  Make today count!

Sunday Wrap Up

Still struggling to get back on track.  We had a sleepover for my son's birthday on Friday, and Birthday dinner on Saturday.  I've had too much junk food for sure.  Probably going to be looking at a gain again this week.  I've got to get my discipline back.  My running mojo also seems to have taken a leave of absence, and I've really been struggling lately.  Still not giving up!

Monday- Ran 4 miles
Tuesday- Ran 5 miles
Wednesday - Rested
Thursday - Ran 2 miles (with my youngest son)
Friday- Ran 5.25 miles (fell short of the 6 miles I had scheduled)
Saturday - Rest

Sunday Wrap Up. One day late

I've been really behind on these updates.  Our Spring Break trip really threw me off course with posting and my diet.  I've fallen off the wagon a bit with my eating habits, but I'm struggling to get back on course.  I'm not giving up! Here's last week's wrap up.

Monday- Ran 4.06 miles
Tuesday - Ran 5.26 miles
Wednesday- 45 minutes of yoga
Thursday- Ran 4.25 miles
Friday- Ran/Walked 7 miles
Saturday- Rest day
Weighed in on Wednesday  up 2.6 lbs :(

Hoping this week will be better!

Friday Fave!

Swiftwick Socks

I absolutely love these socks!  I was having a hard time with blisters on my left foot from running.  I stopped into one of our local running stores, and the staff recommended these.  I am in love.  They aren't super thick, but thick enough to add a bit of cushion.  Moisture wicking and super comfortable.  If you are looking for new running socks, check these out.  They also make them in other lengths and for other sports and activities.

Look Up!

I'm not sure if all of you have seen the blog post that has gone viral titled "To the fatty running on the Westview track this afternoon".  I'm not providing a link, but its easy to find.  I don't care for some of the language in it or even the term "fatty" which is why I'm not sharing it directly.  I do; however, love the gist of the post.  Essentially, the author is addressing a woman on the track who is much heavier and is struggling with each step, never making eye contact with the fitter more experienced runner. Saying that there is no need to be ashamed that you're heavier, but should be proud of the effort your making.  I've found this to be true folks.  The fitter more athletic people out there aren't condemning those of us starting later.  Most of them are cheering us on and respecting our efforts.  We all started somewhere.  Some of us just took longer to catch on. I've joined a mom's running group, and you wouldn't believe how supportive the more experienced runners are of those of us just starting out. Don't be afraid to meet the eyes of the people around you when you're out there, and don't be afraid to encourage someone else either.  We can all use it. Just look up!

Friday Fave!

Well, its not at all weight loss friendly, but some things are really worth it.  DeBrand chocolates  absolutely are.  If you are anywhere within driving distance of Ft. Wayne, Indiana, you MUST go to DeBrand.  If you aren't, they offer flat rate shipping.  They make the most beautiful and delicious hand crafted chocolates you will ever find, and package them just as beautifully.  They even have amazing art boxes created from chocolate if you really want to go crazy. From their classic collection, to their more adventurous connoisseur collection, and even chocolate race cars and pennies, they have something for everyone.  I dare you to visit their page, and not be ready to make a trip or place an order.  Those other "fine chocolates" don't hold a candle to the masterpieces offered by DeBrand. I'm actually going to be in the area next week, and can't wait to stop in :)

Eat More?

Maybe.  I've been dealing with a lot of ups and downs with weigh ins over the last 6 months or so and haven't been dropping as quickly as I'd like even when I'm being super careful about my diet and exercise.  I lost 50 lbs in my first 6 months, 75 in my first year, but I've only lost 6 in the last 3 months.  Naturally, the loss is going to slow down as I get closer to my goal, but this has seemed really slow. I've mentioned before that I use an app called Lose It!  which gives me a calorie budget each day.  What I've been been doing is eating my full calorie budget (right now its 1,513) and leaving the calories I burn with exercise as a deficit.  I was looking at this a couple of weeks ago and realized there were days (like on long run days) that after my exercise calories were deducted my net intake was only around 1,000 calories.  Conventional wisdom says that you should not eat less than 1,200 calories.  I started eating additional calories making sure my net ends up right around 1,200 each day just to see what would happen.  Guess what?  I've lost 1 lb each week I've done this.  I was shocked by it this week, because we went out to dinner last Friday with my grandparents for Mexican food which resulted in a lot of extra calories, and I indulged in some Easter candy over the weekend.  Given that and the fact that (sorry if this is TMI) it is very close to my time of the month, I fully expected a gain yesterday, but lost 1.1 lbs.  Wow!  I'm not convinced yet, that this is the reason why, but I'm going to keep at it as long as it works.  Now, I should say, I don't wait until the end of the day and take in a couple of hundred extra calories.  I'm a planner.  I actually log all of my meals and snacks in the morning that I'll be eating that day, and I know about how many exercise calories I'll burn that day so I work the additional calories in over the full day.  If you aren't losing, maybe the answer is to eat more. Who knew?

Sunday Wrap Up

I figure part of sharing my journey is also being accountable, so here is the wrap up for the week.

Monday: Ran 3.1 miles
Tuesday: Ran 3 miles
Wednesday: Yoga (at home)
Thursday: Ran 3.01 miles
Friday: Ran 5.01 miles
Saturday: Rest day, Outlet and grocery shopping with hubby

I weighed in on Wednesday this week and was down 1.5 lbs.  That was exciting because it was the first time weighing in under 160 lbs.  However; with birthday and anniversary celebrations in the days following, I will probably be back over 160 next week. At least I know its possible.  Hope you've had a great week too!

Friday Faves

Fuzzy Socks! Nope, nothing to do with fitness, but I firmly believe they are one of the best things in the whole world. You can never have too many. Some are better than others. Old Navy are some of my favorite and they sell them cheap at least once during the Christmas season, which happens to be the best time to stock up on these lovelies. They are so soft and cozy. They are one of the best parts of the evening. If you are a lady and getting a Christmas gift, sometimes birthday or baby gift from me, you can pretty much count on getting a pair of fuzzy socks. If you don't have any, go get some. You may be able to find some on clearance since spring merchandise is coming in. You won't be sorry! :)

The right thing at the right time

I'm sure any of you who have, at any point, tried to or succeeded at losing weight know there are days of frustration that come with the process. I've been having some of those days of frustration lately. Sometimes, I'm tired of having to be so careful about what I eat, sometimes I just don't want to get off the couch and run. Sometimes, I'm just plain tired. I've been tired recently. It starts to make you wonder why you're doing this at all. Obviously, I can look in the mirror or my closet and see why I'm doing this. I can appreciate the fact that I'm able to run at all is it's own reason for doing this, but hard as it is to imagine, its easier to forget than you might think.

My first "right thing" this week came as a result of Sunday's church message. Which you should definitely check out here. At any rate, the point of the message was about pursuing holiness in marriage, and one of the major points was that husbands should pursue their wives. He instructed the men to go out Monday and buy flowers for their wives. My husband, knowing I've been looking into a small camelbak for my longer runs that are coming up, surprised me with one of them instead of flowers yesterday afternoon. Totally made my day. It said to me that he believes I can take on those long runs even when I'm sometimes not so sure.

My second right thing happened last evening. I'm participating in a weight loss challenge put on by one of our local personal trainers, and I go to a workout class there every Tuesday night. Last night, I was having one of those "I still see the fat girl" kind of nights. Which was a little strange, because I was feeling good going in and weighed in with a good loss, but while working out in front of the mirror, all I could see was all the things that are still not where I want them to be. As I was leaving, as I was walking out with one of the other girls, she mentioned that she had squeezed her car in kind of close to mine, but felt like it was ok because she was parked next to someone skinny. I, of course, scoffed at the suggestion that I was skinny, and she made eye contact with me and said hey, you have to know that when I met you (we met during this program), I never saw you as someone who was fat and lost a lot of weight (she has since seen my before pictures). She said I had never looked that way to her, and even though she knows I still see the fat girl, that's not who other people see. Wow! If there hadn't been a car between us, I think I would have hugged her on the spot. I just have to believe that the Holy Spirit gave her those words. They were so exactly what I needed to hear.

Don't get my wrong, I'm still tired today,(Have I ever mentioned how much I hate time change?), but my hope is renewed, and I feel like I can keep going. There are still going to be some difficult days, and this week may be a bit tough. We'll be going out for both my husband's birthday and our 18 year anniversary this week, so there will be a couple of blips in my diet. Its ok though. I'm not going to stop celebrating the good things in life. It took a lot more than 2 meals to put me at that previous 243 lbs, and 2 meals won't put me back there.

I think my real point here, though, is that God is so good. He knew exactly what I needed and gave it to me exactly when I needed it. How great is that?

Friday Faves

If you run, bike, hike or do anything outdoors, I think these are a fantastic idea. You can read tons of testimonials on their website. I have the Road id slim, and love it. I wear mine all the time. Fortunately, I've not yet needed it, and hope that I never will, but it makes me feel safer. There are many styles available from bracelets, to shoe ids or dog tags. I have my name and date of birth along with the fact that I'm asthmatic on mine with phone numbers for my husband and mom. A few months ago, I was nearly hit by a car on one of my runs, and decided I needed to have some kind of id. I do run with my phone, but there is a good chance that would be broken in an accident. I would hate to be taken to the hospital unconscious as a Jane Doe. I'm seriously considering getting them for my whole family for use at the beach.


If you have an iphone, Road id also has an app available. At the beginning of my run, I invite a contact (or several) to be able to track my run. The app then leaves "ecrumbs" during my run. It will send an alert if I'm stationary for 5 minutes. Also, a great idea in my opinion. If you are a first responder, be sure to follow that link in the navigation bar on the left side of their website. You can get any id for $10 once they've verified your status as a first responder. My experience with their customer service has been great as well. I've included the link above if you'd like to check them out.


Happy Friday!

Renewed and Refreshed!

I was away on a girls weekend this past week.  A few friends and I rented a lake house where we just hung out together. We do them twice a year, and I enjoy them so much.  We take turns cooking the meals and all pitch in to clean up.  Our primary activities are sitting on the deck watching the water, eating brie, and watching girly movies.  Often, we each bring any projects we are working on (Scrapbooking, basket weaving, etc.)  This time, one of my good friends, who knew I wanted to learn to crochet, brought me a bag of supplies and helped me get started.  The cabin we stayed in this time had no internet access, which turned out to be such a blessing.  It was a great time of disconnect from all the electronics that sometimes seem to rule our lives.  I love getting to gather with these Godly women and just pour into and encourage each other.  It awakens such a spirit of gratitude and peace.  Its also a blessing to have husbands and families willing to make the sacrifice of allowing us to do this twice a year.

The area was far more hilly than what I'm used to, but I put in my longest run/walk ever (5 miles) on Saturday and logged 11 miles over the weekend.  The weather was so perfect! I'm hoping my regular runs on the flatter ground I'm used to will be super easy this week.  We'll see :) Even with having to walk frequently, though, it was encouraging to put in that kind of distance.  It makes my goals seem more achievable. 

Hope you had a wonderful a weekend as I did!

Some Like it Hot!

Yoga, that is.  My sister introduced me to hot yoga, and I love it!  I find it both invigorating and relaxing at the same time.  I like yoga in my living room too, but hot is my favorite. The room is typically heated to 90-105 degrees with humidity added.  There are many conflicting opinions on the subject, so I encourage you to do some research before deciding to try it. Those on the pro side say that the sweat helps detoxify you and the heat loosens your muscles and helps prevent injury. The cons say there is no science to support those claims and that some teachers are pushing students too far or discouraging water drinking during class.  I've been to a couple of different studio, as has my sister, and we've not experienced these kind of teachers, but I don't doubt they may be out there.  If you decide to try it, be sure to drink plenty of water before class.  You'll want to be hydrated.  I also take my water into class and sip as needed.  You'll want to drink lots of water afterward too.  You will want to take a towel to cover your mat. If you don't have a mat, most studios will have some for rent at a nominal charge.  You can use a regular beach towel, but if you practice regularly, you may want to invest in one made specifically for the purpose, like a yogitoes. Your mat can get very slippery when you start sweating.  A hand towel can be useful too.  I've taken classes in the morning, afternoon, and evening.  I personally, prefer the afternoon classes, but it can be a beautiful way to start your day too. Namaste.

Run!

I'm not going to pretend that running is for everyone.  Its definitely not, and you need to find what you enjoy.  What feels like play.  Running really doesn't come easy for me, and sometimes its truly a struggle, but I love it. 

Growing up, I was severely asthmatic.  I mean breathing treatments daily severe.  We lived in a house with a moldy basement, mold being my absolute worst allergy, and couldn't afford to move.  Understandably, after rushing me to the emergency room numerous times and seeing me spend at least a week per year in the hospital, my mom was afraid to let me do a lot of things.  Running being somewhere near the top of her list.  She wrote me excuses out of any PE class that was going to involve running, but I always wanted to run.  My sister ran track and my high school boyfriend ran cross country, and I always just wanted to do it too.  Even as an adult, I've driven by runners and thought, "I wish I could do that."  After losing 50 pounds and getting my asthma truly under control, I decided I was going to. 

I started a couch to 5K program which starts you our very gradually. I completed several 5Ks last year, though none of them without having to walk a few minutes.  I'm still struggling a little with the 3 miles, and often have to walk a minute or so of my run.  My biggest problem is pace.  Starting out too fast doesn't allow me to increase my distance the way I'd like, but I can't get that message to sync up with my feet. There are other days that feel so natural and so free that I never want to stop.  Those are the days that keep me going. Sometimes, its really frustrating for me, but I have to stop and look at where I've come from.  A little over a year ago, I was struggling with running 10 minutes without stopping.  Now I'm doing 2 1/2 to 3 miles 3 times a week.  That's progress. I'm grateful for every mile God allows me to put in because there was a time I thought I'd never get to do it at all.

My goals for this year are to run a 10K in September and a 1/2 marathon in either November or January.  Those feel like some pretty lofty goals for the former fat girl who couldn't jog a 5 minute interval, but every day is a new opportunity for progress.  I'll keep you posted on how its going.

What to Eat and Why.

First, let me say, I am not a nutritionist.  I'm not going to give any specific advice or diet plans here.  You should check with your Doctor before making any major changes to your diet/activity.  That said, I'm going to start with the why, more specifically, the why not.

I've had issues with weight and food my whole life.  Seriously, at least since adolescence.  I've never been completely happy with my body, and weight has always been a battle.  In order to lose weight, I really had to break the stronghold that food has over me.  I've eaten for many reasons over the years.  I've eaten for comfort, out of boredom, because I'm stressed, because it tastes good, etc.  Truthfully, hunger has frequently not played a role in my eating.  I've had to change my relationship with food entirely.  God's purpose for food is to fuel our bodies, not fill empty spaces in our lives and relationships.  Our bodies are His temple.  I finally realized that asking Him to live in a body filled to overflowing with garbage, is the equivalent of asking him to live in the home of a hoarder.  Not cool. The basic rules I try to stick with are, first, stay in my calorie budget.  Within that, I try to eat high protein, relatively low fat, low sodium, and I drink a lot of water.

Healthy food does not have to taste bad!  There are some great sources for recipes that I use.  My favorite is Skinnytaste, and I also like Slender Kitchen.  Their recipes offer healthier options, but taste great.  Even my family doesn't complain (usually) about the meals I prepare from their sites.

Eat often.  I'm aware that it sounds counterproductive, but it works.  One of our local trainers host as "largest loser" program every year.  I participated last year, and one of their main pieces of advice regarding food, was "Don't go more than 3 hours without eating". That doesn't mean eat a full meal every three hours, but rather eat 6 small meals (for me, 3 meals and usually 3 snacks) daily.  Its really worked well for me. Just try not to allow those meals/snacks to be made up of a lot of empty calories.
 
Just remember, how you eat is probably the most important component of successful weight loss.  I've heard it said over and over that you can eat your way through any amount of exercise.  Its true.  I'm a huge proponent of exercise, and muscle burns fart.  There are lots of benefits, but all the exercise in the world isn't going to help if you continue to fill your body with junk.

Introduction

Welcome!  I've thought for a while about starting a blog.  I guess, since I'm more than 1 year and 1/2 into my journey, I'm a little late.  Life, though, is a never ending journey, so you're just joining a program already in progress.  In June of 2012, I weighed in at 243 lbs, and was either going to have to buy some bigger clothes or get some weight off.  I opted for the latter.  This wasn't the first time, I'd made an attempt a losing weight, and I had some success before but never lasting.  What made this time different?  I honestly think that Lose It!  has made all the difference for me. What is lose it?  Its a free app that sets a calorie budget and helps you log everything you eat and all of your activity.  I'm a bit type A anyway, so I'm good with all of the pre-planning, weighing, measuring, etc.  Not, that Lose It! requires all of that.  Its just what works for me.  In the beginning, my main goal was just to stick to that budget and exercise (lightly) 3 times a week.  I've made other changes as I've progressed.  I currently run 3 days a week, and do some other kind of work out 3 days with 1 day of rest.  I don't belong to a gym, and you should know that I work for a custom cake designer.  Truly, if I can do this, anyone can.  I look forward to sharing more with you as I continue my journey. If you have any questions, or would like to see a post on something specific, feel free to contact me.