Well, my fears came true...I gained 3 pounds over the holidays. But, I'm not going to let it get me down, and am pushing on! My next weigh in is in two days, so hopefully I lost the weight I gained. But on a good note, I went to my cousin's wedding this weekend, and got lots of attention about my weight loss. People keep telling me that you can really tell I've lost weight. I don't think I look any different, but it was awesome to hear! And it helps to keep me motivated. I did feel very pretty that day. What do you think? Does it look like I've lost weight?

Update Three

Alrighty, this is my first post from my phone so we'll see how it goes! I weighed in on Tuesday, and I've lost 30 pounds!! AND I'm fitting into an old pair of jeggings! Now I've just got to make sure I don't gain any weight on Christmas!  :)

Motivational Tools

     I've been working on getting a Motivational Board put together for my room. It'll have some motivational quotes, calendar with workout schedule, my before pictures, my goals, and my rewards. Once I get it completed and looking pretty I'll let you all see it. But until then I've also done another sort of motivational tool I saw on everyone favorite idea board Pinterest. It's two glass jars with marbles that represent the pounds I have to lose and the pounds I've lost. It's been a really great motivator so far. I love being able to put more marbles into the Pounds Lost jar.

The Before Picture/Update Two

     Alright I'm getting back into the rhythm of things here since Thanksgiving is over. I did cheat from my diet a bit, (I mean who could pass up the Thanksgiving meal??) but I'm glad to report I didn't gain any weight! Actually I lost 3 pounds! Which is awesome. And, drumroll please.....I've lost 23 pounds total! And it feels amazing!

     I did realize that I haven't posted a "before picture", which is key to me in my weight loss journey. Christy, the "head" of our group who meets monthly, told me that one of the girls on the TSFL program told her that even though she had lost 130 pounds that she still looked in the mirror and saw that fat girl, but if she looked at her before picture she can see that there really has been an incredible change. So here's my "Before" picture!! 

Stretches

     As I've said before I try to go for a 2 mile walk three to four times a week, and even if you're just walking it's still important to remember to stretch. So here's a picture of some of the stretches I do before every walk. I don't do all of these, but it's a good representation of how I stretch.

I do #'s 1, 2, 4, 5, 7-11. 

Say It Out Loud

This is a picture that I try to look at daily and say out loud, it really does help! We can do it, if we just believe in ourselves!

Update One - Exercise Clothes

I've been chugging along here lately. I've stayed true to the Take Shape For Life 5 & 1 Meal Plan, and haven't cheated once!! Which, for me, is phenomenal!! Tomorrow marks my 3rd weigh in with the TSFL program, and my 5th weigh in since I decided to change my life, so I'm keeping the fingers crossed! And in one week I'll get to start exercising more! So I've already started looking and getting workouts for beginners, so I'll share them here soon. I've learned to start liking some food the old me would never taste, and I'll try and post some recipes here too. I'll end this short post with a picture of me in my new workout clothes from Old Navy!!