Here’s how it started – I got my new CA license and was appalled by my fat face.
Seriously.
I know, I know. I know what you’re thinking – License photos aren’t supposed to look good.
But even ignoring the fact that my hair looks a bit weird, and I’m only kind of smiling, and obviously the lighting is terrible – my big fat round face horrified me.
I don’t know what I thought I looked like before.
Not to mention, I didn’t really feel sexy. And Andrew has been perfectly sweet about it. Always telling me I’m beautiful. Even calling me “tiny” though I clearly am not. But I’m sure it would be nice for him if I felt sexy too.
Up until then I was totally complacent and didn’t care all that much about having to buy new clothes in a size 12. And actually having to tell my dad that I weighed 170 (the hot air balloon people needed to know).
Before – June 17, 2008
There was never a moment when I DECIDED to start a diet. No starting place of a day. I just started making better decisions meal-by-meal, case-by-case, temptation-by-temptation. Diet Coke instead of regular, cottage cheese instead of donuts, salad instead of fettucini alfredo.
Baby steps.
It was really important to me that I not “start a diet.” I could never do this. I don’t want to have to rely on something like NutriSystem or similar for the rest of my life. Cause I am only 26. I plan to have quite a bit of life left.
Because of that, I don’t really have any benchmarks. After about a week and a half, I was down 10+ pounds.
Julie made it really easy – since she did the grocery shopping. It was so helpful that every time I went to the fridge there were bags and bags (and bags and bags) of vegetables.
Plus, I didn’t have to withstand the temptation of going grocery shopping. Especially alone. Always dangerous for me. The cookies, the ice cream, the fresh bread, the ridiculously-easy-to-make pasta and frozen foods.
Now, about 6ish months later … I still daily have to talk myself out of fast food, or cookies at work etc, etc, etc. But I’m still going down … little by little. …
I haven’t really started working out AT ALL. Every week or so Andrew and I take Hazel on a walk. I have to walk 3 blocks from my car to my work and 3 blocks back. Other than that, my mostly sedentary lifestyle is almost the same….
Which gives me hope I can lose the last 10 or pounds I’d like to. But only when I’m ready to actually make it a lifestyle change. I’m not yet. I’m not ready to go to the gym 4x/week for the rest of my life.
Before – just over 170 lbs.
After — just under 150 lbs
(almost 25 lbs lost mid-June to mid-December)
compared to before (again):
P.S. Christmas gift idea – I NEED NEW CLOTHES. … My pants in particular are basically hanging off me. If it weren’t for belts I wouldn’t have anything to wear at all.
Even these jeans in the after picture – bought in Sept and slightly too big now.
P.P.S. I like Target and Old Navy.
You rock!!
GO AMY!
I didn’t want to say it… but I was thinking you’ve been looking really slim!
And now I know that you really are!
WOW! I’m impressed… and inspired.
Thanks for sharing your process.
You are so cute!!
Congrats!! I need to start a similar type of “diet.” I’ve gradually added about 15 lbs since getting married and it’s really starting to take a real toll on my body and energy in general. I, too, have little time for exercise because I work two (sedentary)jobs, but once we move into our new house in a safer nieghborhood, I want to start going for walks way more often.
yay sexy! Im proud of you! youre so gorge!
Ah! You look FANTASTIC!! And that’s like the best reveal picture ever.
hi tiny
Good job AMY! I’m secretly hating you because you have done so well and I can’t wait to be 150 lbs!
Well, I guess the secrets out!
Wow! You look awesome! Why didn’t you say anything about the fact that you were working on it? I’ll bet Julie has been a great help to you too. (thanks Julie) Great job Amy!