196!!!

So I have been M.I.A. for a bit on this blog. I have been updating a lot more on my Tumblr page.

So I am down to 196! Which means I am 16 pounds down from this summer! My friend Tracy commented on it last night. I was nice to hear that someone can see the results, because when I look in the mirror I still feel 212lbs.

Hooray!!!!!  Hopefully I can maintain over he holidays, but Christmas only comes once a year so I am not going to deprive myself. However once I get back January 2 I will be back to the gym and such. Getting closer to my sister's wedding. I should see if her dress fits me yet. I haven't tried it on since early October.

My boss got me a Fitbit for Xmas which track the steps you take and the calories your burn. So that will help me once I start cracking down again in the New Year. It's crazy to see how many steps you take. I can't wait to start setting goals and such!

Happy Holidays Everyone!

I bought new running shoes!

I recently noticed that my old running shoes were getting so bad my toe starting sticking out of the side. So I got new shoes over the weekend and have been pumped about trying to working them in. I have been going to the gym, taking hikes on my lunch break, and doing stretches in my living room.

I didn't lose any weight this week, but I stayed the same so that is better then gaining. I want so bad to get out of the 200s. I am so close. I am going to work my ass off this week so I can get there.

My bridesmaids dress comes in in December and I am adamant on making it fit me. I have been a size 13-14 for as long as I can remember, however somehow over the past year I became a size 16. I ordered the dress in my usual size 14 so I am praying I fit in it when it comes. I am actually hoping it is too big on me so I have to  take it in! Wouldn't that be a great feeling?!

I want this body. I have a long way to go. I ordered a book by Jillian Michaels recently that I can't wait to read. She has such a no bullshit/no excuses attitude. That is what I need.

I recently finished a book called Half-Assed. It is about a women who was 372lbs and lost half her body weight! How incredible is that! I obviously don't need to lose have my body weight, but it still helped to read it.

These two photos sum up what I have wanted forever.  have never had a flat stomach. I have had rolls for as long as I can remember. I was probably born with a fat roll. Until recently, I came to terms with the fact that I would always be chubby. But now after reading people's weight loss blogs and reading, I am feeling motivated that I will actually be able to do this.

The girl is my starting weight and end goal. I hope I can achieve this by next summer. Fingers crossed and gym shoes on!

9 pounds down!

Boy was I surprised when I got on the scale on Saturday and saw that I have lost 9 pounds so far. Even though I fell off the wagon as far as exercising goes last week. I still ate pretty good for the most part. I only went to the gym one day. I did some weight lifting and stretching in my living room over the weekend.

It probably also helps that I went to the San Diego Zoo on Saturday and Sunday which involved a LOT of walking up and down hills. I have been pretty good about eating great during the week and eating want I want over the weekend.

I didn't think I was really losing anything, once it is hard to tell when you see yourself everyday. I haven't done any measurements since I don't have a measuring tape, but I can feel my shorts getting a bit looser.

I am going to make this week count!

Here are some quotes for today:

It's September!!

Yay, it's September! Fall is almost here! I am ready for summer to be over!

So I had feel off the wagon a bit last week. It was Labor Day weekend and I went away to San Diego for the weekend and I may have splurged a bit too much. Now it is time to get back on track.

One of my fellow bloggers, Kayla suggested a Xmas challenge of losing 30 pounds before Christmas. It's a reasonable goal. It will be tough though since the anti-diet trifecta is coming up (Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas). But I am going to join her and see what happens. 30 pounds is closer to my goal weight. However, I think my goal will change as my body does.

Recently, I have been cutting out pictures and tips from my health magazines and putting them into a journal. This way I can look back at them and inspire myself and then I don't have to hold on to a bunch of magazines.  Win, Win!

Some more inspiration:

I worked out a little too hard

Two days ago I decided to climb stairs near my work on my lunch break. The stairs are steep and their are about 80 of them... I did it twice, then went to the gym to work out my legs.

Bad news bears!

Now my calves are sore as hell. I couldn't work out yesterday so I laid on the couch and watch TV with ice packs on my calves. They still hurt today. Last time I do that.

Here are a few before/after photos that I find inspiring and make me believe I can do this:

Criss rocks!

Kayla rocks!

Kelly Osbourne! Love her!

Also who doesn't want this butt?

Have a great weekend!

A Few Inspirational Quotes

35 pounds to go!

So I need to lose 35 pounds.

35 pounds.... doesn't sound so bad. Right? In 10 months? hmmm. Is that realistic?

I would like to not be completely obese for my sister's wedding next May. I already ordered the dress in a size smaller then I really am, so I gotta do this. I need to lose at least 20 pounds for the wedding, but 35 is my ideal weight goal. Here is the dress I need to fit into:

Plenty of reasons to lost weight:

- stay healthy

- feel better about myself and feel more attractive

- clothes will fit nicer

- look good at Lindsay's wedding

- add years on to my life

- less strain on my back and feet

- breath easier when I lay down

Tools to help me succeed:

- Lose It! app on my phone. It tracks all the food I eat and shows me how much further I have to go on my weight loss journey.

- Gym membership. I have been going 4 times a week for an hour and a half. I do a combo of running on an elliptical, stretching, and weight lifting. I also have a gym partner in my friend, Beth.

- Books. I bought a few books that will keep my motivated including a Chicken Soup for the soul- Weight Loss version, which I read a story a night to help me stay inspired. I also bought some weight loss memoirs of other people who have successfully lost weight. 

- Blogs. I bookmarked  a few blogs that talk about fitness and weight loss. This will give me new work out ideas, food ideas, and help me stay on track.

- Kickball. I play kickball in a league every Monday night. This help me get a little extra exercise as well and it is so much fun!

The straw that broke the camels back:

There have been several (and I mean several!) times in my life where I have decided to go to the gym or start a diet. I usually do it for a bit and lose a few pounds only to quit when I miss macaroni and cheese and cheese enchiladas. 

So I gained like 10 pounds this year. I became the typical fucking girl who gained weight when she got a boyfriend. I know...dumb. Last month I went to NJ to visit my sister who just had a baby. My whole family was there even my mom from Florida. During my trip we had to go to try the bridesmaids dresses on....NIGHTMARE! I hate trying clothes on and being the fatty of the group. To top it off the entire week I was there my family would always find a round about way to mention my weight.

"Amanda, have you seen this cool new app? It tracks your food intake."

"Remember in college when you had a gym membership and lost a bunch of weight? What was that diet you were on?"

"Do you want to go take your little sister on a run?'

These are all other ways of saying "You got fucking fat, maybe you should exercise and stop eating." I get it. Not one person said "Hey Amanda, you look great." 

EVERY conversation turned into something about me and my weight. Other than the fact that I got to meet my new niece and see my family, it was the WORST vacation ever. It made me so depressed, I must have secretly cried 7 times while I was there. I came back to LA telling myself I wasn't going to NJ or FL for a long time so hopefully I can look better by the next time everyone sees me. I still have terrible confidence because of that trip. Just when I finally felt good about myself, my life, and my love life, I got kicked in the fucking face. Good one guys.

So here I am. 27, overweight, official member of Body Builders gym in Silverlake, and member of Weight Watchers/Lose It!

Over the next few months I plan to post photos and quotes that are meant to inspire me, document my weight loss journey, and feelings. 

I remember when I was at my skinniest and I thought I was so obese. Well this time I want to get back to that weight and actually feel good about myself.

Summer of 2006 with Dan and Nate.

New Year's 2012. The only thing cute about this photo is my boyfriend, George.

Wish me luck, I could definitely use it.