C25K and MFP

Basically my title of this post is a bunch of letters and numbers until I break them down...or if you're already in the know. 

1. C25K = Couch to 5K is one of the best free apps I have ever downloaded. Almost 3 months ago, I decided that I actually wanted to train for the Peachtree this year, even though I didn't have a number until 1 week before the race. But once I got into training, I realized that I needed to push myself a little bit so I doubled up the running times so it would "add up" to a 10K rather than training for a 5K. I definitely noticed a difference early on, but looking back when I would run for one minute and walk for  90 seconds for a time of twenty minutes. Now, I'm regularly run 30 minutes in one stretch, followed by either 10 or 15 minute increments to total 60 minutes of running about 3 days a week. WHAT?! Guys, I am NOT a runner. Never have been. But I've actually grown to enjoy it and I just don't even know what to do...well, besides keep on running because I don't want this to be a short lived trend.

2. MFP = My Fitness Pal. Thanks to MFP (also, one of the best free apps I've ever downloaded!) I've lost 15 lbs since I've started keeping track back in the beginning of April. I'm not normally the type to go hollering how much I weigh, especially all over the internet, but I really am passionate about this app/website because it really has worked! It's a calorie tracker, simply put. But you can scan your foods from your phone, look up previously entered items, and adjust serving sizes--so convenient!

Okay, just so you have an idea of what 15 lbs (maybe even 20 lbs if you count from before I started regularly weighing/tracking cals) difference can make, here are some pictures to compare. Granted, these were from 2009/2010ish so not necesarrily from the beginning of my tracking, but still a similar weight/jean size.

Ignore the 5 chins...that wasn't a normal look for me...

And then the more recent ones are from the last week of June in shorts and a shirt that I was wearing in some of these earlier pictures and obviously one picture from Kathleen's wedding!

These shorts were barely staying...like no need to button/zip to get them on and off

I'm at least 2 pants sizes smaller (used to be a 12 and now I wear an 8/6 depending on the style/brand) and feeling 50 times better about myself. I feel so much more confident in my own skin and most importantly--healthier! I still have about 5-10 more pounds to meet my over all goal and then comes the maintaining.

A few things to win you over to MFP. I can eat cheese (something I could not live without!). And sweets. And even wine, beer, and margs! Nom. I've really learned it is about all things in moderation. And portion control, portion control, portion control. If I eat it, it has calories. If it has calories, I need to count them to my overall daily total. The more/harder I work out, the more I can eat while still losing weight. Simple enough.
I've made me a priority. I make sure I get to bed early enough so I can wake up and ride the stationary bike or run/walk earlier in the morning before go to work or class. I try to keep variety in my workouts...even Just Dance or treading water instead of standing when I'm at the pool with Charlotte and Felicity counts!
I do not starve myself, but I also don't gorge on junk food at will like I used to. Every day is a new day so if I "messed up" yesterday, and even the day before, it's about today and staying on track that day. I do admit that wine is usually my downfall because I can stay on track all day long, but one glass can lead to two and so on. But even seeing the difference in a few months has been so encouraging and makes me want to keep it up! I could do a whole post on tips and things that I've learned and am still learning, so maybe that will be another day.

But the best advice I'm learning to take it that it's okay to brag about my success! I feel like I look good and there's no shame in just saying "Thanks, I've really been working hard" when people compliment me on how I look! I don't need to act surprised, but instead grateful because that's definitely a pat on the back to hear some encouragement!

Disclaimer: I wanted to lose weight for me, not for the size of jeans, the numbers on the scale, or for anyone else other than myself. I wanted to do it to be healthy and to feel comfortable in my own skin. Beauty has absolutely nothing to do with weight, but being healthy can (again, not about the numbers on the scale!) Okay, that's all. Yay me!