Weight loss journey @ mid-point

Despite my best attempts to publish these photos in order, Blogger had another idea and jumbled them up a bit.  Oh well!

I have been trying to lose weight for quite a while, and until now I haven't really had a great deal of success.  I've been using the MyFitnessPal app on my iPhone, where I track everything that I eat and drink throughout the day as well as any exercise I've done.  It allows me to log my calories and track how much I'm consuming, including what percentages of daily value I'm consuming for major nutrient groups (carbs, sugar, iron, protein, Vitamins A and C, etc.).  I know how much I need to eat to reach my goals, and I have gotten fairly good at finding the foods that I can and can't eat to feel satisfied (ie. Greek yogurt for 100 calories is an awesome source of protein for breakfast and keeps me fuelled until lunch).  I was working out at the gym in the mornings before work until about a month ago when I strained a ligament in my knee.  I was on crutches for a few days and although it is mostly healed now, I am still recovering from it a bit (I iced it today after taking Jennie for a walk).  I have continued to lose weight though, just by watching my caloric intake each day.  It's working!

A couple weeks ago (February 1st) I hit 15 lbs weight loss, and took pictures of the pants I wore to work that day.  Those pants had formerly been too tight to wear on most days - I remember needing to figure out my teaching schedule for the day before I chose to wear the pants, because if I was teaching classes that I'd be sitting down in, they would be too tight and cut into my stomach.  I'd only wear them if I was standing up teaching band all day.  Anyway, I made a collage of what those pants looked like on me that day, then another collage of the (size medium!) yoga pants I bought on my way home from work that same day.

Yoga pants from One Tooth - Size Medium

Dress pants - Formerly too small, currently too big (yay!)

Then I put on the yellow t-shirt I bought this past summer a few days later, and I couldn't get over how big it was on me all of a sudden!  It inspired me to create a collage - it was (and is) so rewarding to see the side-by-side pictures and to really notice the difference.

So, in June 2012 I weighed in at (my almost highest weight) - 174.3 pounds.  The highest I ever weighed myself at was 175 in May 2009.  My goal for now is 140.  I am currently (as of this morning) at 155.5 pounds.  I am very close to a 20 pound weight loss!  I had done some work to shed pounds last June, and I had gotten down to about 166 (from 174) but then was busy and traveling all summer, and got very busy during the fall back-to-school rush, and gained back some of that weight until I was at 169.something in about the second week of December.  So, since December I'm down about 14 pounds.  It feels great!  There's still a ways to go, but I am really proud of where I'm at right now and in what direction I'm headed. :o)

Took the picture last night, and I figure most people won't see this so the risqué bare skin is ok!

My bright coral t-shirt is noticeably bigger today (also yay!)

About 15 pounds to go!

I might just need to wash and shrink these pants again, but I AM down 10 pounds from the picture on the left, so maybe...

I packed these capris for my trip to LA last March and couldn't fit them. They were also a lot tighter in July than they were yesterday!  Feeling good!