Wandering towards The Middle Way

I have never been one to traverse the elusive "Middle Way", no matter what the topic is. I like black and white. I like defined and delineated. I thrive on planning, clear direction, and goal setting. Many times, professionally and otherwise, this mindset is an asset. However, it has contributed to a lot of pain and heartache in my personal life. 

Being physically active and eating healthfully without being crazed; Still working on it every. damn. day.

Let me illustrate: For me, “I think I’ll go out for a run” is two quick steps from “and why don’t I just train for my first Marathon!” I have this quirky all-or-nothing mentality that has caused me a lot of trouble, anxiety, and needless stress.

Looking back at where I was a year ago, in May 2013, I can see more clearly than ever the un-healthiness of the “Healthiest I’ve Ever Been” status I’d achieved. I was at my lowest weight - a weight that left me feeling cold even in the heat of summer, and having very low-energy, even for daily activities. I was physically active for at least an hour most days- to the point of it interfering with other life stuff.  I consistently tracked every calorie that went into my body, and rated each and every thing on this self-imposed scaled of whether or not it was a “good” food or a “bad” food. Of course, I was not allowed to let any “bad foods” enter my system.  I had essentially turned being thin and fit into a religion, one to which I was an enthusiastic convert, diving headfirst into orthodoxy.

Now, I’m reformed my worship. I’m still practicing in the temple of Fitness, but I am fitting it in to my life where it belongs. It’s a component of a well-rounded, happy me; it’s not all-consuming, it is not ME. Throughout the last year since my "turning point", even within all these struggles with food, nutrition, feelings, cravings, sadness, and exercise, I have been building a more resilient self. Deconstructing the tough, hardened, rigid self I had created and taking pieces to form a flexible, adaptable, authentic me.

What this looks like for me: the ability to exercise frequently or even participate in races without having to train for the Olympics. The ability to eat healthfully and nourish my body without going on a Whole 30, Paleo-inspiried elimination diet. The ability to get to a place of fitness where I feel comfortable, energetic and active without feeling like I’ll be PERFECT if I just loose those last 2 lbs.

I’ve been working hard at this elusive destination- this Middle Way of health/fitness. I’m moving towards it. Heck, I guess that being on the path to the Middle Way essentially means I am already traveling the Middle Way. Now if I could only quantify where the true Middle is? ;) Just kiddin'.

In the midst of all this flailing about, there is a LOT to be proud of:

• I continue to flail. I fall and fail on a weekly basis, but I get back up. Each time, I am a bit better at picking myself up, I fall a little less far, and I can rebound more quickly.

• I’m consistently making it to the gym several times a week- I have successfully cultivated a Gym Habit- that’s a big deal!

• I’m still un-packing my eating issues. Overall, I am more relaxed with eating what sounds good to me, without a lot of restriction.

• I've continued to take whatever action is available to get my elusive menstrual period back ,and most days, I can stop myself from flipping out that I haven't had it in more than 1.5 years. Most days.

• I am working, with the support of counselors, through a lot of the emotional issues that put me in this mindset in the first place. Counseling is painful, terribly slow, and helpful. Also, sometimes it’s the worst.

• I am falling back in love with exercise, for the simple pleasure of it. I have continued to run 2-3 times a week for fun, I am getting back in to yoga, and I’m thinking about a 10k race here in a few weeks.

• I’d still REALLY love to become a Spinning Instructor, and I’m planning on registering for a certification course for the end of June. 

The gift of honest self-reflection is priceless. It's a gift that I try to give myself in the toughest times, because a little stumble on the path does not equal a back-breaking tumble down the hill of the Middle Way. As the amazing Cat Stevens would say, ♫ There's so much left to know, and I'm on the road to find out ♫ 

Race Recap- Detroit Free Press US Half Marathon 2013

Sunday, I ran the Detroit Free Press US Half Marathon the racing event I've been training for for the better part of a year! It was amazing, and lots of fun. I highly recommend it if you're looking for a well-organized Half in a big city that's lots of fun. I though I'd share some pics before I do the full recap, since I'm short on time tonight.

Here's me inside Cobo before the start of the race, getting all my gear on.
The US Half started at 10am, but it was still pretty cold outside as I was getting ready!

Hubs told me to do some poses- he specifically requested Reverse Warrior.
This is a conservative, non-race bib-ripping version of it.

There's me cruising through the start- right under the banner.
Can you spot me?

Action shot, right around Mile 10. Lookin' good!

I don't have pics of me at the actual finish until the official photos are shared.
Here's me at home right after the race with my bling!

Me and my love :) Freep 2013!!

I finished in 2:09:23- nearly 10 minutes better than my Heroes on Hines time of 2:18:10. I'm still on a runner's high from this race! More details and pictures to come in the next few days. Thanks SO much to my hubs, my mom and dad, and Mike's Uncle and Aunt who came out to cheer me on- you guys helped keep me moving :)

Reflections on my Fittest Year (so far!)

Sept 7th, 2013 marked what I consider to be my 1 year Fit-i-versary:
On Sept 7th, 2012, I had my first fitness assessment at my gym. I had just joined the previous week, and I had barely begun my journey towards health and fitness.

Looking back, 2012 me would have been shocked by many of the things 2013 me has accomplished: 

• Picking up running & ENJOYING it
• Completing 9 fitness events/races including a 5k in under 26 minutes
• Finishing my first Whole30
• Hiking 13 miles in one day on the Appalachian Trail
• Loosing over 25 lbs (& maintaining!)
• Squatting 125 lbs

Even the fact that I've fit in a workout 4-6 days a week EVERY SINGLE WEEK for a year just blew the socks off my 2012 self. I've achieved lots of the short and long term goals that I set, and even knocked some things off of my 2013 "Bucket List".

Ringing in a new 'year'

I celebrated my Fit-i-versary of Sept 7th in a way I feel was very appropriate- giving a bit of my time to some truly inspiration athletes trying to achieve some of their own amazing goals. I spent the wee-early hours of Saturday morning at Run Woodstock, a weekend-long series of running events here in S.E. Michigan. I wanted to be a part of this awesome weekend, and I decided to volunteer as a Aide Station "Roadie" on the 50 K/50 Mile/100 K/100 Mile course. To see these incredible folks giving 125% effort was SO inspiring. 

Let me paint a quick picture:

I woke up, got dressed, made some oatmeal, and headed out the door around 4:40am on Saturday. I drove 40 minutes to get to Hell Creek Ranch, near Pinckney, Michigan, where the Run Woodstock weekend was being held. It was still dark when I arrived around 5:20am, and I could see lots and lots of stars in the sky! I parked, checked in, and drove with a new volunteer buddy to Gracie's Aide Station, where we'd be spending the next 6 hours helping race participants. It was really neat to see the runners, most outfitted with headlamps, trucking down the trails. At this point (6am), the 100 Milers and 100 K'ers had been going since 4pm!!! the previous evening, and the 50 Mile/50 K folks were just starting. 

Over the next 6 hours, I saw runners in elite form, and others who looked like this task was quite a challenge for them. I saw runners who looked amazingly unfazed by an 100 mile distance, and others who stumbled to the aide station and could not take another step. I saw a pencil-thin woman with a knee-gash get bandaged up and continue on the trail. I saw a father encourage his son, despondent by the distance he had yet to run, that he could and would finish. Many of the runners seemed to be over 40, if not over 50, which was an awesome surprise. 

I was really thankful to have had this experience, and to support fellow athletes in this way as I myself celebrated quite a year. As I drove home around noon, I spent some time reflecting on the key fitness lessons I've learned over the past 12 months.

Lessons from a year of Fit Living

Get Moving, and Keep Moving

It really is true- If you can make it to the gym, or to the start of your workout for the day, whatever it is, you're 90% there! Getting out 4-6 days a week and being active has been key for me; not only has it helped me to move to a healthy weight, but it's also been a stress-reliever, and allowed me to compete in 9 fitness events so far this year, a huge source of pride and accomplishment. If I feel like shit tomorrow, I'll still go to the gym. If I only do 30 minutes of cardio, no problem. 9 times out of 10, once I start my workout I feel better and I'm able to knock out a kickass session, whether that's 30 minutes or 90 minutes!

Eat to Fuel movement, not Move to justify Eating!

When you're looking to loose weight, you do need to create a calorie deficit somehow. This usually involves eating less calories than your body needs. Now that I am where I want and need to be, weight-wise, I have realized that I need to switch my mentality from working out so I can burn "enough" calories to one of "eating enough to fuel the awesome things I want to do". True athletes eat LOTS- enough so they can power through their practices, games, and events. There's no reason why it should be different for us everyday athletes; we need enough fuel to power our bodies and recover for another hard workout tomorrow!

It's all about Feeling Good

The biggest thing I've learned this year is that health and fitness are all about feeling good. Eat what makes you feel good. Occasionally, this could mean taking time for a cookie or a special treat. Most often, this means eating whole foods, saying no to processed junk, and eating until you're full; not less, and definitely not more. 

I learned that the same thing goes with weight- the weight you feel physically good at is better than the one where you look like a supermodel and can't make it through the day because you have no energy. In February, once I hit my goal weight, I just kept loosing weight. If I'm feeling and looking great at 110lbs, wouldn't 105 be AMAZING? I got down to 105 and found out that the answer is No; for me 105 or even 108lbs was not a sustainable weight. When I hit 106lbs and 17.5% bodyfat, I felt a little leaf, about to be knocked over by the wind. I was cold all.the.time, and I didn't really have enough energy to fuel myself. By all accounts, women can get down to 12% bodyfat and still be in a healthy range, but for me, this is not the case. I looked fit, I looked skinny, and I did not feel good. It wasn't worth it, and it took me some time to recognize those feelings.

I'm now at about 110-112 lbs, which is just fine with me. Not sure what my bodyfat % is, and I'm not sure that I care to know right now. I am learning to trust myself and my body. I have the knowledge and skills to make good food choices, to move and exercise in a way that will keep me at a healthy weight for me.

In Conclusion..

Lots of good things achieved, but I'm not done yet! This weekend, I'm headed to the Kensington Challenge for my first 15k, October 5th I have a "practice" Half Marathon at the Heroes on Hines race, all to prep for a MAJOR challenge- the Detroit Free Press Half Marathon on October 20th! I'd still like to take the Spin Instructor Certification this year- there's a class coming up in November so stay tuned for that! Thanks for your support and encouragement through my journey so far!

2013 Goals - Halfway point Check-in!

It's about that time, folks- it's halfway through the calendar year! Time to review the goals I set back in January and my progress towards them. Stopping to look back is always helpful, I find. Even if there are areas left to improve upon!

Health and Fitness Process goals

Work out 6 x a week for 60 minutes Have cut down to 4-5 days/week for 60 minutes, but still consistently working out! On track!

Body Stats and Calorie Intake

• Up calorie intake to 1450/day + extra workout calories 
• Progress as of 5/13/2013:  Upped to 1350 per day, considering 1400. On track!
• Maintain weight at 110 lbs +/- 2 lbs 
• Progress as of 5/13: 108 lbs! Held strong at 109-110 since mid-Feb! Beat it!

Body fat percentage: 

• 20% by 3/7/13  
• Was at 17.8% at my 3/7/13 check in! Beat it!
• 16% by 6/7/2013 Progress as of 5/13:  
• Not sure! Won't know until 6/7 On track!

Fitness Benchmark Goals

Improve run times (by 12/31/2013)

• 5k time: under 26 minutes 
• Corktown 5k in March- 25:54! Beat it!
• 10k time: under 50 minutes 
• Progress as of 5/13: 5 miler in 42:42 On track!
• Complete a Half Marathon in under 2 hours 
• Progress as of 5/13: Training is not going very well, although I am running a lot. Severe lack of long run motivation. Race-wise, I am scaling up (doing my first 10k in a few weeks) so I'll make it to 13.1 slow & steadily! On track!

13 in 2013 Challenge (by 12/31/2013)

•  Complete 13 fitness events in 2013 (see my list of events on the right)! On track!

Pull-ups (by 12/31/2013)

• Do 10 consecutive pull-ups! 
• Progress as of 5/13:  5 consecutive pulls ups! On track!

Strong Lifts (by 8/1/2013)

• Squat 150 lbs 
• Progress as of 5/13:  125 lbs On track!
• Overhead Press 70 lbs 
• Progress as of 5/13:  60 lbs On track!
• Bench Press 90 lbs 
• Progress as of 5/13:  80 lbs On track!
• Row 90 lbs 
• Progress as of 5/13:  70 lbs Needs some more work
• Deadlift 150 lbs 
• Progress as of 5/13:  125 lbs On track!

Crossing some things off my bucket list for 2013 as well- hell yeah! :) How's your year going so far?

Motivation Monday- What Keeps me Running

Today for Motivational Monday, I'm going to share a "Things I Love about Running" list. I'm definitely what you'd consider a new Runner- I've only been running frequently since November, but I'm already hooked!
Here's what keeps me running:

Race Day
Although I do really enjoy training most days, races are what keep me motivated on those dreaded long-run days! It's not so much the "beating other people" (since I'm still a slow-ass runner!) but it's the ability to run with others, as well as the desire to challenge myself and beat my own PR from my last race!

Even signing up for my next race is a motivation- knowing I have a specific event to train for helps me stick to my training schedule; there's a reason I'm working this hard!

Self-Discipline

I enjoy a good challenge, and I am very motivated by overcoming obstacles. Because of this, I really appreciate the self-discipline that running has helped me to develop within myself. Whether it's discipline in making and following a training schedule, discipline in eating healthy and "clean", or the discipline to take a Rest Day when I really just want to train through it, Running has helped me improve as a person.

Gear & Swag 

I'm not a huge shopper, but I DO really like to have clothes that fit me! With the frequent weight loss in the past 5 months, I've got to invest in a lot of new clothes. I do think of it as an investment; if I feel comfortable, supported, and put together, I'm more likely to be successful. That applies to work clothes and business, but also to running & workout gear. I also believe that while you CAN workout in anything, a few key, high-quality pieces, like fitted running shoes, a nice pair of workout gloves, and some cold-weather gear can make a world of difference in your performance. As for swag, who doesn't love a race tee or a finisher's medal or a tech beanie? A souvenir of my hard work is a reward for a job well done :)

Running Community
A great surprise about beginning to run was stumbling upon on supportive community of runners online! When I signed on for the 13 in 2013 challenge where I will be running a race every month (plus an extra one!), I met a lot of supportive folks on the facebook page & on twitter, who have been inspiring, helpful, and encouraging! From affirming that yes, it's possible to go from 5k to Half Marathon in less than a year's time, to sharing stories of their own fitness successes and challenges, it's been great to tap into a network of passionate people!

In an effort to keep myself accountable, here's my workout plan for the week!

Workouts for the week of 2/18-

• Monday: StrongLifts & Lowerbody weights (60 mins)
• Tuesday: Hill Reps Run 4 miles (40 mins)
• Wednesday: StrongLifts & Upperbody weights (60 minutes)
• Thursday: Spinning & Yoga Flow (50 + 75 mins)
• Friday: Easy Run 3.1 miles (30 mins)
• Saturday: StrongLifts & Upperbody weights (60 mins)
• Sunday: Long Run 7.5 miles (70 mins)

What's going to keep you going strong this week?

Find it and make it happen! :)

Race Schedule- My Plan for 13 in 2013

As I've mentioned, I'm planning to run 13 races this year, or 1 per month, with one extra! Why did I decide to do this crazy thing? Two simple reasons: Motivation. Accountability.

Here's my race list for the year. I've registered for some of these, and others are just races I'm interested in.


It's been fun and exciting to searching for races in the area, decide what distances I want to run, and even set some "stretch goals" for myself. The big GLARING stretch goal on that list is a HALF MARATHON- WtF?!?! The fact that I registered for the Freep Half Marathon is probably a good indicator of two things: 1) I'm crazy! and 2) I have really changed my habits in the past 5 months! As my hubs pointed out, "Last year, you would have been like, 'Run one mile? Nooo!!!'"

I'm scaling up in mileage accordingly, both trying to grow my weekly base of miles run total, as well as building up to be able to run 13.1 miles in. a. row. This week, I ran 12 miles total, and my longest run was a 6 miler, aka 10 km, which is my longest distance run to date; I still have some work to do! Luckily, I have 8.5 months to train. Oh goodie!

Here are links to some of the races I'm thinking about. If you're a fellow Southeastern Michigan runner, or a #runchat buddy from afar who'll be in town, I'd love to run with you- let me know!

Join Me!
Commitment Day 5k
SuperBowl 5k
Shamrocks and Shenanigans
Falcon 5 Miler
Run 4 a Reason
Girls on the Run 5k
Dexter-Ann Arbor Run
MOTTEP Life Walk/Run
Island Lake Sprint Triathlon
Birch Run Charity 10k
Detroit Free Press Half Marathon

I'm still deciding on a training plan for the Freep. 
Any Half Marathon training suggestions, or tips for a newbie?

Staying Motivated AFTER Weight loss

I'm at a VERY exciting point in my continual fitness journey- a point where I am almost at my "target weight"! To even call it that might not be accurate- my target weight is less of a weight I've always dreamed of being and essentially a weight that I think is healthy and manageable for my age, height, gender, size, and fitness level.

One lesson of the many I've learned on this journey is that I am hugely motivated by goals. If I don't have defined goals, it ain't happening. On the other hand, if I have clear, SMART goals, I can amaze myself with what is possible! So as I'm heading down towards this magical "target weight", I've started a new list of Health & Fitness Goals for my new, weight-maintenance world. I'll be turning my focus from weight loss to strength and muscle development, flexibility, and improved athletic performance.

Process goals

Work out 6 x a week for 60 minutes

Incorporate the following workouts into schedule:

• 2 short runs (between 2.5 and 5 miles)
• 1 long run (6-10 miles)
• 3 45 minute weight sessions (2 Strong Lifts x week)
• 1 yoga class
• 1 Spin class

Up calorie intake to 1450/day + extra workout calories 

Maintain weight at 110 lbs +/- 2 lbs

Fitness Goals

Body fat percentage: 

• 20% by 3/7/13
• 16% by 6/7/2013

Improve run times (by 12/31/2013)

• 5k time: under 26 minutes
• 10k time: under 50 minutes
• Complete a Half Marathon in under 2 hours 

13 in 2013 Challenge (by 12/31/2013)

•  Complete 13 fitness events in 2013 (see my list of events on the right)!
  

Pull-ups (by 12/31/2013)

• Do 10 consecutive pull-ups!

Strong Lifts: (by 3/7/13)

• Bench Press- 65lbs
• Overhead Press- 60 lbs
• Deadlift- 100 lbs
• Row- 80 lbs
• Squat- 100 lbs

Health/Nutrition Goals 

Eat Clean(er)

• 6-8 servings Vegetables/day
• 2-3 servings of protein/day from:
•  sustainable meat & eggs
• legumes
• nut butters
• cottage cheese/greek yogurt
•  2-3 servings of Fruits/day
• 2-3 servings of Whole grains/day
• Chocolate in moderation (2-3 servings per week)

• Avoid:
• Refined/enriched grain items 
• Milk and cheese (not including cottage cheese/greek yogurt)
• Added sugars, although prioritizing honey & maple syrup as sweeteners when applicable

Share:  
Have you gotten to a place of weight maintenance? If so, what goals keep you inspired and motivated?

Whole30 Recap- 1st Week done!

Week 1 is done- I'm into Whole30 Day 8! That means I've had no breads or grains, milk, cheese or dairy products, added sugar or sweeteners for 7 days! It also means I've had LOTS more: vegetables, sustainable meats, fruits in moderation, and nuts and seeds. 

Overall, I am feeling really great. My skin is clearer, I feel like I am more focused at work and at home, and I have not struggled as much as I thought I would with the eliminated items like chocolate and bread. Not saying that I wouldn't like to chomp a whole bowl of noodles right now- I totally would. BUT I'm not going to chomp a bowl of noodles, and I'm ok with that.

I am continuing to weigh myself every few days, because I was already 4 months into this healthy eating & workout plan before I started Whole30. I don't want to start eating a ton of "healthy fats" and get off track. My goal with Whole30 is to eliminate the need for all these unneeded items in my diet, but I seem to be loosing some more weight as a side effect, which is great!

The best part about Whole30 so far is the eating habits that I see changing in myself. A quick example- I keep thinking "What will I eat for dinner? I've already eaten meat, vegetables, and fruits.." and then I laugh and remember that those are the healthy building blocks of a diet and that I can just eat more of them! Another example- I've made guacamole a few times, and for a second I panic and think, "Oh no! I can't can't tortilla chips- what will I scoop this with?". Again, my brain kicks in, and I remember- oh yes, the innumerable number of vegetables that would go well with guac, like red pepper slices, carrot sticks, celery, etc.

The Whole30 has definitely necessitated a bigger change in my eating habits than I thought I would be- here I was thinking I was eating SO healthy before. I was eating pretty well, but there is always room for improvement, and my body is thanking me for it! 

Having some Whole30 buddies has been really helpful. If you're out there in the middle of a Whole30, considering one, or looking for more Whole30 support and info, make sure to check out these lovely ladies:

Fit & Awesome
Wine to Weightlifting
Holly Would if She Could
Listen. Learn. Love. Mend

Thanks for your virtual support during this awesome challenge! If you are Whole30-ing it up right now, keep trucking! If you're thinking about it, feel free to contact me with questions.

Juicing- Why it's Worth a Try!

Having just recently gotten into Juicing, I thought I would share some tips, thoughts, and a few of my favorite recipes!

Why Juice?

1. Access to Extra Veggies-
   It's hard sometimes, to get in the amount of recommended veggies & fruits we're supposed to eat per day. Whether you believe that's the minimum of 2 1/2 cups Veggies & 2 cups Fruit per day as recommended by MyPlate.gov, or whether you're starting out on the Whole 30 program (or anywhere in between), it's hard to shovel away that much produce! Juicing is a nice way to cram more produce into your diet in a way that's realistic for you.
2. Try out some new Veggies & Fruits-
   If you're new to the world of "clean eating", eating "whole foods" or even just getting into eating vegetables & fruits, juicing is a tasty way to expose yourself to some new & interesting fruits and vegetables that you might not try otherwise. Does kale freak you out? How about beets? Juice 'em.
3. It's delicious!-
   Make one of these and get back to me- I will be sincerely shocked if you don't find one of these juices to be amazingly delicious and rejuvenating: Carrot-Apple-Ginger juice. Nom nom nom nom!
4. Use as a Healthy Meal Replacement-I am not a believer in supplements, protein powders, power bars, or any of that stuff. I'm not against them, I just don't feel they're necessary for the average person. I do, however, believe in using homemade juices as replacements or substitutes for some of your meals each day. How many meals should you replace? I recommend starting with one and go from there. I eat between 5 and 6 200-300 calorie small meals per day. It's really easy and quick to make a Carrot-Apple-Ginger juice before I head out the door in the morning as my first morning "meal", and then whip up a Cucumber-Carrot-Celery-Kale-Apple juice when I get home from the gym at night as my last meal of the evening.

My Favorite Juices
Carrot-Apple-Ginger juice
 3-4 medium carrots
1 large apple
a 1" chunk of ginger, peeled
 
Pineapple-Mango-Carrot juice
1/4 pineapple, peeled & cored
1/2 mango, peeled & pitted
2 medium carrots

Red Pepper-Cucumber-Carrot-Apple juice 
1 red pepper, de-stemmed & seeded
1 large cucumber
2 medium carrots
1 large apple

Cucumber-Carrot-Celery-Kale-Apple juice
1 large cucumber
2 medium carrots
2 stalks celery
3 large kale leaves
1 large apple

More Resources
Fat, Sick & Nearly Dead- Great film if you're new to juicing
Reboot-Companion to Fat, Sick & Nearly Dead- lots of juicing info
My Juice It! Pinterest board
PBS: 5 Things you Need to Know about Juicing
Williams & Sonoma 30 Days of Juicing Blog

Cheers! I hope this information is helpful to you and inspires you to give juicing a try, even just for fun!

Happy Anniversary to My Healthy Self!

Tomorrw, Dec 7th, will mark three months since I have truly committed and dedicated myself to this fitness routine. What a challenging & satisfying journey it has been so far, and what an intense season!

Three months full of:

Treadmill runs

Spin class

Pushing my limits

Smarter snacks

New recipes

Healthier habits

Stress relief

Holding myself accountable

Feeling GREAT!

In the last 91 days:

1 5k race in 29:42

13 weeks of sweaty, breathless workouts

83 gym visits

80 days at or under my calorie goal

15.7 lbs lost

Next Tuesday I've scheduled another Fitness Assessment at my gym (my first one was on September 7th)! I am really excited to see how I've improved in measures other than weight. I was especially poor at the grip test, and the sit & reach. I'm hoping that I can do better at the grip test, which is a strength indicator, and the sit and reach, which is a flexibility indicator- two things I've been been working hard on improving. My bodyfat percentage was super high at 31%; the recommended range for ladies my age (27) is between 16-24%. I'm not sure what kind of change to expect here, but hoping to eventually to get down around 25%, so where ever I'm at on Tuesday will be a place to progress from!

Thanks for sticking around for the journey so far! One thing that's really helped me keep going is a supportive family, awesome co-workers, and a great active community; I'm talking to you, gym buddies, gym staff, fellow Greatist Ambassadors, and fitness bloggers! For those of you out there, shorties and otherwise, who think you're just not meant to be fitter and that maybe you're just not one of "those people" who's going to ever get to a healthy weight, I say:

You can be healthier and fitter.

You are TOTALLY one of those people!