This month has sped by.   We’ve had snow, ice, and sunshine.  It’s been a lovely Christmas season – and sharing it with my 4 year old daughter, has been such a gift.

I haven’t been rigid with my eating and my progress, while good, isn’t as far along as it could be.  I had goaled to be at 230.  That was a good goal, provided I had created an effective structure for achieving it.  I didn’t though – and without that, I continued progressing but not as quickly.  That said, I found these two pictures that really help me see how far I have come.

The more I think about it, the more I’m certain that having a structure will bring me the biggest results.  That will be my focus in the coming year… automating everything so that it becomes like breathing to the food that I want to, exercising, and living a fully embraced life. 

So, click more to see the numbers…

Weight: 242 (-2 lbs)
Height: 5′8″
BMI: 36.8

Measurements

Neck: 14
Bicep: 14 (-.5″)
Forearm: 11
Chest: 45
Waist: 42 (-2″)
Hips: 46 (-2″)
Thigh: 25 (-.5″)
Calf: 17 (-1″)

The measurements are what have me dancing today.   That and this picture that shows me visibly my progress!

My question for you today: Are you going to watch your health, food and exercise over the holidays?  If yes, why?  If no, why? 

Embrace Love, Embrace Life, Embrace Your Health!

Weight: 246
Height: 5′8″
BMI: 37.4

Measurements

Neck: 14.25
Bicep: 15 (-.25″)
Forearm: 11.5
Chest: 47
Waist: 44 (-1″)
Hips: 48
Thigh: 26
Calf: 18

The progress was slower this week.  I found encouragement though in looking back at some old numbers.  For example, since my highest point after Amira’s birth…

• I’ve lost 39 lbs.
• I’ve lost nearly 10 inches around my waist
• I’ve lost 6 inches around my hips and chest
• My BMI has dropped from 43.3 to 37.4

I need to get some new photos up of my progress.  I’ll try to do that today.

I’m finding that adding green juices and smoothies and eating more raw meals is making this journey to optimal health much easier.  It isn’t as difficult, physically or psychologically.  That alone is making me a fan of raw eating.

My two week challenge with Paul went really well and helped me push through 5 lbs of loss.  I’m strategizing another challenge for myself.  I’m going to do a short challenge followed by a longer one.  My first will be between now and Thanksgiving.  9 days including today.  My goal: lose 3 lbs.  My second will be from November 29th until Christmas, nearly 30 days.  Goal: lose 12 lbs.  Accomplishing both of these goals would have me at 231 lbs on Christmas morning.  That would be a Merry Christmas to me, indeed! 

Breakfast this morning was juice:

• 1/2 head romaine lettuce
• 1 large leaf of purple kale
• 1/2 a cucumber
• 1 pear
• 1 apple
• 1/2 lemon

As always, I do love my green juices.  Well, in the case of today, purple juice. 

Embrace Love, Embrace Life, Embrace Your Health!

Weight: 247
Height: 5′8″
BMI: 37.6

Measurements

Neck: 14..25 (-.25″)
Bicep: 15.25 (-.25″)
Forearm: 11.5
Chest: 47 (-1″)
Waist: 45 (-1.5″)
Hips: 48 (-1″)
Thigh: 26 (-2″)
Calf: 18 (-.5″)

I am making progress – the most I’ve made in over 4 years.  I’m excited — and yet still sober because of the 100 lb journey I still have ahead of me.  But for today, I’m celebrating!

I have to thank Paul (so THANKS PAUL! ♥)  for helping me with this latest round of weight loss and movement towards optimal health.  He took on a 2 week challenge with me.  Having him on the challenge with me was such a great support.  It is truly easier to take on difficult things in partnership with others.

Good morning!  I’ve been offline here for nearly 2 months.  It’s been due to a combination of life events and this blog misbehaving.  But I’ve whipped the blog into submission and I’m back personally as well.  A quickie update.  Over the past two months, I gained back 12 pounds and have since lost 8 again when I realized I was slipping backwards both in my healthy habits and my weight loss goals.

My new numbers as of this morning:

Weight: 252
Height: 5′8″
BMI: 38.3

Measurements

Neck: 14.0 (-.5″)
Bicep: 15.0 (-.5″)
Forearm: 11.5
Chest: 48
Waist: 44 (-2.5″)
Hips: 49
Thigh: 26 (-2″)
Calf: 18 (.5″)

In posting my numbers, I noticed something interesting.  While my weight is 4 lbs higher than the last time I checked in 3 months ago – but my measurements are down!  I’m not certain that this is why – but I have changed my diet significantly over the last week.  If I had measured beforehand, I could have said that it was because of this change.  But since I didn’t, I don’t know for sure.

I’ve switched to eating a primarily raw diet.  I’m eating raw throughout the day with dinner being more traditional.  Today is day 6 of eating 80-85% raw.

More soon!  I hope many of you will find your way back here again after such a long silence on my end.

Embrace Love, Embrace Life, Embrace Your Health!

Weight: 248
Height: 5′8″
BMI: 39

Measurements

Neck: 14.5
Bicep: 15.5
Forearm: 11.5
Chest: 48
Waist: 46.5 (-1/2″)
Hips: 49 (-1″)
Thigh: 28
Calf: 18.5

My camera battery is dead because a particular 3 year old played with my camera yesterday and left it on all night.    I’ll get a new photo up with the next check in.

I haven’t lost any additional weight yet – but there was some more inches lost around my midsection.

A little fun happening:  Dancing with Amira this morning, my pants shimmied their way down and literally off my hips.   Whee!

Goal for next check in – to have lost some weight in addition to inches!

Weight: 248
Height: 5′8″
BMI: 39

Measurements

Neck: 14.5
Bicep: 15.5
Forearm: 11.5
Chest: 48 (-1″)
Waist: 47 (-2″)
Hips: 50 (-1″)
Thigh: 28 (-.5″)
Calf: 18.5 (-.5″)

This numbers check-in is a good example of why you can’t just trust your scale as a measure of your progress. The scale shows me at the same weight as my July 26th check-in. However, and it’s a big however! I’ve lost inches! An accumulated total of 5 inches! That’s some progress!

I need to remind and encourage myself of that because I want to see the scale numbers drop and I want my self-portrait updates to inspire me. And it doesn’t. I’ll be honest, it takes some discipline and determination to post these photos. I’m embarrassed of my size. But my embarrassment is outweighed by my commitment to have this be a journey to optimal health and fitness. Every day, every number, every picture is a part of that journey.

So, I was spoiled by a very good breakfast this morning. Quinoa flakes with ground chia seeds, fresh blueberries, bananas, sprinkle of cinnamon and a drizzle of agave syrup and vanilla hempmilk. Sounds complicated as I type it out… but it was easy and yummy. Double bonus! – Amira loved hers too.

In all my reading, raw foods is something I haven’t delved into much. I’m just beginning to learn more about it’s benefits now. One of my breakfast recipes is perfect for raw diets though:

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• 4 cups rolled grains – my current blend has been 1 cup oats, 1 cup triticale, 1 cup wheat, and 1 cup rye. You can also use spelt, hulled buckwheat, hulled barley, etc. as well.
• 2 cups oat bran
• 1 cup sunflower seeds – I grind them, but you can put them in whole if desired
• 1 cup raw, unsalted nuts – I use raw almonds. I use slivered almonds and chop them up a little further.
• 1 cup lecithin granules
• 1/2 cup flax seed – I grind them, again, you could use them whole
• 1/2-3/4 cup chia seeds, ground
• 1 cup milk thistle seeds – ground
• 1-2 cups dried fruit, I’ve used goji berries (whole or ground), dried cherries, apples, apricots, raisins, etc. – You can use whatever dried fruit appeals.

Mix, then store in the refrigerator.

TO SERVE: Soak in milk* for 15-30 minutes before eating. Sprinkle with cinnamon and drizzle with maple syrup, honey, or agave nectar.

(*You can use milk, soymilk, nutmilk, or water. We use hempmilk (a mixture of chocolate and vanilla flavors.)

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Paul & I both like this breakfast – it’s filling and leaves you feeling energized through the day. I need to come up with a grain combination that is gluten/wheat-free for Amira. I’ll have to experiment with that.

All in all, good day.

Weight: 248
Height: 5′8″
BMI: 39

Measurements

Neck: 14.5
Bicep: 15.5
Forearm: 11.5
Chest: 48
Waist: 49
Hips: 51
Thigh: 28
Calf: 19

The numbers have me down two pounds but with no measurement changes.  I’m not too surprised that the measurements came out the same.  At my size and height, it takes a bit before any weight loss begins to show itself.  In the past, it has taken a weight loss of over 20 lbs before anyone else noticed.

Next photo and numbers check in: August 2nd.

I snapped this picture last night to give a general sense of where I am today. Not the most flattering picture, but that’s okay. The “before” pictures are rarely flattering. I haven’t found a picture of me before the 30lbs I lost, but if I do, I’ll post it as well.

The good news about this picture is that the pants I’m wearing are baggy from the weight I’ve lost. Another 10 lbs and I’m doubting they’ll even stay on. Signs of progress. I’ll take each and every one.

For the record, here are my numbers:

Weight: 250
Height: 5′8″
BMI: 39

Measurements

Neck: 14.5
Bicep: 15.5
Forearm: 11.5
Chest: 48
Waist: 49
Hips: 51
Thigh: 28
Calf: 19

I’ll update these numbers weekly.