Seeing is believing

It's been a little while since I updated my blog on my weight loss progress. This time I thought I'd even offer a little advice! Bold, I know!

disclaimer:
Honestly, I feel silly writing entries on this topic since it's so personal, I'm no expert, and I only know what works for me...However, I know I find it helpful to see others' progress so perhaps I'm helping encourage someone? Not to mention it just holds me accountable! So, sorry in advanced for any of my awkward/frazzled weight loss entries.

If you've been a loyal follower of my blog, you know that I've been working towards a weight loss goal,
My goal was set on February 10th to lose 40 lbs by July 1st. Today, with less than one month until July, I feel as though I am on track to meet my goal, having lost 33 lbs so far!

Funny enough, until recently I hadn't felt like I looked different. However, after a few very appreciated compliments from friends and family the last few weeks, I am starting to see what everyone has started to notice. A good friend of mine sent me these pictures in an email with a kind note saying "in case you can't see the beauty that everyone else sees. Keep up the hard work!". Not only was this a sweet, tear-inducing gesture, but she was right on point, until this email... I couldn't visualize my progress!

Before: End of January, 2011

After: End of May, 2011

Although I'm only 7 lbs off from the "big goal", I am confident I will maintain the changes I've made as part of a total lifestyle transformation. Sure, it felt great to have to take a few of my favorite dresses to my tailor to be taken in, and to store my size 12 and 14 jeans and bring out the size 10's, but it feels even better to be so much more in sync with my body.
Through my life-long struggle with my weight, I find I struggle most at giving myself what I deserve. This time around I made a promise that I wouldn't keep myself from what I wanted...
I have lost weight that way before, strictly following a diet and workout regimen and beating myself up when I would falter. Yes, it worked and I think I even may have lost weight quicker, but here I am two years later doing it again after a complete shutdown. The "Go big or Go home" mentality may have worked in the short run, but didn't last.

This time around I made it more fun for me. I know I love food (and boy, do I LOVE it), but luckily I also love working out! Now, instead of beating myself up for the three cupcakes I ate at a children's birthday party this weekend, I came home to a long, hard run. Sure, I try to eat healthy as much as possible, but sometimes I just don't want to! Sometimes, I want to have 2, 3, 4 glasses of sangria and not hear "empty calories" churning in my head non-stop... so now, I block it out and remember: skinny people have fun with their friends too, so why can't I? On days that I don't want to go to the gym, and it feels like the worst thing in the world, I don't go! Instead, I enjoy my day off, and put in double the energy the next day!

I'm not saying that losing 33 lbs was easy, it is hard to lose weight, but it's important to treat yourself like a worthy person. Remembering that I am worthy of a day off once in awhile while allowing myself to indulge and live life, has made the last few months bearable, if not enjoyable! My big point of advice to anyone trying to lose weight for the first, second, or bagillionth time is to not take it so seriously! If you don't enjoy it, it just wont last. Trust me!