one year later

Today is my one year anniversary with Rick. One year ago today I had a near panic-attack when Rick, my newly-hired personal trainer, asked me to weigh-in and take my body fat and BMI measurements. I managed to pull myself together and jump on his 'i-don't-want-to-hear-any-complaints-just-go-ahead-and-do-it-and-don't-you-dare-waste-my-time-i-think-you-just-cheated-on-that-so-we'll-do-four-more-reps-just-to-make-sure-you-know-what-you're-doing-and-please-don't-tell-me-about-your-life-i'm-just-here-to-make-you-thin-not-to-be-your-friend' train. And life has never been the same.

After a year of enduring burn-out workouts and weight watchers, I'd like to give a couple of shout-outs to some awesome folks:

Josh: you sweet, sweet man. You have listened to me complain about workouts, count weight-watchers points, stress over calorie content and let me fall asleep mid date-night after a hard workout. You have tried crazy vegan recipes, supported my brief 2-a-day workouts and let me buy songs on Itunes for countless workout playlists. You've been my biggest cheerleader, supportive coach and patient friend. I could not have come this far without you!

Dad: my financial backer. Let's be honest: working out ain't cheap! Thanks for the birthday money last year---I couldn't have gotten a personal trainer without it! You helped me jump start a lifestyle that I thought was out of my league. Thanks for the encouragement, motivation and for answering my million questions about sore muscles, nutrition and strength training.

My YL Girls: you have tried some of the worst recipes known to man in my attempt to make healthy sweets for women's fellowship. You've let me come to the caf for lunch in workout clothes...and still acknowledge me. You've even hugged me when I've been really sweaty at the gym (true friends!) You've run, cycled, walked and zumba-ed with me. You have encouraged me when I needed it the most. Thanks for always being there with me!

Rick, the PT: You crazy man. I am certain of two things: 1) you pushed me harder and more consistently than any coach or workout partner I've ever had and 2) i never could have come this far without a workout plan that was perfectly tailored for me. Thanks for being available even after our paid sessions were up. You've continued to challenge me and give me advice on new techniques. I really indebted to you!

Maury and Taylor: dear weight watchers girls. Thanks for being so honest about WW. It gave me the courage to try it myself. Thanks for answering my million questions about points and recipes and for ordering with me at restaurants (i need this on the side, steamed not fried, veggies not chips, etc).

So now to the fun/shocking part of the post......the before and after photos:
(sorry for the awkwardness, i was pointing at a sign in the first photo and trying to re-create the moment in the second photo)

I've lost:
51.4 pounds
8% body fat
6.6 points on BMI
40.25 inches*
(*arms, chest, waist, hips, thighs)

I don't know if I should be excited or embarrassed that I lost that amount! I never would've thought that I had 50 pounds to lose. I mean, I obviously needed to lose weight (I'm not a total moron!) its just that I didn't think I'd let myself go that far. Josh and I were happy. Really happy. We ate out a lot and I didn't really exercise that much. And the pounds started creeping on. But I didn't notice, because I was happy (and too busy picking out where we were going to eat dinner....mexican or japanese?) I recently told Maury that at least my weight-gain was 'happy pounds'....I really did enjoy every ice-cream sundae, bowl of nachos and beer.

And then I saw that rediculous picture of me from the Virginia Creeper Trail (the 'before' picture above.) I shed a few tears, pleaded with God and hired a trainer. And the rest is history. A very sweaty, exhausting, fat-blasting history.

So. Now here I am...goal weight and all. So what's next? I'm still going to keep up with my 'diet' which has morphed into full-fledged lazy-vegan lifestyle. I'm enjoying it a lot more than I thought and still splurging on the occasional piece of cheese. I'm going to try and strength train 2-3 times a week and fit some cardio in every day. So there....its out there for all the internet world to see (or the 4 people that read this blog). I'm going to try and maintain this lifestyle. Invite me to a 5k, send me a recipe or join me at the YMCA....I'd love the company (and the accountability!)

So here's to another year of being happy and healthy. Cheers!