Down 20 pounds, 25-ish to go!

I just joined MFP last week after hearing the success stories from several friends who use this program. I lost 20 pounds earlier this year by doing Weight Watchers; however, I also worked out between 5-10 hours a week, so I'm convinced I actually lost more weight but didn't know it because I was gaining muscle weight in the process. Having eaten whatever I ever wanted throughout my life, I made the choice to becom a vegan.. that lasted for about a month. I then switched over to a vegetarian lifestyle and don't regret it one bit.

After life took over, I went on about a 3-4 month hiatus from dieting (while still maintaining a 98% vegetarian lifestyle). I gained back roughly 3-7 pounds (which is what my profile is currently reflecting).

I was always a fairly "small" person growing up -- and then I began to have some major health problems. After being on countless medications, 6 months of treatments, many different kinds of steroids, multiple hospital stays, and 2 surgeries, I found myself about 40 pounds heavier than I had ever been in my life. That's what made me begin to travel the road of "dieting."

I'm currently enrolled in two college programs (Masters Degree through NU and a 3-year program through ABI), I work full-time, have two dogs (IG and Pitbull - see my pictures), and am at my church anywhere from 3-6 times a week -- not to mention all the little extras that come and go.

It's time to take control and get healthy, get fit, get skinnier.

I have BAGS of amazingly adorable clothes (which I so affectionately call my "skinny clothes" --- sizes 6-8) that I want to be able to wear again.

Also, I've planned a trip to SC in April 2013 to visit a friend. I'm going to be running my first marathon during that time as well --- and I want to be in shape to do it!

If anyone can offer any helpful tips or "quick and easy" (but effective) workouts that can be squeezed into an overly-busy and jam-packed schedule, PLEASE share them with me! Anything at all would be awesome. Also, please feel free to add me as a friend on here -- I'd love to have you join me on this journey and hopefully be an inspiration to you as well!