Three months of MFP and exercise - B&A photo!

Today, I jumped on the scale and was alarmed that I had gained three pounds in a matter of a few days. So I decided to find a "before" pic and take an "after" pic, even though I'm only a few months into my journey (and still have a long way to go). I wanted to show a picture that highlights my body. The bike shorts and shirt are tight, so you can see all aspects of my curves.



The before photo (on the left) is from a Crank n' Drank event, where we went wine tasting on a long bike ride though the hills of California. I'm holding up a trophy that basically says I kick *kitten* at biking and drinking. Yes, I did athletic group activities BEFORE I lost the weight - do NOT use your weight as an excuse for living life! I repeat - do what you want today, not tomorrow!

In the after photo (on the right), I am wearing the same bike shorts and shirt. But I am...

...5' 6" in height (that doesn't change..I hope..)
...18 pounds lighter (246.5-228.5)
...3 pant sizes smaller (20W-14W)
...2-3 shirt sizes smaller (XXL-L/M)
...stronger and have a LOT more energy!

As for food: I track everything that I eat, including diet drinks and water. I do not use any diet program. I do not rule out any foods. I still eat everything that I used to, but I eat more at home and less out. I eat breakfast, lunch, and dinner every day, and I snack as I need. I make my lunch for work the night before, so that I do not have excuses in the morning. I have a couple Luna bars and healthy snacks at my work desk in the event I'm running late or forget breakfast.

As for exercise: I started out doing Zumba DVDs for 20 minutes/2-3 days a week. I progressed (slowly) to 80 minutes of Zumba/5-6 days a week. Then I started taking a 60-minute Zumba class 1 day a week and switched to Jillian Michael's 30 Day Shred Level 1/5-7 days a week. I have just started Level 2. It's kicking my butt. After about 2 months, I bought myself a Polar FT4 Heart Rate Monitor to better track my workouts and strenuous activities. I love it.

If you are just starting out, here's some eye-openers.

1) I still hate getting up early. I'm not a morning person-this hasn't changed much. Maybe it will as I continue to get healthier.
2) I enjoy exercise now. It took me three months to really get the vibe of enjoying exercise. Three months - keep that in mind as you begin your journey.
3) I found that when I was hungry and wanted to binge, I would get nasty headaches. If you're just starting out and need to shrink your tummy, start by just logging - not actively changing your diet. That's how I started. Also, ibuprofen is your friend (unless you can't take it for medical reasons).
4) I still drink diet sodas. If you like soda but want to wean yourself away from the stuff, try flavored seltzers or seltzer water with lime juice. Yummy! I prefer the "natural" stuff.
5) My boobs have not shrunk. But if you are a girl, chances are yours will. I'm sorry.
6) It takes time. If you are consistent with your logging and exercise, you will do well. Use the forums on MFP as a motivator. If you are having a downer of a day, I suggest cuteoverload.com. Visiting that blog will do you wonders- unless you hate animals. Which is kind of weird.