Lost 35 pounds and found myself again!!

This is my first week in maintenance mode after a year that will definitely be one to remember. I started out 2012 at 170 pounds at 5'6. Lucky for me, I gain weight pretty proportionally, so I still had a flat stomach there was just MORE OF IT. And more thighs, causing me to have chub rub at just 23 years old. My clothing size was going up every year and I felt completely out of control. I was swollen and puffy and felt uncomfortable in my skin. Previously loving clothes and having my own sense of style, I would find myself crying because I couldn't find an outfit to wear, and then would end up wearing something dark and loose, plain and unfitted. I was so upset with myself, I didn't know how this had happened. I was an athlete in high school, and still thought I was physically fit. I could run miles and lift weights with no problem, but the weight kept creeping on.

Turns out I was lying to myself about my eating habits, I hadn't been watching what I eat at all. I had been eating large portions, and sometimes going 10 hours without eating, then coming home and having a large dinner at 10 p.m. I was slowing down my metabolism, and I didn't even know it. I had been going to the gym, but seeing no progress because I had refused to change my eating habits up to this point.

Enter MyFitnessPal - I had installed the app on my phone years ago, but never used it. It wasn't until January of this year that I decided I would see if it really worked. And guess what, it did. Once I started tracking everything I put in my mouth, the weight started dropping off. I even started cooking more, amazed at how easy it was for me to lose weight once I actually TRIED.

I started eating 5 times a day with about 1500 calories total, and then exercising almost every day. I learned that I love spinning classes, and that became my major cardio, along with running 3 miles once or twice a week. I lift weights and have challenged myself to try yoga and pilates, now taking classes several times a week. I forced my boyfriend to be more active and to motivate me, and we now go biking, hiking, and do Insanity videos together. We even went to Yosemite National Park this year and did some amazing hikes. Now, I can't wait to go to the Grand Canyon next year to hopefully hike the entire rim!

By April, I had already lost 20 pounds and went to Mexico with my best friend. I felt great in my bikini already, and I was only half way there! I noticed a major change in my mood and confidence level. It only took three months...that's it...three months changed me after years of being secretly miserable.

Today, I am at 135 pounds with 22% body fat, and it's decreasing every month. That is 10 pounds less than high school. I lost most of the weight by July ( over 6 months), and then lost another couple of pounds slowly since then.

I've learned that it's true - abs ARE made in the kitchen. I know that working out will do little to nothing if I don't eat healthy and monitor my calorie intake. At the same time, every weekend I still go out with friends, drink, and eat what I want, knowing that Monday I will go right back to my routine. It has worked for me, and I haven't felt like I had to sacrifice anything. I am finally truly happy with myself, and I love the excitement that I get out of measuring my body fat monthly, tape measuring myself, and seeing myself fit in size 2/4 jeans (previously size 8/10). What a great year!

I finally uploaded a few photos to my profile. I have mostly been on this journey alone, but if anyone has any questions, or needs someone to talk to on here, I am happy to make some new friends! I am a MyFitnessPal fan for life!