50 down, 50 to go! ~pics~

I rarely read people's stories on here, so I'll be brief...

I've been fat since puberty and never could shake it. Tried everything (including half-assed MFP effort) and nothing worked for me. Finally, something clicked and on January 2 (day after NYE hangover) I started tracking everything. I kept doing it, and I've lost 50 lbs!

Things that are working for me:
~Try to stay under 1300 calories (it was 1500 until I plateaued in June... the decrease has been a success)
~Daily exercise -at least 30 min, and it's pretty hardcore)
~Drinking my weight in water every day (seriously, about 16oz every hour while I'm at work)
~Fruits and veggies (I snack all day long... always have to be stuffing my face with food)
~Educating myself on nutrition
~No tracking on weekends
~Having a good support group on MFP
~No tracking or eating exercise calories
~Setting small, attainable goals
~A mantra, if you will. In my head, I tell myself that "Skinny girls don't ___________" (and fill in the blank with whatever bad choice I'd really like to make)

Things I'd like to start doing:
~Making lunch my big meal, and have a smaller dinner --- A recent study shows.....
~Stick to the 1/2 plate rule - half of your plate should be veggies at every meal

I can tell you one thing for sure... losing weight is about 90% diet and 10% exercise. I have been very active for years, doing bootcamps, running 5K's and bicycling, and for years I was the 250lb chick doing all of these activities. I didn't lose a pound until I completely overhauled my diet and changed my relationship with food.

I am a foodie, and I think about food and chocolate and stuffing my face all the time. I'm pretty sure I'll always be the fat girl inside, really wanting to shove cookies by the handful in my mouth, but the Badass Skinny Girl inside me is always there to remind me that "skinny girls don't _____"

Feel free to add me. My diary is open and public, and I've got another 50 to lose if you care to be inspired

Also, I want to give a shout out to Daniel and Kelly at FitnessBlender.com
THOSE are some serious workouts!! Free online full length workout videos, and there is an awesome variety of workout styles. Check them out! I do those workouts several times a week and I feel so strong!! Hardcore!

Thanks for reading and good luck!

Well crap. Looks like I screwed up the dates on my pics, but I'm certainly not going through THAT process again. The fat ones are all 2012.