1 Year MFP and 7 Months Lifting Heavy

So, I don't know if I'm a success story, per se, but this is my one year MFP progress post. Disclaimer: Sorry for the "standing on the toilet" photos. I've actually been taking them in the same location for years for my own records because it's easy. Never thought I'd be sharing them with, well, anyone. :blushing:

I have definitely made progress. I came here not overweight, but feeling a little fluffy at 138 lbs (I'm 5'5") and wanting to lose about 5 lbs. I wasn't making a dent in those pounds on my own, and realized I needed to get serious.

Right after I joined here I found Paleo, then Primal. Now, I don't eat strict Primal, or necessarily believe it, but loosely following the "diet" has been amazing. Cutting out grains (90% of the time) made weight loss really easy. I immediately dropped 6 lbs or so in the first 6 weeks and then slowly dropped even more over the summer until I was maintaining around 128 lbs. BTW, my thoughts on why cutting grains (and white potatoes) from my diet worked so well has more to do with calorie density, satiety, and cravings than anything else. But totally another post.

By August I was thinner than I'd been since high-school, but not 100% crazy with my body. I felt top-heavy, thick in the middle, and my legs and butt left a little to be desired. I'd been a hobby aerialist for 3 years at this point (still am. Think circus arts), so my once-upon-a-time scrawny pencil arms were no more. Still had the skinny lower legs. I suffered, and still do, from what I call Q-Tip leg syndrome.

So I joined the Lifetime Fitness by my work and started hitting the squat rack 2-3x/week. My measurements and weight really haven't changed much, though I have gained 1-2 lbs. I can clearly see the added mass in my thighs, and my abs seem a little more defined. I am definitely stronger, and my aerial skills have improved dramatically.

Moving forward, I'd love to cut down to 125 ish for the summer. I'm not having much luck though. Vacation and Friday happy hours keep getting in the way. :drinker: But worst case I'll continue to recomp over the summer. I'm considering a small bulk next winter. Looking at my "before" photos and knowing I've only lost 8 lbs kinda freaks me out though.

Onto the pictures!

The pictures are deceiving, but my thighs are actually smaller in the current photo. I've actually lost about 1.5" off my measurements (I lose weight fairly evenly). My hips are just so narrow. There is definitely no "thigh gap" in my future.



[img]http://i532.photobucket.com/albums/ee322/jivete/Lifting progress/SideComparsionMay2013-2014.jpg[/img]

And the before I started lifting photo:

[img]http://i532.photobucket.com/albums/ee322/jivete/Lifting progress/F-08192013.jpg[/img]

Nothing spectacular, but hopefully it helps someone!