Progress Pics AGAIN 105 lbs down

Thank you all soooo much! :smooched:
Ok so to answer some questions-

I don't have a "plan" so to speak. I do my best to eat whole foods and avoid processed crap. I'm certainly not a purist when it comes to that but I'd say 90%. I still have my splurges but I never would have made it without them. I never went on a diet. Knowing that this is how I have to live forever really changed my perspective and I look at my calories sort of like a budget. I get x number of dollars to spend and have bills to pay (protien = mortgage, carbs = car payment...) and I use MFP to balance my budget. If I want to splurge I check my account balance and I can "afford it" I go for it. My diary is public- go for it.

As for working out. I'm a fiend. I was really good about marking all of the strength training I do in my exercise journal but I found I was spending almost as much time logging it as I was doing it so I mark it now in the notes as "upper body" "Lower body" "Tough Mudder" "Abs Day" or Cardio. I have been asked about my workout routine and I plan on writing a few blogs with the work outs I do so anyone can try them. I go to a very well stocked gym and come from an athletic back ground. I know my way around the free weights which is probably my biggest "secret to success." I lift HEAVY STUFF. A LOT. I'm not afraid of getting "man muscles" because I'm a girl and that doesn't happen. By throwing around 30+lb dumb bells I now have biceps, crazy awesome back muscles and pecs I can flex (GOOOOOD BYE SAGGY BOOBS!!!) That's how I got toned. I made muscles you can see. Not to mention all of the added benefits, being strong, burning more calories at rest, and preserving bone density and joints!! If you view my diary there's a link to my exercise diary that's also public.

Skin... well I know it looks pretty awesome in the pictures- I thank the sun gods for that. Being tan totally hides the MASSIVE amount of stretch marks. I look like I got in a fight with a tiger from mid belly to mid thigh. It ain't pretty. I do still have loose skin- keeping VERY hydrated, giving my body losing breaks (plateaus) and keeping moisturized (you saw the family sized tub of cocoa butter didn't you now?!) has helped tremendously. If you look closely at the pic where I'm facing forward at the base of my stomach- that should be flat but there's some funky wrinkly skin there... I'm super critical of it but it was brought to my attention that it could be worse; I could be almost 300 pounds again. And when it was put that way, I'll take the wrinkles. :bigsmile:

I'm sorry I couldn't add everyone who requested me but I lurk around the forums some so I'm sure I'll see you there!! I'm glad I can be an inspiration- I owe a pretty major leg of this journey to my MFPee-ers :flowerforyou: and I'll keep you up to date as I get closer to my physical goals. Anyone in Tac-town that wants an *kitten* kicking I'm at the gym every night from 5pm - 8pm. :bigsmile:

Thanks again for the support and the cheers!! It means the world :smooched:


~a