1 Year MFP Anniversary (with Pictures)

I just posted this on my blog (http://www.myfitnesspal.com/blog/AggieCass09/view/1-year-mfp-anniversary-88047) but I thought I should share with members other than just my friends...

One year ago today I joined MFP. After 365 days of learning how to eat healthy and of intense exercise, I am 31.6 lbs lighter.
This is what I looked like a year ago. (184.6 lbs, Size 12)



This is what I look like now. (153.0 lbs, Size 6)


Here are the things that faciliated this progress:

1. Tracking everything I put into my mouth on MPF. Through this I realized how many empty calories I was eating, how outrageously large my portions were, and how much sodium I was consuming.

2. Becoming a vegetarian. I never really liked meat before, but in August of 2010, I eliminated all meat from my diary. Since I needed to get adequate protein to compensate, I added many more nutritious things to my diary like cottage cheese, beans, spinach, and protein power. Becoming a vegetarian has caused me to eat cleaner and organic when possible. I do not eat processed foods any more and try to get natural things when I do eat at restaurants. *You do not need to be a vegetarian to be healthy...just focus on eating grass-fed beef, free-range chicken, and foods that are as close to natural (i.e. from the ground to your mouth) as possible*

3. Bringing it during work outs. I have always "exercised" but it wasn't until this year that I learnd what a "hard" work out really is.In previous years, I would train for my January race from August till Jan then I would not run from Feb-July...not running means gaining back weight since I ate like I was still running. Now that I have sustained my training by signing up for a race each month, my running has increased trementoudly (i'm about 2 minutes per mile faster than I was last year) and my overall physique has improved. This is also do to supplementing running with P90X and Yoga. I work out 6 days a week with one two-a-day typically.

4. I don't have "cheat" days but I do eat foods I love. Every once in a while I'll have a margarita, a glass of wine, or a piece of cake, but it is all in moderation and within my daily calorie limits. I DO eat all my exercise calories back because with the level of performance I expect from my body, I need to give it the fuel it needs.

When i first joined MFP, my goal weight was 160 and I didn't even think that was possible. But at 153, I have no limits and I am very pleased with my progress to date. I still have another 13 lbs that I would like to lose so I will be focusing on that in the next several months.

Nothing is impossible, really!