Lots of Progress Photos: Defeating Sneaky Ninja Fat

So there I was, happily maintaining my weight after a few years, and slowly but surely, my pants started getting tight. My shirts started getting tight. I looked in the mirror, and I looked fine. WTF was going on?

Sneaky Ninja Fat. That's what. It lurks in the shadows, waiting for me to let down my guard, and then jumps onto my back and bum, where I can't see it until it's melded into my flesh.

Ok, so maybe it wasn't ninjas. It was more the result of depression after losing my brother to cancer which made me get a little lax on the eating and lose all motivation to exercise, followed by a very painful lower back injury with a few rounds of steroids and several months of physical therapy where I could only do mild stretching and a couple miles on a recumbent bike. I started to get my groove back in October, and restarted Couch to 5k to ease back into running, but then winter weather, being busy over the holidays, and wanting to enjoy holiday feasts was a good excuse in November and December.

By January, though, I was ready to kick the sneaky ninja fat in it's sneaky ninja buttocks. I got back on MFP, eat 1500 plus some or most of my exercise calories (usually 17-1800 or so) Monday through Friday, and take the weekends and holidays off from logging. I tend to get a little overly obsessive about logging, so regular breaks keep me at least somewhat sane. As sane as you can be when you believe in sneaky ninja fat.

I don't eliminate anything from my diet. Still have pasta, rice, potatoes, cheeseburgers, pizza, the occasional donut and a jalapeno cheddar bagel just about every morning for breakfast. I run 2-3 times a week (weather permitting - it was twice a week during the worst of winter) and strength train usually 3 times a week. Currently following Strong Curves beginner program.

I'm about 6 pounds from my goal weight now. Up until this morning when I took my pics, I thought I was going to have to lower that goal. Now, seeing what nine pounds did, I think six more pounds will be pretty much perfect. But honestly, I'm pretty happy with how I look right now. I know from the past that I can slowly recomp while eating near maintenance. I just have a pile of clothes that I'd rather be able to wear again than have to replace. I can zip some of my skinny jeans now. They just don't look or feel very good at the moment.

Anyway, enough babbling. Here's the photos. Watch the sneaky ninja backfat disappear...









The change is not as noticeable from straight on front or back shots. Because it's a ninja. Also, I can't flex without looking constipated or having an extra chin. I'm convinced that's the most valuable asset a fitness model can have. Looking pretty while flexing.





I even felt good enough about myself to put on my itsy bitsy string bikini from before I gained weight. When I tried it on last summer, I looked like an exploded can of Pillsbury and wanted to cry.



But most of all, I'm happy with my fitness progress. I'm still a lot slower than I was before all this happened, but I'm getting back there. Considering that 8 months ago, I could barely walk and thought my running days are behind me, I'm really happy that I can now run 3.1 miles in the same amount of time I ran 2.1 in October. I've run 10k a couple of times in the past month, and shaved about 5 minutes off my time. And I know in a race environment (first 5k of the year is next weekend) I'll be even faster.