Not a lot of scale movement, BUT (w/pics)

This is my first picture post, and while it's not nearly as amazing as many of yours, I thought it was time to share. I am still 20 pounds overweight according to charts. 5'3".

I started getting serious about making some changes about a year ago. Two years ago, we moved out of state and with that came some totally unexpected depression. I knew I'd miss some things, but wow, I turned into a mess. Some days are still hard, but moving myself, preferably with some loud music, is what saves me again and again. I bought a copy of New Rules (which I never would have heard of without MFP), borrowed my brother-in-law's bench and weights, and started lifting heavy. Sometimes I lift three times a week, sometimes one, a few times I've gone weeks without lifting during some hard times or travel times.

I mix it up with yoga (Priscilla Patrick PBS -- she can lotus circles around the young 'uns) at least once a week, 80's aerobics once a week (Jane Fonda will beat you DOWN. Try her YouTube Workout Challenge circa 1983), and I walk the puppy at least once a day. This is what fits into my life. Moving at least 40 minutes in the morning and 30 in the evening. I used to hit the elliptical and/or treadmill at the gym pretty hard. It felt good, but what did it get me? Hungrier. There was a Spangles in the same parking lot. Coincidence?

I used to have a pop just about every day. I haven't had any for four months, and I don't substitute with anything containing sugar or caffeine. That was hard. I craved sugar like no other for at least 60 days after quitting, but it has finally gotten better. Now I crave squash. ha ha My eating is better, but there's a lot of room for improvement.

Is my body rocking? Not quite. Do I feel better? Yes. When I swung my 18-month-old grandson (I'm finally able to say the word without feeling weird) up on one arm last Friday and carried him on my forearm, I realized that yes, I'm changing.

Have a good day.


Left - last June. Right - now. I know these aren't the best. The camera phone just can't hang. My stomach has been hard to change. Four surgeries -- two above the navel, and none were c-sections -- has made things wonky.

The butt lift is what made me realize that yes, something IS happening. Don't knock my 2006 iPod. It's been with me through thick and thin!

The shoulders caught my attention one day. My biceps have grown veins. lol