New deadlift and squat PRs to end my 18 week bulk phase. Pulled a slightly grindy 455 with a bit of a growling warcry near lockout. Getting closer to a 3x bodyweight pull all of the time. Still gunning for 495 by December, and if current progress is any indication, I'll nail it and then some.

The 315 squat went so smooth that I contemplated a double, before thinking better of it. Still shooting for 370 by December, and I'm well ahead of projections on that as well.

I woke up this morning and my body felt noticeably smaller. It's as though it spontaneously shrank/adjusted to the weight loss overnight, haha.

I seem to have slimmed down in the ribcage/midsection area, which is just fine with me, as it gives me a pleasing hourglass figure Still a long way to go, but yay for feeling pretty great along the way!

Wow, another lady in my strength training circuit class came up to congratulate me on my weight loss and how thin I look, in a very kind and supportive manner. She is in great shape herself. We work out in opposite sides of the room, surprised she even noticed me.
I was just happy for someone to comment on my new body in a positive way.

I still do have a hard time thinking of myself as thin in the same sentence. A NSV for another day.

I sat through 2 days of meetings on this trip knowing lunch would be carbage so I ate an actual breakfast and just skipped lunch with no problem.

Meanwhile there were others in the room fretting about how they are struggling to drop a few pounds but are starving and couldn't go more than a couple hours without cramming some more "healthy whole grains" in their mouths while commenting about it being low fat and only xxx calories.

One huge NSV I have noticed is that my knee pain is gone, have had trouble for about 6 months and walking has been uncomfortable but I realised today I am walking fine without pain and can get off the sofa without struggling at all

My weight is somewhat stable the past couple months, up a pound, down two, etc., nothing dramatic. But something I noticed that has been different...

When I lie down in bed or on the couch, my tummy is flat and soft, not bulging and hard, like it used to be! I still have a LOT of tummy on my body, but I think I've melted away some hard, adipose fat, possibly? Or fixed gut bloat? Not sure which. I have been overweight since I was about 13 (what people today would call 'chubby') and packed it on over the years. My lightest adult weight was about 190, and my heaviest, almost 280 (I started keto at 248 last May) to give you an idea. And I've always carried the excess in my middle, neck, and face. My limbs have almost always been fairly normal-sized.

I'm not doing Keto yet, but lower carbs and lower calories overall. I want to do it and have been going off of sugar. Over 50 days of logging. Down 12 pounds. From a size 22 to 18/20 depending on maker of clothes. My husband says that my tummy is getting smaller and my thighs? I put on a dress today and it fits again! I'm shopping in my closet and finding things I haven't wore in years. Starting to ditch my clothes that are too big!!!! My skin feels different. I feel softer in areas where I'm losing it. My big *kitten* titties are getting smaller!!!! I have more energy, sleeping better, no more back pain, knee's stop hurting! My feet still hurt but no more pain pills. I do a happy dance every time I lose another pound! Each week, another pound or two! 1200 calories. I'm still fitting in wine, or a small piece of dark chocolate and I know I should stop that too but I've backed off of so much and when I tried to have some soda...i couldn't drink it. Too sweet. Veggies taste great now. My taste buds are better. I'm cooking more and my husband supports me. I'm feeling mentally stronger for taking control of my life again. I'm not eating to suppress my feelings. My appetite is fine now. I don't go to the kitchen to binge! I still don't drink enough water! But I am aware of what I'm doing wrong and I am not on a diet...this is a life style change that I can do! It's taken me years to get this way...and it might take me a year or two to get off this weight. But I'm willing to do it. 100 pounds to go! Yeah me! I love it when people say..."Hey you look good or I see your losing weight!" I say, "I'm getting healthy to feel good and not be in pain anymore!" Not to be HOT or SEXY but HEALTHY!!!!

Because of the reduction in overall inflammation that Keto has given me, I was able to put on a dress this morning, that I was last able to wear when my weight was a full 20 pounds lower than it is right now. And it looks better now than it did then.

Spent most of my week at SIGGRAPH wearing and older pair of 501 Levi jeans that I haven't fit into in years. Went out this last weekend and purchased a whole new set of jeans that actually fit. My older pairs would fall off if I didn't have a belt and I they started to fold over just to fit. Went from a very tight 38 to a nicely fitting 36 waist if I hit my goal weight I will have to buy another new set of jeans but these should last me for a while...good thing for belts. All my 38 loose fit jeans are now in storage.

Today I am wearing a skirt that used to be super snug around the waist...and now is quite loose even when I'm sitting...I think I could fit a water bottle in here with me...so thankful for my big hips for a change!!!

Taking a moment to reflect on my long term weight victories, since my short term stats are frustrating me to no end and have not improved over the course of this past year plus 4 months.
So, the good victory is that by utilizing all the strategies in my arsenal I have remained in the ballpark of my goal.
Maintenence remains a mystery to me, but with all the stops and starts, I have not relapsed completely, and on a daily basis call up my inner reserves to get the next challenge...whatever area it lies in..under my belt. I've learned how incredibly strong I can be at times, and have learned to forgive and forget when I can't be strong or get something accomplished by a set deadline. Now I look for progress, not perfection.
As I'm writing this, I realize that the point I'm getting at, is that I'm practicing self love not striving for it. I am accepting my flaws, and I'm proud of my shining, happy, no-holds-barred spirit.
This is new for me. This is what staying with it for 110-145 pounds off has taught me...no matter what the actual weight is, I've maintained myself in this range for over a year after losing and have confidence in myself to be able to eventually get to the goal weight I've chosen as my my endgame. Somehow I will tame the maintenance beast, find my new calling, have the lover I seek, and rock on til the end. I just know it.
Boom!

I got this shirt for free but it was only available in a small. I wear a small in women's sizes but this looked really really small so I took it that bling I would alter it with some cute ties on the sides.
I was actually able able to wear it to work at the comic book store today! I don't think I need to alter it after all!