The vacations that spurred (VERY) different weight-loss goal

For the girl asking: I am 5'7.5 inches, 147 pounds (22 BMI!). Athletic/thick build. My legs and hips are STRONG. In the before pictures I was about 200 pounds (I didn't weight myself after hitting the 190s).

cspence2270--it's kind of a long story but I'll try to make it brief: I lost the first 30 pounds the same summer as the Havasu photos (2006) were taken by "watching what I ate" which at the time meant: eating a light breakfast, a lean cuisine for lunch, and then whatever was made for dinner by my parents. I lived at home--it was the summer between my junior and senior years in college in New York City.

When I returned to college I just maintained the 30 pound loss the first semester by continuing t workout but wasn't as disciplined with eating and drinking (I WAS a senior in college so drinking on the weekend was kind of part of the lifestyle :-)). Second semester I was more disciplined and started walking everywhere I went instead of taking the Subway so I lost another 10 pounds or so (got down to 165).

During my first job after college I worked an 8-5 job. I went to the gym 4 days a week at 5am and got down to a size 6 by May of 2008. I had stopped weighing myself at this point because I no longer owned a scale so I gauged my losses by what size I was. At the gym I lifted weights then did the Arc trainer for 30 minutes and burned about 500 calories per session. Some days, when I had a workout buddy, I would play racquetball which is another super intense, high calorie burning activity if you get competitive with it.

THEN I started law school Fall of 2008. I stopped lift ing weights and probably went for a run about 3 or 4 times a week. The running was more of a de-stresser than anything because I did not have much time to run very far. I stopped watching what I ate and when I study I snack, so by the end of 1st year I had gained. I went to the doctor after 1L year was over in May of 2009 and I weighed 173 pounds and wore a size 8.

That summer I worked out and started lifting weights 5-6 times a week again and by fall of 2009 I was already back down to a large size 6/small size 8. I started dating my boyfriend Dave (now fiancé) that October and I'm the kind of person that when I'm falling in love I just stop eating because I'm nervous and excited and happy and overwhelmed and overjoyed have no appetite. That took me down to a true 6.

That spring Dave decided he wanted to get into shape and he downloaded an app on his phone that tracked what he ate and that's when I found MyFitnessPal. I started using it in February and by March/April I was a size 4!!!! I had NEVER thought I could fit into a size 4 but MFP made it really easy--I did not even realize I was dieting, I just did what the program said and viola! To maintain that I workout 5-6 times a week. Lift weights at least twice a week, preferably 4, and when I'm feeling really hung-ho abs.

My workout routine used to be just running and weights BUT over the summer while studying for the bar I hurt my knee so I've toned back the running to every other day and I elliptical or swim (in the summer when it's warm enough).

Cardio:
Run or elliptical no less than 1.5 miles per day. Usually 2-3.1 miles.

Strength Training:
ARMS: Biceps & Triceps free weight exercise x3 sets of 10
Chest Press x3 sets of 15
Assisted Pull-ups x3 sets of 10 (working up to unassisted--right now I need anywhere from 30 to 60 pounds of "assistance")

LEGS: Leg extension x3 sets of 20
Leg curl x3 sets of 15
Leg lunges--body weight
Body weight squats

ABS:
Leg lifts w/ partner x3 sets of 30-50
Forward Planks x2 sets of 30-60 seconds
Side Planks x1 per side for 20-45 seconds

I've "mixed it up" a lot too. When I get bored I'll change what I do for cardio, or lifting, etc.