42.5 Pounds Lost for the 2011 Marine Corps Birthday Ball :)

Read my blog here: http://www.transformingabetterme.blogspot.com

PLEASE leave a comment when you request to be my friend. I’m just trying to keep my friends list manageable. Thanks for your understanding

Last night I met my very first big goal. When I began MFP 8 ½ months ago, I wanted to be able to wear a nice gown the 2011 United States Marine Corps Birthday Ball. My husband and I have been going to the ball now for years, but I haven’t really been able to wear a nice gown for many years because I’ve carried around so much excess weight. When you carry around too much weight, nothing fits you right. Nothing looks good on you, and no matter how much you primp in the mirror with make-up, new hair styles, or try to cover your “bulges” with a girdle, you just can’t make yourself look nice. That’s what it took for me. It took me coming to that realization (and my being frustrated every time I walked into a dressing room) to decide to make a change to get healthy again. I’m so happy I did!

It has been very simple, but not easy. It’s hard work to exercise, but IT’S WORTH IT!!! Lately, for about the last couple of months to be exact, I’ve been on a plateau. It’s been difficult to get off of. I’ve struggled through a foot injury the entire 8 ½ months, and a back injury for the last month. I’ve significantly had to reduce the intensity of my workouts, but you’ll have setbacks too. Just talk with your doctor if you have an injury and do what you can to keep on track. Just stay on track…you’ll make it through it too. I didn’t reach my goal weight that I set for myself back at the beginning for birthday ball, but I never gave up or quit. In order to get off this plateau, I've started a new exercise program to confuse my body. I've begun Biggest Loser Cardio Max and Biggest Loser Boot Camp. Between that and calorie zig zagging, I’m hoping that will do the trick. So far, my weight has started to go back down. I hope it will continue. I'm proud of how hard I've worked, my determination to get here and my refusal to throw in the towel when times were tough. I could not have said the same thing this time last year. I've come and long way baby and I've still got a little ways to go, but, "I'M GONNA GET THERE!" YOU CAN TOO!!!!

In 8 ½ months here’s the stats on my losses…

42.5 Pounds Lost, 10% Body Fat Lost, and 5.9 BMI Lost. I went from being considered “Overweight” to “Healthy.”

Measurement Lost Update:

Neck: -1.5”

Waist: -8.80”

Hips: -7.20”

Arm: -3.0”

Thighs: -10.00” (L & R thigh combined)

Bust: -7.05”

Calves: -1.5”