ALW65 Member

I absolutely LOVE the avatar!!! So sad that "Bad" has finally "Broken"

Are you exercising? If you're eating 1200 calories a day and burning off half of them exercising you should feel empty. It's hard to know without more information. Given how you say you've been eating vs. how you were eating I'd think you'd have lost more than 2lbs. Something isn't adding up right~

If I looked like you I'd be SUPER SUPER excited!!! That last picture is amazing - you have such a beautiful smile (even your eyes smile) and the happiness just shines through. Congrats on all your success!!!

Wow! You have to love how fantastic you look in those jeans, and I know you don't miss those sweats. Fantastic stuff!

Good luck to you! I'm running in a local 5K today for the local SPCA. Because I'm a pretty novice runner I try to just concentrate on the rhythm of my breathing. When I get to the "what was I thinking when I signed up for this race" point I start picking spots up ahead and tell myself, "Okay, you can make it to that point,…

I'm still working on running for the entire 5K distance, but best of luck to you - hope the Marathon went well!

Fantastic! I could tell you were exercising and not just dieting because you look waaaaay smaller than 215, and especially for someone who's not super tall. Great work!!!!

I also started Stronglifts 5x5 early in September. My goal is to lose weight, gain muscle (so I can eat more - love to eat), and have a simple program I can do quickly for beginners that isn't hard to follow. Glad you have a trainer, but I think there are some great youtube videos to teach proper form that are a nice…

That's a BEYOND success story!! You look totally absolutely wonderful and I love those biceps :love: - I'm so happy for you :flowerforyou:

Thanks for sharing this - I'm just at the two month mark for starting with a trainer and at the five week mark for officially doing SL. I've gone up and down in a 2 lbs range, but I can see some small changes in my shape. I looked at your before/afters in your profile and you definitely look like you've lost a bunch of…

@Michael1976 - Ink poisoning after falling asleep with notebook and pen - rigorous dieting lead to dream that pen was a celery stalk and ate it

Fantastic work - 5K's are great because they give such a sense of accomplishment. I'm sure you'll be putting up another post next year with three pictures :)

I hope I can think about how to go from a size 4 to a size 2 someday <sitting and typing in my size 16 workout clothes> Oh, to have such issues...

WOWZA!!!! You look beyond amazing and have done so much in just one year - carry some before pics with you when you're teaching Zumba. I'm sure when someone heavier comes into class the first time your story and photos will be enough to keep them coming back. Thanks for sharing!!!

Oh, I feel your pain!!!! The nectar of the Gods :drinker: (I know, awful for me and I shouldn't drink it so don't bother telling us how bad it is please)

Not only do I see a difference, but I see a BIG difference! Take another look at your pictures with an objective eye as you can't miss it. Congrats on going veggie, too - I'd love to make it there some day and am doing better. I hope you're feeling healthier, too. Anyhow, keep up the fantastic work and remember to feel…

I'm pretty new to all of this (11 workouts now), but I made a mental change that seems to be helping me. I found as I got tired it helped me to focus on the squat as to separate exercises. My brain was saying, "Okay now keep back, go low enough, don't bend forward on the way down, remember to breathe, now stand up, weight…

OP, here's a link to a group of very smart women who have been doing these programs for a while - they all seem very helpful, although I've just been lurking and haven't participated as of yet. I just did my 11th session and am really happy with how things are going. I do recommend a trainer that knows a lot about these…

<My boy Topper - one of three wonderful greyhound rescues :) These are great - thanks everyone! <edited to add:> I forgot....that's Samantha on the ticker.....

I TOTALLY get this NSV - I'm looking forward to the day when I don't have to feel frumpy in my loose t-shirts~

I haven't done the iOS 7 update, but I'm not able to change the weight on my OP - no problem with the other exercises, though. Having to rely on my memory - ugh! I need to start putting that weight into the note pad or something

That is so fantastic - you must feel so proud! And more importantly, thanks for all that you and your family sacrifice in our service - you're a true hero every single day :flowerforyou:

Bumping - 'cause I think it's a really, really good post!

That is just SO fantastic - you must be such an inspiration to all those people at your (no longer) new job. Way to go!

What a great story you've shared and in such a creative way! You should think about posting more often because you're a very inspirational writer. I did C25K and you are amazing for powering thru w5d3. It feels like an impossible hurdle when you look ahead to it, but once you get thru it you feel like you can do anything.…

I bought NROWL, read the whole book twice, and did two of the workouts. I think it's an excellent program, but you do have to really be set with references to make sure you're doing what you're supposed to when you're supposed to for each workout. There's a great group on here that could be of help to you if you want to…

Beautiful job - you must be so encouraging to every one around you ... and YAY for supernurses!!!!!

You are all AWESOME for quitting smoking - especially while you're trying to work on eating/exercise. I bet you'll be successful in all these areas because you must be doing it for you. That seems like the only way to quit smoking. Great health wishes to you all!

Yup - the best gift to yourself, and an even better birthday present for your daughter. Imagine how your confidence and health ways will inspire her to be the best she can be!

I'm glad you shared this for people who don't realize this and then think less of their own weight loss/healthy lifestyle changes. This is so wrong, unacceptable, and totally rude. On the bright side, how cool is it that you look so amazing people want to steal pictures of you!