Great week ... finally!

I haven't posted in a couple of weeks. I wanted to wait until I had some proof (for you and for myself) that I am re-committed.

For months, I've been all "action plan" this and "back on the wagon" that, but it was not leading to anything -- I pretty much just gained and gained and gained all summer.

But check this out:

That's right.

I tracked ALL WEEK. All seven days, baby. This in and of itself is a HUGE accomplishment for me.

But wait, it gets better. Not only did I track all week, but I actually STAYED WITHIN my points (exactly). It has been months, people. I honestly cannot remember the last time I had a week like this. I feel great.

In addition, I worked out three times! I'm glad my gym membership is actually getting used again. I also tried playing squash recently (for the first time), which was a lot of fun! I'm not usually into sports (due to gym class related traumas in my childhood), so this was definitely a little out of my comfort zone. Plus, I didn't suck as much as I was expecting, which was a bonus.

So, did all my hard work pay off in the meeting room this morning? I'll say! I was down 7.8 pounds to 199.4! Out of the 200's! Hopefully for good this time. :)

I think one reason I was able to stick to my points was that I did very well on the weekend (my tracking week starts on Saturday). I got through Saturday and Sunday only using 1.5 of my weekly points. Usually, I use all of my weekly points (if not more) immediately, which makes the rest of the week feel impossible. My plan is to aim for a great weekend again!

OH! I also went to that wedding, in the new dress I mentioned. I think it's rather fetching! And it has pockets! I wish my feet weren't cut off in this pic because then you could see my silver shoes.

Well, I'm off to enjoy the rest of my weekend... and by "enjoy," I mean finish marking approximately 100 math tests. Yay!

Checking In!

Hey lovelies!

I'm still alive, I swear. As you may have guessed, my lack of posting means a lack of healthy living lately. But I haven't given up yet. :)

I've had some changes in my life lately and I'm still trying to find a new routine. I'm happier than I've been in awhile, even though my "weight watching" is suffering right now.

I'm rockin' some clothes from the clothing swap! I still haven't found room for them all in my closet though... not that I'm complaining!

Here's someone's (maybe Kate's?) sweater, which I wore to a wedding (the dress used to belong to my SISTER. I never imagined I would ever fit into my sister's clothes in a million years.):

And I LOVE this shirt, also Kate's! Forgive the weird pose. It's hard to get good shots of yourself when you live alone.

I'm planning another week of hard-core meal planning, a la the week I had back in March. Stay tuned! I WILL get back on the healthy living train, I promise!

First Outdoor Booty Camp!

And it was super tough! We're lucky (or unlucky...) enough that the park we're in has a big-ass hill. We ran up it. Several times. Once on all fours. It was BRUTAL! Even worse than running up was running back down. It was really steep and kind of scary. But it's all about getting out of your comfort zone, right??

We also didn't have music during our class, thanks to yours truly. Yep. I stepped on the stereo cable right before class (in my defense, I was walking next to the instructor and the cord was trailing on the ground) and broke it. Oops!

I can tell the next four weeks are going to be tough. :)

In other news, I have to confess: I have not been on-plan the past couple of days. I don't want to make excuses, but I will anyway (hehe). I've been feeling emotional lately and trying to deal with various stressors that all seemed to hit me at the same time. Luckily, I'm going to the cottage tomorrow for some much needed r & r! I plan to rejuvenate (and exercise!) and get back to my cheery, motivated self. I have finished marking my exams, submitted the grades, and tied up all the loose ends (I think!).

I won't be able to make my meeting this weekend either (maybe subconsciously this was contributing to going off-track - knowing I'm not weighing in on Saturday. I would just go to another meeting, but there don't seem to be any where I'll be). This will be the very first meeting I've missed since I joined in November, and I'm sad that my perfect streak has to end!

But I will go BACK on plan. I do NOT want to "lose" the 10% milestone I worked so hard for (will the Weight Watchers police come take my key ring away???), so I will suck it up and stick with the program!

When I got my new 3-month tracker a couple of weeks ago, you may recall that I vowed to be on plan for 10 of those 12 weeks. I can still easily reach that goal!! I was feeling like a failure, but I'm picking myself back up again. Truly, the only reason I'm no longer this girl is because I will never give up, despite the inevitable setbacks:

I will have very limited internet while out of town, so I will be catching up with you all on Sunday when I return! Enjoy the rest of your week & weekend!

New Clothes!

So I went shopping today for some new clothes, and I bought a new blouse that I think is pretty flattering... and now I can barely drag myself away from the mirror long enough to write this.

Can you blame me? (excuse the dorky pose, hair, and anything else objectionable in this picture...)

I even look hot all blurry (this is possibly an improvement, actually):

These photos really don't do me justice, haha. I have not mastered the "self-portrait" thing AT ALL.

Now I need somewhere to wear this (preferably somewhere with seating, as I can't really walk in heels)...

I tried on this style of blouse once before, but the largest size (at a different store) was a bit too tight and I looked like a sausage... an attractive sausage, to be sure, but still not the look I was going for.

At Reitmans, I was a size 13 in pants (yay!)... and you'll never guess what size tops I managed to squeeze into (yes, I squeezed)...

At first, I expected (and hoped) to fit into a 13. I also tried on an 11 in a fit of optimism. The 11 was a bit loose... so then I had the audacity to try a 9!!!

A 9!! That's ONE digit, folks!

I'm so used to not even going IN stores that sell "normal" sizes (and, admittedly, Reitmans is a store that always carried my size). When shopping with my friends, I always felt very uncomfortable and out of place. I would worry that they would want me to try things on, and I would have to admit that nothing would fit me.

If anything, I would expect to MAYBE fit into the LARGEST size at certain stores (like the occasional XXL at Old Navy). To be able to buy something that isn't in the largest size is such a weird (and wonderful) feeling!

I also bought this sweater 'cause I really liked the neckline (I'm very tired and haggard-looking today and I also need a haircut, fyi):

My newfound hotness has really inspired me to kick some ass at Booty Camp tonight! My motivation has REALLY been lagging lately, and I haven't been tracking everything, or caring really if I went over my points... from now on, when I need a shot of motivation, I'll just put on some of my hot new clothes!

but for the sky, there are no fences facing

In the summer of 2007, I did some travelling. It was the summer after I finished my undergrad, and before I started graduate school. My mom and I took a bus from Toronto to Banff to visit my sister, who was working out there (yes, we were on a greyhound for two-and-a-half days. Both ways. I ate a lot of bus station food).

Soon after, I went to Halifax for 4 weeks, to attend a math summer school program that took place at Dalhousie University. I lived in residence, and ate (all you can eat) at the cafeteria 3 times a day.

There was a group shot of all of the summer school participants taken (a photo that I can’t find anymore). When I looked at it, I couldn’t find myself in the picture at first. I also saw, out of the corner of my eye, someone in the front row who was much larger than everyone else. That’s odd, I thought. I don’t remember there being anyone that big in the program. Then I realized that person was me.

After Halifax, I spent a couple of weeks at a cottage with my family (back in Ontario). While there, I found The Ultimate Healthy Eating Plan by Liz Pearson and Mairlyn Smith in a discount bookstore. I decided to buy it.

I read the book quickly, and it made sense to me. Instead of being a fad diet, and instead of vilifying food, it told me how food could be good for you. It explained the importance and nutritional benefits of many different types of food, and had tons of healthy recipes. It also had a few sets of weekly meal plans, including one for weight-loss. I determined that as soon as I got back home, I would follow the plan and get healthy.

While growing up, I rarely weighed myself. We didn’t have a scale at my house, so I never knew exactly what my weight was. In August 2007, determined to really lose weight this time, I bought a scale so I could accurately keep track. On August 26, 2007, I weighed 276 pounds.

I have never weighed that much since. On my last weigh-in at Weight Watchers (on January 23, 2010), I weighed 191 pounds.

Here I am in June 2007, on my graduation day (when I got my Bachelors):

And about 2 years later on my next graduation day, when I received a Masters of Science (wearing the same shoes!):

In Halifax in the summer of 2007 (with the delorean!):

And here I am this past Saturday:

I never thought losing this much weight was something I could do. But, over the past couple of years (and a bit more...), I've lost over 80 pounds. And I'm not finished yet. :)