2017: My Year in Weight Loss

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Since everyone is reflecting on their past year, I thought it was an appropriate time to maybe share some of my progress with some of you on this project I have been working on since about February of this year: ME! I have made great strides this year and have totally rearranged my eating and exercise habits for the better. Some have called it a diet (a word I cringe at, because that's really not what it is) - but what I like to call: clean eating. It REALLY is a lifestyle change. Above photo on the left, I was in Jamaica last year at my highest weight ever - on the right is me, sixty-five pounds lighter in Moab, Utah at Arches National Park in July. Now I sit at about 10 pounds above my Utah weight, but back on track with a goal to lose my last forty pounds. And then work on maintaining it. I didn't even realize how big I had gotten in Jamaica until I went home, after seeing my vacation photos, and weighed myself. Then I re-instated my gym membership, got rid of my junk food, and went at it. I found it was easy after doing good for a week and seeing progress to carry on. I went from a size 18 in jeans (sometimes these were tight even), to a size 12. Hurrah! A lot of people want to know what my 'secret' was this year; and all the compliments and sudden attention from others, such as co-workers has made me uncomfortable. The truth is eating healthy ("clean eating" I call it) and exercising on a frequent basis. AND cutting out alcohol for the most part. I was a pretty heavy (beer) drinker this time last year, and am happy to say I have that habit totally under control. In fact, not drinking for health reasons for me turned into not drinking much for a variety of reasons. At any rate, I feel more energetic, definitely more happy and confident in my skin, have become more of a cook (cooking healthier things), am more cold (especially this time of year, dang winter), but overall just feeling much healthier and happier. I also have developed an addiction to spinach, bell peppers, and various vegetables I probably seldolmly touched back before this clean eating took over. I am still currently 12ish pounds overweight, and look to knock that off, continue to exercise and tone up, and although my weight goal is not concrete, lose probably anouther 30-40 pounds. Wish me luck! At any rate, for any of those looking at 2018 as a way to reduce your weight, become healthier, I wanted to share this as motivation with you - it IS hard work and not easy breaking your habits - but you can do it! I may start to use MyLot to help keep me motivated, by the way. Be warned. Have you made any of your goals this year? Did you lose any weight or change an unhealthy habit? Hope everyone is having a fabulous New Years Eve. Stay safe!