Before and After

I am taking a very bold step today.

Two years ago, when I decided I needed to start exercising on a regular basis to try to be a healthier person, I took pictures in front of my bathroom mirror so I could see my progress. That exercising on a regular basis thing didn't stick for very long. In fact, I only exercised once or twice in the first two months and it's been very intermittent since then.

I have never shown anyone these pictures, because I was purposefully wearing tighter clothes so my curves showed up more. I am pretty sure I was at my heaviest point when I took these pictures, but it's hard to know for sure because I don't own a scale and I don't weigh myself on a regular basis.

Fast forward two years...it's been almost 8 months since I decided I needed to change my diet and eat healthier foods. I can proudly say that I rarely ever have soda anymore. I had one last night and I think it had been at least three weeks before that. I still get cravings for ice cream and pumpkin pie (dang Costco and their cheap pumpkin pies!), so I do occasionally indulge in those sweet treats (maybe once or twice a week, depending on the week and what we have going on. It's usually more on the once side). I no longer eat fast food...unless it's In n Out. I do have that on occasion as well (maybe once or twice a month). I had Jack in the Box for the first time last week and I felt like I was cheating on someone while eating it! It was the weirdest feeling...especially since I probably had Jack in the Box tacos and egg rolls at least twice a week in the past. I have resisted McDonald's French fries, and I think I've had Taco Bell and Carl's Jr. maybe once in the past 7 months. I eat Chipotle occasionally and usually just get a burrito bowl so as to avoid the calories in the tortilla.

I do eat out at other restaurants on the occasion. Josh and I get sushi once a month. It's our standing "he got paid" date. We probably go to another restaurant once or twice a month, depending on what's going on. Usually with friends or family to celebrate a birthday or just for a fun hang out. I try to eat off the lower calorie part of the menu the majority of the time, but there are definitely days when I feel like splurging...and I do.

I feel like some people in my life are waiting for me to fall and decide I'm over this now. And while I will say that I don't enter my meals into My Fitness Pal every single day anymore, I also have a pretty good idea of when I've hit my calorie goal for the day and when I've gone over. I just kind of know what foods I should be eating and which ones I should avoid. I snack on fruits and veggies as much as I can, especially when I'm feeling like I need a snack. There are a few staples we usually keep in our house: broccoli, clementines/cuties/citrines (basically all the same thing), edamame, avocados, some kind of berry, spinach, and bananas. We also always have Greek yogurt (as we both usually take them with our lunches for work), some kind of fish, ground turkey meat, and green tea (I usually make myself tea every time I work and sometimes on the days that I am home. It's the only thing I drink anymore to get a caffeine fix).

But, I'm not tired of this. I enjoy eating better. I like knowing that the things I'm putting in my body (most of the time) are actually good for me. And not just for the results I've had in my body (though they are definitely a plus). I just like knowing that I am taking better care of my temple and trying to keep myself healthy so I can do the things God pulls me toward.

So...here are the pics:

My apologies for the grainy iPhone pics. I shouldn't have used the front camera

I wasn't quite considered overweight for my height...but I was definitely getting there. And I know extra weight makes your body and your muscles work harder...and with the pain and stiffness I have, anything I can do to elevate that is a good thing.

So this is where I'm at...taking better care of myself and hoping to be able to get into a regular exercise routine soon so I can take care of myself in other ways.