Evolution Through Pictures

                                  

                                                          No diet, no weight watchers. Just pure 180 lbs of me in 2007. I was a size 14 there

                                                         

                                                           Spring Break 2008  

                                             

                                      Summer 2008

                              

                                                         May 2009 Clark Graduation, was on weight watchers. Size 12 and 160

                                               

                                     October 2009

                                              

                                                              Notice the pizza.. 2010. Size 10 and on weight watchers, still




                                                    HUGE gap in photos between 2010 and 2012...wonder why

                    

                                          Family photo shoot, 2012, size 12 still but convinced I can fit in my size 14 (wears like a 10) wedding dress

October 2012, that dress is a 14 and no longer fits

May 2013, purchased that dress at Target and it was tight when I got it but fit perfectly in May!

July 2013, weighing 145lbs wearing a medium skirt and a medium top

June 2014

       

December 2014

Another Whole 30 Journey to begin!

As I gear up for the new year, I'm also gearing up for another whole30. I'm getting more nervous but also excited to see some results and push my body to the limit. After a year of pilates, I was able to move to a consistent schedule of twice a week and my trainer has started to push me beyond where I was despite a month set back (I was doing mat pilates and messed my back up because I wasn't being supervised by the instructor). I'm at the point with my workouts that I've recently been thinking about giving Pure Barre a shot. The struggle with that is my work schedule and how far it is from my apartment. But I'm definitely trying to figure out if I want to do more physically and my work schedule doesn't really allow for many commitments other pilates but maybe this is an excuse. More thinking on Pure Barre to come....I'll let ya know where I land.

As I think back on 2014 and my journey in my second full year as a Paleo, I'm reflecting on how easy it was to be Paleo with no problem. I constantly think about how easy it is to ignore food like gluten pizza, brownies, breaded and fried foods, or even "regular" bread. It's amazing to me that I can so easily spot things that will make me bloat, cause severe stomachaches or even create the dreaded "sick" tummy. In January, I will begin the 3rd year of my journey and I can't believe how far I've come. Last night, I was with a friend who I've only recently gotten to know really well (recently meaning the past year). She hadn't know me in my pre-gluten free days and we started talking about how I got into my lifestyle. I showed pictures from 2007, pictured somewhere in this blog, and she couldn't believe it. She couldn't believe that the picture was me. We scrolled through a few and she was shocked. I'm still surprised that its me sometimes. I can't believe I haven't always been g-free and Paleo. For the first time in my life someone was calling me "fit" and "active"  and I believed her. It was a surreal feeling to be called words that I don't use to describe myself. It's hard for me to get past the distorted view of myself I see in the mirror but I'm starting to see my body the way others see it and apparently that's "fit", "tiny" and "healthy". Who knew? I didn't start Paleo 2 full years ago with the intention of loving it. I really started it because my ex wanted to and I wanted to support her journey and here we are two full years later! I'm still in love with my lifestyle and still loving all the benefits.

People always ask me if I miss anything.....yea I guess I do but honestly, I don't remember what's to miss. The stomachache? The bloat? The acne? The fuzzy-head? The brain farts? All for a slice of Italian NY pizza? Nah. I'm good. Since really living my life this way, I can smell things better than most people and most smells satisfy cravings. The true test will be when I'm in NYC in June and NYC pizza is in front of me. I might take a bite but not eat a whole slice. It's too easy to remember how my body feels when I eat certain things. For example, I am so deep in this lifestyle I can recognize how my body reacts to certain veggies. Broccoli is an example of this. If I eat it, I bloat and get super gassy and experience super sharp stomach pains. Most people thing broccoli is good for you but not for me. Corn is something I have almost totally eliminated from my diet too. Corn is not the most easily digested food but it immediately bloats me and causes sharp pains in my tummy so I try to not eat it. Corn tortillas are another story. I will indulge in those once and awhile. But it's taken me two full years to recognize these things. It's awesome and I feel so empowered by knowing what my body needs to feel good and what it can't take. And that's what this next whole 30 journey is about. Recognizing the symptoms and listening to my body more. I'm excited about taking it with friends and my love and seeing where we land!

New Years is upon us

Another year is rapidly coming to a close. As it does,  I know many of you out there are making your resolutions and the biggest one is most likely (taking a shot in the dark here) to loose weight, to consistently be on a diet or exercise...am I right? Well I'm here to tell you, shift your thinking. Stop thinking about the diet, the exercise and just move, eat better and make conscious choices. Make a SMART resolution list rather than one that is so outlandish that you can't stick to it. What am I talking about? Reframe resolutions and make goals that are specific, measurable, realistic, timely (SMART). For example, I'm not going to make a resolution that is so wild that I could never obtain it but rather feel badly about failing when I can't do it.

Resolutions or Goals for 2015:

1. Cut back on spending. I have everything I need and I would like to see how much I can save by not spending so much on things (ie concerts, trips etc). Make my own free fun. The only trips I plan on taking are the ones that I have already planned and purchased.

2. Finish my 30 before 30 list

3. Visit more places within Southern California for day trips

4. Do whole 30 challenge twice because I know it works and I know I can do it


My goals for 2015 are more within my control. These are things I know I can do!  Notice I'm not saying "Loose 10 lbs" why would I focus on my last 10 lbs? Also, for how many years have I been trying to loose 10 lbs? When I focus on that, I crave everything I can't have and shouldn't have. I'd much rather reframe my thinking on the positive side of things. I'd rather just try and challenge myself with the whole 30 again and see if that gets me where I want to be and that's free from sugar.

Buzzfeed has a great post about this!