It's Nice to be Noticed

The topic of this blog is being noticed.  Now, that can mean a lot of things, but I am particularly speaking about people noticing you when you have lost weight.  In this week alone, I have had four different people ask me if I have lost weight!  I know, totally awesome, right?  All the exercise experts tell you that people don't really notice weight loss until after you have lost at least twenty pounds.  Well, I have lost over that amount already and I am losing more each week!

I don't want you to think that I only need validation from others to make me feel good about myself, but it is REALLY nice when others notice your weight loss.  Heck!  It's nice to have someone notice anything new or awesome about yourself!  I am one of those people who doesn't always need validation from others, but it doesn't hurt me!  lol   What wonderful motivation it is for someone to ask you, "Have you lost weight?"  It's even better when someone says, "You are looking really good!" 

I have decided to post a few pics here to show how I look at this moment.  My scale this past week showed I gained a few pounds, but my clothes are fitting looser, which is still great!  My husband tells me that I am gaining muscle and losing inches, which isn't a bad thing at all. 

This is me from December 2010

This is me at the start of July.

 In the top picture, I am wearing size Large pants.  In the bottom picture I am wearing size Medium pants!  As you can also see, my face is not as swollen-looking in the newest picture of myself!  

I will continue to press onward in my journey to weight loss and getting healthy!  To the list of my current successes, I will also let you all know that I now get around the neighborhood at a much faster pace than I used to!  :)

I hope that those of you also trying to lose weight get noticed this week for all your hard work.  It is such an amazing feeling and there is nothing wrong with bragging about it!  Be proud of the progress you have made!  I know I am!  :)

Have Little Yellow Dress Picked Out = Work Your A$$ Off!

So, I was in WV this week to spend time with family and good friends before shoving off to Florida.  Did I mention Nick and I were moving to Florida next month?  lol.  Since we will not see everyone again until Christmas, we decided to take a week-long trip to the land of country roads and absolutely nothing to do.  While in I spent a lot of time walking in the mornings with my mother, Brenda.  It was great to be able to take a walk in the neighborhood where I grew up with my favorite woman in the world.  I'm sure you are wondering, "Why are you exercising when you are up for a visit with family and friends?"  Silly person, there is only one explanation....a chubby girl never stops when her eye is on the prize! 

Speaking of the "prize," this leads me to the other great stuff that happened while in the 'burg!  You all remember my friend, Brittany, right?  She's the one getting married next summer....the one who is the reason I am getting my booty into shape.  Well, she and I took a trip down to David's Bridal last Saturday to look at bridesmaid dresses for her wedding.  She thought it would be a good idea to take a look at the different choices for dresses now so all of us bridesmaids can have plenty of time to decide which dresses we want to wear for her big day.  It was also sort of decided upon that the dresses would need to be ordered in December.  Wait...what?  December?  You mean, such as THIS coming December?  "OMG," I thought!  I mean, as a previous bride myself I know when the dresses need to be ordered, but I guess I never really thought about it until then. 

As I have been truckin' along here with my weight loss the past few months, I guess all I kept thinking of was June 2012 as my deadline!  Where was my head?  Hello!  The original goal was to be in the smallest size possible when I order the dress, then keep the weight off for the wedding!  I guess since I have been so busy filling out job applications and working on grad school assignments, it totally slipped my mind.  Duh! 

Okay, getting back to the dress.  BP and I looked at all the choices and decided upon a set of dresses that are FABULOUS!  What an exciting moment!  As I looked at the choices, I decided to go ahead and choose now which one I would want to wear.  It always helps to have that little carrot at the end of the string to help motivate ya.  I figured it would be more beneficial to me to have the dress in mind, and with a picture, to help push me over into that weight-loss stealth mode I need to be in.  Knowing that it is June and December will be here before I know it, I need something more realistic than just a thought of a dress.  So, I took the picture and it is on my iPhone so I can look at it each and every day to keep myself extra motivated.  I know you are dying for a picture, but I don't want to spoil the surprise! 

I have lost some more weight since my last blog, but not as much as I would like.  Although, I do see some changes in the way my clothing fits, which is a plus!  Along with cardio, I have started the use of light weights to help tone.  I don't want to bulk up!  This next week will be a little challenging as far as getting a workout in because Nick and I are leaving Tuesday morning to go down to Florida for more intense job hunting.  My evenings will be free, so hopefully I can get a good walk in on the beach, or around our hotel.  Since we are moving down there in about a month, I need to start getting used to the temperatures anyway!  lol

Thanks to those of you who read my posts.  I keep hearing of those of you know are now motivated to make yourself healthier.  Awesome!  Keep up the good work!  Since that is now the case, I now have more responsibility in my life.  Not only can I not let myself down with my weight loss, but I can't let you all down either!  Keep me posted on how you all are doing, as I will certainly do the same for you!  My eye is now on the "prize" more than ever.....  Is yours?

Why, Hello, Ms. Swimsuit, Nice to See You Again!

It is that time of year again.....SWIMSUIT SEASON!!  Well, at least it's supposed to, but for some reason Kentucky has gone back to early Spring.  One week we have warm, beautiful weather, then this week has been nothing but cloudy and rainy!  Make up your mind, please, because I have a friend who would very much like to come out of the closet!  That's right, ladies, it is getting that time of year for the dreaded swimsuit to come out! 

Now, I am one of those girls who has ALWAYS hated swimsuit season.  I am too chubby for a bikini because the pudge rolls hang over the bottom, and I have a hard time finding a one-piece that fits because my rump is too big and my breasts too small!  That is also the reason why I have a hard time finding dresses to fit me without having to be altered!  EXTREMELY frustrating!

How many of you have had this same experience year, after year, after year?  You go to the mall, find a totally cute swimsuit, and it doesn't fit?  So, you try on another one, and it doesn't fit?  This continues on until all the cute swimsuits are a "no" and you are left with the plain, black one?  Black is slimming though, so that should be just fine!  Seriously?  Why do all of us chubby girls have to result in wearing a swimsuit that is one color (and not always pretty)?  Why should we have to settle for a swimsuit with a skirt to hide our bottoms?  Or, better yet, why should we feel we have to purchase the cover-up so that we don't feel so self-conscious?  There is something totally wrong with this picture!

It has taken me a very long time to feel comfortable sunbathing around all the "skinny" college girls that live at my apartment complex.  Why should I not get to enjoy the pool like the rest of them because I am ashamed of the way I look in a swimsuit?  Seriously?!  Who cares if right now I have a little pudge hanging out the sides of my swimsuit?  I am human!  It happens!  I know that I am working on losing weight and that I will not be wearing the same size swimsuit next season as I am this season!  Even though I am not at this moment where I want to be weight-wise, I have to make due with what I have.  I have a very flattering swimsuit in the closet that I will be wearing this season, and with great pride I might add! 

So far since my last blog, I have lost another 5 lbs.  It isn't as much as I would have hoped, but I know that I am losing the weight in a healthy way.  I continue to work out and eat smart.  It hasn't been perfect, but nothing ever is.   A wonderful friend, Brianna Stiers, recommended to me that I also blog more often than I am.  It will motivate me more to blog about what I eat and how my workouts go on a daily or weekly basis, so that is my new goal.  I know you all are so excited to get to read more of what I have to say...and we all know I have SO much to say!!  lol.

I want to also say that I got great response from my first blog.  Thanks to everyone for reading!  I appreciate all the kind words and encouragement!  I even had a few fine ladies tell me that they were inspired to jump-start their own weight loss!  I have heard from a few of them and they are off to a great start!  Remember, it isn't about being "skinny," it's about being healthier.  We can do it, ladies!  I am well on my way to fitting into that "little yellow dress" in my friend's wedding!  I can't wait to go shopping this winter for it, but in the meantime, I am looking to swimsuit season and what it holds for me this year. 

I want to leave you with a challenge...If you are not happy wearing a swimsuit in the size you are currently in, then set a goal to get in shape and get healthy, and purchase a swimsuit next year in the size you want!  In the meantime, get out that swimsuit, or go find one that you feel comfortable and beautiful in, no matter what your size!  Wear it with pride!  Hold you head high, ladies!  I know I will be this summer!

Everyone Remembers the "Chubby" Bridesmaid!

For pretty much my entire life I have been overweight.  It doesn't help that I am also 5'1" tall.  I have tried pretty much every fad diet out there to shed those pesky pound for all of the major events in my life.  Slim Fast for prom, Weight Watchers for my wedding....the list goes on and on.  I have gone up and down in size so many times and purchased so many wardrobes that the employees at Goodwill know me by name.  Most shopping trips would end up in tears and nothing purchased.

Me in December 2010 at Disney

I have gone through my life comparing my body to every female I know.  My mom has been "skinny" all my life.  Most of my friends could always wear the clothes that I never could.  I was always the "funny, chubby" girl in my group of friends.  It was always frustrating to hear from people, "But you are such a pretty girl!"  Seriously?!  Who feels pretty with a muffin top and back fat?!  No takers??  I didn't think so!

Not only do I HATE working out, but I also LOVE to eat!  Nothing excites me more than a piece of cake or a Happy Nappi.  If there is food, I will certainly eat it!  I am a social eater and an emotional eater.  I regret eating something "bad for me" as soon as I eat it, but I do it anyway.  To quote Fat Bastard from Austin Powers, "I eat because I'm unhappy and I'm unhappy because I eat."  You would think being unhealthy would cause me to wake up and decide to get in shape, but it just isn't that simple.

Me and Brittany at my wedding.

What would cause me to FINALLY get my act together and get my booty in gear??  My best friend's wedding!!  My very good friend, Brittany, is getting married June 2012.  She called me up one day to give me the wonderful news and ask me to be a bridesmaid!  Since she was in my wedding and I love her to pieces, I just couldn't say "no!"  As soon as I got off the phone with her I sat down and realized that I am currently a size 14 and weigh 185 lbs.  I went immediately to my husband and told him that I couldn't possibly be in this wedding and look this bad!  "Jennifer, you will be a beautiful bridesmaid no matter what size you are," my husband said.  "But EVERYONE remembers the CHUBBY bridesmaid," I told him!  "And NOT in a good way!"  Plus, I will be turning 30 next year and will be the oldest bridesmaid!  What a combination!  I can't let all the other girls look better than me!  That would be totally uncalled for!

What better motivation for me to get in shape than to be in a wedding with 200 guests watching me walk down the aisle to support my friend on her wedding day!  I know what you are thinking..."Haven't you done this before; lose weight because you have a major event in your life?"  Well, yes, I have, but this time is TOTALLY different!  I am not just doing it for me; I am doing it for my husband, my family, and my friend who is getting married.  I owe it to my friend to look good on her wedding day!  I owe it to my family and husband who want me around as long as possible!  I owe it to myself because I want the pretty face to match the rest!

I have until the end of December 2011 to lose 65 lbs. and to be in shape to get measured for a bridesmaid dress.  My goal is to be in the best shape I can when I purchase the dress and to stay that way for my friend's big day and beyond.  I plan to share with you my triumphs and struggles throughout the coming months.  I know the road will be rough, but it will all be totally worth it in the end!  I hope you plan to follow me on this crazy journey.  I am a bridesmaid desperately searching for a tiny yellow dress and I can't wait until my search is over.