{30 thoughts} when will the celebrating stop?

Or should the celebrating stop?

As my two year tipping point anniversary approaches next week I've been thinking about this a lot. I like rewards, attention, and all these changes I've made!

I like to celebrate pounds lost, time spent, and results gained. I don't really know how many more "weight" celebrations I will get. I hope to someday get to -80 pounds but I don't know. The lowest I've gotten is to -79 pounds so it seems reachable! But after that I don't think my body is meant to lose too much more! I suppose I will continue to lose inches, too.

It seems like from here on out the milestones will be able time passing, joints working correctly, and finding new ways to get involved in what I truly love. It will be about lab results, tipping point & barre3 anniversaries, and new endeavors. And that's okay. It is time to focus on maintaining this lifestyle, inspiring others, and likely something that I don't know is a possibility!

Fingers crossed {there is a lot more to celebrate in the future}!!!

QVC version 2.0!!!

Well, it finally happened!!! Not only did was make it to Philadelphia...we made it on to QVC {unlike the last trip}!! Here's the story of QVC Version 2.0!!!

Just two days before we went we had to practice...This time around I was able to go so much more because I was 7 weeks out of the sling instead of 10 days!

um. hello butt!!

 

 

loving my waist in this picture!

 

I set my DVR...

 

 

 

On a lovely {rainy} morning Harper and I boarded our flight to Philly. While I was waiting at the gate I discovered a very fun non-scale victory...

 

I hadn't worn this backpack since last summer...

there's a little more room now-a-days!

 

Harper and my flight was uneventful and arrived on time!

 

travel buddies!!

 

practicing my ballerina arm at Chicago-Midway

 

We jumped into a cab and headed back to the trusty Radnor Hotel {we stayed there on version 1.0}! We talked the guy into getting us adjoining rooms which was the best idea ever. We headed for a walk and to find a grocery store to have snack at QVC because we weren't sure what the situation was going to be there! We had another salad for dinner {salad for lunch too} because  we are vain and wanted to look good on TV ;-)

 

It felt so awesome to check Facebook on Friday and see what some of my biggest supporters were saying...

 

 

Bright and early Saturday morning we got up and got full on ready AKA full make up and hair, all before 7am EST which is really like 4AM on the west coast!

 

We were picked up by Sadie, Chris, and Robin {Chris' Mom} and set off through some GORGEOUS country side to QVC!!

 

WE FINALLY MADE IT!!!

 

Harper, Myself, & Sadie

 

Chris, Susan {agent}, myself, Sadie, Harper

{Robin is FABULOUS at taking pictures}

 

walking down the many halls of QVC

 

officially official

 

Sadie signing in!!

Harper and I in front of the TVs that showed live QVC all over the world

 

ready to go!

Harper and I were super nervous and excited at this point!!

 

walking out to the stage!! nervous balls of energy at this point!!

 

it's happening!!

my testimonial.

 

truth is the highest I was was 220 lbs and that day we were on QVC I weighted about 142 lbs. So that's -78!! The picture on the right was from the second week of January...so almost 8 months ago! Wish we'd been able to update it all but legal didn't allow it!

 

horse pose

in practice I wasn't smiling and they were VERY worried I wouldn't smile on camera.

there's nothing to worry about...I love to smile!!!

seated core!

 

after!!!

 

Once we were done with our 8 minutes of fame we stayed around a bit to watch the numbers. There was a live computer in the back room that you could see second by second how many units were being bought! It was cool!

 

Harper and I got dropped back off at the hotel to get ready for dinner. The Lincoln's planned dinner out in Delaware because they knew that I wanted to go to all 50 states! It was such an amazing gesture!! Though before we headed to dinner Harper and I wanted lunch...

 

Popping our Smashburger cherries!

 

watching the airing on the iPad at the Radnor while drinking wine at like 3:30pm!

great times!

 

Delaware!! Thanks for the amazing memories Lincoln Family!!

 

Robin wanted to show us the birdhouses on the river walk.

We used it as a moment to bust out some barre3!!

 

Harper, Sadie & I

 

We headed back to the hotel pretty early because Harper and I had to get up at 3:30 am to get ready and head to the airport - which is really 12:30 AM where we live! It's crazy!! But then, the real crazy came...

 

 

A cab ride where the driver was likely on drugs, asked us if we both over 30 and wanted marriage advise, had a bat, gas can, and rope in the trunk, was going over 80mph the whole way there and I was seriously writing my last will & testament on Facebook and texting Jason that I loved him. But we made it to the airport and had two very uneventful flights back home.

 

This was one of the most magical, memorable, and awe inspiring trips. I love spending time with the people whom I went with! I couldn't have asked for a better travel partner in Harper, Sadie is truly magical to be around, Chris is one of the calmest men I've met. While I don't know if I'll ever have an experience like this again, I will forever have the memories.

 

All of this wouldn't have happened without my past, which I think is an important piece. If you've read this far and if you're maybe just starting a weight loss journey please know...anything is possible. 2 years ago I was a size 20W and weighted 220 pounds. I never in my wildest dream thought I'd be a back up exerciser on live TV. EVER.

 

Fingers crossed {that anything I haven't even yet dreamt of is possible}...

GOALS {version 2.0}...

It's been just over a year since I posted my S.M.A.R.T. goals. I figured it was time to check in on them and write some new ones!!!

July 19, 2012 SMART GOALS

{weight}
 My eventual weight goal is 160 ~ Well...I blew this one out of the water. As of today I weight 144.4 lbs.

{events}




Jingle Bell 5K Run/Walk ~ This didn't go quite as planned. Jason and I got to the race about 20 minutes after it started. We ended up not walking or running it.

Spartan Race 3K Obstacle Course ~ This also didn't go as planned...thank you shoulder surgery :( The good thing is we were allowed to defer our entry one time so we are scheduled to participate on August 2nd, 2014!!

{etc}
Size 12 ~ Well, passed this one too! Whoop! I'm about a size 8 to 10 depending on the clothes. I even have one size 6.

Less Doctors ~ Again, shoulder surgery kind of got in the way with this one too! Leading up to the surgery I was doing well ~ only getting a massage once a month, acupuncture two times a month, and chiropractic two times a month. So...that's $125 in copays alone. That's not counting prescriptions, other doctors, and anything else. I'm not sure I really met this goal or that I ever will. I hope to get off more of my prescriptions.

August 5th, 2013 SMART Goals

{weight & inches}
Lose inches & not worry about the scale ~ I feel like I'm not going to lose much more weight but I've been saying that for a long time! I'm 5'4" and according to weight watchers a healthy range for women who are my height is 117 lbs - 146 lbs. While I am not overly concerned about the number, I most certainly want to continue to tighten up & lose some inches.

{events}
Climb Mt. St. Helens ~ Phew! It's scary to write that down. Jason and I have been talking about it for a few months now and we have decided we are going to do this in 2014. We tried back in 2008 but were unsuccessful because of many reasons. Mainly, we were out of shape but it certainly didn't help that we ran out of water 1/3 of the way up. It was the hottest day of the year the day we climbed! You have to buy your passes in February so we picked a random weekend and it was a roaster. We are in way WAY better shape now and are planning it out about a year in advance and we WILL do this!!

Spartan Sprint 2014 ~ Since we weren't able to participate this year we are signed up for next year! Here's to hoping surgery isn't in either of our future's!!

{etc}
Wear a 2 piece swimsuit in public ~ There. I said it. I want to wear a 2 piece. Not a little string bikini....probably something more along the lines of an Athleta suit. Regardless of I think by next year I'll have the confidence and body to pull this off. We shall see!!

Less doctors ~ Whatever that may mean ;-) I am most definitely someone who historically goes to doctors a lot. Though, I'm not sure if I should consider massage, chiro and acupuncture doctors in the traditional sense. Those three people have done more for me than almost any ever doctor, ever.

The future ~ I am not sure what path I want to go down. Do I stay? Do I change? Follow my heart? Follow my gut? Are they the same thing??

I am excited to see what my future holds.

Fingers crossed {it's good}...

minus 65...

...pounds that is!

I can't believe I forgot to blog about this. Well, I kind of can because I slacked for much of the month of March!

Some interesting thoughts came out of losing this 65 pounds. When I first started my journey I did not believe that I could do this but I knew I had to try. And try I have. And lose I have. There's been a few things lately {namely when thinking about whole foods and no-dairy} where I've said out loud to others and to myself - "I can't do that". Well, I instantaneously switched my words up after I said the word can't...because I can. I can try to do anything!!

 

 



I kind of can't believe this was me one year ago {and then me last week}...

left: April 2012 ~ Kauai

right: April 2013 ~ Phoenix

 

But at the same time I can believe it is me! It's weird. Before I lost all this weight I sometimes would picture myself how I look now. And sometimes now, I picture myself as I used to me. Weight loss is a long, twisted, and mind-bending journey. I'm a size 8 in almost everything now. My top is a size Medium. That in and of itself is mind-bending. When I started this journey I was almost reading to buy a size 20W and size 1X shirts where too tight. It's weird to not shop at the stores I used to. It's weird to be able to walk in lululemon or Nordstroms or even Khols and find things that fit. It's going to take some more time to get used to that!

 

I buy myself rewards at the major weight loss milestones. In the past I haven't considered a -5 from a 10's weight loss {like -65} to be worthy of a reward but then I saw something I really wanted and wanted an excuse to buy it. Plus, when I hit the -60 pound mark I figured I'd plateau, but I didn't. I have kept on losing and couldn't be happier or more proud of myself! My very fashionable best friend told me this top was a good choice. She write a fashion blog...she should know! And just after I purchased this top {with the snazzy zipper in the back} she wore one on her blog ;-) See, now I'm starting fashion trends! Oh, and just to tip this adorable shirt over the edge - it's a size small. Yes, small.

 

reward top from LOFT

wearing my top in sunny Phoenix with my cousin!

 

All in all, losing 65 pounds has been amazing experience. How could it not be?? Can't wait to see where I go from here! I don't "think" I will lose a bunch more weight but I do believe I will become more and more toned. I told my best friend yesterday "Maybe next year I'll wear a 2 piece suit in public". And you know...I hope I will!!

Fingers crossed {that I'll be bikini ready next summer. Heehee}...

the next steps...

While 2012 will always be the year that started this journey for me...I'm hoping 2013 will be the year the pieces really begin come together! There's more to life than the list below but this is where I'll be focusing a portion of my energy.

Here's a few ways I'm planning on making this happen!

Naturopathy

I have my first appointment for the end of February. I'm actually kind of happy that it's that far out. It will allow me to go to my 1 year Endocrinology checkup January 22nd and process some of the information I recieve there. It's my plan to go off the Metformin sometime in the next year. It may be February, it may not, but I'm okay with either way. I know there are a few insulin-inhibitors out there, I just need to educate myself about them. My naturopath will also help me with this. I found a nathuropath who isn't totally opposed to "western medicine" so I am happy with that. More updates next year as I begin treatment with her! The above picture was actually from a handout she had in her office...pretty much sums me up! I'm excited to learn more about PCOS this year and what it means for my future.

Healthy Eating Choices/Routine {this is NOT a diet}

I plan on this being the year I start to understand food more. Part of this will be through the naturopath, part through the barre3 challenge I'm doing, part towards what I've read in the last year, and part in ways I cannot yet imagine. I have it on my "to do list" to watch/read Fat Sick and Nearly Dead and Forks Over Knives. While both of these programs seems pretty extreme I know there are pieces I can take and put into my life. I need to start planning and implementing a menu/rotation and also setting aside a time one or two days a week to cut veggies and foods so I'm not doing it every.single.night because that can get tiring! I am ready to take the next step in food. It's been over half a year since we've had crackers or candy in the house. {I'm not counting the ONE candy cane Santa brought me}.

Exercise

This is actually becoming the easiest part of my routine. I am in love with barre3 - which shouldn't be a surprise to anyone who reads this blog! And while I've always wanted to become a runner I just don't know if it is in the cards for me. I'd need a dozen rolls of duct tape (to tape my boobs down) and a few dozen inhalers (to keep my asthma in check). Oh, and a new lower back! Arthritis and running don't seem to go well together. Last year my goal was to workout 4 days per week. And while I don't think I hit that, I bet I came close! I bet I did 3 times a year. This year I KNOW I can do 3 times a week. I'm going to try to figure out a real & easy way for me to track all of this...you know how I like my data!

Personal Balance

This is a tough one for me. It's tough for me to deal with and tough for me to blog about, partly because I don't know who is reading this blog. I haven't made the blog private yet...because I want to inspire people, not hide from them. But because of that, there are just some things I won't talk about. I recently watched The Secret. I was very intrigued by it. I think I actually used to have the book but I never read it and it is no longer on the shelf so I must have dontaed it. It just wasn't the time for me to hear the message. I'm not even sure this is the time but when I was listening to it I knew I wanted to watch it again, with my husband. Maybe there is something to it...

Personal Relationships & Technology

I want to unplug and reconnect with those around me, especially my husband. We both definitely need time to unwind and veg in the evenings but it is getting old being on the computer or iPad's all evening. I know that my husband's job requires him to work 24/7 and while I don't like it, the fact that he has to do it isn't going to change. We've starting by sitting back at the dinner table instead of infront of the TV. And even though it is only 10 minutes or so...it's 10 minutes that I now look forward to after only 1 week of implementation.

 

I also have some friendships I need to continue to workout. Some that I need to not work as hard at. And a few I'd like to try to progress from the "a few times a year friend" to something more. I want to try to find new ways to connect with my friends. Birthday cards? FaceTime? Writing a letter? If anyone has any other ideas...feel free to leave them as a comment!

 

 

 

Fingers crossed {that this is the best year ever}...

me? inspirational??

I posted back in June about two of my inspirations and the very beginning of my journey {that I didn't know I was on} to be considered an inspiration myself. Back then, I didn't really see it or accept it or want it. But now, I believe it, accept it, and want to be an inspiration to others.

Years ago I was the lazy person who sat in front of the TV all afternoon/evening after work and a majority of the weekends. I ate almost all processed foods, fast foods, and drank SO MUCH DIET COKE. Like, 5 - 6 per DAY. No joke. I was 220 pounds, unhappy within my body, self-worth, appearance. You name it - I was probably unhappy with it.

Then, as you all know, I hit that tipping point, figured out I had PCOS and began my life change.

In the past few months I have had an almost constant feeling that I need to start doing more to spread my story. My PCOS story & my weight loss story. They really do go hand in hand. I don't want anything I say to seem like I am bragging or boasting, I really want it to feel like I am trying to inspire. Remember, I NEVER thought I could do this, and I have. And that, is amazing.

I have had a village of people supporting me but none as important as my husband. He really is a huge part of the key to my success. He's seen and heard all the tears, fears, triumphs, bad days, sweaty workouts and everything else that comes along with this journey. My favorite thing he tells me though, is that I am inspiring him!

Left ~ October 2011

Right ~ October 2012

85 pounds down between the two of us!!!

 

And it's not just my husband that I've heard from. It's doctors and friends and family and Facebook friends!!!

It's friends from middle school...

 

 

And friends from college...

 

And, would you know it, this friend has PCOS too!!! She's known for a long, long time but didn't know where to go or what to do or who to talk to. Now, we can have conversations and can support each other. She still lives in Spokane but it is do-able...

 

With all that being said...here is the main reason I even started writing this post...

 

I have volunteered to be part of an AMAZING program called Power Up with PCOS. It is a nationwide {maybe even worldwide} company that was founded by a woman named Beth who has PCOS. She was tired of having no where to turn and not being able to find what she needed {support, answers, information} and so she started her own company. I've been following and gleaning knowledge from her website for months. It kind of reminds me of Sadie at barre3 who founded that company because she believed in that exercise style. I am addicted to barre3 and living with PCOS so I definitely see the connection in my heart :)

 

After my phone interview yesterday, I just did my first "volunteer training" today so it will be a bit before I know everything and it gets off the ground but I want to start spreading the word now. I don't even know how many people read this blog - or who you are if you do - but if you know someone in Portland, OR/Vancouver, WA with PCOS send them my way...big things are in the works!!!

 

I'll have more details in the weeks to come as I learn what my role will be. I have volunteered to be a Power Up meeting leader, to start a group in my region {because there isn't one}. It is my hope that this new journey will teach me more about this syndrome I live with every day, help me to meet people with PCOS, and help anyone who is just beginning this journey. I don't claim to know everything about PCOS but I want to. I want to figure out how to best live with this. And this is the next step for me. My friend K has taught me so much about PCOS. It's really because of her that I even went to get the tests as early as I did. I want to pay it forward!!!

 

Fingers crossed {that I can handle all this and help someone else some day}...

It's HERE!!!!

I have reached the 50 pound weight loss milestone! I feel shocked, amazed, thankful, grateful, gracious and probably lots of other adjectives that I can't think of right now... I almost jumped up and down on the scale I was so happy but then I realized it was glass! I definitely shed a tear or two ;-)

I really can't quite describe what this means to me. The last 10 pounds have been a struggle to get off. They didn't melt off like the first 40. I know...rough...but it's true. But, I feel proudest about these 10 pounds. I cheated and I stumbled but I obviously worked my ass off too.

I know the person on the left was me but I don't feel like I know her anymore. But at the same time part of me is so afraid I'll slip back into all of that. But the other part of me knows how happy and healthy I am now. I'm one year into this journey, as of yesterday. My "tipping point" was at a Halloween party on 10/29/11 when two of my friends inadvertently shoved my weight in my face. I had been ignoring how overweight I was and was spiraling out of control.

That day changed it all. I chose my hard...I chose the road less traveled. The path my doctors are even shocked I took. I chose to figure it out now - instead of later.

I choose health. That's my hard.

Fingers crossed {but maybe not because this life of mine is changing}...

And I couldn't be happier!!!