Progress pics... TAKE TWO!

And here we go! I started the blog in early April and took my first "before" pictures on April 4th. I contemplated maybe waiting til' May 4th, and then put up "1 month" pictures- but today is close enough, and I might as well get it over with.

I couldn't really see a huge difference this time around- like I could the 1st time around... but then my hubby came in while I was rearranging my collage and he was like, I like the bottom row better.... (which happens to be TODAY'S pictures!) Man- I wonder what I would have done if he had said he liked the top row better?? Either way- it was enough for me to know- that even though it is slight, there is a little bit of a difference- and my measurements showed that too! What do you think??


Here are my measurements as well( I'll compare them with first row April 4, 2nd row April 15, and last row today!)


(April 4, 2009).....(April 15, 2009).......(May 1, 2009)
weight: 154............... 150.........................147.5
neck: 12 1/2 in........ 12 1/2 in....................12.5 in.
wrist: 6 1/2 in. ......... 6 1/2 in....................6 1/2 in.
hips: 41 in. ................40.75 in..................40.5 in.
waist: 27 1/2 in. ....... 27 in.........................26.5 in.
belly button: 29 1/2 in. .......29 1/4 in............28 3/4 in.
bust: 33 in. ......... 33 in...........................33 in. (I'm not losing in my boobs because there is already nothing there:)
calves: 15 1/2 in. ...........15 1/4 in...............15 1/4 in.
biceps: 12 in. ..............11 3/4 in...................11.5 in.
thighs: 22 in. ........... 21 1/2 in......................21 in.

So in just under 4 weeks- I have lost a total of 4 inches and 6.5 pounds.

I'm pretty happy with the results because- I'm not going to lie- my eating has been what most people would say is CRAZY! But- I have only eaten while hungry, and stopped when I was full-- so I didn't over eat once- I just didn't eat clean. Intuitive eating will be in a post coming up later this week-- along with a post on how to lose the belly fat-- that seems to be the biggest request from my readers-- and I will attack it for you:) I will also be back with my May attack plan and goals and an evaluation of how well I did in April, so that I can see what needs work and where I'm golden. (as I didn't make it to the gym as much as I had planned either)

Now it is time for you to make YOUR May goals too! Summer will be here before you EVEN know it! Let me know what your goal is so that I can help you stay accountable!

WHO is Ready??

Well, here you go--- it has been ELEVEN days since my last progress pics, and as I said, I would be posting updates every 1st and 15th-- so here you go!

(click on the picture above to see results better)

I'm happy with my results so far--- I mean it has only been 10 days- AND the most important thing is that I already feel better and see a light at the end of the tunnel. I can feel myself getting tighter- not skinnier, just tighter, where I don't feel like my flab is just bouncing around everywhere. Here are my updated stats compared to last weeks.
(and I highly recommend the consistent picture taking and measurements to all of you- it really helps you "see" your progress when you can't really, really see it! But it is there!! Slowly but SURELY)

(April 4, 2009)......................(April 15, 2009)
weight: 154.............................. 150
neck: 12 1/2 in............................ 12 1/2 in.
wrist: 6 1/2 in. ................................ 6 1/2 in.
hips: 41 in. .......................................40.75 in.
waist: 27 1/2 in. ............................... 27 in.
belly button: 29 1/2 in. ......................29 1/4 in.
bust: 33 in. .......................................... 33 in.
calves: 15 1/2 in. ..................................15 1/4 in.
biceps: 12 in. .........................................11 3/4 in.
thighs: 22 in. ......................................... 21 1/2 in.


Not too bad! I'll be back with a recap of my exercise week and days. But NOW for the BIG announcement...

The WINNER of the 4 DVD set of Winsor Pilates goes too..............

MELYNDA ROBINSON!!

Congrats girl- and I'll be giving them to you really soon.. and maybe you can alternate with Jenn Wheeler and you have two at a time, and she has two at a time-- I saw the fight going on between you two!;)

Thankyou to all of you for entering the contest! You did great- and this Friday's give away will be even better-- so don't give up just yet!

My motivation has hit a new high knowing I have you all rooting me on!

Please tell me the camera really does ADD ten pounds!

My Story
(It's kind of long)

Growing up I was always very active - took gymnastics for 8 years, and then went on to cheer for 4 years and so fitness seemed just like a natural progression after I graduated from high school. I had been a sucker for weights and being in the gym since I was 16, and started to eat and train my senior year. Then I went off to college and kept training... then I met a boy, who I married shortly after that-- and now I'm still training, but then I get pregnant--- and stop training... and then I have my first son, Dante, and then I start training again... only to become pregnant again ... and then AGAIN! So, after Ethan, I decided- if I was going to do it- it would have to be NOW! So, I signed up for my first fitness competition to give me that extra boost- signed up with one of fitness's top notch choreographers, Cathy Savage, and I finally competed when Ethan was just 15 months old. I took the Ms. Fitness Delta title, and took 3rd in Ms. Fitness Texas. So, the baby weight DID come off---- BUT, I gained it all back plus some... and that is what I'm going to lose again. (training is very demanding and when your body is used to burning so many calories a day and then it comes to a grinding halt... you bet you pack on the pounds.. that is why nutrition is SO important)

The pictures below you can definitely tell which ones are the "competition" and the "nows". I went all the way up to 166 after I competed in just a few short months, and it was HORRIFIC... I have since lost some of that, but still have about 15 more to go. (I was 139.5 when I competed)

I do not rely on the scale. I do weigh myself, but I rely more on my measurements-- because after I had Dante I was 125 at measured in at 18% body fat, but after Erin-- I was 135 and had only 15.5%body fat. If you are losing inches, that is all that matters.

For the last few years I have been in a "non-diet" state. Eating whatever I want- and I mainly tried to eat solely when I was hungry and not just because. I have been able to maintain my weight doing this-- and it has been fun-- but now it is time to buckle down and really hit it hard-- on all fronts!

So, here is to looking to help motivate you guys and get a bunch of motivation in return!

I'm happy to see so much feedback already on what y0u would like to see and hear! It is all coming-- so don't run away just because you saw some really ugly pictures of my behind! My lower half is definitely my problem area!

Here are my stats for future reference too as of today April 4, 2009.

weight: 154
neck: 12 1/2 in.
wrist: 6 1/2 in.
hips: 41 in. (yes, ginormous- but this WILL be changing)
waist: 27 1/2 in.
belly button: 29 1/2 in.
bust: 33 in.
calves: 15 1/2 in.
biceps: 12 in.
thighs: 22 in.

My left and right sides are both equal in measurements, and I will be updating these along with pictures on the 1st and the 15th of every month.

Tomorrow look forward to some nutrition advice, and my plan of attack for the week!

Until then, please give me some- Bertie you can do it!! Because after looking at my pictures... I'm like, what did I get myself into?? LOL! Thank goodness for clothes!