Amber!!!! How exciting is that...Congratulations!!! I'm so proud of you. Are you just going to maintain your weight now or will you continue to try to lose fat/weight?...just curious. I know how much dedication it takes to reach a goal like the one you did so I think that's amazing. I'm interested to know more about what you guys found out about CrossFit that made you decide to cut back on it. Not sure why, but I've been very sceptical since I found out about CrossFit. Also, I'm curious to know how many calories a person your size should be taking in?? I'm being very nosey!!!

Shannon!!!! You do not need to lose any more weight. You might be 122-123 but you look like you're no more than 110-115 already. SERIOUSLY...I'm always so impressed by your "slenderness". You must really be carrying very little, little fat and a lot of lean, dense muscle. You look perfect!

Amber, I can't thank you enough for suggesting that website. I went on it immediately and began playing around. I can see how it is a HUGE motivator to stay on track if you can actually calculate not only calories but also what nutrition you're taking in. I also loved how easy it was to use. Since I've starting watching my eating, I've done my best to keep from counting calories because I used to do it obsessively. I was afraid I might fall into that type of behavior again. But, I've realized since I've been doing it this past month, that it's just another thing that I'm doing to stay healthy and meet my goals. Also, since I've started counting calories, I've randomly ran into different articles that talk about how much more effective calorie counting is than any other diet. Also, I've been watching The Biggest Loser, and Jillian Michaels told the contestants that counting calories and exercising is the best and most common-sense diet. Maybe it's God's way of confirming to me that I'm on the right track. All that to say, I signed up for myfitnesspal.com!!!!

SO, how's is my new approach registering on the scale. Well, I dropped into the 119 range about a week ago!! I actually had some mixed feelings about it. I was obviously excited to be a weight that I had not been since my early twenties, and I was even more excited that I got there in a healthy manner. On the other hand, I almost felt "too skinny". I saw my parents last weekend and my dad asked me if I had lost weight and a part of me felt scared that he noticed and that maybe I was taking things too far. SOOOO, I'll be praying about all of this and no doubt, I'll be letting you girls know what happens.

Well...here's to having better bodies in our late twenties and early thirties than we EVER have. May it continue long into our fourties, fifties and BEYOND!!!

I MISS YOU!!!!!

Amber that is so awesome that you made your goal...I am so happy for you. I have seen how consistent you have been with your diet and your workouts and now you have seen the results. Way to go! I have noticed a definite change in your body...you look great!!! :) I may take a look at that website...maybe it will help me keep better track of my calorie intake and I would be very curious to know how many calories I should have in a day.

Anyway, my vacation was great despite the bugs and wasps everywhere...yuck!!! Pat and I had a nice time together. I ate A LOT of food and none of it was very healthy, but I was excited to see this morning when I weighed myself that I hadn't gained any weight. Obviously I can't continue to eat like that, but it was nice to know that one week off of working out and eating horribly didn't hurt the progress I had made before vacation.

Sarai, how is the journal going? I hope it has been effective. :)

Well, you ladies have helped me get a little more motivated in tracking my calories. I don't know if I will be perfect at it, but I think I might give it a shot. So, I thank you both for that...after all this is what this blog is all about...motivating, encouraging, and trying something different...especially when it works for someone else. :)

GOOOOOOOOOOAL!!!

Hi ladies! I also apologize for not posting in a long while. Weekends seem to fly by without me realizing it, and I can forget about having time to blog during the week! I do have some news to report: I MET MY GOAL! Today, I stepped on the scale, and my weight was 114.8. YES!! My healthy eating has really really paid off. This means I have lost a total of 13 pounds since January (and a total of 6 pounds since working out with Aaron & taking my healthy food diet very seriously-which both started in July). I have to give you kudos, Sarai, for trying to go for that food journal. Calorie counting really makes a huge difference, for me it made most of the difference. I was in disbelief when Aaron first calculated the total number of calories a person of my height and fitness level needed to consume. Actually, I was shocked at the limit. But I gave it a chance and results came almost immediately! AND because I'm sure to make those calories full of nutrients, fiber, & protein, I don't feel hungry AT ALL throughout the day. I still have quite a sweet tooth though, but I allow myself the occasional bowl of ice cream once a week or a few cookies if someone brings them to work, because I know I can afford a few extra calories here and there.

My plan is to stick with my current eating habits & continue the workouts with Aaron. We have done the crossfit series less and less. As Aaron gets more educated from his program, he's realizing that the majority of those workouts are not "one-size-fits-all" & are injury inducing if you don't really have a background in weight training/athletics, and so I've only been incorporating some of the core routines, that don't involve heavy weights.

Shannon, I'm glad BBL provided great results! I hope the hybrid of BBL & CE works out & your results are even more plentiful! I think you look amazing! I can't wait to hear about your vacation=)

Sarai, again I can't tell you enough about how I think its so super you and your friend are keeping food journals. Calorie counting & being accountable for the true food you eat in a day really makes you see excelerated results. I don't write in a journal, but I do enter my food I eat per day throught this website: www.myfitnesspal.com It calcuates how many calories you should be eating per day based on your height, current weight, & goal (i.e., maintain current weight, gain weight, lose weight). You can look up the foods you eat that day from a database they have. It calculates not only the amount of calories per food, but all the nutrients, fat content, sugars, etc. SO you can see for yourself where any imbalances exist. ITS changed my whole perspective on what's going in my mouth.

Ok girls I gotta go. Hopefully my next post won't be a month away! Later!