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Okay Stats

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Starting Weight 260

Lowest weight - 155 ( Oct 2014 - during healthy wage challenge )

Current weight- 167

Goal weight- 140- (Still recovering from the Honeymoon)

BMI 27 it says I'm overweight

(honestly I am cause I have too much fat still on my body)

Body goals- slimmer thighs, COMPLETELY flat stomach, no love handles

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So basically its the old sayings - Eat right and exercise but that is easier said than done

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<ul>
	<li>you have to do it for yourself- if its about anyone else you aint gone stick with it</li>
</ul>
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<ul>
	<li>Set <strong><u>realistic</u></strong> goals and milestones for you so you're not just out here hoping for your goal weight and nothing else- My first goal was to look good in my clothes ( not a number of lbs ) Here’s the rest from 2009-Present</li>
</ul>
-get under two hundred

- stay under two hundred

- look good in a swimsuit

- Get small enough for Justin to pick me up

- look good in my wedding dress

-look good in a two piece. (I can send you a pic but cannot share it - Thanks Johnson &amp; Johnson)

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<ul>
	<li><strong><u>Get a scale and weigh  yourself every two weeks</u></strong></li>
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(that sounds like a lot but you should weigh more than once a month)

There will be times when you see minimal changes in numbers and get disgruntled( I am obsessed and i weigh myself 2-3 times a days but that's Me.  DO NOT DO THIS!!!!   I would suggest <strong><u>not</u></strong> to do it every week but at Max 1 time per week.  Also if you do weigh in try it on a Monday.  Then you will see the effects of what you did on the weekend.  A lot of ppl do well during the work week but struggle on the weekend. Ps make a chart and right things down- note your weight, measure your chest, waist and hips.  Either do it yourself each month or have the same person do it for you.  Even when you weight seems to plateau you may be losing inches!

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<ul>
	<li><strong><u>Nutrition nutrition nutrition</u></strong>- It is hand in hand with Exercise.  You CANNOT eat badly and still get where you want to be! Have a plan for meals.  Ex.  If you are going to a party plan your meals throughout the day better (lighter so if you eat at th party you will be able to maintain.  Do not eat out as much.  That saves money AND Calories meals ( many more details just ask)</li>
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<ul>
	<li><strong><u>Work it out-</u></strong> this is often the hard part but you gotta do it. My secret is two fold</li>
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<ol>
	<li>Find something you like (I love kickboxing )</li>
	<li>Find something that pushes you ( Running)</li>
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I have always since a kid been obsessed with kickboxing.  So I love that I have since discovered spin class which is an excellent calorie burn and total body work out.

Then there is running.  This is scary to some ppl but don’t be afraid.  Start out Walking! Yes!! You will have to go twice as long but you can still burn those calories and also it great for cardiovascular health.  I started out running in batches.  I like running out side.  So I pick a point and go.  Then I started trying to run a few minutes.  Like 5 then  10 then I got up to a mile.  After I discovered I could run a mile I just kept going.  I push myself to do as much as I can to run until I can’t anymore.  Most days my goal is always to make it back to the house without stopping.  Sometimes I run 1.5 and sometimes I push it to my best with was 4.2.  Either way do you and just try.  Don’t get intimidated its just your will.  Get it done

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<ul>
	<li><strong><u>Don’t quit-</u></strong> it takes at minimum 18 days to turn something into a habit so don’t give up.  You need to keep it going .  at first I suggest don’t cheat be strict but keep up with your plan and you will be rewarded</li>
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When its all said and done you have to WANt it.  You have to do this for you.  If you don’t want it it won’t happen.  Don’t get caught up in having a workout buddy cause they won’t always be there.  Don’t get me wrong it is great to have a close circle of friends to hold you accountable (trust me I have mine #teamshrinking)  but they will not be with you through ever meal, every crunch, every mile so suck it up get out there and get healthy for you

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<ul>
	<li><strong><u>Don’t’ forget about God-</u></strong> I would not have been able to do this without him.  When I’ve been exhausted, sad hurt, mad whatever he’s there.  I have prayed that he help me lose weight and it happened.  I pray that he gives me strength and he does.  When I am dedicated(working on it countdown to daily morning run is 5/3 when the sun is up at 6 am again) I take Wed morning off and instead of running with a great play list I run and think about God.  I pray and talk to him.  It’s a great meditation time.  But I always start each run off with a little pray just thanking God for waking me up and blessing me.  Try it .  Prayer works yall.</li>
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I began this journey in the summer of 2007 after I broke up with my long time College boyfriend.  He had cheated on me and I kept asking why.  To myself.  Why wasn’t I good enough what did I do wrong, was she prettier than me was she nicer than me etc.

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I knew one thing form looking at the myspace page(where my college besties found his dirt ) that she was in fact skinnier than me.

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That was a wake up call

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At first I put him down.  He was a jerk but I thought to myself he wasn’tthta attractive and had acne and was a band geek anyway but so what.  I wasn’t perfect either and I did love him.  So then I re evaluated myself anfd thought ok.  So you’ve been a couple for two years and now you’re on your own.  What now.  iI tried dating around for a while and going out to the club but at the end of the day the night life was never my thing and I have always been a one guy kind of woman so I said cool.  Let me take his opportunity to work on me.  My weight at my largest was 260.  I am not 100 % sure I ws that heavy at this time but I know I was close.  So I began to put in work.

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During my entire college process besides some of my best friends from home there was someone who was always there for me.  My cousin.  She was an inspiration as she was intelligent and pretty and had her master degree.  She also owned her own home and lived on her own.  These were all things I wanted to have! She was independent and was very smart, real and positive.  I loved hanging with her and all of my family since we were kids but during colleg we really became much tighter.  I took the time to spend many weekends visiting her and my second home Nashville.  In the past my “home” was at my aunt and uncle’s house(her parents) but as I struck out on my own I began to always stop in and visit them and just stay with her.  She lived on the other side of the city so we always got to share a Friday night meal with my favorite Aunt and uncle and then she and I would hang out, watch random shows on Tivo and just talk.  Over the years this happened so often I would be put off if we went out and got too tired to stay up lol.

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But theses talks were more than just a catch up session or short bonding experience.  They were times for me to share who I was who I was becoming and to seek her advise for m varying situations.  Wheteher it was family business or dating life she lways gave me a fresh perspective and a real talk answer that helped me wheteher I liked it or not.  She would give me perspective on how to handle relationship issues, compromise love struggles and eventually was instrumental in helping me find myself.  I knew that she was strong and so when I found myself alone (romatically) he helped me to understand that life was n’t over.  It’s cliché but I was better off.  Even having known him because after talking to her I relized these were experiences I needed to have.  He taught me things about respect, and honesty and dependability and especially trust. By not having those things he helped me to know exactly what I wanted ot have in a relationship.  He helped me grow form a naïve little girl to an more knowledgable and realistic woman.  She helped me to take these lesssons analize them and use them for my good.  She had been there, we all have and regardless of your situation often times there is something that someone older than you can either relate to or provide some different type of perspective on.

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I cherish the times we spent together and a while sitting here thinking I am wishing for another weekend to go visit.  Of course I can do this at any time but now we are both married so Hubbies must tag along lol

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She has been one of my rocks an unmoving supportive force that has only grown stronger through the years.  It’s funny because she gets to experience most of life’s normal journeys before me and share with me the deets .  lol.  She was married and I got to share with her and Primo and sing at their wedding.  She became a mother and I got to come to her shower and support her and meet and love on my sweet little cousin who was the flower girl in my wedding.

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I haven’t taken that last hurdle but I know when I do when sill be there waiting just to encourage me and enlighten me

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Now she is encouraging me to take my time in the nesting process to set clear goals and to encourage my hubby to do his part ot help out as well.  Its strange to be at the ppoint in my life talking about my husband is a normal thing but that’s were I am.  I am glad that she has gone through so many things because since I have know her she has always been a source of good sound advise, encouragement and increasingly in the last few years a spiritual example and  guide.  She is one of the most positive people I know (ie the Happness bucket)

And it is just so wonderful to know her.  I look forward to driving up the road ( a couple of hours lol ) soon to see my favorite Prima and her/ our family.

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But prior to that