Noticeable Changes

My friend Patti put these images together for me. The one in the middle was taken July 2011. The outer photos were taken this January. Down 44 lbs and many, many inches.
I've been starring at these photos a lot over the past 24 hours. When I first saw it I smiled and thought I've come so far, but then I started thinking that really there isn't much of a change. Chris got mad at me. Patti got mad at me. Jenn got mad at me. "YOU LOOK GREAT!", they all said. Okay, okay. Fine. Thanks. Why do I have such a poor self-image of myself?!? I'm sure it has something to do with years and years and years of telling myself that I'm just well proportioned and big-boned. In high school I weighed 155 and wore a size 12. I've never been smaller then that, even when I was in the military. I am actually in the best shape of my life right now, and it's time to step back and appreciate all that hard work.
I took a deep breath and started looking at the photos from bottom up, glancing back and forth from one to the other. First noticeable difference - my calves. I've never measured them, but they look about half the size they were. Then I started thinking that I actually do have the difference in most of my measurements...Chris and I took them in May 2011 when we were going to start P90X. Here is my before photo...so flattering, and taken about 2 months before the one above.

May 2011 / January 2013
Weight: 202 / 158
Chest: 41" / 36"
Waist: 41" / 32.5"
Hips: 45.5" / 38"
Thighs: 32" / 25.5"
Arms: 16" / 12"
Photo from now. Tabitha said I need to show the one with my abs...it does look like I have them. I also have a before photo taken without my tank top, just in my sports bra, but, um, yea, not going there.

There are days when I feel like nothing is working, when I just want to give up and eat, eat, eat. On the days that I do indulge and eat crap I always feel bad and it NEVER tastes as good as I remember. I really have come a long way. I have a lot to be thankful for and proud of. I used to journal all my workouts (still do), so when I was looking up my measurements I came across my old workouts.
There was a ton of walking and Exercise tv workouts, but my favorite was on July 26, 2011 when I started C25K. It really was the start of it all. All I could do was jog for 90 seconds. I walked for 2 minutes. Repeated this 6 times for a total of 21 minutes. I was exhausted when I was done, but determined to keep at it. Fast forward to a year and a half later: I ran 10.4 miles this past Saturday while training for my half marathon. It took me one hour and 55 minutes (averaged out to an 11 minute/mile pace). I did that. Me. The girl who could barely run for 90 seconds a year and a half ago. WOW!
I also came across three goals I made for myself:
1. To wear shorts above the knee.
 - not sure I'll ever be comfortable enough to accomplish this one, it's still on my goal list!
2. Lower cholesterol
 - I need to schedule a physical to find out if it's lowered. September 2009 I had a physical and was told I had borderline high cholesterol (it is in my family). It's when I decided to change things. I met with a nutritionist, learned how to track calories, and measure food. Getting pregnant with my son changed a lot of things, but I refocused again a few months after he was born. I really do need to go and get it checked again.
3. Improve overall fitness.
 - I can say without a doubt that I have done this! I couldn't imagine my life without running or going to the gym. I feel stronger and healthier then I ever have and I don't plan on ever going back to the way things were!

Since it's Valentine's Day I figured I'd end with a special valentine that I found on Facebook this morning - love it! So, to you from me - HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY my fellow fitness friends!