My Weight Loss Journey - Changes I have made

First off, thank you SO much for all of the sweet comments yesterday, every one of them made me smile. The support I have received from the blogging community has been unbelievable!

So THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!

As promised, I wanted to blog about my changes that I have made to my lifestyle over the past 2 years.

{I posted this last spring, about my old habits, in case you missed this}

I truly believe weight loss is a combination of both diet and exercise, and these are a few things I have done over the past few years.

Although it took me 2 years to take off the weight, I fluctuated with my weight last fall after winning the biggest loser competition in June 2010. Looking back over my pictures, it truly has been a journey, my weight wasn't put on over night, and clearly, it won't fall off over night!

Diet

• I cut out fast food {yes, I will admit that I occasionally swing through Sonic and not only do I get a route 44 diet coke, but also a small tot! i mean - who can say no to tots???}
• I drink LOTS of water!!!
• If I need electrolytes, I drink powerade zero or g2
• I no longer eat chicken after a incident that happened last year at work, which means, I no longer eat fried chicken... which I think really helps! I do however miss buffalo hot sauce
• I have replaced all red meat when I cook with turkey {turkey burgers, turkey sausage} and also black bean burgers
• I make a menu at the house every Monday and we try to stick to it, that way we are not planning on meals the day of or just deciding to go out to eat because its easier than cooking that day
• I try and shop the perimeter of the grocery store... where the produce, deli counter, fresh meat, and dairy is located
• I now know the difference between boredom and and hunger, and fighting the urge to eat when I'm bored.
• Everything in the house is whole wheat rather than white, bread, pasta, pizza dough, ect
• I LOVE skinny cow sweet snacks, it is nice to know that you can have something that tastes as good as a nutty buddy, but its only 110 calories :)
• I try and pack my lunch rather than be tempted to go out to eat or eat from the cafeteria
• I never deprive myself of something that I'm craving, I just have it in moderation
• I don't go out and drink as much as I used to {its crazy to look back at my previous pictures, and most were taken at bars or with a drink in my hand}, however if I go out I try to get a lite/light beer, or a vodka {preferably ciroc which is made with grapes and not potatoes} and soda water with 3 limes. I used to go for vodka tonics on a big night out at the bar, but tonic is not good for you - its filled with sugar!

Exercise

• Obviously, I have been running over the past 2 years, and that has been a HUGE factor of my weight loss
• In order to keep my interest in running, I have always signed up for an event in the future so that I have to continue to train
• Occasionally I will take a class at my gym
• I still completely stand by Jillian Michael's 30 Day Shred DVD. I saw inches come off during the 30 days I did the DVD. It is 20 minutes a day, and if you tell yourself you don't have 20 minutes for exercise a day, then you are lying to yourself
• I use my pedometer to keep me accountable for how much I have walked/ran that day. For a healthy lifestyle you should be moving at least 7,000 steps a day

Sweet Rewards

• I have more energy than I have ever had before
• Hearing so many compliments, from "I barely recognized you", or "how much weight have you lost?" it just makes me want to lose that much more! its sometimes that those compliments get me to the gym, or make me push that much harder when I'm at the gym
• I previously rewarded myself for anything with food... and now I reward myself with other things {going to an inexpensive nail place and having them shape and polish my nails for $6 if I train 5 out of 7 days in a week} {a new watch every time I finish a 1/2 marathon} {being able to buy new clothes - yes this has been expensive, but going from a size 16 to an 8 is totally worth it!!!}

These are just a few of the changes I have made in my weight loss journey over the past 2 years. I am ashamed that I ever got to where I was, however, I can hold my head high knowing that I have have lost as much weight as I have. I feel amazing and have more energy than ever, and wouldn't trade this feeling for the world!

Have you been on a weight loss journey? What have you done to lose your weight?