12 Weeks Down...12 More to Go!

Well hello friends!

I am happy to say that I SUCCESSFULLY completed my first 12-week core weight management program yesterday!!! I cannot believe how much change I have made in 12 "short" weeks. I remember being absolutely fine with not exercising for weeks (okay months!) at a time, and now I work out almost every single day. I still hate it, but at least I have learned to live with it.

I also had a revelation yesterday. The weight that is on my drivers license is now ACCURATE....that has NEVER happened. I'm so excited I'm thinking about going to get another one just so I can take another 30 lbs off of it!

In the spirit of new beginnings and starting fresh, I am giving full disclosure to my pre and post stats, along with the hot pics! haha! Enjoy!

Start Weight: 254.6 lbs

End Weight: 210.9 lbs

Weight Change: 43.7 lbs

Start Waist Measurement: 45 in

End Waist Measurement: 40.5 in (37 according my my tape measure!)

Waist Measurement Change: 4.5 in

Start Cholesterol: 308 (yikes!)

End Cholesterol: 225

Cholesterol Change: 83

Start Triglycerides: 525 (Yikes Again!)

End Triglycerides: 219

Triglycerides Change: 306

Start LDL (bad cholesterol): over 400

End LDL: 137

LDL Change: Over 263

I just want to say that I am very lucky to have a wonderful support system, including my future husband, friends and family. So, thank you for all of your help!

Teri

BeforeAfter

Late night thoughts...

As I sit awake at 3-fricken-AM, stressing about the wedding, I realized that a lot of my old habits with food have begun to change. Believe me, this is a good thing!

I worked from home today due to the icy roads, and this made me think back to days in the past when I was home from work. Most of the day would have been spent sitting in front of the TV, munching mindlessly on the high-fat foods that were usually reserved for Jay. For some reason I thought that because I was home sick, that this somehow negated all calories consumed. Today was very different. While I did feel the need to munch, I instead chose fruits and extra shakes. It is strange to think that me, Teri Krogstad-super snacker extraordinaire, is now turning to an apple to feed my cravings! Crazy right?

I also think how the stress from this wedding would previously have led to thousands of extra calories from food that I "deserved" because I was so stressed. Note to past-self, anxiety does not cancel out a bottle of wine and an entire pizza. It also does not miraculously burn extra calories...shocking!

Even tonight, I am sitting on the couch and I am hungry, but I am not struggling to keep myself out of "Jay's cupboard" that is full of candy, chips, nuts and many other fatty confections. How things have changed!

Enough pre-dawn ranting...I need sleep!

Happy 2010! It's going to be a great year!

Since our engagement, I have been frantically planning a wedding that doesn't occur for another 10 months....crazy right! I know! I guess this very short post is just to let everyone know that I am still on the program and doing well. I am officially down 34.6 lbs! People are finally starting to notice the change and I am too. I am wearing jeans that I haven't worn in 5+ years and I genuinely feel good. I still have a long way to go, but yesterday I realized that I am only 40 lbs away from my goal weight. I know that that may seem like a lot to most people, but it seems so much easier than saying I have 70+ lbs to lose. In the past, that statement alone was crushing enough to halt any ambition to even start a diet. Now, knowing I am almost half way there is so motivating! I have 3 weeks remaining in my 12 week core program, and I plan to join another ongoing program after that. Wish me luck!