Friday, March 28, 2014

One Year


It has been one year. 365 days, 52 weeks, 12 months.... 525,600 minutes.



One year ago today, I wrote this post and decided that I needed to do something about my weight. Last year when I wrote that post, I knew I was ready to make a change... but I honestly didn't think that I would fully commit and be able to look at myself one year later and be proud of how much I changed. Since March 28th, 2013 I have lost between 85-90lbs. However, I'm down 115lbs from my heaviest weight. This is my heaviest weight (left) and current weight (right):

I have learned many things over the past year. I’ve learned that this is a journey, losing all the weight won’t happen overnight – and funny enough, I’m okay with this. I have learned to LOVE this journey, thoroughly. Eating clean, and exercising (especially running) have helped me to feel so great – inside and out.

I’ve learned that it’s okay to slip-up/fall/cheat.. but just get back on track. Just because you eat bad things for lunch, or for an entire day... or even an entire weekend, it doesn’t mean you have to stop everything all together and just quit. Just get back up, dust yourself off, and get back to living as healthy as you can.

I’ve learned that there are going to be people who don’t fully support you – sometimes people will mock your food choices, or opting not to drink alcohol, or go out partying – who cares. Let them. Something I’ve learned over the past year is that I can’t make choices based on how other people will react or treat me because of it, I have to make the best choices for me (this was a really hard concept for me to grasp, and sometimes I still struggle with it).



This journey is far from easy. It’s probably the hardest thing I’ve ever done, because it has tested me in all aspects of my life: mentally, physically, emotionally, and even spiritually. It’s easy to only show people on the outside (colleagues, instagram posts, facebook updates, tweets, etc) the fun or easy side of losing this weight, but let me tell you - there are struggles. For anyone who thinks that losing weight, staying committed, and making the decisions to eat clean and exercise daily are easy things to do, please come talk to me.. cause I’d like to know your secret. ‘Cause as far as I’m concerned... this shit is HARD.


This is from January (I can't believe I'm posting this online). This was the size my waist used to be.


I’ve always done my best to be open on honest about my weight-loss journey on all social media platforms, but I’ll admit... I’ve pulled back from posting anything because I’ve been in a rut. Ever since the beginning of February I’ve been hit with sickness, after sickness, after injury, after sickness, and sickness once again... not kidding. Strep throat, wisdom teeth extraction, strained hamstring, food poisoning/flu bug, and then a cold. It has been an interesting 6 or 7 weeks... and I basically haven’t been working out. I’m trying to eat as clean as I can, but honestly... I’m not impressed with myself. I’ve only gone for about 15 runs since February 1st, and this is so frustrating to me. My body just physically cannot handle running right now because my hamstring is still so sore. I’m supposed to be running a 10k on April 27th, and as it stands right now.. I may need to cancel that. My training is at a complete stand still, and I don’t know how soon I’ll be able to actually get back to running.


These are from Christmas 2011 - my heaviest weight.

The struggles of weight-loss are real. I’m disappointed that I’ve lost a lot of my strength and endurance because of these set-backs, but I’m determined to get back up. If I dwell on the things that have come my way since the start of 2014, I fear that I’ll revert back to old habits and go back to the dark place that I swore I would never go. My weight isn’t going up, it’s still going down – which is great, but I’m not making choices that will benefit my health, and that’s not okay. When I realized that today marked 1 year from the time I decided to change my life, I realized this was the push I needed to get myself back in the game. I’m recommitting myself to getting back to doing whatever I can (injury permitting) to be physically active on a daily basis, and not allow myself to have multiple cheat meals a week – just one. Here we are friends, my re-committment to this lifestyle that I worked so hard to achieve last year. I’ve still got about 40lbs to go until I hit my initial ‘goal’ weight. Who knows, I may be done at that time, or I may re-assess and set new goals for myself, we’ll see. But for now.. this is me, this is my journey, and I won’t ever stop.


Left - March 2013 | Right - December 2013

Ms. New Booty (feat. Ying Yang Twins & Mr. Collipark) by Bubba Sparxxx on Grooveshark

Linking up with my favourite unicorn advocate today.





24 comments:

Jay T said...

You are honestly SO inspirational and I am so impressed of everything you have accomplished and how far you've come. It's admirable that you're able to recognize that you need to adjust some things and make better choices and I'm proud of you for putting it all out there! You go Faithy Coco!

Tracey said...

This is amazing! You look like a completely different person. The best part is, you look happier and HEALTHIER, and that's the main thing! Congrats!

Katie said...

Congratulations and thanks for be brave today and posting this! I start my work out journey on Monday and I'm a little nervous to be honest. To start I am doing a Couch to 5K program and my goal is to be able to run/jog for 20 minutes straight by the end of. I'm trying not to focus on the pounds just yet.

Amanda aka Manda said...

Such an inspiration! I lost weight but then gained some of it back. You've definitely given me the push I needed to get back at it and lose this weight for good this time!

Mollie Campbell said...

You look amazing! So much progress in such a short amount of time, keep up the great work! You go girl!

Sami said...

You're my favorite. I'm so proud of you and everything you've accomplished for yourself. I'm also proud at how inspiring you are. You never judge, you never question.. you just give the best feedback you possibly can and I love you for that!

Amber Nicole said...

I have no words other than: GO YOU!! Seriously, dude! Go you! Good job for sticking with it and for admitting that it's okay to slip! You really are an inspiration!! <3 <3

Tracie Everyday said...

I love your honesty! I don't know that I would be able to have the balls to post pics of myself that candidly! Get it girl!

Whitney Ellen said...

You are INCREDIBLE. Seriously, I am such a huge fan of you and all of this hard work you've done that has paid off in such a big way. Keep your head up, you're doing an amazing job!

Becca said...

The change is amazing. Seriously. Every time I see one of your before/after pictures I'm really impressed with how hard you've worked for it.

C said...

You are amazing!!! It takes such hard work and dedication and you are killing it! You look (and probably feel) awesome!

Nadine said...

You are so inspiring! You have put yourself out there and you have put so much hard work into the last year! You go!!!!

Brandi said...

You look wonderful!! What an inspiration you are to others (like myself) who have similar struggles. Thank you for your honesty.

Emily @ Martinis | Bikinis said...

Congrats! You look fabulous!

Unknown said...

CONGRATS!!! You look great! That is awesome all your hard work has paid off. :)

SarahO said...

Congratulations! This is such an inspiration for my own weight loss journey!

Donna said...

Congratulations doesn't seem like a strong enough word! That is amazing. And not just the weight loss I can tell my reading that post over the past year your whole self has gotten healthier, not just your body! Way to be awesome! :)

Allie said...

I really dunno how to put into words how I feel right now. If I had to pick one person that was the most inspiring, most supportive, and biggest motivator, it would hands down be you. No matter what, you are there. You always give feedback and you always give praise. You have seriously kicked some weight loss butt and I am so proud of the things you have accomplished in such a short time. Those 40lbs are going to fall off in no time. I think you look absolutely amazing. I LOVE YOU SO BIG

Unknown said...

WOW!!!!!

Unknown said...

I read ur post and was inspired to do one of my own, please feel free to read it, and offer any advice you can.

http://onegoodth1ngaday.blogspot.co.uk/2014/03/this-might-be-scariest-one-i-ever-post.html

Michal Mac said...

YOU GO, GIRL!!! Lovely blog by the way! Thank you for sharing:)

http://nanimac.blogspot.com

Unknown said...

Faith,

Thank you so much for sharing such an inspirational post. I really enjoyed reading it. As it stands, I'm currently 250lbs and want to be about 145lbs. I know I have to lose weight to be healthy if anything at all. Could you give me some tips; what did you do to get where you are today? I would love to know! :) Maybe it would work for me!

Tinisha

Lindsay Landgraf said...

This is amazing, you are so strong and brave and kick-assy. Not to mention beautiful inside and out! Get it, girl.

Kelly said...

Congratulations, what a great transformation! You are so inspiring!