100 ways losing 100lbs (YES, ONE HUNDRED!!) has changed my life!

I can't believe it's happened but...I've officially lost *100*lbs!!!!! As of February 21st, I weighed 182lbs...100lbs less than when I started this journey on July 13th, '09...only 7 months ago! (And for the record, even since then I'm down 102 lbs, lol.) What a fantastic thing to be able to say! Amazingly proud of myself and hope I don't sound boastful saying that, but I AM PROUD OF ME.

You know, I can remember watching many an Oprah show where her guests had lost 100lbs and sometimes more. They'd break through the poster of their old overweight self and come out onstage. You know how they do that. The audience would stand up and clap and an ecstatic, beaming smile would be what seemed like forever etched across the guest's face. It never failed...I'd be be sitting on my couch...crying and feeling lots of emotions. I was sooo happy for them. I couldn't imagine how happy they must be. I wondered what it must feel like. What was their new life like? Was it what they thought it'd be? I always wanted it for myself but it seemed so impossible and out of reach. I never believed it'd ever happen to me and here it has!

So, to commemorate my 100lbs gone (FOREVER!), I've added onto my list that I had previously posted when I lost my first 50. No need for all of you to read my first 50 if you've already read them, so just skip down to 50-100 if you'd like...unless you have nothing better to do, lol.

1. I’m down 5 sizes in my waist
2. Chronic pain has left my life
3. I have energy like never before
4. I wake up by 6:00 or 6:30am
5. I am no longer a night owl
6. I can walk up several flights of stairs without being out of breath
7. I can cross my legs under a table, booth etc
8. My seat belt stays between my breasts instead of on the side
9. I can easily walk 2 miles
10. I am able to buckle the airline seat belt with plenty of excess
11. I smile more than I ever have
12. Migraines have left my life
13. I have learned there is nothing I could eat that would make me happier than I am now
14. I feel like I have a fresh start in my life
15. I feel amazingly happy and free
16. I can fold my arms securely and keep them on my chest
17. I can put on my socks and shoes by simple pulling my legs up to my chest
18. I love and enjoy working out
19. I’ve lost 21.5”
20. I can do 100 crunches
21. My joints no longer ache
22. I have confidence in myself
23. I have become truly aware of what “living life” means
24. My bath towel easily wraps around me and tucks in nicely
25. I like photos of me now
26. I no longer get leg or foot cramps in the middle of the night
27. I can sit in a booth without the table touching my mid-section
28. I try new things and don’t beat myself up if I fail
29. I look forward to standing on the scale
30. I genuinely care about my body and me
31. I own my feelings with less shame
32. I’ve had to remove a link from both my watches
33. I no longer have chest pains
34. I can see my feet in the shower
35. I can go shopping for hours at a time
36. I can complete 20 minutes on the elliptical machine
37. I know how much a portion is and only eat one serving
38. I can tuck in my shirt and wear a belt
39. I wonder what it will be like to lose a total of 130 pounds
40. I work out everyday between 60-90 minutes
41. I am responsible and accountable for everything I eat
42. My BMI has went from 42.9 to 35.3
43. I have a sense of self-worth that I’ve never had
44. I can look at myself in the mirror and not feel miserable
45. My tears in the dressing room are now tears of joy and not defeat
46. My wedding rings no longer fit
47. I’d rather be out doing something than sitting at home
48. I’ve seen muscles I never knew I had
49. I can eat anything without feeling like I’m being judged and snickered at
50. I AM IN CONTROL!
51. I can see my collar bones
52. I’ve discovered my hip bones (I literally thought I had a tumor at first, lol)
53. I can put anything in the dryer and who cares if it shrinks…it still fits!
54. I can sit with both of my legs up against my chest and it’s comfortable
55. I can wear cute shoes other than my New Balance sneakers that I’ve lived in for 10 yrs.
56. I can jog!
57. I am no longer considered obese on the BMI scale…just overweight.
58. I am not afraid to go first or to walk ahead of anyone
59. I am much less anxious about walking into a group of people
60. I have rid myself of my pre-diabetic condition, Insulin Resistance! That is huge!
61. I can complete 45 minutes on the elliptical compared to my 20 minutes at 50lbs lost
62. I am nowhere near plus size clothes anymore…just regular misses for me!
63. I am down about 8 sizes in my waist (size 26 to 9/10 now)
64. I have lost an additional 20” since my first 50lbs I lost. That’s 41.5” lost so far!
65. I can wear a white shirt or jacket and not feel like a ginormous marshmallow.
66. I like and need to wear belts! I even poked a hole in one of my old belts…12 inches down from the nearest old hole!
67. My fingers are a lot skinnier!
68. I’ve went from a size 3x top to a regular misses medium or large!
69. I am genuinely proud of myself.
70. I can cross my legs while riding in the car
71. I am down 4 bra sizes
72. I get cold more easily and now I feel bad for giving my mom such a hard time for years, lol. Sorry mom.
73. I have made new friends!
74. I don’t feel “FAT” anymore. I still have work to do but to not constantly feel fat is a good feeling!
75. I drink a lot of green tea…as opposed to drinking sugary hot chocolate.
76. I look forward to meal planning and grocery shopping.
77. I want to help as many people as I can in their own weight loss journey!
78. I can see the light at the end of the tunnel
79. I look forward to getting up and getting my day going.
80. I can almost figure out my calories for the day without logging them but I still do it to keep me on track and accountable.
81. Eating has become for survival…not for feeding my emotions.
82. I love to buy and eat healthy foods. I feel so good when I do!
83. I’ve started volunteering…something I would have NEVER considered doing being an obese person.
84. I go to the gym and work out no matter who is there. Busy or not, I’m working out!
85. I can count the number of headaches I’ve had on one hand over the last 7 months. I used to get migraine-like headaches almost weekly.
86. I feel sooooooo much healthier!
87. I drink skim milk…something I never thought I’d do, lol.
88. I am a much more positive person.
89. Hey look…I have a breastbone!!
90. I almost feel like I’m a “normal” size.
91. My body doesn’t bump into everything anymore.
92. Cravings for junk food and empty calories have nearly diminished.
93. My feet and ankles no longer swell.
94. Binge eating does not exist in my life anymore although I still crave carbs sometimes, lol.
95. I can wear knee socks…couldn’t get them over my calf when I was obese.
96. Putting on lotion doesn’t take near as long…a lot less body to cover!
97. I am more aware of myself and others around me.
98. Almost all my self-consciousness has gone away. AMAZING!
99. I am so close to my ULTIMATE goal!
100. I am STILL in control…well, we know Who is ultimately in control but as far as my eating and healthy decisions I make, food does NOT control me.

I also want to give a shout-out to a special friend of mine. A couple weeks ago she asked me if I had made it to my 100lbs lost mark yet and I told her that I had. She surprised me with a beautiful gift bag (with the cutest tissue paper, mind you!) full of fun things in sets of 100 and lots of funsies...almonds, post-its, chap-stick, tissues, moisturizer etc. I thought it was sooooo kind and thoughtful and I've really enjoyed getting to know her and I thoroughly enjoy our chats, so THANKS my friend! You know who you are. :)

And for a really quick end-of-the-month wrapup for February...

3 additional inches lost
Lost 7 pounds
Went from a size 11/12 to a 9/10
Went down another bra size

I will admit that February was not a month that I put my forth my BEST effort. I slacked on my cardio big time, lol. BUT...this month is already different. I'm back on track, have started the Body for Life 12 week Weight-Training Program and feel great!

I have so much to say since I haven't posted in a month, but I'll save it for another post. Just wanted to share this milestone with all of you! Thanks for keeping with me. Still have roughly 20lbs or so to go and am working on toning up my body now. I can't believe I'm this close to the end! So exciting! I hope you'll continue to stick with me!

I'm off to call The Dr. Oz Show to tell him what I've accomplished and to see if I can wiggle myself onto his show! LOL! Just kidding of course. ;)

And I know...I am making a liar out of myself but for real...I WILL post a pic soon. It's just been so stinkin' cold out and life has just been super busy these days but I will do my best!

Until the next time...

End of month wrap-up...

Writing this as I watch The Biggest Loser. Tell me you watch too!? If you don't, you really should! Such an inspirational show! I can relate to so many different aspects and it never ceases to amaze me how determined and successful a person can be if they want to.

So, can you believe it's February? It's already staying longer lighter; have you noticed? Oh, how it makes me so happy! I am itching for spring! So ready for warmer walks, birds chirping when the sun comes up, the smell of a warm rain, green grass and green trees. Sounds perfect huh?!

Okay, so many of you have been asking for a recent photo and I promise I've been meaning to get one up but I just haven't yet, BUT... it will be soon. Promise!
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And, it's that time again...my end of the month update and January was very good to me!

This month, I lost 12.2 lbs which brings me down to 187.8 lbs. That means I've lost a total of 95.2 lbs in 6.5 months! My average weekly loss is at 3.28 lbs/week! Only 5 more lbs and I will have lost 100 lbs!!!!! I should reach that goal over the next 2 weeks and then....I will post a photo of myself!

I also lost another 7" combined this month (same as December!). That's a total of 41.5" gone! Here's my specifics for the month:

Waist -2" (starting 48", current 38")
Thigh -.5" (starting 29", current 21.5")
Calf -.5" (starting 18.5", current 16.5")
Bust -2" (starting 49", current 41.5")
Upper Arm -2" (starting 17", current 12")

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Didn't lose any in my hips or neck in January but here's my measurements anyway...

Hips - starting 51", current 41"
Neck - starting 15.5", current 14"

My BMI also continues to get smaller which is awesome. It was 30.3 at the beginning of the month and is now at 28.6. I am officially out of the obese category and am now just considered "overweight". Love that! Need to lose another 24 lbs and I'll be in the "normal" category, lol.

I am also down another size or two in my waist. I went from 14 to an 11/12 and can even get into a couple of 10's. That really blows my mind. I haven't worn those sizes for a LONG time...probably 14 or 15 yrs old and for me that's 20-21 years ago. Geez. It is an amazing feeling to walk into a regular store and pick out whatever I want and have it fit. Almost priceless!

My goal is still to get somewhere between 150-165lbs so that leaves me with about 20-35 more lbs until I'm done and start the maintain process. I can't believe how far I've come so quickly.

FYI: All my stats in my sidebar are updated if you want to take a peek...

Will be posting a few new recipes soon so keep an eye out if that interests you. Thanks for sticking with me! :)