It has been a year since I made a new committment to changing my body, my health, myself. I announced it in this blog post. I did a few updates about how things are going throughout the year. You can see those posts, if you are interested, here, here and here.
By the numbers, I am about 25 pounds lighter than the heaviest weight I’ve ever been in my life that was not due to pregnancy, and I am wearing clothing sizes that are 2-3 sizes smaller than the size I figured I’d be wearing for the rest of my life. But this is about so much more than numbers. I feel so much better about myself in many ways. I have more energy when I get up in the morning. I truly don’t remember the last time I felt sick. My frequent headaches of the past are for the most part distant memories. I feel confident when I walk into a room. I enjoy going shopping for clothes and trying them on.
I’ve moved through new levels of exercise over the course of the year. I started out last year with trying to make exercise a habit rather than a second thought. I worked through Rockin’ Body by Shaun T and several Jillian Michaels videos. I discovered I liked the way Shaun T’s Focus 25 fit into my life and gave me results I could see. I recently started the 3rd level of T25 known as “Gamma”, which includes lots of weight lifting.
My tastes have changed too over the course of this year. I’ve lost many cravings for the not-so-good-for-me foods and learned to enjoy foods that I would not have bothered with in the past. I never want “fast food” anymore and I can’t tolerate the sicky-sweet way I used to drink coffee. Eggs are a regular part of my diet, as are homemade protein shakes, for examples. And I don’t feel deprived either. One day a week I have a “treat day” and eat whatever I feel like; it is good both psychologically and physically. I am eating well and I don’t count calories.
Here’s a look photographically at my progress.
The only pictures of me from approximately 1 year ago are all bundled up, understandable since it is November, so I went back to Meghan’s graduation in June of 2013 to find a full-length shot of how I was looking when all this began.
A little closer to a year ago, Halloween Murder Mystery party 2013:
April of this year:
June:
July:
Last month:
My journey continues.
ETA: When I first posted this yesterday, I included two small photos of myself, post-workout. I am dressed in a sports top and shorts, posing to try to accentuate the muscles I’m starting to build. I hemmed and hawed a bit about it. Then I came back again last night and deleted them, feeling like maybe posting something like that could be construed as somehow inappropriate. If you choose to comment, could you tell me your opinion of posting such pictures?
ETA (2) Okay, the pictures are back. We will see for how long 😉
Karma's When I Feel Like It Blog 
I admire your self-discipline. I have been eating healthy foods for nearly a year now, but find myself sliding a bit since the Artistic One moved and I’m cooking only for me. Laziness, that is.
Comment by Carol — November 22, 2014 @ 4:09 pm |
Thanks Carol. I think we are all allowed the indulgence of sliding into laziness from time to time! 🙂
Comment by Karma — November 23, 2014 @ 7:36 am |
I don’t think it would be inappropriate at all! You’ve worked hard to build those muscles. Show ’em off, I say. That said, I would be reluctant too, to be honest. I admire people, like my sister, who work hard and show off with pride. I’d probably just show my feet. lol! You look, Karma. Congratulations on your one year of creating a new you. 😀
Comment by Robin — November 23, 2014 @ 7:57 am |
Thanks Robin. I keep going back and forth about whether to post them. Of course, if I keep waiting until most of my regular readers have come and commented, nobody will probably see the photos if I re-post them, lol!
Comment by Karma — November 23, 2014 @ 8:11 am |
Post ’em you silly Goose. I don’t blame you for wanting to show off your hard-earned muscles. Just let us know when you do, so we can come back and make flattering comments. 😉 BTW I pretty much gave up sweets, sugars, fast foods, prepared foods and took to drinking water over a year ago. Life-long headaches are gone. I look at sweets and chocolate-covered doughnuts and think “ewwwwww”. Not even tempted. Lost about 20 pounds. Only exercise is walking with the dogs. I have developed quite the dark chocolate addiction though …
Comment by sybil — November 23, 2014 @ 8:23 am |
I am with you on the dark chocolate! But I haven’t completely moved on from wanting some sweets. Over the holidays I will certainly indulge in a few. 🙂
Still thinking about the photos. *Might* put ’em back.
Comment by Karma — November 23, 2014 @ 5:12 pm |
I love this. Look at you! You look so good & young & energetic & beautiful! This is truly a good inspiration for many of us too..
Hats off to your dedication. Highly appreciated! 🙂
Comment by sonali — November 23, 2014 @ 9:59 am |
Aw, thank you Sonali, so very kind of you to say.
Comment by Karma — November 23, 2014 @ 5:12 pm |
You look fabulous! Good for you, all that hard work has paid off. Looking at the first picture you don’t appear to have any extra weight on you but as you progress you can really tell that you’ve lost weight. You don’t look like a mom with your girls you look like a sister!
Comment by Becky Sue — November 23, 2014 @ 10:27 am |
Thank you so much Becky – your kind words are appreciated!
Comment by Karma — November 23, 2014 @ 5:13 pm |
Oh wow, I thought you looked great at Meghan’s graduation, but what a huge change a year has made! You are looking fabulous, but the most important aspect is how you feel, and you are feeling great, so you will continue looking great….it all comes from within. Well done, Karen. 🙂
Comment by Joanne — November 23, 2014 @ 9:45 pm |
Much appreciated Joanne. This is a journey that has changed me from the inside out, I agree. Thank you.
Comment by Karma — November 24, 2014 @ 7:50 pm |