My 1 Year Transformation

Let me just start by saying that my "before" pictures were never something I thought I would share with ANYONE.  I took them for ME because I'd heard that "before" pictures were the best motivation for your own weight loss journey/getting healthy.  I lost some weight before Adam and I started to try and get pregnant.  When we conceived Adalynn, I weighed around 150lbs.  During my pregnancy I gained an unhealthy amount of weight for my height (5'6") and age (newly 27 at the time).  The day I went into labor I weighed in at 202lbs.  This was shocking to me.  I stopped looking at my weight when the dr weighed me at my monthly appointments around 20 weeks because I was ashamed that I'd already gained 20lbs.  Pregnancy hormones are brutal...I felt fat and gross so I allowed myself to eat junk food all the time which ultimately made me feel worse (and gain more weight because I ate crappy food).  I wish I would have embraced my pregnant body.  I think other pregnant women are BEAUTIFUL, but I found myself disgusting.  We are our own worst critics.  But you know what?  After Adalynn was placed in my arms when she was born, I knew that I needed to make some changes.  I needed to be the healthiest mom that I could be.  

In 1994 my dad was diagnosed with Melanoma...the worst skin cancer on the planet.  He would take me out of school sometimes to go with him to his experimental treatments at U of M.  I remember after his first mole was removed from his back he was laying in the living room on the floor with a huge incision...roughly 3 1/2 inches or so and it was bleeding profusely.  My mom shooed me away so she could tend to it.  This horror is etched into my memory.  I still have nightmares about it.  Cancer seems to plague my family.  My mom was diagnosed with Mantle Cell Lymphoma in 2011 which has no cure.  I went with her to almost every treatment.  I was there for her every step of the way...infusions, ports, allergic reactions to chemo...everything.  It might come back someday and you can bet your ass that I will be there for her again.  Adam and I found out that we were having a girl on January 17, 2012...and the next day my dad told me that he was diagnosed with Prostate Cancer.  Two parents, three different cancers.  He also needs a hip replacement in the next 6 months or so.  I will continue to support them both through their journeys (and they support each other, thankfully).

My journey to a healthier me started when Adalynn was born.  I started eating healthier foods because I was nursing her and I wanted her to have the best nutrients.  I should have started this when I was pregnant but I was naive and hormonal (my own excuses).  Sure, I ate some healthy food during my pregnancy but not as much as I should have.  For exercise I started walking and pushing her in her stroller or carrying her in my Moby Wrap.  My dr. gave me the 'ok' to work out at my 6 week PP appointment but I had to take it easy because of my c-section incision.  On July 23, 2012 I did my first crossfit workout with my sister.  On 7/28/12 I completed my first mile in 14:25.  I had to stop and walk 4 times during that mile, but I was so proud of that first mile because even though it was really hard for me, I FINISHED IT.  My sister was (and still is) one of my biggest motivators.  She is one of the strongest women I know (mentally and physically).  When someone says "beast mode" I think of her.  I'm so proud that Adalynn has her as an Aunt.  My wombmate is also a great motivator (my twin brother, Ryan).  He's a police officer in TX and scored the fastest in his class when he went through the academy and ran 1 mile in 5:28. 1 1/2 miles took him 8:31, the fastest their academy has seen in 10 years.  My husband also motivates me daily by working out and eating healthy.  He's a wonderful father to our sweet, wonderful daughter.

So without further ado here is my "before" and current "during" pictures.  I'm a "work in progress" but you can be sure as shit that I'm damn proud of myself.  A year ago if you had asked me where I would be in the near future I wouldn't have said "next October I'll be running in a half marathon".  But here I am training for my first one, proving to myself that I can be fit and healthy and the best mom that I can be.  :o)  Sure, I still have some areas that I'm working on but that's why I'm "a work in progress". Good night!