Getting Thin!

So,  I haven't posted in a month.  Not all that surprising.  I have been a bit busy, but mostly I'm just very forgetful and lazy.  However, I thought I may make one of my more inspiring and knowledgeable posts today.  I am talking about good old weight loss!  Now, I'm by no means an expert.  Nor am I by no means "thin".  But this past year and a half I have managed to lose 85 pounds.  That's not a typo. Eighty Five glorious Pounds!  The best part about it was that I really spent very little money!  Read on if you'd like to hear all about it!

In January of 2012 I was dumped by my boyfriend of 4 years.  Of course he did it in a very respectful manner, by changing his status to single on Facebook and refusing to pick up and of my calls after.  Needless to say I was pissed off and depressed.  I first started losing weight simply because I was too sad to eat.  The first 10 pounds were just lack of eating. But once the compliments on how good I was looking started to role in, I knew it was time to actually start actively getting in shape.

I started out this journey at nearly 285 pounds.  I hadn't even noticed how much weight I had gained while I was with my boyfriend.  It made me sick to look at myself.  In fact, here is a picture of me at my heaviest:

And here is me today, 85 pounds slimmer:

I still have 50 pounds to go until I reach my goal weight, but it seems like I've gotten a hang of this weight loss thing!  Below is the way I managed to do it!

Tips to Weight Loss Success {aka How Andrea Dropped the Weight}

1.  Use a food journal.  
          This can be done online through a smart phone app.  My absolute favorites are My Fitness Pal, Spark People, and Weight Loss Buddy.   I also am a huge fan of jotting it out on paper as well.  I have created my own template for this, and I would be happy to share it with anyone who'd like to use it!

2.  Work out with a friend.
          I went walking almost everyday with my best friend.  Not only did it keep me accountable for my workouts, but it made it enjoyable.  A workout buddy is the perfect way to keep you motivated and keep you exercising! 

3. Find a workout that you enjoy doing.
          Not all of our workouts will be fun.  Does anyone actually enjoy crunches and weights?  If you do, I envy you.  While I still have to do those, I get most of my cardio from activities I enjoy, like dancing and walking.  Enjoying your workouts makes it much more likely that you will keep up your fitness! 

4. Utilize free or cheap options.
          YouTube is great for nearly any type of workout you'd like to do.  I often pull up dance videos I've never tried.  My favorite though is that I can do the Wii's Just Dance workouts for free on YouTube.  My Wii is broken and I can no longer do one of my favorite workouts.  Thank goodness for YouTube.  I can now do them off my computer!   Workout tapes are also great.  They don't cost very much, and once you've got them you can literally use them whenever you'd like!  My personal favorites are Julliane Hough's Just Dance (also on YouTube for free!) and Billy Banks Tae Bo Cardio.  Of course, walking, jogging, running, hiking, and climbing are all free outdoor options!

5.  Develop a Meal Plan.
          So, this isn't something that is a one fits all.  Because of dietary restrictions and just plain old tastes, there is not a specific plan I can give you.  First you have to decide on your caloric intake goals.  Mine have been at about 1,000 calories per day.  The average is about 1,200.  Next you have to decide on the amount of meals you want.  Some opt for 3 solid meals with no snacking.  Others want 6 smaller meals a day.  Experiment and see which work best for you.  What has worked for me dietary wise is making my Breakfast and Lunch a frozen Smart Ones Meal or Lean Cuisine, and making a sensible 500 calorie Dinner.  There are lots of amazing food blogs out there that cater to us on a diet.  Some of my favorites are: Skinny Taste, Skinny Kitchen, and Skinny Mom. 

Like I said, these are the things that have worked for me.  They will not work for everyone.  Of course, a balanced, reduced calorie diet and exercising is always the best bet!  Let me know what you think!  What worked for you?  What didn't?

Cheers!

Andrea Nicole