•The Stevensons• •est.2012•: February 2013

Since I can remember, I have always fought a battle with my self esteem and weight. After gaining some extra pounds this past year I told myself that I would restart the new year and do my best to begin a healthy lifestyle opposed to just going on a diet. I don't like that word,diet, i don't like feeling that i CAN'T eat something because i'm on this so-called diet.so that word is not in my vocabulary any longer. I decided, why not change my lifestyle to a healther one. I had started to notice in november that some of my shirts and work pants were fitting snug, and I wasn't liking how I looked in pictures anymore. It just wasn't a place I like to be in,ever. I remember stepping on the scale one morning only to be greeted to an ugly extra 10 pounds and thinking to myself, wow, I've never been this heavy. So the motivation started then, but after a few failed attempts at insanity and dieting, I would give up after a week. I could't do it anymore. I told myself around christmas time that after the holidays I would start eating healthier which gave me the excuse to eat everything in sight. I think we went through a pack of oreo cookies in one night during one of those weeks. I remember feeling gross after eating, drinking soda like it was water and mcdonalds on a daily basis. I was starting to even feel kind of sick and my fingers would hurt from the swelling after so much sodium intake it was almost unbearable. I was too ashamed to ever say a thing though, I was hoping no one would notices. After New Years came and went, my eating habits didn't that first week. I was still heading to mcdonalds for 2 cheeseburgers, fries and a coke so that next sunday after feeling disguisting after looking at pictures from the Rose Bowl, it was time to change. I remember only eating oranges and grapes with a small piece of chicken that entire day. I said I wouldn't drink any more soda either so I didn't even open up the bottle that was sitting in the fridge. The next day I decided to start meal prepping so that I wouldn't be tempted to eat any junk during lunch that week so I made chicken with bell peppers and tomatoes. I also made yams and just dressed them with a little bit of cinnamon and forbidden rice (so yummie, so low in calories). Now, a month later I have continued to meal plan on a weekly basis, sometimes biweekly. I only drink maybe a sip or two of coke a week, if i let myself. I decide what I eat, and if I indulge, then its definitely just a one time thing. I am down 8 pounds in 1 month which is exciting! I have yet to start working out so that is what i'm hoping to begin this month. The only thing holding me back is the cold nights and the financial inability to afford a gym membership currently. I can tell i've lost weight and inches specifically around my stomach and thighs. It isn't dramatic but its something! My ultimate goal is to be down at 140, hopefully by august or september. My current plan says i'll be there as early as june in I can contain my calorie intake, but we shall see! Here are some fun fat girl photos, you can barely tell any difference but hey, its me at 184 first and then me at now, 176!

Before week #1