Healthy by 30?

It's the big post that you may or may not have been waiting for!  I have finally hit my 30's today.  So, first things first.  Here's how I feel about turning 30:

I feel like my 30's is going to be my decade!  :)

That being said, I thought this might be a great time to do a few things:
1. Take a look at progress in photo form
2. Take a look at progress in number form
3. Discuss if I think I made the progress I had hoped for
4. Discuss the health-oriented goals I have for my 30's
5. Rename the blog!

Let's start with #1: Progress in photo form!  Now, I will admit that looking through old photos of myself was painful.  And I mean, very painful.  It is hard to look at yourself when you know when you are not at your best.  I never saw myself as big, even though I obviously was.  The good news is that looking at these photos is very motivating as I never want to be that unhealthy again.

One thing to keep in mind with these photos:  I have always avoided cameras like the plague so I don't have that many great photos of myself at my biggest.  My more recent photos are ones that I've taken of myself (to prove to myself that I really am losing the weight and I'm not going crazy as I don't see it when I look in the mirror every day) or by my parents so I had a couple of very recent photos to post today!

All that being said, if you are interested in seeing what has been going on over the last 2ish years, click the link under the header called Progress Photos (or click here).  I will continue to update this page as I make progress!


Alrighty, let's move on to #2: Progress in number form.  Numbers don't mean that much to me but I like to see them add up over time as I often look in the mirror and don't see a change.  I will forever be a chubby girl in my brain, apparently!

As of March 17th, 2012:
Total weight lost:  91.2 pounds
Total inches lost in waist:  14
Total drop in BMI:  14.8


And... #3: Discussion of progress.  I have been saying for the last two years that my main goal was to enter my 30's healthier than I entered my 20's (I swear I wrote this on the blog somewhere along the way but for the life of me, I cannot figure out where!).  While I am NOT at my goal weight, I am very happy with where I am.  I am wearing rings that I could not wear throughout my teens and 20's.  Over Christmas, I happened upon a dress I wore for my senior pictures and it fit!  Okay, it fit over a t-shirt, tank top, sweater, and fleece pants.  I am at a weight that I have not seen since I was, oh, 14?  Most importantly, I eat very healthfully on a daily basis and I workout regularly.  These are not optional to me anymore, they are my life and I love it!

And, now for #4: Health-oriented goals for my 30's. 

1. My main goal is to continue on the same road I've been on for the last 2 years.  Slow and steady wins the race!
2. Walk a half marathon
3. Achieve and stay within a healthy weight range
4. Eat mostly whole foods and fuel my body for the long haul
5. Stay active and continue to build endurance and strength
6. Keep my Celiac and Fibromyalgia under control (sans medication for Fibro if at all possible)
7. Work on my mental vision of myself.  As mentioned earlier, I still see myself as though I haven't lost any weight.  I don't feel like I have changed.  This is something I need work on daily and probably for quite some time, if not the rest of my life.

Finally, #5: Rename the blog!  I have had a lot of really great feedback on this blog, even though I post fairly sporadically (sorry!) and I'm not listed in search engines.  There have been numerous people who have said, e-mailed, commented, or messaged me that they find this blog inspiring.  This inspires ME and I am happy that my ramblings have helped other people.  Therefore, I want to keep the blog going!  Since the name "Healthy by 30" no longer applies (being that I'm now 30!), I am seeking ideas for a new name for the blog!  Comment away below or shoot me an e-mail!  :)

Thank you to everyone who have helped me along the way over the last 2 years.  I could have never gotten this far without the support and love of everyone around me!

Coming soon:  I promised a friend that I would do a 30 during 30 list with her.  I just have to write it!