13 pounds later--

this is me, 13 pounds from last year. i'm down 2 (or 3) pant sizes, depending on the brand and style. i'm wearing a smaller shirt size by 1 (or 2), depending on the brand and style.

the picture really doesn't demonstrate my loss, especially since the tee is loose. the loss is most noticeable in my chest, waist, hips and thighs; my neckline is more visible and my back is more defined. 

losing 13 pounds was never my vocalized goal. sure, i wanted to lose some weight and add some tone and definition--who doesn't?!--but i didn't expect to drop that much. it's exciting and motivating and annoying. how is it annoying? because it's expensive. many of my clothes don't fit, and i don't mean they're loose or a little too big; they're too big. pants can be pulled down after they've been dried in the dryer and shirts just hang on me looking ridiculous (or scoop too low in front). i stare longingly at some of my favourite skirts while a few dresses i've been flirting with wearing can be worn comfortably. 

i think i finally discovered the right balance [for me] of building muscle and burning fat. now it's your turn. 

ladies, we cannot live by cardio alone. pull those free weights out and start curling! get back to pushups. do lunges down the hallway with the baby strapped to your back. every little bit counts--i assure you. if you're cycling, mix in some intervals--turn on a full sprint for 3 minutes and then rest for a minute and back to a sprint. it'll not only increase the power of your workout but it'll make the time go by faster. all of these things will kick up your metabolism and free you from having to count calories. the trick is pushing yourself until you feel those muscles scream and fight against you. 

i'll step away from the microphone now. stay active ladies.