How I lost 84 pounds in 8 months

1 year ago from today I was a size 18 pushing toward size 20. I recall feeling like my life would be full of gluttonous foods and excuses about why "I just can't get this weight off." I am just 30 years old with two amazing kids, I struggled with having enough energy to play with them and I figured this was my life. 

I'm not sure what the turning point of this situation was, but having tried a number of diet fads and losing a little but gaining it all plus some back was a way of life for me. I remember really feeling that I would never love to shop for clothes or be out in public with confidence that I was "the best looking girl in the room."

I believe this was after losing about 20 pounds already... Sadly.

Luckily, I have a huge support system in my mother. She too has struggled with her weight and felt the same about how she was destined to getting bigger or at least not getting smaller. 

With a swift kick in the fat A$$, we decided to finally take this debilitating situation on and take care of our weight once and for all. 

Now, I am 84 pounds... yes EIGHTY FOUR pounds lighter!! 

I want to scream it from the mountain tops and share this amazing news with everyone I meet! 

This is an honest to goodness, if I can do it you can too type of thing.

My fall back and an excuses to why I just couldn't imagine ever losing weight:

I love to cook, I love to eat

I love to bake, I love to eat

My family is heavy, its in my genes, I love to eat

I eat because I am bored

I eat because I am sad

I eat because I am happy

I dont have time to eat healthy

I have kids and finish their food so I don't waste

Good for you food costs so much

The MOST Important Part Is How I did it!

With my handy dandy smart phone, I downloaded My Fitness Pal (no, this is not an advertisement for them, this is the honest to God truth)

Second- I USED IT! 

I documented by simply scanning each item in and logging everything that I put in my mouth

Third- I didn't go a day without documenting my entire food intake

Fourth- I continued using this app and could actually see how many calories were in even the smallest of things

After losing about 30 pounds I started working out, first I did kickboxing at a local real life kickboxing club, the kind with the sweaty guys training for MMA fights. It was a blast! I even bought a new work out bra, pants, top and pink boxing gloves.

Then, because the kickboxing hours were not conducive to my school hours I found a local gym that was a 4th the cost and allowed me to mix up my workouts on my own. 

I really love working out now, I find comfort in putting on my head phones and listening to my upbeat dance music while walking/running on the treadmill, doing weight machines and then floor/core exercises.

It is REALLLLLLLLY Easy! I get people all the time asking me "How have you done it??"

This is it! There is no gimmicks, no tricks, nothing behind the curtain. 

I am a size 8! I can see myself this summer wearing sun dresses and flip flops or going to the pool in a bikini!! 

*don't you love my face as I take a picture of myself trying on clothes*

-This is a true story, the life of a fat girl gone thin!-