30 for 30

Yesterday I turned 30!  It was bittersweet, and I did much better with it than I thought I would.  I keep hearing how great the 30's are so that gives me hope.  And in all reality, I have so much to be thankful for in my 30 years... especially my amazing husband and beautiful children.  

So here is my goal for 30... to lose 30 lbs.  This will be tough for me because I'm a girl who LOVES food and isn't totally crazy about exercising.  And to be honest, 30 lbs lighter is a weight I haven't seen since, well... before college.  So it will be a challenge, but one I am prepared for and excited to take on!

I lost quite a bit of weight last year in preparation for my wedding.  (Exciting to lose the weight, but wedding dress alterations sure are expensive.)  Once it got close I started getting way off track in all the stress of things.  The worst part is that I've stayed off track.  As of today's weigh in, I've gained like 8 lbs back.  Ack!

So here I go, getting back in the gym and back to eating better.  I'd love for you to follow me on My Fitness Pal (mrsmarick).  If you are on there, I'd love for you to "friend" me.  I could definitely use the support!

30 lbs for 30 years... Let's do it!

November 2011 Weight
(Notice my fat face)

Wedding Day Weight

2012 Starting Weight
(The jacket helps hide my fat arms, but gotta shrink that tummy & booty) 

Taking It Off

I'm getting married in five months.  Less to be exact.  And knowing this has really given me the kick in the butt I've been needing the past... um... few (or 10) years.  I'm back on track with losing weight, and it's starting to feel good!


I decided that I would get consistent with using My Fitness Pal.  It really is so instrumental in making me aware and accountable for all that I am putting in my body.  It's amazing what I was actually consuming each day.  Mostly useless empty liquid calories.  (Hi.  My name is Jessica, and I'm addicted to Coke.  The soft-drink kind, that is.)  So the first thing I did was put an end to my daily Sonic trips.  I allow myself one can of Coke in the morning.  Other than that, I've just tried to be really aware of the portions I'm eating.  I try to make sure I'm choosing foods that will fuel my body, and not just taste good.  A tough thing for someone who loves cookies as much as I love my husband-to-be.


I've also started working out.  *gasp*  Yep, I'm back on the P90X kick.  I chose that because I can do it at home and fit it in around my crazy schedule.  I don't have to leave my children to do it.  In fact, they enjoy doing it with me.  I would like to add in some walking, but I am not sure where to fit that in my day without getting up at 5 AM.  And well, there is just nothing about me that screams "morning person"!


So with all of this going so well, I started to see the weight come off.  I decided I would reward myself by trying the It Works! body wrap.  Friday I used my first wrap.  Immediately after doing it I noticed an inch of difference in all places.  I will measure again tonight to see what further improvement there was.  I'm definitely thinking about becoming a distributor for these awesome wraps.  After all, I just did my stomach this time.  I would still like to do my arms, my back fat, and my thighs.  I might as well sell them for all I'll be using!


I'm really pleased with how things are going.  My first goal to weigh less than Josh was reached fairly easily.  My next goal is to lose another 20 lbs. before the wedding.  The important thing for me is to do it in a way that I will be able to keep it off.  Which is why I refuse to give up my daily Coke or deprive myself of sweets every now and then!  


I'm always looking for others who are walking this same path... others who struggle with weight loss... others who need motivation and encouragement like I do.  I encourage you to hop on My Fitness Pal and look me up.  My username is queenjessd.  I'd love for you to share in this journey with me!


In 3 John 1:2, John writes to his friend, "Dear friend, I hope all is well with you and that you are as healthy in body as you are strong in spirit."  And that, my friends, is what I hope for myself and those in my life.  I'm on my way there!