My reward for hard work :)

So every time (or close to it) that I lose 10lbs, I reward myself with a new tattoo.  This one is considerably special, my boss drew the picture for me & my amazing tattoo artist, Tom, did incredible work on it.  I'll go back in 2 weeks, once it's healed up a bit, and get the color done.  Isn't she beautiful?!

It's been too long since I've done any kind of a workout, this summer & my work schedule & my schedule with the kids has just been making me crazy & allowing me to make crazy excuses to not do anything.  Back in the saddle starting tonight.  I haven't gained anything, thankfully, but I've also not lost any more.  I NEED to get back in gear.  I got this.  I can do hard things.

Making Changes.

OK, admittedly, it took longer for me to get these pics up here because I'm really still not happy with the pace things are happening in.  I'm an instant gratification kind of girl and I'm not seeing the kind of drastic changes that I want to see.  I know that I didn't gain all the weight over night so I know it's going to take a while to get it off.  Still, I can't help but be slightly disappointed that there isn't more change that what's showing.  So here are my current stats.

Weight: 232lbs (down 8lbs since the 1st pics.)

Bicep: 15" (down 1")

Forearm: 10" (same)

Neck: 15" (same)

Chest: 43" (down 1")

Waist: 41" (down 2")

Hips: 50 1/2" (same)

Thigh: 27" (down 1")

Calf: 18 1/2" (same)

I know I should be proud & excited about the losses & "sames" because it means something is happening, and in the right direction.  I'd rather have things stay the same than increase; and absolutely am excited about the smaller numbers.  

But I know I have to not be discouraged & just keep going.  The pics in the white sports bra are the originals, the gray bra, I took a few days ago.  I got this.  I can do hard things.

Small victories.

My kids came back to me last Thursday night, so again my work outs have suffered a little bit.  My mom was also in town for the weekend, so there was LOTS of eating haha.  I don't know about all of you, but I seem to eat more when I'm with my mom.  BUT I chose to make the majority of our meals for us and used a lot of low fat/low calorie recipes that I found on Pinterest that were still pretty big hits with everyone.  I am also down another pound!  Total weight loss thus far is 36lbs!  I'm at 233 right now, SO CLOSE to the 220's!  I will have my kids for the next 2 weeks, so I'm really unsure about how much working out I'll get done, but as long as I keep eating clean, I think it'll be ok.  My mom tells me that I technically have until Labor Day (lol!!) to finish the Lazy Man Iron Man & honestly, as long as I do finish, I'm not really concerned about the time frame it happens in.  

This morning, I put on a pair of size 18 jeans that have been literally falling off my butt for a while now, so I grabbed a belt that I haven't used in a while and had to tighten it to the next smallest hole behind the one that I used to use, which is all worn out!  Yesssssssss!!  These are the little things that keep me going, and I love it!  

I'm kinda bummed, the mesh part of the top of my running shoes has sprouted a hole by my big toe and so I will need to get some new ones in the near future.  I wish they weren't so expensive!  But I have noticed a shift in the way I do shopping these days.  Now, when I'm at Target or Walmart, instead of looking for cute tops to wear, I'm checking out the clearance racks in the work out clothes area, trying to find good deals on new sports bras or shorts or whatever.  Pretty amazing!  I thought this someecard was amazingly fitting.  :)  I'll update more when I have more!  I got this.  I can do hard things.