John, it's funny you talked about the picture thing, because just 2 days ago I did something REALLY funny, but also really inspiring. I took a picture of me, cropped off my head, and put it on a thin bikini girl. Then I turned the picture into a "coloring" page like thing, because then it didn't look AS fake, and next thing I knew there was a skinny Ashley standing in front of me. Now, no, I don't want to be SKINNY, but it was WEIRD to see what I could look like if I was. I'll put the pic on here, but remember I DON'T want to be THIS thin, I just want to be small, fit, toned, and all that fun healthy stuff. Anyone who reads this should know how ANTI-skinny I am. As I've said before, I'd rather look like a Dallas Cowboy Cheerleader/Jessica Simpson body type NOT Victoria Secret. To ME, personally, I like girls with MEAT on them, that look like they work out, NOT like they don't eat.



So, anyway, today I did GREAT yet again. What an AWESOME year. I weighed in the same but today when I was on the treadmill doing my incline walking, I felt SO much stronger, so I know things are starting to change. I've also started back on strength training, AND today I ran over 2 miles. So...endurance is coming back. Know what the BEST feeling is? There is NOTHING coming up to derail me...and if something pops up, I'll ignore it! This is my LAST time to "lose" weight because next thing I know I'll be at goal and I'll only have to "maintain". Love you all,
Ash

weight: 148.2

mini-goal: 146

days to hit it: 3

That's a fun thing to say! Yesterday I was a little annoyed because I gained another small amount of weight, and 2 days in a row can be really obnoxious, even if you know you're doing everything right. Then I realized it was "girly-time" and OF COURSE I'd gain a little. Today it's going back down, and I'm excited to see what it looks like tomorrow!
I've been super consistent with hitting the gym again, things are feeling good. This time I don't want to do what I've done EVERY other time where I hit the upper 130s and just decide to hang around that area for awhile. Not that that's a BAD thing, BUT I want to FINALLY hit my goals. When I stop and think of how long I've wanted to be "as fit as I can" it annoys me to know that it's been a LONG TIME. If I wouldn't have 'let' myself fall off the wagon all last year, I'd ALREADY be at my goal NOW. That made me stop and think of "future Ashley" and I want her to be happy. 'ashley of this summer' will want to be small and cute, not STILL fighting her lbs. So....I will make her thankful..hehe. I'm dumb.
Hope everyone had a great weekend.
Ash

weight: 148.2

mini-goal: 146

time left to mini-goal: 4 days

It's a new year...
When I think of where I was at a year ago it's SO strange. So much in my life has changed. (I'm about the exact same weight though, I think, lol)
I was starting to lose some pounds, and then the double Christmases got to me! I didn't fret though because I knew I'd get back in control, I just HATE how fast I gain!
So, here it is January. So far, (since the 31st of Dec. actually...) I have been cheat free and doing GREAT! Everyday I've been eating healthily, and I've hit the gym. Except for the 1st, the gym closed for some fire alarm reason, but I was GOING to. Thankfully 'almost' as fast as I gained, I'm losing again. That's always comforting. I'm going to eat in a few minutes and then hit the gym for today. I hope everyone had a safe and happy New Years. Hopefully any goals that you are setting, you hit. :)
Ash

weight: 148.8 (up 0.4 from yesterday BUT i didn't do ANYTHING wrong, so it doesn't bother me)

mini-goal: 146

time left for mini-goal: 6 days

Am including some holiday pics. One I took of the kids and one of my Christmas breakfast. I meant for it to be fresh fruit (even bought it!!!) but then got a waffle maker for Christmas!

So, tomorrow I'm off to celebrate Christmas #1. It's someone elses home and usually I can be pretty good about not eating too much (cuz I never feel comfy shoving my face when it's someone elses home). BUT, the downfall is that I can't CHOOSE exactly what I want to eat. But, I'll try to keep my portions small. You have my word on that. THEN, I come back on Sunday and my family arrives. FIRST thing they want to do is take me and the family out to dinner! So, IF I ate bad already this weekend, I'll be in that "all-or-nothing" mind-frame and things will go downhill from there. THEN, next day is Christmas Eve, and following in my family tradition there will be soup and cookie making. I can't resist cookies. There's something in my DNA for the last 6 months. I wish I could fix that....but then the next day is Christmas, where we have a yummy Christmas breakfast after the opening of gifts. (I am being SMART and getting fresh fruit to make for breakfast, pineapple, melon, grapes, etc). But then the "feast" begins. So...we'll see what happens. Last time my parents were here I did GREAT at eating really well, so hopefully I can remind myself that a hundred times over the next few days...lol. Either way, if I induldge, oh well. There's always tomorrow. And with EVERY fitness/health lifestyle, there will be on days and off days. If "Christmas" happens to be my off day, I think we can all agree, that's not the end of the world. :)
Love you, have a Happy Holiday! Those of you getting newsletters, it should be any day now. Hope you like them...
Ash

weight: 144 (gained 1/2 lb from yesterday cuz I had a potato before I went to bed. My body hates me sometimes. lol)

This may have been one of the busiest weeks I've had in a REALLY long time! I STILL managed to hit the gym a few times, but this week was ROUGH! I've been eating pretty well the last few days, and the weight is starting to come off again, so that's good. The reason I've been SO busy, in case you're curious is I've been working on Christmas cards/Christmas newsletters/Christmas shopping and Christmas cleaning. lol. This whole week when I wasn't at the gym/sleeping/shopping I was trying to make my little dinky family newsletter. This time I wanted to do something a little different and I chose to include friends AND family instead of just family. This may've been too ambitious. Not only am I mailing this off to more than 50 people, but I wanted everyone to feel good about the pics I chose for their "section" (if they didn't send me one) so I was scouting though HUNDREDS of pictures for many people. If you know me, you know I take a ridiculous amount of pictures, and I wanted everyone to have a good one! Then I resize them, figure out different fonts and colors for their section and blah, blah, blah. My ink ran out not once, not twice, NOT three times, BUT 4!! AND I STILL need to fill it RIGHT NOW! There are a couple people on my mailing list that I chose to NOT send newsletters to because I didn't want to go out and buy MORE ink AGAIN. I just wanted to be done and over with these newsletters and so I just sent cards to a couple people. ...Enough about my rant though, lol. Things are good. I'm getting on the lower end of the 140s, which is ALWAYS a good thing. I remember when I was in the mid-130s.....sigh...that lasted what a week? hmm... One thing I'm happy about is I'm not rushing it anymore. When it comes off, it comes off. Eventhough I got a couple weight-loss competitions going, I'm not putting too much pressure on myself because I know if I do too much then I'll get that "i can't do it mentality" and just gorge on food! We don't want that! lol. So...my next big challenge will be making it through Shane's Family's Christmas (next weekend) and then my family comes for the actual Christmas days and there will be MORE food. I don't want to overdo it, and as far as food goes, I know I'll be fine. My ANNOYING weakness will be the blasted Christmas cookies!!!! lol. AHHHHH. Why do I have to like sweets lately?? I never cared THAT much before. Salty food was my weakness. Not anymore...boo.
Okay, well, i'm just mumbling on and on. I'll write more later. I am proud that although I haven't written in a week I didn't do terrible...I've just been busy. Hopefully this coming week I can continue to do well! love ya'll!
Ashley

weight: 144.0

p.s. OH, my very sweetest friend EVER has started a blog, too. So, if anyone likes reading these sorts of things for motivation and wants more, here is her addy for it:
http://flab2fabfat2phat.blogstream.com/