Overweight & halfway!

YAY! I'm now officially overweight! I know, this sounds like a bad thing, but it's actually a good thing. I've now crossed the BMI line from obese into overweight. See? A good thing. I started this journey with a 39.2 BMI and I'm now down to 29.9!

The final goal will be to get into the "healthy/normal" zone. My current goal is to be around a few pounds around or directly at the healthy/underweight line, but we'll see. I'm not sure if that's even possible, considering my bone structure and I might look too thin before I get that low. For now I'm just focusing on little goals that don't seem so overwhelming.

I've lost 60# so far and not only did this change my BMI category, but it also marks the halfway point to my goal!
The next goal: 75# total loss; 15 #'s to go!
After that: Change BMI to "Healthy" ; 30#'s to go!

30 Day Blogging challenge- Day 30

Day 30- A picture of you from five years ago and now, how have you changed since then?

Car
2006- My trusty 1995 Saturn
2011- Still my trusty Saturn

Living Arrangements
2006- living with my long time boyfriend in a two bedroom apartment in student housing on university grounds.

2011- living alone in a different two bedroom appartment, with my doggie, still on university grounds but in the faculty/staff section. Planning on moving into JG's home, (off campus), once I'm married. It'll be weird to consider myself a 'homeowner.'

Financial Situation
2006- Precarious. I was working full time while going to grad school full time. I was supporting myself and my boyfriend as we both were going to school. There were many nights of hot dogs and noodles.

2011- Stable. I have a good job with a decent income that allows me to easily afford my financial obligations and even start investing. I might need to cut back on this a bit in the upcoming year because of the additional expense of the wedding.

Health
2006-I was not healthy at all. I didn't excercise, I ate junk in too large of portions. I was very overweight and there wasn't much end to it in sight. Working full time and going to grad school full time while supporting Mac, left no time for me. I was incredibly stressed out and could barely sleep.

2011- Probably the healthiest I have been in about 10 years. My weight is WAY down. My blood tests are good. I'm exercising regularly and even running races. I've been learning how to cook the healthy way, portion control and moderating indulgences. My stress is very low and I manage it well. I get a good nights sleep nearly every night and I pay attention to getting enough water and vegetables in my diet. I'm hoping to keep my physical health a priority as wedding planning begins in earnest.

Love Life
2006- Was celebrating year 6 with my boyfriend. We were obviously very serious and it would be only a few months later that we'd be engaged.

2011- Engaged to a completely different, and 10x's better man. Wedding date is soon.

Education
2006- Months away from graduating with my Master's in HR and getting nervous about the lack of employment prospects. Without me earning a solid income, Mac and I couldn't survive financially.

2011- I'm done with my formal education, for now anyhow. I'm still toying with the idea of going back for my doctorate. There aren't any programs in my geographic area anyhow. I'm actually almost done paying off my student loans!!

Work
2006- Working for an insurance broker. Not particularly exciting or interesting but it paid the bills well enough and it was a job that didn't follow me home, giving me the time to devote to studying.

2011- I work in HR at a community college and LOVE my job. It's a career path that I see myself on for a long time.

Friendships
2006- My best friend was my boyfriend who I spent all my free time with. Since we both were in school full-time we had very little time to spend together. And since we love being together, we really didn't want to spend time with anyone else. We basically decided to bunker down together and did not really interact with others. When he left, you can imagine what a hole that left.

2011- I have a lot more friends these days. Of course not being in class or studying, really frees up time to meet new people and build relationships. I've also met a ton of new people through JG and although I still feel like this area of my life could use more focus, I'm happy with my social connections.

Relationship with Family
2006- It was decent enough. The family had stopped hazing my boyfriend and were starting to come around to the idea of giving him a chance. It was still awkward and stiff when we were together, but it was improved from the years before.

2011- Better and worse, depending on how you look at it. I have no communication with my parents and only occasional visits with my brothers (1-3 times a year). I don't speak with my extended family at all. This has been better for me since it has eliminated a lot of stress and drama. Unfortunately, a little of it has creeped back up. As a courtesy to my family, I called them to inform them of my engagement. This news was not well received. My intention was for that phone call to be the first and last contact I have with them in the foreseeable future.

Officially Coming Out of the WW Closet & Health Update

So I finally did it. I told someone in my life about this leg of my journey; the WW/ weight loss journey. I had dinner with my friend Elise and told her that I was doing WW. She was really positive and encouraging. She even shared with me that she did WW many years ago. So far she has been the only one, besides my co-worker who is doing it too, that knows. This was a few months ago.

For me, to be officially out of the WW closet, I have to tell my fiance. I've been working on building up to it and figuring out how to bring it up.

Lately I've had some health issues. I went in for my annual OBGYN appointment and was told I needed a mamogram for an unusual lump. I also have to do a variety of blood tests every year because I have chronically underperforming kidneys and liver. And since there's a family history, I get my sugar levels and cholesteral checked too.

Yesterday, I went and got my mamogram. I was told that the radiologist would call me that evening to tell me the results. I got a phone call, but from my OBGYN who was calling to tell me that she isn't happy with my cholesterol and liver results. BUMMER. I was really hoping that this year they would be good. Since they haven't improved with the weight loss and it continues to be a chronic thing, I'm being sent to a liver specialist.

This morning I got a call from the radiologist who says that the mamogram looks fine. He still wants me to do a ultrasound, but is confident that it'll come back fine too. WHEW!

So my health has been a topic of conversation between my fiance and I. I figure it was a good time to tell him about WW, why I have been doing it and what I've learning. He was really supportive and even said, "maybe you can teach me some of what you've been learning." lol.

I'm officially out of the closet!

30 Day Blogging challenge- Day 28

Something you're proud of in the past few days and why?

Probably all the wedding preparations. We've been engaged less than a month and the wedding is in 4 months, in another state. We've really gotten a LOT done. I'm like the anti-bride in that I HATE to wedding plan and I don't enjoy this stuff at all. So I'm so happy that a lot of it has already come together.

We've found a ceremony and reception site (his brother's house)
We've got a florist (his dad) and decided on flowers
We've ordered and mailed the invitiations (and we got a KILLER deal on them)
Picked out tuxes and have ordered the guys to go get fitted
I've got an appointment to try on dresses
The Justice of the Peace is booked and confirmed
I've started a Pinterest to gather photos to help me find my 'vision'


All I really need is a dress and cake!

30 Day Blogging challenge- Day 27

Day 27- Where is your life out of balance?

I'm pretty happy to report that my life is pretty well in balance at the moment. I've worked REALLY hard to get it there in the past few years. 

However, I feel like I'm still not getting enough "me" time where I can be reflective. There's always so much going on and so much to do, that I need to take a little time to reflect.

30 Day Blogging challenge- Day 26

What are the achievements you are most proud of?

• Putting myself through school without the financial assistance of anyone. Further, having the financial drain of supporting someone else!
• Earning my Masters degree with the above complications, by age 23.
• Surviving a terrible heartache and thriving afterwards
• Becoming a sucessful adult, essentially, all by myself
• Training my puppy TiVo to be a good doggie
• I've been told that I'm a good hostess. I think this qualifies as an achievement in light of my upbringing. If you weren't family, you weren't allowed in the house. I've really had to pay attention to how other people treat me while I'm in their home and take mental notes. 

30 Day Blogging challenge- Day 23

If you knew you only had one week to live, who would you spend your time with?

JG, my fiance, obviously.

But I'd like to also spend it with my closest friends. I think I would throw a big party and invite everyone to come. Kinda like a pre-funeral. You get to say goodbye to me now, rather than after I'm dead.