Today I ran to the store.

This may seem pretty insignificant to you, but to me this was like a breakthrough of sorts. Before today, I would run to lose weight, to train for my half marathon...basically because I had to. But today, I ran simply because I needed to return a dvd to redbox and pick up my lady pills for the month.

It was about 2.5 miles there and 2.5 miles back, so I got a nice 5 mile run in, but the real goodness came in the fact that I really just thought to myself, "Ugh, I don't wanna go the gym..it's so nice out..maybe I'll go for a run...shit I still need to return that redbox...and I need my lady pills...wait I've ran past CVS (drugstore/convenience store) before...and they have a redbox...I CAN RUN THERE." Yea, seriously that was my train of thought. And yes, I most definitely did run with that sucker in my hand the whole way. I'm sure I got some weird looks, so you better believe my head was down. Once I got there the stares continued because Lord knows it's not normal for people to go running places, but whatever, I'll bring my sweaty self in and stand next to folks with no problem. You don't like my sweat in odd places, (ladies you know what I'm sayin)? Sorry bout it friends. Then to top it off I have a sweet runner belt that I got off groupon for 7 dollhairs:

Only downside to this contraption for me is that it sits pretty flat against you, so I had to lift my shirt a smidge to see over my giant boobs, and of course all of this happens as an old man is just hangin out behind me in line. Pretty sure I scarred him for life. Or made his day. Whichever. Anywho, made my way back home, feelin pretty proud of myself. Instead of making myself run, I did it for convenience. I feel like I just gained membership to a runners club or something. It's kind of like the first time a passing runner going at the speed of lightning gives you the "runners nod". Don't act like you don't know what I'm talkin about. Shit is real. Or I'm imagining all of this and whoever is reading this, is judging me. 

Anywho, after that joyous run that pretty much solidified this whole running thang as a lifestyle change, I decided to do this: 

Why yes, that is my bikini hanging on my wall. I'm the kind of person that needs constant reminders or I'll procrastinate and start using the "one more bite won't hurt" excuses. So I see this lovely thing every single day before I leave my room. It's my reminder to keep my shit together and steer clear of the candy bowl at work. Mind you, the candy bowl is full of the good shit, not that generic crap that has no name. But I digress, I didn't eat any or drink any soda today, so maybe this will work!

Any tricks you guys have to stay focused on your goals?

-Crystal

My Weight Loss Story: The Middle..

Oh helloooo,

Let's see where I left off. Ah yes, college graduation.

That dress was mighty snug, and I didn't even really want to wear it. But it was pretty much the only dressy thing I owned that still fit. womp womp. (Me and Mama Bear)

Back to the story. I graduated a semester early, said my goodbyes to my sorority sisters and friends, packed my shit and moved back home to Northern VA. Le sigh.. Now came the time for job interviews galore and following house rules again.. *side eye*. I went shopping with my mom to get some dress pants for said interviews and then came my moment of rock bottom clarity. I was in the dressing room trying on size 16 pants, a size that I'd pretty much gotten used to. Pulled those suckers up, and they didn't fit. I was literally breaking a sweat trying on clothes, which is absurd, and the little fuckers didn't even fit. Had to be a mistake, right? Wrong. I tried on 4 different size 16 pants, and none fit. I was on the verge of tears when I walked in, but now I was in full on bawling my eyes out mode. Mom brought me a size 18, and whadda ya know, the little bitch fit like a glove.

I was ashamed, I was embarrassed, and most of all I was in shock. How the FUCK did I let myself get that big? And when did it happen?! And why were my precious 16s not fitting?! I felt safe in a size 16. I had worn it for a year, and hadn't had to go up, so in my delusional mind, I was ok. NOT OK. At the end of the day I still needed pants, so we bought the size 18s. I cried the whole time in the line, like a toddler, while my mom hugged me. I'm sure I looked like a hot ass mess.

I woke up the next day and decided that I didn't ever want to feel like that again, and I never wanted to cry in a fitting room again, so I was going to make some changes. Simple as that. You know on that show about drug addiction, Intervention, when they say the addict has to hit rock bottom to want to change? Well my shopping experience was my rock bottom.

I downloaded both the C25K app and Myfitnesspal (skinnycrystal73 - add me!) from Apple, and got my ass outside. Now, let me tell ya, I had NO DESIRE to run. At all. Ever. The only thing that got me to do it was that I figured running would help me lose weight the fastest. That's it. I got my butt outside 4 days a week, doing whatever my phone told me to do for distances/times. I changed my diet completely and cut out all overly processed food and recorded every single thing I ate into Myfitnesspal. That thing is a lifesaver and is so so easy to use. My diet has changed a lot in regards to how much I eat, but in terms of what I eat, it's about the same. I stick to steamed/sauteed vegetables, whole grain carbs, some fats, and lean protein. That about sums it up food wise.

I promised myself that if I could stick to it and lose 30 pounds on my own, then I would buy myself a gym membership. I kept that promise. In April 2013 I bought my own gym membership, 3 months after beginning my journey. I signed up for my first 5k with my sorority sisters to make sure I had a goal to work towards, and just kept truckin along. I had absolutely no idea what I was doing in the gym, so I stuck to the classes offered. I dabbled in zumba, kickboxing, body pump (my absolute FAVORITE), spin, and bootcamp, before settling into a nice routine alternating between all of them. These classes, along with 5k training helped me to lose another 20 pounds over the next 5 months..

This was when I had lost around 50ish pounds. The weight in my legs was taking FOREVERRR to lose, so I was pumped when my size 16 shorts were finally too big.

I think that's all for now. Next time we'll get into closer to where I am now, weight lifting, and future goals.
I'd forgotten how much I love to write... puttin that English degree to good use!

Adios Bitchachos.
-Crystal

My Weight Loss Story: The Beginning.

Yea I know I said tomorrow, like 3 days ago. But I do what I want. By 'I do what I want', I mean I get home from the gym at 8, make dinner, and pass out, so I don't have a suuuuper big amount of extra time. Back to the program. My weight loss story. This might be a tad bit long, but again, I do what I want.

I didn't start to notice my weight until 5th grade. That's when my tits grew like weeds while all my friends were still flatty pancakes. I knew I was taller and chubbier than my friends, but who cares when you're in 5th grade? No one. Besides the weirdos who are running like 5 minute miles when you're like 10 years old. Freaks. I'm pretending to try trying to find pictures of that time, with no luck so far. Sorry not sorry, folks.

Moving on to high school, my weight actually wasn't that big of a deal to me because I danced a LOT. I took ballet, jazz, and contemporary, probably 3-4 times a week for 2 hours each time. I didn't gain weight, but I wasn't losing either. My clothes still fit so I didn't care.

Cut to senior year of high school. Shit got real. Real fast.

I was in a really emotionally abusive relationship and I most definitely used food to cope. He would say horrible things about me; that I was fat, ugly, no one would ever want me.. you name it, he probably said it. I don't know why I stuck with him, probably because I thought he was the best I could get, and he was my first boyfriend. Fall of senior year I was lookin hefty, but my clothes still fit, (snug, but I thought it was cute. WTF Crystal..) so again, I didn't care.

lol yea. that happened.

Moving on. Spring of senior year, I got my shit together and pretended attempted to lose weight. Summer before college it finally clicked and I lost 15 pounds ditched the lame ass boyfriend, and looked pretty damn good for the first day of college. 

not incredibly smaller, but definitely smaller.

I was the typical freshman in college. Partied all the time, ate complete shit all the time, and slept all the time. Fortunately, I had friends who were tiiiiny, and wanted to keep up their figure, so we went to the gym a lot. I didn't start seriously gaining until sophomore year. I joined a sorority (best decision EVER), so i gained a ton of new sisters, and lemme tell ya, my sisters and I looooved to eat. Making new letters? Let's eat. New sisters to bond with? Let's eat. Studying late at night in the library? Let's get some food first. Now some of them could eat and not gain a million pounds. Me? I gained 50 pounds in college. 50 motherlovin pounds. Shit ain't cute. 

fall sophomore year

fall of junior year 

fall of senior year

Looking back, I look rulllll swollen. Honestly, I was never self conscious during college. I'm glad for that. I was never worried that I looked fat, or that my clothes didn't look right. I was always confident about the way I looked. I just wore a loooot of yoga pants and hoodies hahaha. Unconsciously, I think I knew that my real clothes didn't fit, so I saved jeans for necessity only kinda things. I graduated in the winter of 2013, and come January, I had had enough. 

I think I'll save that for next time. This has gotten a lot longer than I thought!

Later, lovers.

-Crystal

Is This Real Life?

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I say this a million times a day..usually when someone/thing has pissed me off. But today is different. I just a made a gah damn blog! Who woulda thunk it? Not I, said the fly. I've been reading other folks' blogs for a little over a year now, and then a little thought came to me...why not me?

I've lost a pretty significant amount of weight. 60 pounds - hollaaaaa
I have a pretty hilarious life (according to others, surely not myself....)
I'm 22 and I most definitely am nowhere close to having my shit together.
All of these things considered, I decided a blog was in my best interest, since lord knows I have nothing better to do..

So what's this shit even gonna be out, you ask? Well. I'd say it's gonna be lil mixxy poo of losing weight in a non douchebag-holier than thou-way, my struggle/failure in finding a full time job, my random part time job as well as my new temp job, my literal psychopath of a dog named Tiger, and general hilarity that is my family.

I plan on making this fancier with a sweet template and such, but for now, this is what you get folks. sorry bout it. sorry not sorry.

Also I like how I'm writing this as if I have an audience. It's fine, I'm ambitious. mmkay?

First post done. BOOM.