Yes, baby, do it to me! IT FEELS SO GOOD!

YES, BABY, OH YES! KEEP GOING!

....i'm talking about my body and how it has been changing for the better, of course.

This is my little "ongoing success" story, which I hope can help motivate others.

I started about three years ago at 195 pounds. I lost 50 pounds in 6 months by changing my eating habits and exercising (though the exercise was very light).
I maintained that weight of around 145 until this past summer, where I worked at a sleepover summer camp for mentally disabled adults and youth. The meals were calorie packed but as a counselor I had to run around day, chasing after campers who ran off or participating in activities (which was a lot more active than I though it would be!). By the end of the last session at camp I had lost 10 pounds.

I started -- and still am -- working at a gym as a co-op student (in high-school we can take a class called Co-Operative Education, where we get a job placement to work at for 220 hours for two school credits). The gym, Algonquin College's The Fitness Zone, gave me a free membership which lasts until January. I have started working out pretty much every day, doing a cardio warm-up, at least 45 minutes of strength training (I split up the days, so arm/back/shoulders one day, core the next, legs the next), more cardio and then stretching.

It has been roughly a month that I've been working out there and I am now at 130 pounds and I have seen quite a bit of muscle gain, which I am loving. I want to compete in a figure competition in July and I am working my hardest to get there.

Every week I've been working out there I notice something different. At first I noticed my arms were getting more muscular. Second thing I noticed was my legs got MUCH more muscular. Then I noticed that my stomach fat has gone down enough that I can REALLY feel my abs underneath. Which brings me to the 4th thing I noticed...my abs are wicked under there! I can feel where my individual sections of my abs are, pretty much telling me when I get that fat low enough I will have 6pack abs. I know its hard to believe that at 130 I still have belly fat, but I do. Everyone's body is made differently, afterall. i'm kind of "skinny-fat" lol!

I am always noticing more improvements in different parts of my body every week, and I'm loving it! I have never been healthier, more fit, more confident, or more happy about myself and my life in general. It's amazing what eating right and working out can do for your mental health as well as physical health. My panic attacks have even begun to slow down! I haven't had one in a week, versus having them once or more in a day!

LIFE FRIKKIN' RULES!

Congratulations! I'm so happy for you!

Starting in the beginning of september, I changed my eating and started doing some light exercising, and have lost 10 pounds so far. When I start getting more hours at work, I'm gonna get a membership to the local YMCA and start working out there. Maybe I'll get to 130 someday =]

thanks!

i also hope you get there someday!
working out is so much fun :D

Sounds like you are doing great...congratulations!

I'm having a tough time getting motivated to KEEP on working out. I did a great job in the beginning. But now that the weather is turning colder and the majority of my work out was outdoors, I'm finding myself slowing down and unmotivated.

Help!

Brandi

WOW that is so awesome....Congratulations!

Reading thtat made me want to go work out and I just got back from a run!  I know how you feel about your abs.  I've had the same "HEY I've got some awesome abs under there" and cant wait to see how great they look after I loose more belly fat.  Good luck

congrats!  :D  enjoy your new lifestyle!!!

Brandi!

There are many different ways to get motivated, you just have to find one (or some) that work to keep you motivated.

What gets you going? Is there a show, movie, or song that gets you pumped up and ready to work-out? (for me it's Dragon Ball Z, lol)

Any big even coming up that you are excited for, like a wedding, christmas party, new years party, etc etc where you would love to show off your progress? Keep those in mind, maybe that will help!

Exercise made me feel great during and after the workout. Does it do the same for you? If you find you're having a hard time, just think about how great you feel once you get into it!

Or, my last idea, reward yourself after your workout with a hot candle-lit bath or something relaxing like that!