First, I am thankful for results! I started this journey some 40-ish pounds heavier than I am now. The first few months were quite frustrating because no matter how the scale changed, I just didn’t see any results. Don’t get me wrong – I felt the results. I enjoyed having more energy and sleeping better. But I never had the satisfaction of seeing my clothes fall off of me or having people stop me in my tracks to say how they’ve noticed a change. Well, that’s starting to change. People are starting to notice and there’s no denying I need a new wardrobe. I mean, my pants literally fell down off my butt as I ran up some stairs this morning. How cool is that? It also helps that I finally took the time to compare some Before/After pictures:
The pic on the left was taken in April of this year. My husband and I were at a maple syrup festival with some friends and this picture was snapped as we were about to make a long uphill climb towards the parking lot. It was about 1.5km on a 10% incline. I don’t know how I made it up that hill! I was huffing, puffing, red-faced, sweating and completely embarrassed that even 92 year olds were out-pacing me. This was a turning point for me. Flash forward to the pic on the right: taken last weekend while on a 10km hike. "Look ma...one chin!"
Second, I am so very thankful for my running shoes. Getting fitted for proper running shoes changed my life and enabled me to carry on with my intervals without pain. I hope that Mizuno never gets rid of the Wave Alchemy shoes! More than that though, these shoes represent the path to fitness and a new lifestyle that I can’t imagine trading for the world.
Third, I am thankful for Clean Eating magazine. Many of you have heard me profess my love of this publication before. It has become the most invaluable ‘cook book’ on my shelf and provides me with loads of inspiration to adjust my favourite menu items into healthy, delicious, satisfying meals (and they don’t even pay me to say that!).
Finally, I am thankful for YOU. I could not do this without the encouragement, support and occasional (but much needed) ass-kicking that I so faithfully receive from my readers and friends. If you had asked me why I blog 5 months ago I would have told you it was about accountability. It’s more than that. Blogging has been a way to connect with people who share similar goals, similar dreams and, most importantly, a vehicle we can all use to remind each other that our dreams ARE possible.
What are you thankful for?
Rae
xo
You look AMAZING!!
ReplyDeleteHappy Thanksgiving!
I'm thankful for my family, friends, my health, my loved ones' health, my job, and much more!
You are awesome and look so beautiful! This is a great post and I can't wait to post a thanksgiving one next month for all the things I am thankful for this year!
ReplyDeleteThank you for being a wonderful supporting and inspiration for all of us!
Delightful post! And, you're right--we're much better off being thankful for our weight loss and physical progress than bemoaning our need to eat differently than in times past.
ReplyDeleteWahoo, healthy eating!
Deb
You look Great!!! Good job! You are such an inspiration to me and others, Thank You! Great Post!
ReplyDeleteYou'll be able to give up the "hot caffeine". I know you can do it! One of the things that probably helped me is that I had been drinking more of the caffeine free and I think that helped to eliminate the withdrawls when I quit.
That is an amazing difference!! Keep it up girl, you are unstoppable!
ReplyDeleteahhh, that's so kind of you to be thankful for me (and all that other stuff above that that I didn't read) :)
ReplyDeleteWhat's really interesting is that not only have you become fitter, but your husband looks like a chihuahua now. ... anyway I'm late for my mental appointment ... Merry Christmas ...
Great transformation...YAY for no double chin!
ReplyDeleteI love your list of gratitude. Happy Thanksgiving Day!
Amazing changes. Way to go and also well done on sticking with it. It can be really difficult.
ReplyDeleteI loved this whole post - very uplifting and LOVE the pictures soooo much! You go girl.
ReplyDeleteOoo, I'm looking up Clean Eating now. Cooking Light magazine has been one of my favorites, but you can never have too much inspiration!
ReplyDeleteHappy thanksgiving- you Canadians are weird ;) but I like you anyway! I can really tell you've lost a lot of weight and I am very proud of you for keeping up with running and enjoying it again. Its fantastic knowing that your body can change with a little patience and perseverance :) have a happy, safe holiday, and dont forget to have a taste of something new!
ReplyDeleteWhat a heatfelt post. Thankful for you too! You are looking great, thanks for sharing the before & after pics. Enjoy the holiday :-)
ReplyDeleteI LOVE that you posted photos of yourself! You look fabulous Rae! That's my favourite magazine as well. Keep running and eating clean!
ReplyDeleteLove this post... You look fabulous. I will have to check out that magazine!
ReplyDeleteI completely agree about the blogging thing! I blogged for over a year with really nobody reading. Since I found such cool fellow bloggers I have had so much more fun writing!
ReplyDeleteAnd you are doing FANfreakingTASTIC!! Keep it up, girlfriend!!
~RR
You do look amazing. At the moment, I am just thankful to be alive. Honestly.
ReplyDeleteBlogging Buddies, Workout buddies an excellent supportive husband, and pants that fit loosely!
ReplyDeleteyou're a total star. incredible. i can see that 'little rae' of sunshine!
ReplyDeletei am thankful for inspirational people, like yourself - people who inspire me to want more out of life by encouraging me, or just by being their awesome selves. people who inspire me to believe in myself, to keep going, to get out there and ride a bike (yep, i did it on the weekend and LOVED it!) and simply make me smile.
You look fabulous! I am thankful for you on this journey!
ReplyDeleteGreat post! I'll have to check out that magazine.
ReplyDelete