Getting Started

My name is Naomi, I'm 23 years old and I weigh 175 lbs. I've always been overweight, and around the age of 20 I started to lose a lot of weight. I only got as low as 155 lbs, but that was a big deal for me. After I hit 21 and started drinking, I slowly climbed up to my peak of 198 lbs.

A few weeks ago, my boyfriend told me I need to lose weight. Why he said this, I don't know and if he meant it doesn't matter. We're still together and working through all the issues that raised (jerk!) but the point definitely stuck in my head. I do need to lose weight. What's stopping me? I've done it before, I can do it again and hopefully this time I can keep it going until I reach my goal of 120 lbs, and then keep it off!

I joined LoseIt.com and started tracking everything I eat and drink. I hate calorie counting but if losing weight can be as simple as an equation, why not?! I've never been good at math. :)

I read that a pound equals approximately 3500 calories. So, theoretically if I was to burn 1000 calories a day, that would be 7000 a week, and 7000/3500 = 2 lbs per week. I'm not sure I fully understand how my daily calorie intake factors into that equation, but I'm eating 1200/day (1226 technically, according to LostIt.com).

At that rate, it says I should reach my goal weight of 120 lbs by August 13th. I want this. Not for my boyfriend to love what he sees when he looks at me, but for me. I actually just want to look good in clothes and feel more awake and healthy. Looking good naked would be pretty awesome, too.

So, here's to making it count! Still to come:
Lifetime Gym membership in effect starting tomorrow.
Buying myself a scale tomorrow.
Creating easy, fast meals that are low in calories.
And still living life and having fun. Yikes! Low-cal drinks? :)

And finally, this can't be a fitness/weight loss blog without a before picture. :/ It's embarrassing and slightly mortifying to put this on here, but it's my reality and it'll just be that much more impressive and inspiring when I get to my goal! 

This also helps me track my targeted goals. Of course my #1 target is to see my midsection shrink (and become flat!). I also want to thin my thighs, tone my arms, and tone my upper back/shoulders. It'll be cool to track my progress, which hopefully will keep me motivated.