Year in Review

The year 2013 has been crazy.  I had some ups and some downs.  When it's all said and done, even though the last few months have been horrendous, I managed to end the year with a loss.  So in that way it was successful.  So here is that year in review.....picture style!

I labelled all the snacks at work with the calorie count.  Sometimes knowledge is all it takes to succeed.  I was THAT determined to lose weight!

Water Water Water 

 I tightened up my eating.  I monitored every bite I ate and kept myself totally under control!!!!  But I knew that food was only part of the equation.  I stepped up my exercise.

I decided to become a runner.  It was cold, but I was consistent!  (notice the tear generated from the biting cold!)

More winter running.

No worries, I also ran in the terrible heat of summer too!

I ran the Keller Williams 5k in March

I ran and PR'd at the Paws on the Pavement 5k in May.

I ran into celebrities!

I ended up with a common runners injury.

I certainly can't forget running the Donut Alley Rally in August!

And I ran the local Turkey Trot in November

On Christmas day I participated in a virtual 5k

It may seem as if all I did was run...but that was certainly not the case!

Step aerobics!  I was doing anything to move!

And of course I rode my bike!  Here I am with my Trek!

I splurged and purchased a road bike!  It was my nemesis during the summer...but I rode!

Todd and I took some walks

And of course I continued with zumba a few times a week!

However, my whole world was not exercising and watching what I ate!

I enjoyed time with my niece and nephews!

And my parents

Family really is so important!

Todd and I enjoyed some fun events including this Chicago Concert!

We built a patio

And added a hot tub.  This is going to feel SO good after a hard workout!

What is not shown in these pictures is the fact that in July my world was shaken to it's core.  I allowed that personal strife to derail me from my weight loss efforts.  I slowly regained some of the weight that I lost during the first half of the year.  Thankfully, I'm still in the loss column for the year.

I read somewhere online that the end of the year is the perfect time to start the shredder and shred the bad from the year in order to move on.  I like the visual reminder that the past is just that...the past.  Shred it and start anew.  So that's what I'm doing.  I'm shredding the bad from last year and I'm ready to rock 2014