Since going Paleo my family has fallen even more in love with our grill. Paleo and grilling just work well together. The past couple of years I've even been stepping outside my grilling comfort zone more and more. Grilling things I'd never thought to have grilled before and trying new flavor combinations. I have to say I'm pretty thrilled with the results of most of my flavor experiments. In the past I'd never have thought to grill fruit, but it's amazing. Grilling fruit and adding it to traditionally savory dishes? Brilliant. Oh yes, and? New rule: every burger recipe for the rest of forever must contain grilled pineapple. OK, maybe more of a guideline. It's a seriously delicious combination though. This Smoky Grilled Pineapple Burger is always a crowd-pleaser at my house. It's not only Paleo, but Whole30, glutenfree, lower carb, and clean eating friendly. I promise you won't miss the bun! paleo, grilled pineapple burger, smoky...
This post has been a long time coming. It was inspired by my friend in hopes that it will encourage and inspire others.
It took a long time for me to want to post 'before' pics of myself and then it took even more time to find before pics. I was a master hider.
Case in point. Hiding behind the kids...then craftily cropped most of me out. I was about 226 here, that shirt was a 3X. Wish I still had it, it'd be a dress. Those are my 2 youngest about 5 years ago. I decided then that they deserved a happier, healthier mommy.
OK, hardest pic to find and to post. This is my before. I quote my highest weight as 226, but looking at this pic I wonder if I was heavier. I wasn't weighing.
I started walking and doing yoga, and even joined Curves. At this point I went gung-ho low carb...it worked for a while. Then I stalled out about:
204, bad pic, but this is when I joined Sparkpeople. Started counting calories and adding some workout DVDs.
me at 200 lbs. Cut my calories even more (sometimes too low) and started running.
Running my first 5k. My goal was just to run the whole thing. I did! I began to realize I could do things I'd never thought possible. The real changes, the changes on the inside started here. I was about 195 in this pic. I had caught the running bug and jumped into a huge goal from there:
Me after my first ever (and only so far) marathon. I overtrained, hurt my hip, and finished in second to last place, but I finished! I was about 185-190 lbs here. I had much more muscle though. Not only was I running crazy miles, but I added in strength training here too. My eating was out of control though, so I didn't lose much weight during this time. All that running had me famished. Should have upped my protein more I think, hindsight.
My hip was hurt and I couldn't run for months as it healed. I watched my food better and started a blog. Faceless at 185 lbs.
182 lbs. I began to really delve into my deeper issues. The support and encouragement of my blog readers was priceless. I felt ready to hash out all the junk in my head. I also moved away from just wanting to keep calories low regardless of the quality of food. No more fake sugars, no more food low in calories and completely devoid in nutrients.
178.5 lbs. I got braver here. Started to actually like myself for the first time ever. My blog grew a face!
Kicked my inner fat chick to the curb at my fastest 5k.
I know this time is the time for me. Yes, you can see the physical changes in these pics, but so much more has changed about me too. I am a different person. I think different, act different, make different choices. I am that happier, healthier mommy I wanted to be!
This was yesterday, with the baby from the first pic, sniffle. Today I'm at 172.5. I am focusing on eating clean, running, doing ChaLEAN Extreme and lifting slower and heavier while making the mind muscle connection (as I've heard I should).
No, I'm not at my goal weight, but I know I'll get there. And instead of loathing where I'm at, who I am right now, I'm loving me along the way this time. No more crazy fad diets. No more self hatred. No more putting myself down. No more mean inner fat chick self talk. Healthy choices and treating myself well mentally and physically is how I will get there.
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| Before |
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| After |
I have come a long way and I'm proud. The pictures only show half the story though. I am a more positive, happier, healthier person. I am a better wife, mom, and friend now. Not because I'm thinner, but because I did the harder work along the way. The mental and emotional work. The work of making a better me all around, not just physically.
I am on my way, I am doing it. If you come away from my blog with only one thing I hope it's that YOU can too.
I've got a ways to go health-wise, but your statement at the end of being a happier & better you because of all the work definitely holds true here, too! Tom & I were almost on the verge of not being "Tom & I" because I was just so miserable and funked up all the time. Once I really got my focus back and started making the positive changes for my self it changed everything around me, too.
ReplyDeleteThanks for this post, Kerri. It's good to see where you've been and where it's brought you!
Thanks Karen. Ya, my marriage was rocky because of how stinkin unhappy I was with myself!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful Kat...
ReplyDeleteThis says so much to me, "No, I'm not at my goal weight, but I know I'll get there. And instead of loathing where I'm at, who I am right now, I'm loving me along the way this time. No more crazy fad diets. No more self hatred. No more putting myself down. No more mean inner fat chick self talk. Healthy choices and treating myself well mentally and physically is how I will get there."
That says it all..it's the most important and awe inspiring thing, maybe...I'm starting to believe, actually the hardest part. When we get THAT, the rest is uhh...cake ;)
Congrats to you, amazing job! Keep on truckin lady!
Thanks Cathy!
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing you photos and your story. You are truly an inspiration:)
ReplyDeleteThanks Karen, that is my hope!
ReplyDeleteThis post is so nice. You look incredible- and it was so special to learn more about your journey!
ReplyDeleteFAB POST Kat... amazing to see how far you've come and your attitude just plain rocks :)
ReplyDeleteThanks Dree!
ReplyDeleteShauna, I squeal a little like I just saw George Clooney when you comment on my blog ;)
Love this post! What a journey you've taken so far! Isn't it amazing how when you start changing the inside, things on the outside start to all click into place? Love it.
ReplyDeleteThis is a fantastic post! I started at 227, so almost identical to you. I'm currently down at 184 and absolutely loving it. A long way to go yet but I like myself right here, right now. I've never been able to say that before! x
ReplyDeleteAwe, this is just awesome, Kat! I LOVE all the progress you've made mentally and emotionally, and the progress in your body - WOW!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations!!!
Thanks Emily, Helen, and Jenn!
ReplyDeleteOh my lord woman....you are BEAUTIFUL!! Seriously gorgeous photo's. I am *so* happy for you and so proud!! I cant believe you were hiding that beautiful face from us for so long. Keep up the amazing work girl!! XOXO
ReplyDeleteAwesome! You are a beautiful woman, inside AND out! You have every right to be proud of how far you've come (in all areas of your life). You're an amazing inspiration. Keep it up!
ReplyDeletethanks Suzi and Ami, I'm gettin a little weepy here
ReplyDeleteYay for you! It's a big step to accept the past and enjoy the current/future. When I finally put mine up for the world to see I considered it to be like therapy. Very freeing to see that all this hard work is totally worth.
ReplyDeleteRock on lady!
you look amazing! Great job!!!
ReplyDeleteThanks Angela, you're right, it is a little like therapy!
ReplyDeleteThanks Maggie.
AMAZING journey!! Thank you for sharing it!! And major congrats on your progress! =)
ReplyDeleteThanks Janece.
ReplyDelete"And instead of loathing where I'm at, who I am right now, I'm loving me along the way this time."
ReplyDeleteThat says it ALL!! :-)
And you look so much younger now! Good job :-)
Kerri, you have such a glow now, you look fantastic! And I still think you look too young to have a teenager.
ReplyDeleteThanks Karen, yes the change in my mind was the big one.
ReplyDeleteKyra, lol, thanks!!
This was an amazing post. Inspiring to see your journey through pictures.
ReplyDeleteGreat post!!! :) YOU LOOK GREAT! & should be very very proud! :) WHOOHOOO!
ReplyDeleteThanks Randi and TJ.
ReplyDeleteYou look amazing! You are truly an inspiration!
ReplyDeleteSo AWESOME!! You look great. Good job.
ReplyDeleteLove it!smile.
ReplyDeletethis is wonderful! I got a little weepy reading it as well. You are strong, intelligent and beautiful... you were before you lost weight and started blogging. But now we get to celebrate your successes with you, which is even more fantastic. Kinda nice when you feel like your outside matches your inside. Or in my case, is starting to match.
ReplyDeleteSorry I think these before and after photos are here for honesty so I'll be honest. Your before looks like your after's mother!! I take it as you gained a lifetime by losing all that weight and look unbelievable!
ReplyDeleteCongrats big time! Your kids look like they could be child models or movie stars :) now you look like more like those beautiful beautiful children. When they grow up to understand more about what you went through. They will be even more proud of you than you are of yourself today.
Thanks everyone!
ReplyDeleteRiver, I laughed out loud!! The befores do like like the after mother, bwahaha! I hope they are proud, sniffle, now you have me teary.
Great post! I've thought about posting pre pictures and progress so far, however, I can't find a lot of pictures of me "head to toe". I feel like I am the master of head shots and any that are all neck are IMMEDIATELY deleted. So it will be hard to find some (and like you said, hard to look at them). Although, printing one or 2 and putting it in a place of reminding me, might be a good idea.
ReplyDeleteKeep up the good work!
So awesome!! Great pics, the before and after are amazing and yep, you are brave to do it! ;)
ReplyDeleteIvie, it's hard, but freeing somehow.
ReplyDeleteThanks Mary!I feel brave today.
Extremely awesome post Kat! You've come a long way. Congrats, you amazing lady!
ReplyDeleteGreat post! I wouldn't even believe that you were the same person! The you-now looks so much healthier and even years younger. Congrats.
ReplyDeleteOh wow did you ever kick your inner fat chick to the curb. Thank you for sharing that journey in pictures, way cool!
ReplyDeleteYou look great!!!
ReplyDeleteWow! You look great! Thanks for sharing your photos and your story on your journey! I’m so happy for you. Great job! You are truly an inspiration to others.
ReplyDeleteI LOVED this post!!! I wish I had a ton of pictures like this. Dang it. How tall are you? You look so fit at 172.5. Hmmm...I wonder if this is how others see me?!?!?!
ReplyDeleteYou do look fabulous!!!!! :)
ReplyDeleteI love this! You're a new person... and I know exactly how you feel.
ReplyDeleteCongrats on a huge accomplishment!
Wow, what a transformation! You have so much to be proud of. I know what you mean about not having many before pictures...one reason I started this journey for myself is because I hide from pictures, and I realized that I was missing out on all of those memories. This has given me a new dose of inspriration to make it to the "after"!
ReplyDeleteCorletta, I'm 5'6...and yes, it is.
ReplyDeleteThanks everyone for your kind words!
Squeal, Jack Sh*t read my blog ;)
Love the story and the pictures. I hope people are reading your story and getting motivated to do the same. I think you really get it and are going to be able to stay strong.
ReplyDeleteLooking good girl, looking good! :)
ReplyDeleteYou look amazing, but most importantly, YOU FEEL AMAZING. Because you ARE amazing. And I think the best lesson learned from this journey is just that. You've proved time and time again to yourself that you aren't restricted by your weight and you've beaten your inner fat chick time and time again, even though she's a bitch sometimes.
ReplyDeleteYou've come so far! I'm so proud of you!
Now come run with me in DC sometime :)
Jess, thanks, and I so want to!
ReplyDeleteYou look amazing and have had an amazing journey! Go you!
ReplyDeleteI JUST did a post on kids as camo in photo's so that made me laugh!! OH! The "before" photo's... ugh. You look fantastic in your after photo! Yes , I do come away from your blog with inspiration I can do it! Finally lose this weight and get healthy!
ReplyDeleteHave a pretty night!
Kristin
late to the proverbial soiree---but still chiming in that DAMN YOU LOOK AMAZATASTIC.
ReplyDeleteCongrats on the weightloss! You look Great and I feel encouraged and inspired!
ReplyDeleteIt's hard to put pictures out there for the world to see. I applaud your bravery!
ReplyDeleteI love the before and after pics.
ReplyDeleteyou look good.
Just wanted to tell you that I've been browsing the internet for diet/exercise encouragement all day, and your blog is one of those that has really inspired me. I've really enjoyed reading some of your past posts. You are doing great! Thank you for sharing your experiences with us. I look forward to seeing more of your posts in the future.
ReplyDeletelook st you you sre one hot momms now
ReplyDeletenow cns you come kick me in the butt lol
great job girly!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!