that dang muffin top.

Guess who lost 100 pounds?

Yeah, that would not be me.

I wish I had a cool weight loss story to blog about- but I don't.

I have a story probably pretty similar to the majority of the 'girls next door'.

We're sweet, innocent and cute....and we hate our muffin tops.

key word...hate.

what girl hasn't at one point in time (if not more than once) hated parts of the girl who looked back at her in the mirror. a sad reality, when the truth is- she was created by quite a genius God.

while i'm quite flattered by the sweet and witty readers i have accumulated over the last 9 months, i don't particularly love posting pictures of myself, or even talking about myself for that matter. however, blogging and rambling sweet nothings into your faces is what i do.... so i will share with you my journey on weight and.....getting rid of that dang muffin top.

So, what did it? I wasn't obsese. My doctor didn't tell me I was on the verge of type 2 diabetes. My clothes were a size 6...so why the change?

3 things that changed my view on exercise

1. my metabolism sucks

i'm the girl that's screwed when i eat a piece of bread. yep, that's me. my thighs grow at the very sight of my own birthday cake. therefore, i have to do something to prevent it. exercise and eat right.

2. i obsess over one without the other

if i'm not exercising, i'm obsessive about food. if i'm not eating good, i spend all day thinking of my next workout. that had to stop, and it did stop.

3. working out will change you, inside and out.

committing to exercising is a life choice. i don't care if you're obama or a homemaker (not that they aren't busy too!) Working out can be one of the best decisions you make for yourself across the board. God has shown me what my body can do through my dedication...and now I have a new appreciation for God.

if you've got 5 minutes, keep reading.

my story:


health has been my life for the last 8 years now (oh.my.gosh. i feel kind of old!). i passed up cheetos for broccoli in my school lunches- because at 5'3 and in the 10th grade, I hit just over 160 pounds and was no longer lookin fly in hollister. (looking back, i'm kind of happy about that one...).

My mom was the greatest mom of all moms. She was my cheerleader in my complete life transformation. Because, that's just what it was. When you go from eating the same size dinner as your dad, and topping it off with 1 1/2 desserts, then you know you've taken food to an emotional level. I ate for comfort and taste, which is basically a bottomless pit of way too many brownies. I do love me some brownies....

I remember to this day, my mom waking up extra early and making me egg white vegetable omelets and then having them ready for me in the car to eat as she drove me to school. I hated the taste more than anything, but knew that pop-tarts were not supposed to be my best friend anymore. Pop-tarts need a new name, maybe something like "Pop, there goes your jean zipper" or "Pop, that's the sound of your blown artery"...you know, something along those lines. Who wants to pitch the idea to General Mills with me?

health consciousness was gained, much weight was lost, unhealthy obsession in full force.

Fast forwarding to college, my diet remains fairly solid. No binge drinking (um, sick) and no late night milkshakes (not one!) but processed foods creep in some. None the less, I remain a grilled salmon and broccoli girl....but, oh could you please pass me that chocolate pie when you're done? My sweet tooth haunts me. Like the man next to you on the subway with awful B.O. kind of haunt.

My main problem in college was a lack of exercise. I became a double major in Psychology and Napping. It was quite pathetic and I am beginning to see I was living the life of a Spaniard... using half my day for a siesta that the rest of America was unaware was a new part of life. College was the laziest time of my life and I lost every ounce of muscle in my body, holding on to my pride and joy, "healthy eating".

Toward the end of college my size 6 pants were feeling um, snug. The kind of snug where you can barely fit in them. Tear. I let my self go, but not enough to be noticed by the masses. I hid my minor weight gain fairly well- when in reality I had lost all sense of fitness I ever gained in my life. I worked out a total of 3 times when Charlie and I were engaged. Including 4 hours before our rehearsal dinner. Like that was going to do anything.... me oh my.

At this point, I'm really excited to get married. I don't loathe my size, but it definitely wasn't ideal for my wedding. I thought I was being healthy (mentally) by not obsessing about my size and weight, when instead I was excusing ignorance and laziness for self-confidence. False. A vicious cycle we have with ourselves, but I now see I was equally as unhealthy mentally by dismissing the responsibility I have in taking care of my body.


After my walk down the aisle (i bawled my eyes out, by the way) Charlie and I settled into our cozy one bedroom mansion, as i like to call it. I was determined to start our marriage out with healthy, clean meals- and am proud to say I continue to stay true to my word. I will eat healthy always and forever!

Post-college graduation and post-wedding, I struggle to find a job. Nobody wants me, period. I am pretty sure the sound of my baby voice has something to do with it, but that's just me! Maybe I'll stick to blogging where no one can really hear me! Anyways, while i spend hours a day applying for job after job after job...it hits me one day that I need to exercise. I'm bored, I'm squishy, and I love desserts. Time to get to work. I download some usher to my iphone, put on my dusty nike tennis shoes and hit the gym that is less than a mile from our apartment.

Since March 2010 I have worked out at least 5 days a week (mostly 6!), with the exception of a 3 day trip to Cali in July (i was dying to get something in by the way!). 9 months being at the same place nearly every single day and I've never looked back. My body has changed, I've never been fitter, and my energy is through the roof 24/7. No matter how exhausted and busy I am, my mind and my body are ready for another workout. Always.

I will say this. my music helped me the most in the beginning. fun songs put me in the mood. if you're not into music, download a sermon (i'm not a mormon fashion blogger, sorry people). if you're not into Jesus (why..?) then get an audiobook. you have to fight the urge to be bored. there is no time for boredom in the gym, because 5 minutes later you will be out the door.

consistency. weights. intervals.

these things will make you hot.

Then and Now

an attempted outfit/workout post with self timer.

(charlie was out of town).

(my shoes are the best part...these are them! amazing price and so cute)

makeup less katy.

tomorrow's post: my workout routine.


curious? ask me!
http://www.formspring.me/katypbrooks