A look back

I loved my college homecoming. It gave me a chance to see people, some who I hadn't seen since I graduated in 2008. So imagine their surprise when they saw me!!

Since I have been camera-less for a few years, I've relied on my phone and other people to supply me with pics of myself. So my friend finally put up her pics today, and there was one that stood out to me the most. It was a picture of me and my two best friends from college. These girls have been great supporters of my mission to get thin, and I truly love them for it.

The picture stood out so much because it was the way we were positioned. I look back at pictures from the past and we were almost always in the order of me in the middle and them flanking me on the sides.

Nutty, huh?

Things like this keep me motivated to continue. I'm hitting a year and a half on this new course in life and temptation has never been stronger. I eat regular food here and there but even on my worst day I don't eat as many calories as I used to rack up in a day.

It's a work in progress.

xoxo,

Shay

Tricky Labels

Lots of people ask me what I sub for my favorite foods. Some things come off the top of my head...

Chips = Carrot Sticks
Taco Bell Mexi-Melt = Fresca Chicken Soft taco
Vodka and Cranberry = White Zinfandel

But some things I have to do a little researching. Like...

Gatorade/Vitamin Water: VW offers a "zero" option, but other than tasting like shit, it has a whole lot of things other than electrolytes that can jack up your body.
Diet Soda: I was a BIG diet soda drinker, and then I found flavored seltzer water, no artificial sweeteners and it doesn't have a nasty aftertaste.
Kettle Cooked Chips: Just because the name is different from the others, doesn't mean it still isn't cooked in oil...go with baked.

HOWEVER
My biggest gripe this week HAS to be "Low Calorie" options at restaurants.

This past weekend was my homecoming at my alma mater Delaware State University. I had an awesome time, saw people I haven't seen in YEARS, and got to experience college as the NEW me (hint: the new me LOVES college lol). However, when it came time to eat, I looked at the menu and got pissed. I wanted something different, but everything was ridiculously fattening. Someone suggested to order a salad because "they've got to be healthy".

WRONG.
WRONG. WRONG. WRONG.

Salads at these chain restaurants are a crock of shit. Seriously.

At Applebee's the Oriental Grilled Chicken Salad , regular Size with dressing is damn near 3,000 calories.
At T.G.I.Friday's (one of the worst restaurants for a dieter) the Pecan Crusted Chicken Salad is almost 2,000 calories.
and there's more where that came from.

My advice would be to look up the calories BEFORE you order, so you don't make a lethal mistake. I prefer my salads to be 350 calories or less, but that's a little extreme for some. 500 is my absolute limit, and that includes dressing and whatnot.
oh, here I am at homecoming...

xoxo,
Shay

Life Post-Wedding

So it's happened. My BFF is officially and blissfully married, and life is going back to normal, whatever that is lol.

This whole journey to the new me started partially because of this event, so I felt a comparison was needed.

Me and BFF at her Engagement dinner, May 2012

Me and Mrs. BFF at the wedding

WOWZERS ^_^

I've maintained the same weight for the past 3 months, now I'm going to attempt to reach goal by homecoming, which is in 3 weeks. can I do it?? Hopefully without killing myself in the process lol.

Layta peeps!
Shay