PICTURES!!! Finally!!!!

Hi guys...so my husband and I finally got a chance to take some pix...it was a gorgeous day today so we went out and had some family fun with our 2-year old! We just got home about an hour ago and took the following pics.

A few things...

You will notice that I've changed my outfit...I wanted something different and new and SMALLER :))...I will use the original outfit in my final pics which I will take in December. But for now, I've changed it and who knows, I may get a new outfit with each new pic...we'll see. Anyway, this outfit is SIZE L for Large y'All!!! Not, 3x or 2x or even XL...it's L - LARGE. I love it...I kept it similar to the colours of the other outfit. Here's a couple of pictures showing the size I am now wearing.

Top - L/G...Large/Grand (en framçais) YEAH!!

Pants - L/G...Large/Grand

A pair of size 'L' pants fit over my butt!! Incredible!

I noticed a few things with these pics and with me overall. First of all, those "Lagana Lunges & Squats" have really started to shape my butt. Now I know that we black women have been "blessed" with having a little extra junk in the trunk, but for some reason, it skipped me - if you look at my 'before' pic from December (Back Shot), you'll notice the bootie wasn't as "shapely" as it now is. I'm not sure that I want everyone staring at my bootie but take a look at the pic below of me from the back....LOOK AT MY BUTT!!! LOOK AT IT!! All I have to say is "Lagana Lunges and Squats!!!"

Now for the pics....

Front: Me NOW...201lbs..June 28/09

In my new outfit, I might add

Me THEN: 258lbs, Dec 2008

Back: Me NOW - 201lbs June 28/09

LAGANA LUNGES & SQUATS!! LOL!!!

Me THEN: 258lbs Dec, 2009

SIDE: NOW 201lbs June 28/09

THEN - 258lbs Dec, 2008

This is my "Just for Fun - I think I'm Kinda Hot Shot" lol!!













THAT's IT!! Let me know what you think!

Joania (2KMINE!!!)

FOUR MONTH ANNIVERSARY PICS!!!!!!

Hi everyone,

Sorry for the delay with the pics - busy weekend! Anyway, I've included my start pics for comparison...day 1 to now. I also threw in a couple shots to show a pair of my pants and how they fit (or don't fit) :))) HERE WE GO.....

Front: Dec 10, 2008

258 lbs!!!

Front: April 10, 2009

216 lbs!!!

Side: Dec 10, 2009

258 lbs!!!

Side: April 10, 2009

216 lbs!!!

Back: Dec 10, 2008

258 lbs!!

Back: April 10, 2009

216 lbs!!!

Fun: Dec 10, 2008

258 lbs!!!

Fun: April 10, 2009

216 lbs!!!

Here's just another "fun" shot - I'm feeling good!!

What I noticed in this month's pics:

This month, I'm starting to notice a change in my legs....they're actually starting to shrink (THANK GOODNESS!!) My new routine does incorporate a few new and difficult exercises (lunges and squats) targeting those good old thighs so I anticipate that there will be a more visible difference in next month's pics. Overall, I'm losing inches - I could tell by my clothes and although the scale says I'm down 42 POUNDS, it sure feels like a whole lot more!! I'm so pleased and can't wait for next month. I feel strong and awesome.

I decided to take a couple extra shots showing how some of my clothes are fitting or should I say, NOT FITTING!!! Yeah!!:)) When I started this journey, I wore these pants to work practically every week. They used to be a perfect fit....THESE PANTS ARE A SIZE 22!!!

I can "ALMOST" fit my body in one of the pant legs!!!

PLUS size 22!!!!!!!

The pants are now too big and too long (guess my booty used to hold it up!)

This is me in a PAIR OF SIZE 16 JEANS!!!!!!!!!!! Size 16!! I can't believe I fit into them. I didn't even have to do that wiggle dance to get it to go up!! Incredible!!

Now I know I still have a ways to go, but I really feel that I'm well on my way and I feel great about it...please let me know what you think and as always, your support is very much appreciated..it has really helped me to stay on track.

Until next time...

Joania (2KMINE!!!)

New Motivation, Challenges, Ideas!!!

Hi guys,

So, I've got some new motivation, y'all!! Nothing gets your butt moving like finding out that you'll be attending a high school reunion at the END OF APRIL!!!! That's in a little more than a month!! I WILL be kicking it hardcore during my WORKOUTS and more importantly making sure I STAY ON TRACK with my EATING!!!! It's not a full blown high school reunion, just a group of friends from the same grade/same age group getting together after not seeing each other for in 15+ years!!! Exciting!! I'm really looking forward to seeing the old faces and friends and just having a good time, which I will have regardless but being a little more fit and healthy , would just be that much more fun!! I'm actually really looking forward to it! Should do be good fun.

There are so many things I want to do...

I've been wanting to make some changes to my cardio training and incorporate some new things just to avoid getting bored with what I'm currently doing and also, I think it's a good opportunity to explore new things in the fitness world, since I plan to have a relationship with fitness for the rest of my life!!!. As always, I do have to check with my trainer to make sure I'm making *good* changes. He should get back to me shortly. I'm thinking of taking a spinning class 3 times a week instead of just the regular treadmill/elliptical cardio sessions that I'm currently doing. I hear that you can burn 450+ calories in one 45 minute session!! That's awesome and also spinning isn't as hard on the knees as jogging on the treadmill. So I really want to try it out. I checked out Cycle Fit's website and found that they offer a 545am class - will work for me!!! I also want to return to my Bootcamp classes in May or so..as soon as they go back outdoors (they run the bootcamp indoors during winter).

I want to increase my flexibility, so I've decided to take a YOGA class one day a week (it's all the time I can spare) I've NEVER DONE YOGA before, so I'm sure I will SUCK for the first while, but I'll stick with it and see. I've checked out OYS (Orleans Yoga Shala) on the web and they offer and ABSOLUTE BEGINNERS CLASS, two nights a week. Plus, one my friends has already agreed to accompany me (no changing your mind MR!!!). Looks like we'll go on Tuesday nights but I will confirm soon. That should be entertaining!!

The weather is showing some signs of 'wanting to get nice'; Spring SHOULD be right around the corner (hopefully). I've really been thinking of my workouts and finding different things that I like to do and stay with this new lifestlye of mine. I know that I will be swimming alot in the summer ...I've always enjoyed swimming and it's a really good work out.

I also want to run a 5 K!!! I've had a few friends offer to do one with me. I don't know if I will "sign up" for one of those official races (maybe in the fall), but I want to be able to *RUN* a 5K and time myself. My mind has been just spinning with new ideas and new challenges I want to take on - that's a good thing, right??

I need to figure things out, make some solid plans and set some more goals to work towards!! AND THEN, COAX some of you guys into doing some f these new and exciting and possibly crazy things with me!! :)) I WILL keep you all posted......

Until next time...


Joania (2KMINE!!!)

One Month Anniversary Pics - Fun Shot

Hi guys,
I had taken this "just for fun" shot back in Dec 10/08, and took the update (in the same/similar) pose yesterday (Jan 10/09). This seems to be a favourite among everyone. Just me being me --silly! It's my "Charlie's Angels/James Bond" pose. Enjoy!




















December 10/08: 258lbs (top) January 10/09: 242lbs (bottom)