Graduation Challenge: Weeks 1 & 2

Well as of today, I am technically two weeks into my graduation challenge.  I have done very well at exercising for at least 45 minutes every day these last two weeks.  I haven't seen a lot of pounds shed off, but I can tell I've lost some weight.  A friend recommended tracking my inches along with my weight loss, because inches count more than pounds and will reflect my status better!  I can definitely say that is true for me these two weeks.  I've been doing a lot of strength training with weights, so I think the muscle gain is balancing out the weight loss.  What I can say for sure though is that I already feel so much better.  My favorite exercise is still swimming, but I try to switch it up.  We go to the pool Monday/Wednesday/Friday and all the other days I work out in the gym.  I've lost a little bit of momentum these past few days, but I'm not allowing myself to give up.  I push myself to go workout and every time I feel 100% better afterwards.  This is definitely a process that I am new to, but I know if I stick with it I will see progress!

For the dieting portion of this challenge, I have not done as well.  I've tried very hard to limit what I eat and cut out unnecessary items throughout my day.  However, old habits still catch me some days.  I've decided starting this week, I am going to cut out fried foods and bread from my diet. Bread is going to be harder to give up because sandwiches are basically all we eat around this campus, but I'm going to try my best!  I also think it is absolutely necessary to give up fried foods.  I don't eat a lot of them, but they have absolutely no nutritious value and are very bad for my diet. Plus, if I'm going to allow myself to have pasta occasionally, I need cut out carbs in other areas of my diet.  This is probably the harder portion of the challenge for myself.  I've learned over the past few years that I am an emotional eater.  I eat for comfort basically. I love food and have a very hard time giving up my favorite items, but I really am trying to be better about it.  Portion control and not eating for comfort or out of boredom is where I have to start.

Anyways, on to the exciting news that I know you've been waiting for.  The numerical update on my progress!  I checked my weight and measured my inches on 2/23/12 and this is what I found:

I lost 1/2" around my arms, waist, hips, and calves! 
I lost 1" around my thighs!  
And the best news:
I lost 2 inches around my stomach!!


As for weight, I lost 2 pounds these last two weeks!  Like I said before, on the scale I haven't seen as many pounds shed off as I would like, but I think it's because of the muscle gain. Either way, I'm still down 2 pounds and 2 inches around my stomach!  I'd say that's progress even though I've got a ways to go!  You have to start somewhere though right?  Here are some before and after pictures as of now.  I think I can see it most in my face and a little bit on my stomach.  What do you think?  I can't wait to watch my progress through these pictures over the next few weeks!

BEFORE  ( 2/15/12):

 AFTER (2/23/12):

 BEFORE (2/15/12):

 AFTER (2/23/12):

Week three here I come!