50 reasons why I lost 50 pounds!!!!!!!!! (In No Particular Order)

1. Setting goals to lose weight
2. Counting calories
3. Reading about fitness, health, food and nutrition at every opportunity
4. Reading labels
5. Bought a food scale 
6. Eating less calories than I burn (but not too many less)
7. Drinking water
8. Eating more vegetables (I say things like, “Oh boy, squash.” and “Tommy, I can’t wait for our famer’s market date.”)
9. Eating more fruits (blueberries are my new favs)
10. Blogging about weight loss
11. Participating in forums on diet sites and reading other people’s blogs (thank you Courtney for being my inspiration)
12. Making adjustments along the way
13. Telling everyone I am going to lose weight (accountability)
14. Zumba!
15. Saying nice things to myself in the mirror
16. Listening to my body
17. Doing this for me and for my health and nobody else
18. Telling myself I deserve to be healthy and happy
19. Weighing myself regularly
20. Learning to accept water weight and muscle gain
21. Rewarding myself with new clothes, bargain shopping at each new size
22. Portioning out foods then put the package away instead of eating out of the box, bag, or container
23. Stopping blaming other people and circumstances for my own choices
24. Weight training with free weights
25. Buying sports bras and workout clothes
26. Sharing my progress with friends, family, and co-workers
27. Not being ashamed of my weight
28. Trying new things
29. Stepping outside my comfort zone
30. Hiking all day with Tommy
31. Learning to stop making excuses
32. Realizing perfection is not a requirement for success
33. Untangling my self-worth from my weight
34. Walking around my neighborhood while my son rides his bike
35. Believing in myself
36. Riding my bike
37. Yoga
38. Working out despite busy work days and crazy things going on in my personal life
39. Working out despite the weather
40. Work out on my birthday
41. Realizing overeating causes me to feel like crap
42. Finding real ways to deal emotional difficulty- especially writing
43. Spicer!!!
44. Celebrating every victory
45. Stairs!!!
46. Making this life change with Tommy
47. Still working out when traveling
48. Patience
49. Finding my optimism and positivity
50. Not giving up.