3 weeks

Hi friends! Happy FRIDAAAAAAY!!!

Any fun plans for the weekend? I’m attending my FIRST blogger meet-up tomorrow afternoon! I can’t wait to meet some lovely LA bloggers! I also can’t wait to see multiple girls whip out there cameras and start taking food pictures! It’ll be kinda nice to not be the only one! Ha ha.

My day is off to a great start so far– I got a FULL night’s rest, and woke up refreshed and ready for a run! I had a little bit of work to do before I had a break, so by the time I got outside it was after 10am… which means it was kinda hot!

I managed to run a little over two-and-a-half miles, and I was a SWEATY MESS when I got home! Shower time, no?

NOOOOO!

I forgot my building’s water was going to be SHUT OFF for 5 hours today! Ugh. Be glad you can’t smell me through your computer screens!

Fortunately, I chopped up some fresh pineapple last night:

So breakfast was easy:

Eaten straight out of the container, as usual.

In other news…

Today “officially” completes my third week of eating a high-raw diet! If you all remember, I mentioned how I was increasing my weight-loss efforts in an attempt to fit into a too-tight, very-fitted bridesmaid dress that I need to wear at the end of this month… seriously, it wouldn’t even ZIP UP! Well, the good news is– after just 3 weeks, I’ve lost 12 lbs and the dress FITS! Whew! It may not fit perfectly yet, but it does zip up, and I not quite so scared of being totally humiliated as I walk down the aisle! Plus, I’ve still got 3 weeks to go before the wedding! Woo-hoo! I was really afraid this might come down to the wire… so needless to say, I’m relieved!!

And I’m also HAPPY that I didn’t have to do anything too DRASTIC! Yes, eating a high-raw diet may sound drastic to some… but really, I’ve enjoyed EVERY BITE of it!

I’ve eaten my fair share of goat cheese salads:

And green smoothies:

But I’ve also TOTALLY INDULGED in raw treats!

Raw cheesecake!

Choco-cado Blueberry Chip Pudding!

And last night’s creation… Chocolate-Covered Pecan Pie Babies!!

I certainly didn’t feel “deprived” at all!

Now, I don’t want to be an irresponsible blogger and make weight-loss look like it’s EASY. It’s definitely NOT! And to be honest, the first 5-10 lbs are always the easiest to lose for me– because any change usually SHOCKS your system and makes you lose weight! (That’s why almost any diet works for the short-term– it’s an initial shock to your body! But many are too restrictive, so you can’t stick to them!)  I still have more weight to lose, and I know the remaining pounds will take longer to come off– but that’s okay with me! I feel great, and my confidence has already improved. I’ve come to accept that I don’t have to have a “perfect” body to be happy! Just making small changes can really add up– it’s all about consistency! I’m truly HAPPY eating this way, and don’t feel restricted… which is important to sticking this out! (Trust me, I have plenty of experience with yo-yo dieting– which is how I got this extra weight in the first place! Crash diets DON’T work.)

And you guys know I’ve also been exercising almost every day (with at least one “rest day” each week, though!), which I think greatly helps change your body, and improve your mood! (no one likes “grouchy” dieters!) It’s not always easy to get to the gym or outside for a run, or even just turn my DVD player on– but I always feel better when I finish a workout! It’s worth it!! And before long, it’s a habit!

I’ve always heard that how you look is 80% diet, 10% exercise, and 10% genetics (some things you just can’t change, you know?)– so diet is definitely the most important factor if you’re looking to lose weight! But exercise– especially strength training– can really help you shape your body, and keep your progress moving right along!

I don’t like talking about weight-loss too much on this blog, mostly because I know when I was suffering from disordered eating, just reading about it could sometimes trigger a binge! But I also want to show you guys that you don’t have to feel deprived when you’re trying to lose weight! And you know what? Eating a high-raw (NOT all-raw, since that’s too restrictive for me, too– I definitely enjoyed some roasted veggies this weekend and Indian food last week!) diet has really helped with my cravings! So if you suffer from junk-food cravings, maybe try adding a green smoothie into your day? You never know, you might just start craving those instead!

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Reader Feedback: Do you like hearing about how others have lost weight? Have you tried any crazy diets? Do you ever diet for an upcoming event, like a wedding? Obviously, I’m dieting for an upcoming event right now! In the past, I’ve tried practically every diet under the sun– The Zone, Atkins, The Metabolic Research Center (yes, I paid for a group weight loss system and attended weekly meetings and weigh-ins!), The Abs Diet, Vegetarian, Vegan… you name it. But I don’t think I lasted more than a month on ANY of them! Because ultimately, you need to find what works for YOU. My whole outlook on food finally “clicked” when I read The Raw Food Detox Diet, and I’ve been on what I feel is the right path for me ever since!

Related posts:

1. The Month of LOVE
2. Eat More to Weigh Less
3. One Lucky Sample
4. My Brush with Veganism
5. Food Matters