I don’t talk a whole lot about weight loss here. Mostly because it is something that is a phase in my life. This blog is about my healthy lifestyle, and counting calories is something that I see as a temporary tool to hit a permanent goal. This all being said, I hit a big milestone today, and I wanted to share it all with you.
Since December, I’ve lost 50 pounds. It hasn’t been fast but it has been consistent and I am very proud of how far I’ve come. Weight loss is a really interesting mental journey and there certainly are a lot of things I’ve learned over the past 11 months. I thought it’d be neat to share something I’ve gained for each of the 50 pounds I’ve lost.
50. Emotional eating is fine. Emotional eating is chili on a cold day and wine with my family. It is having pizza on Fridays and roasting pumpkin seeds before Halloween.
49. Emotional OVEReating is not fine. It is dangerous and disordered.
48. Chia seeds rock.
47. I don’t have bad knees, hips or ankles. Only too much weight on them.
46. People will always judge you, regardless of your appearance. Accept it. There is nothing you can do to change this.
45. Running isn’t just for runners.
44. Dance class isn’t just for dancers.
43. Athletes come in all shapes, size, ages, and abilities.
42. Counting calories is the only way to keep yourself truly accountable.
41. Counting calories is a temporary tool to reach a permanent goal.
40. People like pictures of pretty food.
39. You can make a living doing pretty much anything, as long as you are passionate about it.
38. Makeup isn’t a necessity.
37. Get good, tight workout pants. Feeling fine in the gym is key.
36. Good workout clothes make going to the gym much more fun.
35. Milk is the best post-workout recovery food you can find.
34. Oatmeal topping possibilities are endless.
33. It is easier to be motivated when you are motivating.
32. The shoes make the outfit (and the workout).
31. A small, not-so-posh gym that is close to where you live/work trumps a nicer gym out of the way every time. Location, location, location!
30. Bondi bands rock.
29. Walking a race is better than not finishing a race, which trumps not starting a race every time.
28. Water has amazing healing properties.
27. Real food will change your world.
26. Glowing is a state of mind, not a physical attribute.
25. Happiness does not come gift-wrapped with your goal weight.
24. You have the ability to choose your situation.
23. Stop taking yourself so seriously.
22. Everyone needs a piece of chocolate everyday. Two on particularly crappy days.
21. Smart women sweat.
20. Your excuses may explain something, but they don’t excuse it.
19. If you have time to complain, you have time to change.
18. Tiny bowls and spoons make portion control a whole lot more fun.
17. Get a fun water bottle, lunch box and lunch containers. You’ll want to take them with you.
16. Figure out what works for you. Don’t force yourself into a routine just because it worked for someone else.
15. Sometimes we need a cupcake. Eat your cupcake. Embrace your cupcake. Love your cupcake. Tomorrow you can eat almonds and kale.
14. Plan your meals. Simple as that.
13. Always have a snack with you. Even when you don’t think you’ll need one.
12. You can have anything you want. You just can’t have everything you want.
11. Beer is a food group.
10. The physical difference between walking, jogging and running is minimal. Being a runner is in the mind, not the speed.
9. The numbers do matter. Numbers are metrics. Numbers are our report cards.
8. Numbers DON’T define. I am not my numbers.
7. Your food should be seriously sexy. If it isn’t you aren’t doing it right.
6. Everyone should do a 5K once in their life. Roll, walk, run, crawl, skip. Strap on a bib number, be proud and cross the finish line.
5. Surround yourself with positivity.
4. Deal with today first. Decide today will be different, execute and then talk about tomorrow tomorrow.
3. Doing it “the hard way” isn’t actually all that hard. It just isn’t instant.
2. I’m a work in progress. I’ll only stop being one when I’m dead.
1. Everything in moderation. Including moderation.
Well that was a whole lot of pictures of me, but I think after 50 pounds, I deserve a little (okay a lot) of navel-gazing. I celebrated today with a nice big bowl of butternut squash bisque. If you haven’t made it yet, go do it. Now. NOW. Until tomorrow, my friends
amazing post! loved every word of it
Thanks, Kelly!
This post is full of life. So inspiring. Congrats to you…I loved reading all 50 reasons and having a photograph for each one. Keep it up girl!
Thank you so much!
This was great! Love all the photographs and things you have learned along your journey. Here’s to you!
Thank you! And I LOVE the name of your blog. So cute!
This is so great!!!! Loved it!
Thanks!
Fantastic post, excellent reasons, and beautiful photos. Congratulations, and good luck here on out.
Thank you. It is a really interesting journey, and I’m glad I could share it with everyone.
What an inspiring post!
Thank you, but you all are the ones that inspire me!
Coming from a person recovering from an eating disorder, your blog constantly inspires me. Whenever I need meal ideas, or (as sad as this sounds) inspiration to eat, I look at your healthy lifestyle and read about your zest for life and feel better. Thank you. A lot.
This makes me so happy. I just wanted to share my love for food and fitness, and if it helps you, it is just a bonus. I have no experience with EDs, but you are more than welcome to e-mail me anytime you want to chat. Good luck with your recovery!
This is amazing! Such an inspirational post. . . Congrats on your success!
Thank you!
Cass – You are such an amazing person and a true inspiration. Thanks for such a great site! My momma would be so proud of you.
Aww, thanks Brandi! I wish your Mom was around for me to get to know her better. Everyone tells me how good of friends we would have been.
I am so so so proud of you
Thanks Kera. I am so proud of YOU, you awesome marathoner you!
Cass, this is the awesomest post ever. Seriously, you have no idea how inspiring you have been to me in the past couple months, and especially recently. You are so special!
Aww, thanks Liz!
I reposted this on facebook (because I loved it) and people are loving it
your hit counter should skyrocket for this post 
Thanks Megs! I’m glad so many people like it.
Proud of you, Lil Bit.
I smiled and teared up as I read this post.
-gw-
Thanks, Dad. I wouldn’t be able to write those things without the foundation you and Mama gave me.
Soooo, do you live in Btown? Or at least you were there. I recognize the Von Lee.
By the way I love this post!
I do live in Btown! And love it here.
Amazing, amazing post full of inspiration, honesty, and wisdom. It made my week!
Thank you! I have a lot more to learn, and I’m excited to get started.
Amazing post and congratulations of all of your lessons and transformation!
Thank you, Nora!
Hope you know this is being passed around all over Facebook, inspiring the masses and bringing much joy and hope to many. Thank you so much. ^–^
Awww! I didn’t know that. That is so nice to hear. Thanks!
Congrats on reaching such a fantastic milestone, Cassie!
I have to say, I am really and truly motivated by you, and even in the short time I’ve read your blog, I have been inspired to make some changes in my own life. I’m looking forward to putting my running shoes on after the baby is born (actually, I like cycling, so I’m going to a spinning class in the winter, and in the summer Doug and I are going to participate in the Becel ride for heart and cycle with the baby in one of those baby-bike-seat things) and challenging my body to be the best it can be. Seeing everything YOU can do, makes me realize I can do anything I want to do, there are no more excuses!
Plus, we started eating organics meats and produce because of your inspiration! And loving kale chips! And eating REAL FOOD.
Thank you for being you and being motivating. Sometimes all it takes for one person is seeing that someone else can do it.
Aww, thanks Shauna! This means SO much to me.
You CAN do anything you want. You are strong and talented and fantastic.
Awesome, I was referred by a friend because I’ve lost so much weight myself and they thought I could relate to your post…. AND I DID. Down 40 lbs since June and it’s not been some secret recipe – just planning my meals, exercise, and learning to fully savor small infrequent indulgences. I am a huge emotional eater so it was really hard to shift mentality. But, one meal and day at a time, shift I did and shift others can as well. As you have inspired, be inspired.
Clarification, based on one of your “things learned” that I can REALLY identify with — I WAS an emotional OVEReater. I AM still an emotional eater and don’t really see a reason to change that — My wife, like your husband, has been my biggest cheerleader and together we’re rediscovering “real” food — I’ve learned to find emotional fulfillment in, for example, well-prepared veggies. Looking around your site I’ve now got my eye on your Portabella Philly recipe and just linked it on Facebook. Definitely looks to be an “emotional” food experience that I won’t regret. Woot!
My dear you are DELISH. Your taking a bite out of life and enjoying the moment. I’m definately going to follow your blog.
travelbunny.blogspot.com
Thanks Penney!
This was really inspiring and beautifully written! Love it!
This post meant so much to me! Thank you, Cassie!
This was beautiful!
Amazing. Beautiful. Inspiring. THANK YOU for sharing this! and CONGRATULATIONS!
Love, love, love this post! I think “you can eat almonds and kale tomorrow” is going to be my new motto. And, clearly, you have the best name.
Congratulations on losing 50 pounds! I love the positive lessons you’re passing on.
This is so great!! I especially love this one. “37. Get good, tight workout pants. Feeling fine in the gym is key.” Rock on!
Congrats!! That is huge, and I am working on getting there as well! My food philosophy is “Everything in moderation, including moderation!” I’m looking forward to following you on the rest of your journey!
This was such an inspiring post. You are amazing <3
I LOVE THIS! This post is great.
Congratulations! I really love this post. I stumbled on it via Twitter and I’m so glad that I did. I will definitely be coming back to read more. Continued success.
This was amazing and you’re so gorgeous! I got here from Caitlin‘s Twitter, and may I say I don’t regret the click at all.
The picture underneath #2 is striking- are those really all your glasses frames? Jealous, girl. Your pictures are fantastic overall, too.
Your post is incredibly inspiring. I have such a story, as we all do. But I have been letting mine keep me from staying on track. That is going to change.
This is an awesome post. Completely inspiring and I LOVE it!
Thanks, Mary!