Sister Takeover

Helllloooo! I am Erin's little sister Dana and with Erin's permission I am making a post on here while she is working in New Orleans. I'm 21 years old (yay! haha) and am new to all this blog stuff....but I must admit I am hooked on it! I love reading all your healthy ideas and your dedication to working out def. inspires me when I am hungover ( HEY i did just turn 21) or just being a lazy girl.

So what do I do with my life besides get drunk you say? ;) I am enrolled in college and have about 2 years left before I am tossed out into the "real world". I love love love my friends and family and LOVE going out and just having a good time....no matter where or what we are doing. I have been active my whole life whether it was dance (since I was 3), gymnastics, cheerleading, backpacking (which is my new fave) or just the good ol' gym. I love to work out and really try to eat healthy but of course I struggle just like everyone else and my weight has seen some HUGE up's and downs....I'll show you!


Senior year of High School....2004- about 130 something here.


I maintained a relatively healthy weight (usually between 130-142) and was super active with a busy schedule of competition cheerleading til 2005 of my senior year of high school. I got a new boyfriend, got lazy when cheerleading ended, and ate way way way too much = me gaining 20 pounds before I started college. I went away to a college and HATED IT ( it was hard for me to adjust to college I think because I had the time of my life in high school) and the eating and not working only got worse. Before moving back home after one semester, I gained another 20 pounds! This brings us to 2006....I was so unhappy, stuck in such a rut, and was tipping the scales at 189!

I am in the purple at 189 pounds (highest weight) in March of 06'. BLAH! so unhappy.

I honestly couldn't believe how I let myself get that way...I went from a size 3 jeans to a 12...never wanted to go out. I just felt so sick all the time and cycle of gain and lose soon started to form and would last 2 years.

During those two years, besides many crazy changes in my life (getting my heart broken, being single for the first time since I was 14! AH, traveling to California, Las Vegas, a cruise, starting to LOVE college) I DID manage to drop some pounds just by cutting back on the gross foods I was consuming and stayed in the 160's til Jan. of 08'. Still I was so sick of being unhealthy & out of shape, after a trip to visit Erin in Colorado in Feb. of 08' and my first backpacking trip quickly approaching in May I decided it was time for me to feel better about myself and get my butt back in gear if I wanted to survive climbing mountains with 40 pounds on my back. haha. Seriously though.




That's me at about 165 in Fort Collins, Colorado. Trip that turned it all around....



I got back from Colorado and starting going to the gym everyday...no questions asked. Thankfully I had two friends who already were gym rats and they helped show me new exercises and inspired me to push myself physically harder than I ever had before. I also drastically changed my diet. I knew what I needed to eat to lose weight before, I just could never stick with it long enough to see results. I stopped eating junk food, starting eating more protein, swapped fast food for some lean cuisines, and starting seeing results! I was super strict and the weight seemed to come off pretty fast!


By my backpacking trip at the end of May 08', I had lost another 25 pounds! I was thrilled....




Me at about 142 on my backpacking trip....changed my life!


I stepped on the scale after my strenuous adventure, and saw 139! I cried. I swear I thought I was never going to get back to "myself" ever again....it made me wanna keep going.


I kept up with my long sweat sessions at the gym, strength training, cardio classes, and also started to run?!?! ( used to hate running but now am starting to love it) continued my healthy eating and by the end of June 08' I was 132 pounds and at a comfotable size 5 again.



Pictures from this past summer....prob. the best summer of my life!!!!

my 21'st birthday...I'm in the white :)

SOOOOO that brings me to now. Although I have maintained my 50+ pounds of weight loss, I have def slipped up some days. Being 21, in college, and all the drinking and partying going on doesn't always help...but I am trying to find a balance haha. I really want to get to my goal weight this year...and finally be at peace with myself. I also want to train for my first 5k which is in April.

Well that was possibly the longest post ever. You are probably sleeping. Sorry. It feels good to see my progress like that and makes me excited to reach my goals this year!

My sister is also on a mission to get healthy so its great to have a partner! I love and miss her she will be back soon though! Maybe I will see you around on here again! Keep inspiring me everyone!

-Dana

Me ( on the right) on New Years the other day! HAPPY NEW YEAR!