April 2011 I had a reality check. I was 25, single, overweight, and not happy about it... so I started to change. After I lost 40 lbs I found SparkPeople and it has kept me motivated to lose more! Currently I'm down over 90 lbs from my highest weight in 2004, and I'm ready to make it an even 100.
As a treat to myself I had a brachioplasty in August of 2012. The revision surgery in December 2012 made my left arm fantastic... but the right one -- not so much. After my armpit ...
April 2011 I had a reality check. I was 25, single, overweight, and not happy about it... so I started to change. After I lost 40 lbs I found SparkPeople and it has kept me motivated to lose more! Currently I'm down over 90 lbs from my highest weight in 2004, and I'm ready to make it an even 100.
As a treat to myself I had a brachioplasty in August of 2012. The revision surgery in December 2012 made my left arm fantastic... but the right one -- not so much. After my armpit incision ripped open completely, and five and a half months later finally healed -- I'm hitting the gym hard to make it to my goal in 2013!
I was aiming for 150 when I started (I'm 5'10") but I don't think I'll be able to really get there. I'm pushing for 170 realistically, 160 hopefully, and 150 delusionally.
http://shrinking-sara.tumblr.com
I have a gallery of my progress pics here: http://imgur.com/a/6EoIg
My Goals:
Always drink at least 15 glasses of water a day (I'm usually good, but sometimes it slips...)
To be a "oneder" (aka--under 200 lbs) by the end of the year. **Accomplished 12/11
My Program:
I'm eating smart. This doesn't mean no chocolate and only veggies though. I try to balance my calories and meals while eating healthy 85-90% of the time.
I spend a lot of time on my core doing situps and using a balance ball to help prevent my sciatica from coming back (when you have sciatica at 23--you've got issues!). I also try and walk fast on my treadmill a few times a week on at least a 5% incline.
Personal Information:
http://shrinking-sara.tumblr.com
As a grad student as well, I can totally identify with you. I'm just at the start of my journey. It's so motivational to see someone who has accomplished what I hope too.
I passed!! I have to turn all my corrections and paperwork in next week, followed by a month of writing manuscripts for publication. It's really true what they, it seems like it will never be over and then it is. I took the better part of this week to unwind and rest after all the anxiety/excitement.
Have fun in D.C.! Last time I was at the conference center there were a bunch of sandwich and salad places around. Good luck with everything! You got this!
Are you going to AACR?! Of course you are! I went the last time it was in DC (which is lame when it is in your own town btw) and then the next year I had a poster in the Orlando one (awesome). I didn't go last year when it was in Chicago even though that's my town. And this year I am not going either... I'm actually going to be in Orlando with my family. It sucks, we could have hung out at the conference! My entire lab will be there, though. I know you're interested in the genestein stuff and we have a couple posters on it! I will ask them when their poster sessions are.
As for food, I've only been in that area once for AACR back ago, and I forget where I went to eat. I did a search and it looks like there is a sweetgreen really close which has really good salads. It's on 5th street. Other than that I've never tried anything around there. I don't really recommend anything in Chinatown. Nothing I've gone to there has been spectacular. There is a decent pizza place (in chinatown, weird right), that's about it.
My labmates might know the area better, so I could try to get you guys to hook up and they could help you out with lunch, too. Lemme know!
I enjoyed the story of your weight loss journey so far! 
