=D Thanks again, everyone!
This forum in general never fails to make me smile, everyone here is so nice and so inspirational to me!
Anyways, to answer your question (the question of 'how' posed by Aimster45 and Jtjoray)...In total, I've lost abouttt 120 pounds (though, don't take my word for it-- I know I've lost over 100, but I have never really recorded my weight loss. I'm such a bad weight loser! :P), and honestly sometimes I don't even know how! I never knew, before I started losing weight that is, that I possessed so much willpower and strength-- and that I, (yes me, the girl who NEVER said no to any food) could resist the temptations of the foods that aren't good for my body. I've probably tried out every diet there is on the market, but I've found that it's hard to put limitations on everything. So, thus forth cometh the Shannon diet. It comes down to two principals which seem easy when written, but gawlly geeze..:P They aren't too easy to follow! Eat when you're hungry, and eat healthy. I've always been an overeater and an emotional eater. I ate because I liked it, because it made me feel better about ANYTHING. Oh, I failed a test? Pizza for me! Oh, it's a birthday? Four pieces of cake, madam. Now, while I do still eat those foods (gasp), I eat it in moderation. While I used to religiously count calories, I fail to do so now-- I have found that I can still lose weight, enjoy what I want, and not want more later on. 100 calorie packs are definitely a savior (especially my newfound love ones of Reeses Pieces packs. 100 calories and you get JUST the right amount of chocolate to satisfy any lusting for the sweet stuff), and I always bring those for lunch at school and whatnot.
Of course, calories in means they gotta come off somehow..During school, I always find it hard to put in some exercise hours. I mean, high school is way too tough. :P Butttt, after picking up dance, I actually enjoy exercising. I guess exercising comes down to finding what you enjoy versus what you HAVE to do. I do some weight lifting on the side, though nothing too large as I'm still a little weakling in certain circumstances (I can lift about 20 pounds now, but considering a pound used to tire me out? That's very good for me). Walk away the pounds is an excellent tool in weight loss too, as walking in any terms is. I walk a LOT. I'm working towards buying a car now, driver’s license and all that good stuff, but until then? I walk everywhere. Especially with my friends, who have yet to find money for cars either. Have feet, will travel as the old saying goes. Or was it..? Well, I don't know the phrase! But, feet is better anyways. :P Especially with an ipod or an mp3 player if you're by yourself..I got an iPod for my birthday a while back, and may I say that it is probably one of the BEST inventions made by man. You can vary the tempo of your steps depending upon how fast or slow your song goes, and the compliments you get from your neighborhood as you slowly shrink? Yes, pretty nice. Always worth a smile to hear a neighbor say, "Oh my gosh, is that you!?" *Definitely* worth a smile. ;D
Sorry if that's a bit of rambling, I'm sort of tired, but I hope it answered your question. =]