I'm sorry. I'm here.

I'm so sorry. I've been completely awol. My life has been crazy lately to say the least. I've been so busy it seems like I've not had a chance to sit at my laptop and write a post (I say this with little conviction as I'm sure I have had the time, however have used it for other things). The only reason I'm taking the time to write this now is because I'm bogged down with an awful stomach flu. 

No matter the circumstance that brought me to this, I am here and I am writing. Since it's been a month and three days since my last post (two months since my last personal post) I thought it would only be appropriate to catch you up on what has been happening in my life. 

Josh and I went to Toronto to see a Blue Jays game (which turned into seeing two Blue Jays Games!). We had a great time staying in downtown TO. Not only did we see the Jays but we also went to the Ripley's Aquarium and Vaughn Mills for some shopping.

I did a charity run! My friend Michelle and I entered Run The Great Lakes which raises money for a local hospice facility. We finished five kilometres in thirty-two minutes (which if you're a serious runner sucks, but if you're me and just getting back into it, is amazing!)

This little guy turned THREE. What the actual heck? I can't believe Tate is already three years old. It seems like just yesterday I was holding a six pound newborn in my arms.

This. Freakin. Highlighter. My goodness, check out E.L.F. highlighters and you will not be disappointed. 

I'm working for CLA again job coaching intellectually disabled students. The girl I'm paired with is an absolute riot. I adore her and am having an amazing summer.

I've been to the beach exactly one time... so there's proof I've truly been busy!

Canada celebrated it's 150th birthday! Unfortunately July first didn't go off as planned, however I was able to make up for it a few days later by lighting sparklers with a girlfriend of mine.

Josh's family dog sat his friends dog, Leslie. Her and Oakley become best friends quickly and now that she's gone home he seems to almost be going through a break up! She's still a puppy so her energy is high. It was an absolute blast having her around.

Sixty pounds dropped, I've finally hit my goal size. I started my weight loss journey at size twelve and I'm now a size two. I know it's not about the numbers but it was a goal of mine and I'm so proud I accomplished it.

I got my hair done again and it's freakin' amazing. I'm beyond obsessed with it. Pinterest worthy or what? Check out Liv's Instagram to see more of her amazing work!

Josh and I went to a Stag & Doe just this past weekend (where we won absolutely nothing). We had a blast with a few friends, and he even danced with me! 

These past couple months have been phenomenal and I've been selfish with keeping it all to myself. I promise to post more often! 

My Progress | Saturday Series: Fit-Spiration 6 of 6

I want to start off by saying that I realize I should have taken progress pictures wearing the same outfits all the way through, but I never thought of it back when I started my fitness journey. I also want to throw it out there that I am NOT trying to brag about my body in ANY way whatsoever. I'm posting my progress to hopefully inspire you guys and to show that if I can do it, then literally ANYONE can do it.

My journey began almost 2 years ago now. I really wanted to lose weight after realizing that I was quite self conscious about my body. I started off by simply altering my diet- less empty carbs and fatty foods and more whole grains and veggies. I was in a really bad place before starting my fitness journey; I was drinking a lot and eating really poor foods. I quit drinking all together (still haven't had a drink to this day), I cut out fast foods, and I limited myself to one "bad" food per day, which eventually turned to one "bad" food per week. I also began watching my portion size and trying to eat mindfully instead of snacking in front of the TV. By January of this year I had already seen such a remarkable difference- in just 11 months I had lost 40 pounds! I kept the weight loss going and began introducing a work out plan and by July I had lost another 15 pounds, making a total weight loss of 55 pounds and I went from a size 12 pant to a size 5. The biggest accomplishment for me wasn't necessarily the weight loss but how great I felt and how happy I was.

Over the summer I had quite a bit of free time and so began working out quite intensely. I would workout for at least an hour everyday, doing a combination of cardio and muscle building/toning. I found that I really love to walk long distances at a brisk pace, and I also really love yoga and pilates. Working out has become an absolute joy for me; it's something I really look forward to as it helps me to relax and feel happy.

This final photo I took whilst I was home this past weekend for Thanksgiving. I am maintaining my fitness despite being away at college by walking whenever I can as well as using the Sworkit app and doing yoga 3 times a week. I'm enjoying cooking healthy meals for myself with good, wholesome ingredients. Not that numbers matter in the vast scheme of things, but just as a reference if your interested my current numbers are as follows:

Weight: 108Lbs

Pant size: 2 or 3

Bust: 32"

Waist: 26"

Hips: 36"

Like I said (and will continue to say until the end of time) the numbers don't matter. They're a good gauge of progress but the important thing is how great I feel now and that I am living a healthy active lifestyle that will carry me through this life. I think a healthy lifestyle is a great thing to adopt as young as you possibly can, I think it will stick with me as long as I live. 

I hope you feel inspired by this to live a healthier, more active lifestyle. Like I said, if I can do it anyone can. It's all about making good choices and loving yourself enough to do so. If you have any questions about starting to live a healthier lifestyle or any tips you could provide me to help with my own journey leave a comment!

Thanks for reading, xo, Katelyn

Random Thought Thursday | June 18, 2015

My Weight Journey

*Just want to place a little disclaimer here to say that this isn't me bragging in anyway, I've struggled with my weight for a while and I've worked really hard to get where I am. This post is designed to explain what has been working for me in order to get to a place where I'm more confident and healthy*

I began suffering from an eating disorder in the 10th grade. I was classified as having anorexia binge/purge type. This means that I would avoid eating at all cost and if I did end up eating, most of the time I would find a way to "get rid of it" as soon as possible. My bad habits were discovered near the end of the 11th grade when my swim coach noticed not only how thin I was getting in my swim suit, but also that my hair was thinning, my skin was getting bad, and my energy levels were very low.

 I am not going to post any body pictures from when I was suffering with this as I know that then (and even now) I would compare myself to these unhealthy images and I don't want to provide them for anyone else. I still have the mind set that bony girls are gorgeous; I admire thigh gaps and hip bones and cheek bones etc (Angelina Jolie though, am I right!?). This admiration doesn't overwhelm my life anymore though, and I can now realize that as long as I'm living a healthy lifestyle my weight and clothing size don't matter. 

January 2014

When I realized how unhealthy my life style truly was and how much weight I had put on after my recovery I was devastated. I went from not eating at all to skipping some meals and then binge eating to try to makeup my calorie needs. At my heaviest I was 153 on my petite, small boned, 5'2" frame. I wasn't by any means "fat" and I'm not claiming that I was, but I wasn't healthy. I was eating a lot of fast food and spending a lot of time in my bed. Recovery was hard and I just felt exhausted which left me depressed. I had to snap myself out of this funk and so began exercising again and eating healthy. 

January 2015

Only a year after the first picture you can see how much my body changed. All I was doing over this year was eating healthy foods and trying to be a little bit more active, opting for a walk on the board walk instead of a movie at the cinema. I went from 153 to 118. The weight loss wasn't a huge accomplishment compared to being 1 year anorexia free! Of course over that year I would feel the urge to skip a meal or purge after eating, but for 365 days I was able to suppress the urges.

June 2015

I took this photo at the beginning of this month. I am still anorexia free and I am so proud of myself. I found that I really love yoga, walking and bike riding and so I began doing those more and more often since January. My weight hasn't really changed but my body has. Just with the little bit of daily exercise I do my body has become a lot more toned. Places that once were jiggly are now a little more firm.

I think my biggest bit of growth over the last year and a half (besides overcoming anorexia) is I now have an appreciation for my body. 

I don't care to be skin and bones because my muscles are so beautiful.

I don't care to be skin and bones because my fat is so beautiful. 

I don't care to be skin and bones because I am so beautiful.

If you are suffering with an eating disorder please reach out to someone! My e-mail is katemcphee95@hotmail.com, please feel free to send me an e-mail at anytime of the day or night. You are not alone in your struggle and recovery is possible. 

Thanks for reading, xo, Katelyn