My Journey.... It Isn't Over Yet!!!

Well, for those of you who have been following my weight loss journey, today was the final weigh in on my KMC's Biggest Loser Challenge.  Now, I don't think I won, but to myself and my family I am a winner!  I lost weight and gained awesome muscle!  I started at 200.4 and ended at 180.9, that's 19.6 pounds gone!  My waist went from 35" to 32", my hips from 43.5" to 42", my butt from 46" to 44", my neck from 13" to 12", my bust from 35" to 34", my mom pooch 41" to 37" and my calves 17" to 16".  Overall I lost over 12.5" (from various other parts too) :)  

Now here are my before and after pictures.  Yes I am in my bra and underwear, but a bathing suit is the same thing.  I didn't want to take pictures with leggings and tshirts because I wouldn't be able to see the transformation I wanted.

Starting pics...  Jan 2, 2013 and ending pics! End of March 2013. Pretty proud from where I cam from to where I am now!

I am more proud of the muscle I have gained.  Now, I am no where near cut or toned like I want to be, but I will get there.  But for now here are some beginning and current stats:

                             
                          AS OF JAN 2013                          AS OF MARCH 29, 2013      
Bench press:    30lb  preloaded  barbell                  75 lbs (45lb bar plus 30lbs)
Overhead Tri ext: 10lb dumbbell                                    35lb dumbbell
Squat:              40lb preloaded barbell                       140lb Smith machine
Pushups:           1 - real guy one                                    15 (in one set)        
Situps:                   35 in 1 min                                            57 in one min                
Plank:                         20 sec                                                    2 min                        
V-ups                            2-3                                                  10 in a set            
Leg ext:                      45lbs                                                      90lbs                            
Leg curl:                      30lbs                                                     60 lbs                            
Leg press:                   95lbs                                                     160lbs                              
Back ext:                  15 w/ no weight set                       15 w/ 35lb plate set            
Running:           1/8 mi without stopping      2.7mi with 2x10 sec breathers

When you set your mind to something, like REALLY set your mind to something and amazing thing happens...  This switch triggers and you just get tired of how things "have always been" and you get mad at it, so mad and that builds motivation... That motivation builds into determination and if you want it bad enough- nothing will stop you from getting your goal.  Yes there will be set backs and yes you will have a few bad days, but overall- you will do it!

I got tired of being fat.  I was tired of always sucking it in when out in public.  I was tired of not enjoying life because of my weight.  I was tired of not wearing a swimsuit (for 8 years).  I wanted to be normal, I wanted to be healthy, I wanted more out of life.  And I got it- and am still going!  I am not done yet by far, but this is a damn great start to the new year and new me in just 11 weeks!  Remember- if you want it- you will make it happen...  You are your only excuse.  Don't say you don't have time, don't say you are too tired, don't say I'll start tomorrow- because tomorrow never comes, you have to make time (you make time for FB and TV!), and you won't be tired once you eat and exercise right!

If anyone needs any help or tips, please let me know!  Good Luck!!

Katie :)

David Wood @ the Huffington Post

Well, Mr. Wood...  I read your article titled "Defense Budget Faces Cuts To Personnel After Decade of War"
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/01/30/defense-budget-cuts_n_2584099.html
and I have to say, you SORRY SON OF A BITCH...  You know what, if you can't stand with out troops, feel free to stand in front of them...

Your article made me sick to my stomach.  You criticize our military's pay, saying we have LAVISH salaries, stating facts of us making on average $50k a year, being able to save 30% at the base commissaries, having too many education benefits and other "perks".  And saying the government needs to reel it in on our pay and benefits and stating that mental health care and new research on PTSD could hault...  Really?  Our government throws us into a war, increases the ops tempo, sends many of us on back to back deployments, months and months away from family and you agree cutting mental health care is part of the solution?!  Are you really that stupid?  I am so beside myself with anger and hate right now (and I try to NEVER use the word HATE), but sir- I HATE YOU.

Let me start by addressing the pay:

I don't know where you got your numbers, but let me break it down- you can use GOOGLE to search military pay charts **** (*=year) and see the true numbers.... or here, you can search them all http://www.dfas.mil/militarymembers/payentitlements/militarypaytables.html

First off, we got pay increases because the leadership was trying to even out the GAP between the civilian sector and the military... The housing allowance, we get yes, if we stay on base, we don't see that money- we get quarters instead.  If we live off base, yes we get an allowance to HELP PAY our rent, mortgage, etc. And that price depends on where you are stationed- some places are higher in the $ due to the ummmm...  idk- HIGHER COST OF LIVING...  In DC it will cost more than living in MS. DUH.

Currently, 2013, an E5 with over 6 years gets $2499 a month, plus about $300 for food and money for housing (or they keep the housing money in exchange for government housing).  And since housing depends on location, we will leave that out for now...  So $2499 for 12 months=$29,988  plus food for the year= $3600.  So right now, we are at $33,588.  Now the issue of housing, let's pick a nice round number, say $1200- because that is around what a lot of places are at- minus the LARGER cities.  That brings the annual housing to $14,400.  Now we all pay taxes, so please take out an average of 25% off of the base pay= $22,491.  Now add all that together-
22491
14400
3600
--------
$40491

Now you addressed tax free combat pay- um, this should be a no brainer- I AM SURE THEY WOULD RATHER BE WITH THEIR FAMILIES THAN BEING IN A WAR ZONE.  So shove that statement up your ass.

Then you say that we are so lavishly paid, let me address this line for you:  Congress and the Senate make 6 figures, easy plus whatever they pigeon hole from the taxpayers for "business" trips and lobbyists.  They get a pension after serving 5 years...  They get full medical....  They get a whole lot more than the military.  And yes, they "run" the country, but our men and women fight to defend her EVERYDAY.  I think the pay our men an women receive SHOULD increase, their pay SHOULD be better, their housing SHOULD be nice and comfortable.  They SHOULD receive certain benefits such as base shopping and child care, why- because it helps make our lives just a smidge easier when our spouse is away fighting, it helps ease the stress just a little knowing the base and it's benefits are here to help and support us when we need them.

You may be one of those who think- oh it was a choice, they CHOSE to sign up...  Yes sir you are right.  But without the brave men and women of the military- YOU WOULD BE UP SHIT CREEK WITHOUT A PADDLE.  You sir, should be defending them and fighting for them, not against them.  Fight to cut CONGRESS' pay, fight to cut the SENATE'S pay and all their benefits...  Fight to put and END TO LAVISH BUSINESS TRIPS TO HAWAII and fight to END the 1st lady's LAVISH WARDROBE SPENDING SPREES WITH OUR TAXPAYERS MONEY!
FIGHT FOR A CAUSE WORTH FIGHTING FOR!  Not one that will earn you hate and resentment.

USAF Veteran,
Katie Fulmer

There is so much more to say, but honestly, you are worth no more of my words.

What Government???

Well, first thing's first.  I applaud Senator Rand Paul for speaking up against our President's actions on drone strikes in an almost 14 HOUR filibuster!!!  (but you know Rand, you could have pee'd in a cup and kept going!!!)

 I know the President isn't alone in this decision and I am appalled at anyone who agrees with any of this mess!  Taking care of and protecting out country is one thing, but being completely unconstitutional is another and it seems to me that most US citizens are just standing by and letting the government take away our Constitution little by little.

Now I know, I know.  Everyone is entitled to their opinions, so don't fault me for mine.  I will be honest.  I do not like the President.  Not because he is black (or some say I am racist b/c I don't support him- bullshit).  I don't like/support him because of what he stands for, because of his actions and I don't like him as a person. It has nothing to do with skin color or anything.  I wasn't a fan of Bush either, so there!  I vote and support people based on how closely they match my beliefs, which is the way it should be.

So no, I don't support the President, nor do I support most of the people in Congress or the Senate!  What is going on right now is complete and utter bullshit.

Budget cuts of ridiculously small proportions, just to get by for another year, cutting DOD teacher pay by 20% starting 1 April, cutting military grocery stores hours, cutting school hours by 1 day a week, HEAD START has to boot 70k kids due to cuts, the military gets cut by about $43 Billion, the FDA cut by about $200M+, Airport Security- well ok, TSA needs to go anyways, so that on is alright!.  But to see a list of all the cuts, look here:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2013/02/20/the-sequester-absolutely-everything-you-could-possibly-need-to-know-in-one-faq/

The problem I have is this.  When the sequester happened, what did Congress do??? Take a VACAY? WTF?  A vacation???  With what money???....  Uh emmm.... the taxpayers.  Thanks assholes.

And then guess what happens on March 22....  ANOTHER VACAY!!!!!  Even though the money runs out on 27 March.  WHAT.  They work 23 days out of 60 and need a vacay?
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2287212/Sequester-Congress-week-vacation-March-22-money-runs-March-27.html?ito=feeds-newsxml

And what does the PRESIDENT plan on doing about this???  TAKING A VACAY TOO!!!  Planning a 3 day weekend and then a 4 day the following weekend!  Thanks for tanking our economy and leaving it for us to feel the impact!!!

And this doesn't even put a dent in how pissed I am about our government!  Vacations on our dime, Michelle's lavish spending sprees on our dime, Nancy Pelosi spending $10k a night on her room in Hawaii for "a business trip".  WTF people?  I thought you were elected to TAKE CARE OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.  Instead you are spending our hard earned money and leaving us is a shit economy!

Yes, yes, it was pretty shitty when the President took it over, but he hasn't done a damn thing to make it better.  If anything, he is making it worse.  I think people forgot about the word impeachment.  And i think people also forgot about the fact that we the people can take back this country.  I know enough people are pissed, so let's do something.  Not just about the President, but about all of the ones who are taking away our Constitution!

And since I am on a rant...  How come none of THEIR pay is being looked at? How come Social Security and programs that NEED help are being cut???  They threaten military pay, benefits and just took away tuition assistance for the Marines... but what about any of their stuff?  I think it is ridiculous that they get elected, serve 2-4 years and get full, lifetime benefits and money...  How about they get put on an hourly wage system and earn benefits like the rest of us?!!!??!!

They want to cut, but their cuts are minuscule in the eyes of the bigger picture of the national debt...  They cut programs like needed ones, education, but they still want to test food sources on Mars?  Really?

How about this too- to help cut spending...  WELFARE, it isn't being cut!!!  How about you mandate that the states need to ALL enforce drug testing to receive benefits???  Like Florida :)
How about that one?  I bet that would save billions! UGH!

My goal!  I am going to work with my aunt and we are going to work on a petition to send up to Congress.  With enough signatures, they have to address it, and I know it is a long shot, but IF we make it that far- I want to try and go address some issues. Anyone with me?  Be on the look out for it!!!  Sign and let's start a grass roots movement to take back our country!!!!

Katie