Welcome to Coffee Cake and Cardio!! My name is Ashley and I am health and fitness blogger here in the Washington, DC area.   For as long as I can remember, I have struggled with my body weight and self image.

I first weighed over 200 pounds at the age of 13.  As a teenager I remember shopping at Lane Bryant as it was the only store that had plus size clothes that fit me.  There was nothing more mortifying than having to wear knit pants and sweaters that scream ‘Mom’s closet’ as a 6th grader. Growing up overweight was extremely difficult for me!  Being teased, left behind, and isolated… I still cringe when I think about grade school.

My weight continued to climb despite efforts by my parents to help me to lose weight.  I saw numerous dietitians and joined Weight Watchers with my Mom many times throughout my teens.

Despite my weight loss struggles, in the 9th grade I began lifting weights with the football team during PE class.  Lifting weights daily led to my career as a powerlifter.  In 2002, my senior year of high school, I won the state championship in powerlifting, which was awesome!!  I benched 195lbs, squatted 400lbs, and dead-lifted 400lbs.  Just shy of 1000lbs total.  On top of powerlifting, I threw the discus in high school which carried me into college as a discus and hammer thrower.

I loved throwing the discus and the hammer as a collegiate student-athlete but I did not see the need to lose weight during college as I felt my sport justified my size.  It wasn’t until my collegiate career ended that I realized how unhealthy I was and how much I needed to lose weight.

Overweight Teenager

In 2006, I moved to Vermont just after college to begin my job at Dartmouth College.  At that time  I weighed 261 pounds!  I hated the way I felt and although I was still clinging to the fact that I was a college athlete, the reality was, it was time for me to change my life!

Ashley Before

I joined Weight Watchers in the Fall of 2006 and I began the program counting my points and finding ways to eat lots of foods with the lowest points value.  In all reality, I was eating a lot of processed foods.  A few weeks later I decided to switch to the “CORE” program in which you were allowed to eat as much fruit, veggies, lean meat, and fat free dairy in moderation each day.  You were also able to eat one serving of brown rice, potatoes, or whole grain pasta a day.  You really had to listen to your body and decide when you were hungry and when your body was satisfied.

Ashley Before

I reached my lowest weight in the October of 2007, weighing in at 207 (losing 54 pounds total).

Date

Weigh-In Weight

Weight Loss

Total Weight Loss

Weight Left To Lose

Nov 30, 2006

251.6

81.6

Dec 7, 2006

247.4

4.2

4.2

77.4

Dec 12, 2006

244.6

2.8

7

74.6

Dec 19, 2006

244.2

0.4

7.4

74.2

Dec 26, 2006

242.2

2

9.4

72.2

Jan 4, 2007

239.4

2.8

12.2

69.4

Jan 11, 2007

236.8

2.6

14.8

66.8

Jan 17, 2007

235.4

1.4

16.2

65.4

Jan 24, 2007

232.4

3

19.2

62.4

Feb 1, 2007

229

3.4

22.6

59

Feb 8, 2007

228.4

0.8

23.2

58.2

Feb 20, 2007

226.4

2

25.2

56.2

Mar 10, 2007

225.6

0.8

26

55.4

Quit Weight Watchers

Aug 25, 2007

210

15.6

41.6

39.8

Oct 31, 2007

207

3

44.6

36.8

Ashley Before

From October 2007 to April 2009 I fluctuated between 207 and 215 pounds. I went through a lot of personal things back in the spring/summer of 2009 and that is when I began gaining weight back.  Since the summer of 2009 I have fluctuated between 215 and 230 pounds, losing and gaining the same 15 pounds.

As a newlywed, 2012 marked the start of a new chapter in my life.  I have had to close the book on my past weight loss and look at my present as a new start.  This blog is a window into my life and will show you my daily journey to reach my goal weight.

I AM A….

-Wife, to my husband Neal

-Mom to a westie named Theodore

-Weight Watcher member

-Professional football player for the DC Divas

-FitFluential Ambassador

-Texan (living in Washington,DC)

I welcome you into my life and hope that I can help to motivate and encourage those around me.

Every person has a story, a beautiful story… just take a minute to listen.

Disclaimer:  All the information presented on this blog is for educational, entertainment, and resource purposes only. This blog is NOT a substitute for any advice given to you by your physician. Always consult your physician or health care provider before beginning any weight loss, nutrition or exercise program. Use of the programs, advice, and information contained in this website is at the sole choice and risk of the reader.