Week Twelve and COMPLETED!

Hey!!
So, I planned for this week to be an awesome week with my nutrition right on point, but it was NOT.
I made some bad choices, but even so, I made some good decisions, too.  Looking back, I consider it a win that I didn't just throw in the towel and say, "well, the whole week is shot so forget it!"  Nope.  I made a bad decision and then the next one was a good one.  I didn't lose an entire day to bad decisions the whole time.
So, my twelve week challenge (no grains, no sugar) is completed.  I have learned soooo much during these 12 weeks.
I've learned that I can have balance in my life.  Just because I eat 1 cookie doesn't mean I failed and should throw away the whole day (or week, or month).  It means that I should balance that with a healthy lunch (and pass on the other 5 cookies still sitting there).
I've learned that there will ALWAYS be the chance for treats.  No matter where I go or what I do, there will always be treats.  So, when they are available I don't need to eat them all for fear of never eating anything so yummy again.  I just need to wait until the next day or the next event for another treat.  It's probably weird that my brain thinks that way, but it does.
I learned that there is such a thing as moderation.  I can feel that this is still an issue for me, but I believe with continued focus and practice, I can get better and better.
I've learned to not label foods "good" and "bad".  It doesn't have morals. Food is food and the key is moderation. I want to use words and phrases like that's a good choice, that's a better choice, and that's the best choice.  I don't want to make any kind of food a negative. Especially for my kids. I won't say I didn't buy that because it's bad for you.  I'll tell them I bought the best choice I could find for their snacks, their lunches, etc.  And if they choose a slice of birthday cake over a fruit salad, I'll tell them, "Yum! Good choice!" And probably ask them to eat some fruit salad with their cake. ;-)  Hey, I can try, right?!
What will I do now?
I will continue to pay close attention to what I eat.  I will continue to track my physical progress once a month using a tape measure.  I will not weigh myself on a scale because the inches and the way my clothes fit will tell me how I'm doing.
I won't post monthly check ins about my food or my inches, but I will continue to share new things I try that work or don't work.  I'll share new information I come across.  And I'll post recipes that I love.  If there's anything else you'd like to see from me, let me know.
I am currently doing the 21 Day Fix program (which I've done in the past and LOVED) until January 1st.  Then I will do a 30-day MMA-inspired program called Core De Force from January 2nd-31st. After that?  Who knows?  We'll take it one program at a time and one month at a time.
I will eat whole grains, lots of veggies and fruit, lean protein, and have treats when I want treats.  I will continue to drink my Shakeology every day because it has done wonders with curbing my cravings and it tastes WONDERFUL!  And I believe it gives me the extra nutrition that I need that I can't possibly eat in other foods in one day.
I'm definitely going to continue with my accountability groups because it has been a GAME CHANGER for me in staying on track.  When I have to check in daily with a group of people daily, I tend to make better choices.
As far as ending numbers.  Here's my chart:

From day 1 to the end of week 12: I lost 13 inches and 11.6 pounds.  I decreased my body fat 10 percent (it went from 30 percent to 27 percent). My goal from here is to focus on that number.  I want to be under 24 percent body fat.
Here's all 4 week photos:

And here's a side-by-side of the first day and the last day:

Thank you for your encouragement each week.  I've enjoyed the journey and I look forward to becoming stronger mentally and physically by staying active and fueling my body with good nutrition.
Love, Kara