text:
- "I really like how the sixth book is going. A lot happens in the sixth book and a lot of questions are answered. I really have a sense that we are nearly there and it is time for answers, not more questions and clues, although obviously there are a few clues as I am not quite finished yet."
- —J. K. Rowling
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince is the sixth novel in J. K. Rowling's Harry Potter series. Set during Harry Potter's 6th year at Hogwarts, Lord Voldemort is definitely back and with a vengeance. Harry finds his world is yet again changing. Wizards and witches and Muggles are dying despite the efforts of the Ministry of Magic and the Order of the Phoenix to stop them. The war is back on. Despite the danger, Harry and his best friends, Ron and Hermione, reunite and return to the familiar life of Hogwarts for their 6th year. They find yet another Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher; Professor Snape. They begin their N.E.W.T. classes in preparation for life after Hogwarts, and Harry gets some much needed Potions help from the mysterious Half-Blood Prince. Quidditch is as popular as ever, Harry is nominated Gryffindor Quidditch Captain, and he finds himself reforming his team.
As well, this book sees the introduction ever-popular Slug Club, along with the appointment of a new Potions teacher, Horace Slughorn. Romance again comes to Hogwarts, and is a welcome balance to the grim happenings elsewhere. Harry deeply questions his own feelings for Ginny Weasley, Ron's younger sister, while trying to understand the effect it is having on his friends. Yet while life at Hogwarts continues, the deaths also continue, with someone trying to bring it into Hogwarts. Danger seems to lurk around every corner, and Harry is as determined as ever to unmask it. Albus Dumbledore takes Harry under his guidance and together they explore Lord Voldemort's past, to find a way to stop him before it is too late. Ultimately, Harry finds he must accept what he must do as The Chosen One against Voldemort and choose between what is right, and what is easy.
When it was released on 16 July, 2005, it was the first book in the United Kingdom to have a simultaneous standard print, large print, and Braille edition release. Within the first 24 hours, the book sold 6.9 million copies in the U.S. alone, roughly moving 250,000 an hour, making it the fastest selling book in history. It generated more than $100 million in sales out of the gate, outpacing even the combined take of the top films at the box office. Bookseller Barnes and Noble reported sales averaging 105 copies per second in the first hour of sales. It is also the first book in the series to be shorter than the book preceding it.
Rowling became pregnant with her third child during the writing of this book, and often joked about them racing each other into the world. For this reason, the book was dedicated to her:
- To Mackenzie,
- My beautiful daughter,
- I dedicate
- Her ink-and-paper twin
Book description
It is Harry Potter 's sixth year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. As Voldemort's sinister forces amass and a spirit of gloom and fear sweeps the land, it becomes more and more clear to Harry that he will soon have to confront his destiny . But is he up to the challenges ahead of him?
Raincoast Bloomsbury edition
It is the middle of the summer, but there is an unseasonal mist pressing against the window panes. Harry Potter is waiting nervously in his bedroom at the Dursleys' house in Privet Drive for a visit from Professor Dumbledore himself. One of the last times he saw the Headmaster was in a fierce one-to-one duel with Lord Voldemort, and Harry can't quite believe that Professor Dumbledore will actually appear at the Dursleys' of all places. Why is the Professor coming to visit him now? What is it that cannot wait until Harry returns to Hogwarts in a few weeks' time? Harry's sixth year at Hogwarts has already got off to an unusual start, as the worlds of Muggle and magic start to intertwine ...
Chapter 1: The Other Minister
- "The trouble is, the other side can do magic too, Prime Minister."
- —Rufus Scrimgeour, to the Muggle Prime Minister.
The Muggle Prime Minister receives a notice that Cornelius Fudge is to meet him. He then recollects Fudge's earlier meetings with him: his first meeting with Fudge soon after he became the Prime Minister, Sirius Black's escape from Azkaban, the Quidditch World Cup, the Triwizard Tournament and the 1996 Azkaban mass breakout. When Fudge finally arrives, he reveals a number of incidents which had occurred in the Muggle world and for which the Prime Minister is forced to owe responsibility: the collapse of the Brockdale Bridge, a supposed hurricane in the West Country, the deaths of Amelia Bones and Emmeline Vance and the insanity of Junior Minister Herbert Chorley which have all been caused by Lord Voldemort, his followers the Death Eaters and their Giant allies. In short, the Second Wizarding War has begun. Fudge also reveals that he has been sacked and replaced by Rufus Scrimgeour as Minister for Magic. Scrimgeour too meets the Prime Minister and discusses security arrangements with him.
Chapter 2: Spinner's End
- "Do you really think that the Dark Lord has not asked me each and every one of those questions? And do you really think that, had I not been able to give satisfactory answers, I would be sitting here talking to you?"
- —Snape, to Bellatrix Lestrange.
Narcissa Malfoy and her sister Bellatrix Lestrange visit Severus Snape at Spinner's End, a poverty-stricken neighbourhood in a northern mill town. Narcissa wants Snape to help her protect her son Draco, who has been made a Death Eater and has been assigned a mission by Lord Voldemort himself. Bellatrix advises against this, distrusting Snape for not taking part in the Battle of the Department of Mysteries at the Ministry of Magic, and for his many suspicious actions through the years which make her doubt whether Snape is actually on their side. Snape explains his behaviour as necessary to serve Voldemort in his role as a spy on Dumbledore, but still does not gain Bellatrix's trust. Narcissa then explains that Draco is almost certain to fail in the mission he was assigned for; she and Snape believe this is to punish the Malfoys for Lucius Malfoy's failure to retrieve the prophecy at the Department of Mysteries. Snape makes an Unbreakable Vow to Narcissa, magically binding him to aid Draco in his first mission as a Death Eater. Failure to fulfill the Unbreakable Vow will result in Snape's death. Bellatrix is astounded at this and finally believes Snape.
Chapter 3: Will and Won't
- ""It is a long time since my last visit... I must say, your agapanthus are flourishing."
- —Dumbledore, to the Dursleys.
Albus Dumbledore comes to visit Harry Potter at 4 Privet Drive to take him to The Burrow, where he would spend the rest of his summer holidays. Dumbledore reads Sirius Black's will: Harry inherits his deceased godfather's wealth, the Black family house at 12 Grimmauld Place, which Harry lets the Order of the Phoenix continue to use as headquarters, and the House-elf Kreacher, whom Harry sends to work at the Hogwarts kitchens. Dumbledore then chastises the Dursleys for their neglect and mistreatment of Harry but asks that he be allowed to return to Privet Drive one final time, and he and Harry depart.
Chapter 4: Horace Slughorn
- "He seemed remarkably unabashed for a man who had just been discovered pretending to be an armchair."
- —Description of Horace Slughorn.
Harry notices Dumbledore has received a serious injury to his right hand, but the Headmaster dismisses it as unimportant. Dumbledore then asks Harry's help in convincing an old Hogwarts teacher, Horace Slughorn, to come out of retirement. They pay him a visit, but Slughorn is reluctant to return to the school, fearing it may put his life in danger from Death Eaters. Harry tells him that no teachers have died since Dumbledore became Headmaster, except Professor Quirrell, who was working for Voldemort. This dubious comfort, and the opportunity to get Harry to join his Slug Club, persuades Slughorn to return to Hogwarts. Dumbledore then drops Harry off at The Burrow, praises him for the way he has handled his godfather's untimely death and reveals that he would take private classes for him in the forthcoming academic year.
Chapter 5: An Excess of Phlegm
- "Seven OWLs, that's more than Fred and George got together!"
- —Molly Weasley, to Ron.
Harry is warmly received at The Burrow by the Weasley family, who offer him Fred and George's bedroom to sleep in. Harry meets his best friends Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger and Ron's younger sister Ginny Weasley the following morning. He also meets Triwizard Champion Fleur Delacour, who is now working at Gringotts and is engaged to Ron's oldest brother Bill Weasley, which is not liked by Hermione and the rest of the Weasleys (except Ron). Later in the day, the trio receive their O.W.L. results; Harry and Ron receive 7 O.W.L.'s while Hermione receives 10. However, Harry is slightly disappointed as he has only achieved Exceeds Expectations in Potions, meaning he can no longer realise his ambition as an Auror as Snape only takes students who have achieved Outstanding into his N.E.W.T. Potions class.
Chapter 6: Draco's Detour
- —Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes poster.
Chapter 7: The Slug Club
- "I enjoyed the meetings too... It was like having friends."
- —Luna Lovegood, about the D.A meetings.
On the Hogwarts Express, Harry meets his other friends Neville Longbottom and Luna Lovegood and shares a compartment with them as Ron and Hermione are in the Prefect Carriage. By now, Harry finds himself attracted to Ginny, although she appears to have long given up on her crush on him and is currently dating Harry's classmate Dean Thomas. Harry and Neville are invited for lunch to Slughorn's compartment on the train along with Ginny and some other students with connections to well known or influential people. Before reaching Hogsmeade station, Harry enters Malfoy's compartment using his Invisibility Cloak to prove his suspicions of Malfoy. His suspicions are proved correct; Malfoy tells his friends Vincent Crabbe, Gregory Goyle, Pansy Parkinson and Blaise Zabini that he has become a Death Eater and he may not return to Hogwarts for his final year if the mission he was assigned by Voldemort is successful. Unfortunately for Harry, Malfoy notices Harry spying on him and once his friends have alighted from the train, he paralyses Harry, breaks his nose, covers the Invisibility Cloak on him and leaves him on the train.
Chapter 8: Snape Victorious
- "I think you were better off with the old one. The new one looks weak."
- —Snape, about Tonks' Patronus.
Tonks, who is assigned by the Ministry of Magic to guard Hogsmeade, comes to Harry's rescue. She takes him to the school, where he is received by Snape. At the Start-of-Term Feast, Dumbledore announces, to Harry's shock, that Snape is taking over the post of Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher, while Slughorn will be taking Snape's vacated job as Potions Master. This allows Harry and Ron to continue with Potions, as Slughorn takes students who have received Exceeds Expectations in their Potions O.W.L..
Chapter 9: The Half-Blood Prince
- "Slughorn could've handed me that book, but no, I get the one no one's ever written on. Puked on, by the look of page fifty-two..."
- —Ron, about Harry taking the Half-Blood Prince book.
Harry and Ron take up Charms, Defence Against the Dark Arts, Herbology, Potions and Transfiguration as their N.E.W.T. subjects. During the first Defence Against the Arts class of the year, Harry receives a detention from Snape as he had talked back to him following Snape trying to use him as a guinea pig to show how a nonverbal spell works. Later that day, they attend Potions, where Harry and Ron receive old copies of Advanced Potion Making from Slughorn as they did not buy the book. Harry's book, previously owned by someone named The Half-Blood Prince, contains a large number of shortcuts on making various potions, which prove useful in brewing the Draught of Living Death. To everyone's surprise, Harry's potion is adjudged the best by Slughorn and is awarded a bottle of Felix Felicis as a prize. When Harry tells Ron and Hermione about the book, Ginny overhears them and angrily confronts Harry about following the directions of this mysterious book in fear that it may be cursed like Tom Riddle's diary. Hermione then tries various spells to reveal the true nature of the book, but the book proves to be a normal one, allaying Ginny and Hermione's fears.
Chapter 10: The House of Gaunt
- "From here on in, Harry, I may be as woefully wrong as Humphrey Belcher, who believed the time was ripe for a cheese cauldron."
- —Dumbledore, about his assumptions about Riddle plans.
Chapter 11: Hermione's Helping Hand
- "Oh, come on, Harry, It's not Quidditch that's popular, it's you! You've never been more interesting, and frankly, you've never been more fanciable."
- —Hermione about Harry.
Harry, the new Gryffindor Quidditch Captain, holds trials to select the team for the annual Quidditch Cup. Due to Harry's popularity, it proves to be extremely taxing and difficult, with even first-years, Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs turning up for the trials. In the end, Harry selects a team which includes among others, final-year Katie Bell, the only member remaining from the Quidditch team Harry joined in his first year, Ginny and Ron, who returned to his position as Keeper, staving off competition from another final-year and Slug Club member Cormac McLaggen. Later Harry, Ron and Hermione go visit Hagrid, who is upset at them as they had dropped his subject Care of Magical Creatures. After lying to Hagrid that they had dropped Care of Magical Creatures as they could not fit it into their timetables, Hagrid reconciles with them. When the trio return to the Great Hall for dinner, Harry finds out that Hermione had used the Confundus Charm on McLaggen so that Ron would become Keeper, but he does not tell Ron this. Slughorn then invites Harry and Hermione for dinner with the other Slug Club members in his staff room, which Harry declines as he has to do his detention with Snape.
Chapter 12: Silver and Opals
- "He did not usually lie in bed reading his textbooks; that sort of behaviour, as Ron rightly said, was indecent in anybody except Hermione, who was simply weird that way."
- —Description of Harry's obsession about the Half-Blood Prince book.
Harry finds a couple of spells scribbled on the Half-Blood Prince's textbook. He tries one of them (Levicorpus) in his dormitory, but points his wand at Ron by mistake, as a result of which Ron hangs by his ankle from the ceiling. Later that day, Harry, Ron and Hermione go to Hogsmeade, where they witness Katie being cursed after touching a strange necklace. Remembering seeing the same necklace in Borgin's shop, Harry voices his suspicions of Malfoy to Professor McGonagall, but she, like Ron and Hermione, rubbishes his theory, stating that Malfoy did not go to Hogsmeade as he had a detention with her, and that there is no proof that he bought the necklace.
Chapter 13: The Secret Riddle
- "I can make bad things happen to people who annoy me. I can make them hurt if I want to."
- —Tom Riddle (child), to Dumbledore.
In his second lesson with Dumbledore, Harry first sees Caractacus Burke talking about a locket of Salazar Slytherin's that a pregnant and desperate Merope Gaunt had sold him, Riddle having abandoned her when she stopped giving him Love Potion, then goes into a memory of Dumbledore's to the orphanage that Riddle had grown up in. Harry learns that Merope had later died in childbirth, and that even at an early age, Riddle had developed his powers, which he used to punish people who annoyed him and had a sadistical, cruel and independent nature, just like the adult Voldemort.
Chapter 14: Felix Felicis
- "Ron... you're my best mate, but carry on treating the rest of them like this and I'm going to kick you off the team."
- —Harry to Ron.
During a Herbology lesson, Ron expresses his jealousy of not being invited to Slughorn's upcoming Christmas party, to the point of teasing Hermione about it. When she tells him that she was planning to invite him, however, his attitude changes, and they begin to show signs of attraction to each other. Harry is unsure how he feels about this, remembering his unsuccessful relationship with Cho Chang during his fifth year. With Katie unable to play, Harry recruits Dean Thomas onto the Quidditch team, which continues to improve. On their way back from practice however, Harry and Ron come across Dean and Ginny kissing behind a tapestry. Harry feels a huge surge of jealousy toward Dean, while Ron and Ginny have a heated argument. Ron states that he doesn't want to see his sister "snogging" (kissing) people in public, while Ginny tells him that her love life is none of his business, and that he's only upset because he's never kissed anyone, referencing Harry and Cho's relationship and revealing that Hermione had once kissed Viktor Krum. This piece of information wrecks Ron's relationship with Hermione, as well as his Quidditch skills, and badly alters his personality. Harry meanwhile tries to convince himself that his feelings for Ginny are brotherly, but eventually realises that he has fallen in love with her.
To improve Ron's Quidditch and mend his relationship with Hermione, Harry pretends to slip Ron some Felix Felicis on the day of the match between Gryffindor and Slytherin. Feeling lucky, Ron goes on to save everything the Slytherin chasers throw at him, and Gryffindor hammers Slytherin. However, the plan backfires. After the match, Ron accuses Hermione of not having faith in his Quidditch abilities, because she thought he really had taken lucky potion, and starts going out with Lavender Brown to spite her.
Chapter 15: The Unbreakable VowAs Slughorn's Christmas party approaches, Hermione warns Harry that a number of girls, particularly Romilda Vane, plan to slip him a love potion, to get him to invite them. Harry gets round this by going to the party with Luna, while Hermione goes with Cormac McLaggen to get back at Ron (which she regrets very much later). During the party, Malfoy is dragged in, in trouble for lurking in a certain deserted corridor and claiming to be gatecrashing; Slughorn lets him off the hook. Snape however takes Malfoy out of the party and into a deserted classroom. Harry follows them both and overhears Snape offering to help Malfoy with his mission, which Malfoy flatly refuses, accusing Snape of trying to interfere.
Chapter 16: A Very Frosty Christmas
- "Dumbledore's man through and through, aren't you, Potter?"
- —Rufus Scrimgeour, after Harry negation to work for the Ministry.
During the Christmas holidays at the Burrow, Harry tells Ron, his father Arthur Weasley and Remus Lupin what he overheard, but they believe that Snape was trying to find out Malfoy's plan so he could tell Dumbledore. Later, Rufus Scrimgeour visits the Burrow, and requests that Harry appear to work alongside the Ministry, to boost the morale of the public. Harry turns it down, knowing that the Ministry is arresting and imprisoning innocent people and remembering how they persecuted him last year.
Chapter 17: A Sluggish Memory
- Phineas Nigellus: "I can't see why the boy should be able to do it better than you, Dumbledore."
- Albus Dumbledore: "I wouldn't expect you to, Phineas."
- — Phineas Nigellus about Dumbledore's mission to Harry.
On their return to Hogwarts, Harry notices Ginny is not enthusiastic about meeting Dean, and tells Hermione about what he heard between Malfoy and Snape, but she also believes Snape was working on Dumbledore's orders. When Harry mentions Fenrir Greyback, a werewolf Lupin had told him about during the holidays and the werewolf that bit him, she recalls Malfoy threatening Borgin with him, and Harry states that this proves Malfoy's a Death Eater. Hermione, however, got past this one, saying that it might have been "an empty threat."
In his third lesson with Dumbledore, Harry learns that during his time at Hogwarts, Voldemort had gathered a mixture of friends who became the forerunners of the Death Eaters, and researched his family. He first investigated his father, and later assumed the name Lord Voldemort upon discovering his father was a Muggle and never attended Hogwarts. Dumbledore and Harry then go into Morfin Gaunt's memory, where he reveals to his nephew, Voldemort how he was conceived. After hearing this, Voldemort went on to murder his Muggle ancestors, taking revenge on them for abandoning him, eliminating the last of the "unworthy" Riddle line, stealing Morfin's father's ring and implanted false memories into Morfin, framing him for the murders.
In the next memory, Voldemort asks Slughorn about Horcruxes, which results in Slughorn yelling that he knows nothing about them. Dumbledore is confident that the memory has been tampered with, however, noting patches of grey fog that came up when Slughorn was shouting, and asks Harry to retrieve the true memory. Realising Harry is on to him, after a botched attempt to get the memory, Slughorn starts avoiding him, and Harry instead chooses to focus on investigating Malfoy, using the Marauder's Map, noticing that Malfoy disappears off it at certain times.
Chapter 18: Birthday Surprises
- "Meanwhile, the Hogwarts library had failed Hermione for the first time in living memory. She was so shocked, she even forgot that she was annoyed at Harry for his trick with the bezoar."
- —Hermione not finding about Horcruxes on the Library.
March has arrived and on Ron's seventeenth birthday he consumes a number of Chocolate Cauldrons containing a Love Potion (courtesy of Romilda and intended for Harry). Harry takes him down to Slughorn for an antidote, and the three of them decide to have some of Rosmerta's Mulled Mead, originally meant for Dumbledore. Ron discovers, after drinking it, that it is poisoned, but Harry manages to save him with a Bezoar.
Chapter 19: Elf Tails
- "Surely nobody in their right mind would have let Luna Lovegood commentate?"
- —Harry, about Luna.
Ron reconciles with Hermione and Ginny. Some time afterwards, Hagrid tells Harry that he overheard Dumbledore and Snape arguing, McLaggen talks to Harry to ensure he can play in Ron's place in the upcoming Quidditch match. Harry also finds out that Ron has been avoiding Lavender. Late, at the Quidditch match, with Luna commentating, McLaggen grabs a beater's bat and cracks Harry's skull. Finally, in the hospital wing, Harry summons Kreacher and Dobby and orders them to tail Malfoy .
Chapter 20: Lord Voldemort's Request
- "You see, we have never been able to keep a Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher for longer than a year since I refused the post to Voldemort."
- —Dumbledore, about Tom Riddle's request.
In their fourth lesson, Dumbledore is disappointed Harry failed to obtain Slughorn's true memory. Dumbledore shows him two memories: one of Tom Riddle being shown Salazar Slytherin's Locket and Helga Hufflepuff's Cup by a wealthy woman named Hepzibah Smith (both of which he later stole), the other of Riddle applying for the Defence Against the Dark Arts teaching post at Hogwarts, which Dumbledore rejects as he felt that it was an attempt by Riddle to further search the school for secrets and recruit followers. This post was thenceforth jinxed by Riddle; teachers never held the post for more than a year, suffering some terrible fate or humiliation which caused them to leave the position.
Chapter 21: The Unknowable Room
- "And I bet that's why he's been disappearing off the map - come to think of it, I've never seen the Room of Requirement on there!"
- —Harry, about the Marauder's Map.
Ron wants to break up with Lavender but doesn't know now. Harry learns from Kreacher and Dobby that Malfoy is regularly visiting the Room of Requirement (which doesn't appear on the Marauder's Map), and spends the next few days trying to get inside. Not knowing what Malfoy is using it for, he has no success. Ron and Hermione come back from the Hogsmeade Apparition lesson and they are successful.
Chapter 22: After the Burial
- "You didn't meet him, Hermione. Believe me, being dead will have improved him a lot."
- —Ron, about Aragog.
Harry again fails to convince Slughorn to share his true memory, and Ron suggests he use the Felix Felicis. Harry takes the Felix Felicis and goes down to Hagrid's hut becausse Aragog died and Hagrid wanted Harry to go to the burial. On the way to Hagrid's hut Harry luckily meets Professor Slughorn on the way and goes with Harry to Hagrid's because he wants to collect Aragog's venom. Aragog is buried and the adults get drunk, so Harry has a good opportunity to get the memory. As a result of the Felix Felicis, Harry is able to get the memory with ease.
Chapter 23: Horcruxes
- "It was, he thought, the difference between being dragged into the arena to face a battle to the death and walking into the arena with your head held high. Some people, perhaps, would say that there was little to choose between the two ways, but Dumbledore knew - and so do I, thought Harry, with a rush of fierce pride, and so did my parents - that there was all the difference in the world."
- —Harry thinking about Riddle's search for immortality.
It turns out that in reality, Slughorn told Riddle everything he wanted to know about Horcruxes, how they were objects that a person can conceal a part of his or her soul in. This explains how Voldemort was able to survive his rebounding killing curse. Dumbledore believed that Voldemort made six Horcruxes: his diary (which Harry destroyed four years earlier), the Gaunt's Ring (which Dumbledore destroyed the previous year, greatly injuring his hand in the process), the locket, the cup, an object of Rowena Ravenclaw's and the snake Nagini.
Chapter 24: Sectumsempra
- "Who would have thought you knew such Dark Magic?"
- —Snape, to Harry.
Harry learns the next day that Ginny and Dean have split up. He is unwilling to ask her out though, fearing Ron's reaction. Meanwhile, a recovered Katie Bell has returned to the school, and Harry asks who gave her the necklace. She states that someone Imperiused her in the girl's bathroom at Rosmerta's Pub in Hogsmeade. Shortly before the final Quidditch match of the year, Harry finds Malfoy crying over how his mission is failing. When he sees Harry, he attacks him. During the ensuing duel, Harry uses a spell written in The Half Blood Prince's book, which badly injures Malfoy. Snape witnesses the event, heals Malfoy, and gives Harry a large number of detentions that cause him to miss the match. Upon returning to the Gryffindor common room after his first detention, he discovers that the team had won the Quidditch Cup in his absence, and Ginny runs up and hugs him. At this point, Harry finally reveals his feelings for Ginny and kisses her. Both of them are ecstatic and start dating.
Chapter 25: The Seer Overheard
- "You'd think people had better things to gossip about... Three Dementor attacks in a week, and all Romilda Vane does is ask me if it's true you've got a hippogriff tattooed across your chest."
- —Ginny, to Harry.
Some time later, Dumbledore asks Harry to come to his office. On the way, he runs into his old Divination teacher Professor Trelawney, who was trying to hide sherry bottles in the Room of Requirement before being thrown out. She tells Harry that she heard a male voice (which Harry suspects to be Malfoy's) whooping before she was ejected, and also reveals that Snape had told Voldemort about the prophecy concerning him and Harry, which caused him to murder Harry's parents. Harry expresses outrage that Dumbledore later gave Snape a job at Hogwarts, but Dumbledore states that Snape felt great remorse for what he had done. He then asks Harry to join him in finding a Horcrux, Slytherin's locket, which Harry agrees to. Before leaving, Harry tells Ron and Hermione that Malfoy's almost certainly going to try something tonight, and gives them the remainder of the Felix Felicis.
Chapter 26: The Cave
- "I am not worried, Harry, I am with you."
- —Dumbledore, to Harry.
Dumbledore and Harry travel to a cave in which Voldemort had tortured two children in his youth. They proceed through the cave, coming to an island in the middle of a lake. On the island, they find a basin of emerald green potion, with the locket at the bottom. On Dumbledore's orders, Harry reluctantly force-feeds him the potion, which badly weakens him and causes extreme thirst. In an attempt to save him, Harry gives him water from the lake, awakening dozens of Inferi Voldemort had placed to guard his Horcrux. Harry attempts to fight, but there are too many of them. Just as he is about to be overwhelmed, Dumbledore creates a ring of fire around them, which fends off the Inferi, and allows them to escape with the locket to Hogsmeade, where they discover the Dark Mark above the astronomy tower at Hogwarts.
Chapter 27: The Lightning-Struck Tower
- "No, Draco. It is my mercy, and not yours, that matters now.""
- —Dumbledore, at the Astronomy Tower.
Borrowing broomsticks, the pair fly to the tower. Upon hearing someone approaching them, Dumbledore uses a charm to paralyse Harry and hides him under his invisibility cloak, before being disarmed by Malfoy. He reveals that he had let Death Eaters into the school through a pair of vanishing cabinets, which were the objects Harry had overheard him questioning Borgin about. Malfoy also explains that he was behind the cursed necklace and poisoned mead incidents, which were really assassination attempts on Dumbledore. Dumbledore reveals that he had known Malfoy was attempting to kill him, but allowed him to remain at Hogwarts because he knew that Voldemort would have murdered Malfoy once his cover had been blown. Dumbledore tries to persuade him to change sides, but the other Death Eaters join the scene and urge Malfoy to finish his mission. Then Snape appears, and with Malfoy still reluctant to finish off the unarmed Dumbledore, Snape kills Dumbledore.
Chapter 28: Flight of the Prince
- —Snape, yelling at Harry.
Released from the spell after Dumbledore's death, Harry pursues Snape through battle in the halls of the school and out onto the grounds. Near the entrance to Hogwarts, Harry attempts to curse Snape, who repels his attacks with ease and reminds the other Death Eaters they are not to harm the boy. When Harry tries one of the Half-Blood Prince's spells, an enraged Snape reveals that the spell is his own. He is the Half-Blood Prince, having taken the title when he was a student as a pun on his mother's maiden name. (Hermione's research later reveals that Snape's father was a Muggle named Tobias Snape and his mother a pureblood witch named Eileen Prince.) Buckbeak the Hippogriff attacks Snape, who leaves Harry behind and escapes with Draco Malfoy. When he returns to Dumbledore's body, Harry finds that the locket was a fake: the real horcrux was already stolen by someone with the initials R.A.B.
Chapter 29: The Phoenix Lament
- "And he knew, without knowing how he knew it, that the phoenix had gone, had left Hogwarts for good, just as Dumbledore had left the school, had left the world ... had left Harry."
- —Harry thinking about Fawkes.
After the battle, Ginny accompanies Harry to the hospital wing, where he learns that the only other person who died was a Death Eater. None of Harry's friends are badly hurt, apart from Bill Weasley, the Weasleys' oldest child who was attacked by an untransformed Greyback, although the only side effects are permanent scars across his face and a liking for rare steaks. Professor McGonagall questions Harry about what he and Dumbledore were doing, but Harry, under orders from Dumbledore not to tell anyone except Ron and Hermione, refuses. The teachers then discuss the future of Hogwarts, and plans for Dumbledore's funeral. Harry turns his back on the Half-Blood Prince's book, and regrets ever possessing it, although Hermione and Ron comfort him, stating that while the Prince may have had a mean sense of humour, nothing in the book ever indicated that he was evil, or capable of murder.
Chapter 30: The White Tomb
- Rufus Scrimgeour: "I see you are—"
- Harry Potter: "Dumbledore's man through and through. That's right."
- — Harry to Scrimgeour.
The funeral is attended by many witches and wizards, including a number of minor characters in the series. During the funeral, Harry ends his relationship with Ginny to protect her from Voldemort. She reveals that she had never given up on him; Hermione had advised her to go out with other people so she could relax around Harry, as previously she had trouble talking to him. As a result, he fell in love with her upon seeing who she really was, and regrets not asking her out sooner. Harry then meets Scrimgeour, who again makes the offer he'd made to Harry at Christmas, which Harry again turns down. He then tells Ron and Hermione of his intention to leave Hogwarts to destroy the Horcruxes and then Voldemort himself. His two lifelong friends agree to travel with him on his quest, and Harry happily acknowledges that there is "still one last golden day of peace left to enjoy with Ron and Hermione".
List of Deaths
|Killed By
|Cause Of Death
|Amelia Bones
|Possibly Voldemort
Possibly Avada Kedavra
(the killing curse)
|Murdered in a room locked from the inside, baffled Muggle Police
|Emmeline Vance
|Death Eaters
|Murdered a short distance from the Muggle Prime Minister's office
|Igor Karkaroff
|Body found in a shack "up north," Dark Mark cast overhead
|Marvolo Gaunt
|Natural causes or starvation
|Never learned to cook
|Morfin Gaunt
|Went out of his mind
|Imprisoned in Azkaban
|Merope Gaunt
|Childbirth or Depression
|Voldemort's birth
|Old Age
|Tom Riddle Sr.
(killing curse)
|Revenge for abandonment of his son, baffled Muggle Police
|Thomas Riddle
|Murdered along with Tom Riddle Sr., baffled Muggle Police
|Mary Riddle
|Hepzibah Smith
|Poisoned cocoa "sugar" or Avada Kedavra with memory changing.
|Voldemort's search for Hufflepuff's cup and Slytherin's locket
|Albus Dumbledore
|Severus Snape
(killing curse)
On his own orders, both to make his death painless and to spare Draco from the influence of Voldemort and the Death Eaters. (Although this is unknown to everyone except Snape until Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows).
|Thorfinn Rowle
|Hit by a stray Killing Curse
In May, 2005, bookmakers in the UK suspended bets on which main character would die in the book amid fears of insider knowledge. A number of high value bets were made on the death of Albus Dumbledore, many coming from the town of Bungay where, it was believed, the books were being printed at the time. Betting was later reopened. bbc
In early July, The Real Canadian Superstore, a big-box grocery chain in Coquitlam, British Columbia, Canada, accidentally sold fifteen copies of The Half-Blood Prince before the authorised release date. The Canadian publisher, Raincoast Books, obtained an injunction (PDF copy) from the Supreme Court of British Columbia prohibiting the purchasers from reading the books before the official release date or of discussing the contents. Purchasers were offered a Harry Potter T-shirt and an autographed copy of the book if they returned their copies before 16 July.
On 15 July, less than twelve hours before the book went on sale in the Eastern time zone, Raincoast warned The Globe and Mail newspaper that publishing a review from a Canada-based writer at midnight, as the paper had promised, would be seen as a violation of the anti-reading injunction. The injunction sparked a number of news articles questioning the injunction's restriction on fundamental rights. thestarcanada.com Canadian law professor Michael Geist has posted commentary on his weblog. michaelgeistRichard Stallman has posted on his weblog calling for a boycott until the publisher issues an apology. stallman The Globe and Mail published a review from two UK-based writers in its 16 July edition and posted the Canadian writer's review on its website at 9 am that morning. globeandmail
In the same week, a Chicago Walgreens mistakenly sold a copy of the book. When the purchaser read about the Canadian incident on the Internet she said she would not turn herself in, but that she would not read the novel until the U.S. release date.
- Bloomsbury (United Kingdom, Australia, and Canada etc.)
- ISBN 0747581088 Hardcover
- ISBN 074758110X Hardcover (adult edition)
- Raincoast (Canada etc.)
- ISBN 155192756X Hardcover
- ISBN 1551927608 Hardcover (adult edition)
- ISBN 0747581525 Hardcover (large print edition)
- Scholastic (United States etc.)
- ISBN 0439784549 US Hardcover
- ISBN 0439791324 Deluxe Edition
Before and after the release of the book, the environmental organisations Greenpeace and the National Wildlife Federation urged consumers in the United States who planned to buy Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince to do so from the book's Canadian publisher, Raincoast Books cbc, which published on 100% recycled, chlorine-free, ancient forest-free paper. The American edition of the book, published by Scholastic Press, was printed with a percentage of recycled paper that Scholastic declined to make public.
Various publishers have announced release dates for local translations of the book worldrelease:
Behind the scenes
Film Adaptation
The book was also adapted into a film, the sixth Harry Potter film of the series. The movie Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince was released on 15 July, 2009. It was directed by David Yates and the trio was portrayed by Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint and Emma Watson.
See also
Notes and references
External links


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(Oh! and making flirty glaces at the girl on the treadmill next to me)
"Why do I have to work THIS hard to lose weight, it's not fair!"
I. LOVE. YOU!! I love your honesty. I recently wrote a post on my own self image/weight loss/gain roller coaster. (http://workmanfamilyfun.blogspot.com/2012/02/working-on-yourself-is-not-always-easy.html)
I HOPE I can stay fit and motivated...You inspire me. Keep it up!! The life style change is totally worth it. (I don't know about you, but for me, I am SUCH a nicer, happier, more energetic person with my new workout routine!)
And girl, you're going to keep going, I can tell. Way to kick your own butt--love that!
P.S. People watching at the gym is awesome.
I can't tell you how much I needed this post today. Thank you for sharing your journey with us.ReplyDelete
Wow I love this! I am currently training for a figure competition and know how hard it is. Keep working hard and you will get there. YOU CAN DO IT!ReplyDelete
Wow I love this! I am currently training for a figure competition and know how hard it is. Keep working hard and you will get there. YOU CAN DO IT!ReplyDelete
Thanks for sharing your thoughts as you go through this process. I hope that I can one day find the strength you have found. As I sit here with an open package of Oreos next to me (yup, really!) I know I need to find the courage sooner, rather than later. You are an inspiration for me as you push through the struggles that come with such a journey.ReplyDelete
Thanks for putting things in perspective for me right before I go to bed :) I have loved reading about your journey and the freakin' hard core workouts you are doing!! You inspire me so much!ReplyDelete
Every time you post about your weight loss journey, I get SO much motivation. For months I thought I was working out and trying hard and wondering why I lost nothing. Then you posted your first post and I though WOW there is someone who IS really trying. It took me awhile after that to actually start trying, but I'm two weeks in with dieting and 6 lbs. down. THANK YOU for being my motivation. :)
Oh, and after 5 months of semi-consistently going to the gym, I was able to start jogging today. It was in-between walking, but I'll take it! So, I'm learning to push myself harder too.
Ah! You are amazing. What an awesome example you are to all of us, your family, and friends! Keep it up girl! You rock! I can't wait to see how skinny mini you look at the Snap Conference. Your pictures are looking awesome! Your face is so thin!ReplyDelete
This was really great to read. Ive been on my own weight loss journey too (since the beginning of this month) and have been posting updates on my blog too. I was surprised by the love and support I have received from my readers! Its been so nice. Especially when I posted about how I cried at the gym!
I'm now noticing other bloggers on their own weight loss journey and its so encouraging to read about their journeys. I think you are SO awesome for kicking your own butt into gear!! ♥ And I am totally like you, sweating my butt off and looking terrible at the gym!
I feel like such an idiot sometimes, because I have to work so hard and because I am so heavy... I dont look like that "already fit girl, that hardly has to work"... yes my gym has one of her too! I sometimes catch myself staring at her... Just thinking... one day, one day that can be me. LOL
Until then, well I WILL be working hard!!
Great post. I love your honesty.ReplyDelete
I LOVED reading through your thoughts. I have a battle that I fight everyday as well....NOT as hard as I should, though. You are so beautiful....I am so excited for you and this journey you are on! YOU INSPIRE ME! THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!ReplyDelete
You crack me up. I have all those same people at my gym too ha ha! What's with the guys staring at themselves in the mirror non stop while lifting weights? Instead of wishing I was the skinny girl with the pony tail, sometimes I wish I was a guy so that all I would have to do is lift weights to get bulky. Instead I am the chubby girl running forever on the treadmill to try and shed that flab. Have you ever farted on the treadmill? Ha Ha Ha! I have and I was so embarrassed! Anyway I love reading your blog, especially your weight loss posts because it is something I am working on too. Do you ever let yourself have a treat? Like on the weekend? I was just wondering.ReplyDelete
Another great post Ms. Shellinator :) You freakin ROCK it and I'm proud of you. I've been taking some yoga classes because I can't seem to find anything to relieve stress. I've finally found something that MAKES me think about myself and my own body. Its amazing. Now I need to learn to control what I eat. Its seriously the hardest thing for me! Your posts inspire me to get it together and get it done. Thanks for sharing your story :)ReplyDelete
You go girl!!!! Proud of you!ReplyDelete
Thank you for sharing. Good for you!!!! You look great by the way!ReplyDelete
Great post girlfriend, and I love that quote at the end too. I think we must go to the same gym, because I see those EXACT same people when I go to workout! ;-). Keep up the awesome work - you can tell by looking at you that you are working your arse off - literally and figuratively. :-)ReplyDelete
Wow! This is great! I too can relate with everything you have written here. I am glad Im not alone. And I too am a people watcher at the gym. But I have a "laugh very loud all through tv shows Im watching " guy. Drives me nuts!!!ReplyDelete
I don't envision you as one who would give up. Your strength is an inspiration to me! BTW, with your thin, little face you won't need to "whip" your ponytail!ReplyDelete
Good for you Shelly, keep going, you can do it! I've gained 45 lbs over the past 3 years since having a hysterectomy. I need to motivate myself and reading about your progress helps. Of course, the prodding of my physically fit 21 year old is in the background too, but seeing you determined to make changes to your lifestyle is inspiring. Keep on it!ReplyDelete
Shelley, the sharing of your weight loss journey is so brave and inspiring. Even though I'm not on the same journey, the message of taking control of your own life and working so hard for a goal is not lost on me. Reading this makes me want to stop making excuses and go accomplish some things I really want, even though it'll be difficult to get there.
Keep up the awesome work!! {And your assessment of people at the gym totally crack me up - they are at EVERY gym! So funny!}
I needed this today:) Thanks so much for sharing it:)ReplyDelete
Very motivating :)
the thing that kills me in those workout pics is that you're so pretty! truly!
forget ponytail girl--you're rockin' the gym!
and kissin' that fat goodbye!
I'm presently pregnant (possibly twins--we find out next week) and you're going to be my inspiration come September--my fat and I have been too good of friends for too long! :)
Thanks for sharing your heart and struggle. For those of us who struggle too, it was encouraging.ReplyDelete
Just wanted to say you go girl! You are doing an awesome job. I have the exact same thoughts going through my head when I'm at the gym to. I really really hate the women that are on their cell phones having conversations and I have to listen their who is doing what and so on. Oh, and I'm the same as you with the nose sweat and all. I walk out of the gym with a beet red face but at least I know I gave it my all and it feels good...until the next day and I'm forcing myself back into it haha. Keep up the great work!!ReplyDelete
Thanks for this post, it was exactly what I needed. I am on week ten and I too swore this is it, I'm going to be 40 this year and can no longer be uhealthy. Yes, it's hard sometimes, but I am determined to win this battle. Thanks for the motivation and keep up the good work.ReplyDelete
As a person who has always been physically fit (gymnast, cheerleader, fitness) & now has to workout to maintain, in a household with a Mother who has yo-yo'd for 30+ years with her body (up down up down up down) I APPLAUD YOU and encourage you to KEEP UP THE HARD WORK! It's most definitely a lifestyle change that you'll have to workout & keep up with to maintain size once you hit your goal weight, but its so important to do that for yourself AND your children. I wish my Mom could stay at her goal or near it forever, as its such a different Mother to be around when she feels at or close to 'her best'. You are impacting your kids more than you know as they watch you work tirelessly-YOU GO GIRL! YOU CAN DO IT :)ReplyDelete
Wow I found this so inspiring. I myself said I wanted to drop the pounds this year too. I have been overweight my entire life and while everyone around me says you look great, part of me doesnt feel that way. I was on weight watchers before and lost 40lbs and I felt great about myself. Then I got stressed out and gained it all back plus an extra 10lbs. At my wedding in October I was the heaviest I've ever been and even though I was completely comfortable with myself on the particular day, most other days I'm not. It's nice to see someone out there battling the same problems as me and overcoming them. It's inspiring to see and I myself am looking forward to losing all that weight again plus more. My goal is to get to a weight where I can start buying dresses in a size large-xlarge in stead of a 2x or 3x.
Keep sticking to your routine, cause by the end of it you're gonna feel like a million bucks and that's all that matters. :)
Paula Vaughan
I needed that last little tidbit sooo badly this morning!!! And your gym experiences are truly universal, LOL!!! Keep up the good work! WE can do it!!! WE can do it!!! ; )ReplyDelete
HANG IN THERE! You can do this! Your body will love you for it in the end and hopefully reward you with many, many years of (healthy) happiness as you grow older.ReplyDelete
Thank you. I'm in the last week of a weight loss competition at my gym and starting to get frustrated and afraid -- frustrated that I'm not so skinny I'm invisible yet; afraid I won't continue losing without the "competition" paying attention to what I'm doing. I complained, internally and to my hubby, about the required 5AM class this morning, my first ever. I was prepared to nap this morning to make up for it. But thanks to this post, I'm going to go back out right now to run a mile, which will be only the second mile I ever ran in my life -- the first being last week as part of this competition. I hated it then, and I'll hate it now. But I'm going to do it because you just reminded my WHY.
Right on! Keep up the good work. : )ReplyDelete
I just wanted to say keep up the good work!! I'm on the same journey and totally understand (and agree). I'm trying new vegetables so that helps (a tiny bit since I'm still stuck trying to avoid the delicious diet-busters all around me). But every little bit counts so I'm sending good thoughts your way!ReplyDelete
Wow! Go girl! Thanks for the inspiration this morning!! :)ReplyDelete
Love to you - don't forget to say nice things to yourself!ReplyDelete
I admire you putting it all out there and letting friends know that it just ain't easy, but it is life changing.ReplyDelete
You're awesome! Nose sweat is the sign of a good workout, I'm convinced. I know we don't really know each other, but I'm so very proud of you :) Those inside changes are what make the outside changes even possible... not to sound all sappy, but you're very inspiring. Keep up the good (hard) work :)ReplyDelete
Oh Shelley, you can do hard things! I'm so impressed! What an awesome journey you are having. Those are important lessons to learn about oneself. You had me cracking up with your gym people descriptions. I totally had those thoughts too before I started working out at home. Those gym rats drove me crazy!!ReplyDelete
You're awesome! Hang in there. You can do this ... and it won't kill you. :) I am SO impressed by your determination. I am sending you all the luck & good vibes in the world! You rock that gym!!ReplyDelete
Yes!!! I think you and I share a brain when it comes to working out. You inspired me to start losing weight, and I've been on my very slow path for the last couple of weeks. I'm using an app called myfitnesspal(.com for the website), and it's helping me count calories. I've been going to the gym in our very small town for the last week or so and checking my weight to see if anything's going away. It doesn't feel like it is, and that frustrates the crap out of me! Especially when my husband & sister in law tag along with me and spend the entire time wanting to chat with me. I finally told my hubs the other night, if I can have a conversation with you and breathe normally, I'm NOT working hard enough!! Being lazy has gotten me to being in this state, and I'm done with it!
I'm so proud of you for all that you've accomplished, and for still being motivated to kick your own butt! (Which is a little weird to say, considering I only know you from your blog!!)
Just what I needed this morning. Thank you for voicing just what was going through my mind!ReplyDelete
You go girl! Don't give up the reward will be so worth it in so many ways!!!ReplyDelete
I for one love these posts, I find them very motivating. Just remember it doesn't matter how slow you go, you're still lapping everybody on the couch (that's some pinterest wisdom)!ReplyDelete
Thanks for that deep post! It was just what I needed in my diet "slump." keep up your hard work!ReplyDelete
You are such a inspiration!! I too enjoy the entertainment at the gym. :)
Keep going!!! YOU can do this!!!
Stay positive girl! You will reap the rewards! I am right there with you working out 6 days a week. It can really suck sometimes but I always feel ten times better after every workout! Exhausted, energized and stronger! You can do it! Kick some butt!ReplyDelete
Awesome. I'm inspired by you!ReplyDelete
You are doing awesome Shelley! Keep up the good work! Have you heard of www.myfitnesspal.com? I've used it off and on for the past 9 months. Keeps me accountable and I've got friends on their too, that keep me motivated and cheer me on! Check it out! You can find me on there as alimoll - add me if you join! It's free!
Have a FAB day!
Can't wait to hear more about your new office digs!
You are doing great! I wish I had half the motivation you do. Exercise is hard and it hurts! Good for you!ReplyDelete
KEEP ON KEEPIN ON GIRL! You are doing fantastic!!!!!!ReplyDelete
You are doing great! I wish I had half the motivation you do. Exercise is hard and it hurts! Good for you!ReplyDelete
#1 you look great, and you look hardcore all worked out and sweaty.
#2 how relateable are you??? This is sooo me, I work out at home now, but man I used to dread when thin pony-tail hat lady would come and jog next to me at the gym.
#3 thanks so much for sharing this journey!
Good for you I am amazed at your determination. I wish I had half as much motivation as you! Exercising is hard and painful!ReplyDelete
I love reading your weight-loss journey! It makes me want to be braver...I'm totally right there next to you with sweat all over and face flushed...ha ha we were just blessed to SEE how hard we are working out! :) Keep it up, you're AMAZING!ReplyDelete
wow-incredible! I need to take a serious page from your book. You are motivating!ReplyDelete
Love it! Thanks for being real and motivating all at the same time!ReplyDelete
Go Shelly! You can do this. I am struggling too w/ the exercise part.
The one way I try to look at it, Is if I continue to exercise & do my part, I can never get any bigger, I can only get smaller.
You are such an inspiration to me! I have struggled with my weight ever since I had my daughter....5 YEARS AGO!! My sister took a picture of me this weekend and when I saw it, I was like THAT is what I look like?!?! I am going to finally stop talking about it and start DOING something about it! You are such an encouragement to all of your readers and I will be right here continuing to cheer you on! :)ReplyDelete
You are such an inspiration to me! I have struggled with my weight ever since I had my daughter....5 YEARS AGO!! My sister took a picture of me this weekend and when I saw it, I was like THAT is what I look like?!?! I am going to finally stop talking about it and start DOING something about it! You are such an encouragement to all of your readers and I will be right here continuing to cheer you on! :)ReplyDelete
I commend you on your energy and dedication.
Just wanted to mention two books that have kept me at my "fighting weight" after two kids. Gary Taubes' Why We Get Fat and What to Do About It", and Eat Fat, Lose Fat by Sally Fallon and Mary Enig.
No amount of dieting and exercise took the last of my 20 lbs from baby #2 off. Coconut oil and removing 90% of processed foods did.
I wish you well...
How inspiring! i love the quote at the bottom too. "motivation gets you started. habit keeps you going." perfect.ReplyDelete
This is just what I needed today. I keep getting up in the morning and thinking "Maybe I'll just skip my workout today. No one will care." But I CARE! And everyday I find a way to make it through another gruelling workout so I can look at myself in the mirror and know that I did my best! I kicked my own butt and I'm a better, happier, more healthy person because of it! Thanks for being so motivating and inspirational! Keep it up. You are so beautiful!ReplyDelete
This is such an incredible, hilarious, post! I actually teared up reading this, I'm a sap, I know. While I am not technically overweight it doesn't mean I'm as healthy as I should be. Also, please know that even us slimmer girls feel the intimidation of jumping around and looking foolish to blast past that plateau so you're definitely not alone! Being thin doesn't mean things don't jiggle, haha. I have determined to get more active this year and I am so impressed with your attitude! Thanks for the inspiration and I wish you the best as you continue this journey! I look forward to celebrating here on your blog all of your future victories! Thanks for sharing such a personal moment with us. Happy Monday to you!ReplyDelete
Well said Shelley. I am stealing "potato on toothpicks" from you Haha! I feel like that when I put heals on. I am 5'6 1/2...yes the 1/2 REALLY matters to me..haha. I weigh 210, and I just can't seem to motivate myself to loose the 80 lbs I gained having my 2 kids. I feel like I know who my real friends are, the ones who love you for your personality, not the way you look. Any way, you really do inspire me, ill come knock the skinny ponytail girl off and jog beside you...haha!ReplyDelete
You are SO inspiring!!! LOVE IT and keep kicking butt, I am sure you will get there!! I think I have those same people at MY gym! Skinny ponytail girl is in the Power class I do on Thursday mornings and always looking SO good and lifting SO much weight like it is nothing... while I am there with my noodle arms thinking why can I not lift this it is only 10 pounds??? ugh!
Thank you so much for sharing... and keep it up you are doing GREAT!!
You are so encouraging to me. I've lost right at 100lbs over the last 2 years and since about this time last year I had been stuck with about 40 still to go. I finally broke my plateau over the last couple of months and am down another 15...and there's STILL days I feel like throwing in the towel. And it's days like those (ok this WAS one of them) that I come across things like your post that kick me in the butt and wake me up. So THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart. I am so excited for and proud of you. You're beautiful inside and out no matter what the scale says and I pray that you will stay strong and reach your goals!ReplyDelete
Okay believe me or don't, those shots of you at the gym are cute...you have natural beauty...which doesn't go away, we just don't always see it ourselves, especially when we feel tired, and gross, and sweaty and pony tail girl is trotting along on the treadmill next to us!
Don't give "the gym people" the power...we are all rooting for you...give us the power to motivate you!
You are such an encouragement to me. I had lost right at 100lbs over the last 2 years before plateauing around this time last year. Over the last few months I finally broke it and have lost another 15. There are STILL days when I feel like throwing in the towel. On those days (yes, this was one of them), I always seem to come across things like your blog post that kick me in the butt and wake me up. So thank you from the bottom of my heart. You are such a beautiful person inside and out no matter what the scale says. I pray that you will stay strong and reach your goals!ReplyDelete
You are the best, and I am so proud of you!!! I could relate to so much of this post its ridiculous. I love all your gym labeled peeps.... That SOOOOO made me laugh, you nailed all of them. YES' I have seen all of those types at the gym too, only normally the pony tailed fit girl has a big boob job she is fondly proud of. LOL. You keep me motivated. I was so skinny when I married hubby.. size 6! Fast forward to now... I am a size 18 and heavier then I have ever been. UGH- hate myself! I am just dieting with "WW" but need to exercise more to kick things into high gear. Thanks for your weight loss journey "posts" lots of love, jenReplyDelete
With an attitude like that, you are going to do it! Keep up the good, hard work. :)ReplyDelete
Shelley every time you post about your weight loss journey you inspire me more. I started WW right after your first post and yes it does get BORING eating the same stuff over and over but I am not going to give up. And I know you won't either. I used to go to the gym years ago but after seeing the buff dudes, the skinny chicks, etc I realized this is not for me. I applaud you for dealing with these people every day! I know I will never be the skinny person I was in my 30's but in my mid 50's it's important to me to be attractive to myself, my husband, daughter and grandkids. I think YOU ROCK Shelley and I am so happy I started following your blog!ReplyDelete
Love this! I recently got out of my workout habit and put on 10 lbs - everyone says I look the same blah blah blah but I feel different. Ive been back at the gym now for a month or two and havent noticed a big difference - its frustrating thats for sure. Thanks for your motivation this morning to kill it at the gym. You are looking mighty fine my friendReplyDelete
Get it Shelley! That workout is no joke, my husband is a professional stuntman and that's about the same combo of weird jumping-things that he does. You're doing awesome, all those folks at the gym are definitely watching you and wishing they had that kind of drive and determination!!ReplyDelete
I'm so proud of you sticking to it even through the tough times. It takes a lot to even get to the starting point, but then to continue and be consistent, that's a huge feat. I love to hear about your updates and I love that you are honest about what you feel through the challenge. I wish you all the best in your journey!ReplyDelete
Keep going girl!!! Hugs!ReplyDelete
I needed this today! Thanks for your example!ReplyDelete
I really needed this today. Thanks for being a great example.ReplyDelete
I just love your blog. I love how you inspire and encourage others just by being honest and opening up your life to stangers. I haven't even gotten started on weight loss. I keep just 'thinking' about it. I hope to have such determination some day soon! And just think, one day you will be the thin pony tail girl that makes some other lady mad. :)
Do you actually get to read all of these posts?
Hey Shelley,
I think you're awesome -for even sharing this aspect and of course for "fighting the good fight." I want to kick myself for everytime I used to think I was fat. Four kids later, "fat" and figure flaws take on a whole new meaning. Keep going. And I'm going to keep going too.
I can so relate to your thougths today. I have lost 46 lbs. so far, but still have a lot more to loose. I try to focus on what I have done so far and not how far I have to go.
This is my time, and it's the first time I have ever done something just for me. Recently diagnosed with Diabetes, I felt so lost in loosing my weight. I found a dietician, a therapist and a trainer. That is my team. It has made all the difference to me. I found out why I ate and ways to cope with my issues. I must say that I am happy. My eating has turned around and my Diabetes is under control. I feel blessed.
Remember who you are. You are an amazing young woman with a beautiful family, husband that adores you and wonderful parents. You are so stinkin cute that I doubt anyone notices your weight. Be kind to yourself because no one can do that but you.
Wishing you a blessed journey.
Can I just say.... I love you! You are awesome. I love the fact that you post your sweat pictures! It makes me smile and know that the next time I am sweating my guts out I will giggle and keep going!!! We CAN do this and it will be hard but it will be SO worth it! Keep it up cuz you rock!!ReplyDelete
I love it! This is me at the finish line cheering you on, come on girl you know you've got this!Delete
Wow, I can't believe it's been 18 weeks since you started! I am so proud of you! And you don't even know me!
I wish I had the same motivation that you do. I can hardly make it past 2 weeks of working out before I give up (excuse: something always stops me. Right). Reading your post made me cry. I need to get my ass in shape. I had two kids in one year and 5 months later, I still have 20 freaking pounds to lose just to be OK with myself. 30 pounds until I am happy with my body. Why can't someone light a fire under my ass?
Keep going girl, you're giving me some hope and more and more motivation! Good luck!
I agree with you that ultimately you have to be your own motivator. Thanks for sharing your thoughts. I am on the weight loss journey too. You can do it!ReplyDelete
Love that quote. I'm so proud of you, Shell! You can totally do this!ReplyDelete
keep going! You are worth all your hard work! :)ReplyDelete
This post was great! You are an amazing woman!! Keep up the hard work because it will SO be worth it! By the way, I love the comments about the grazers, I think those people are everywhere :)ReplyDelete
I look forward to your posts about this journey, because I'm on it too, just not publicly. For some reason I feel like this is going to be the time that I will finally pull through for me. I can't wait for the end result, for you and for me!ReplyDelete
Feeling your pain...literally. I have those same thoughts going around in my head and I think to myself that just because they stand around talking instead of working their butts off doesn't make them bad people. I do curse their naturally fast metabolisms, though. You are looking great!ReplyDelete
I'd also like to say you're awesome! Love your blog and all the decor diy pics and info you post. But the real life DIY project posts are so inspiring. The comments on the 'regular gym people' is so true. Its distracting to see the spunky pony-tail girl beside me on the treadmill. I'm jealous of her for two reasons: the ease of their work out (and lack of sweat?!) and also that I used to be that Spunky girl. Life gets in the way of staying healthy. But no more! Your posts are insightful and real. Love it!ReplyDelete
Incredible. Serious tugs on these heart strings...you are so amazing. You are incredibly motivated! Definitley had a rant post about this nonsense as well, sometimes it seems like going to the gym is more of a beauty contest than anything! For real...long pony tail girl. Hahaha! Love it! Keep it up!
xo Jess
I love your sweaty workout photos. Every workout counts. Every pound counts- even if you gain one or lose 3. Keep at it girl- you are doing great!ReplyDelete
I so look forward to these posts. You INSPIRE me! I am on my own weight loss journey and to hear about your blood, nose sweat and tears makes me want to push hard through my own challenges. I have similar dreams of bathing suits and hot clothes for my hubby. I just blogged about a few of my exercise tips. This post has inspired me and I think I'll go out and hit the road to do some running. I've started the Couch to 5K program. Thanks for the inspiration!!ReplyDelete
I laughed so hard at the start of this post! Because I do the exact same thing at the gym. Everyone has their own "assigned by me" names. Like Mr Horselegs, or Missy barely wearing any shorts. Real people like you are in short supply and I appreciate your reality so much. Thankyou for taking the time to share and keep it up. You are such a good role model for your girls.ReplyDelete
I really like that quote Shelley. Is it yours?ReplyDelete
I really like that quote, is that yours?ReplyDelete
Oh, I hate burpees!!!!! And pony tail girl. Look, if I were at the gym with you, we could tag team and knock that chic out with our real breasts and thighs!ReplyDelete
Oh and then yank that pony tail.ReplyDelete
I am stealing that quote. You are awesome and I love reading your blog! I have found an extraordinary passion for working out outside. I still go to the gym, but I LOVE to run outside! You got this. I posted on my blog and it's making its way around pinterest too, but it's a sign that has Good Things Come to Those Who Wait crossed out and below it, it reads instead, Good Things Come to Those Who Work Their Asses Off!ReplyDelete
Keep it up girl! You are doing great and you look great!ReplyDelete
You will absolutely make it to your goal- i have no doubt! Wishing you continued success!! Thanks for the inspiration!ReplyDelete
You will absolutely make it to your goal- i have no doubt! Wishing you continued success!! Thanks for the inspiration!ReplyDelete
So I have been reading a fascinating book about the differences between male and female brains and one difference was huge to me because I see it in myself all the time. Male brains consistently overestimate their abilities and women brains underestimate their abilities. It's HUGE to break through this barrier! I feel you for sure and I'm right there with you. You looked great when we were skyping on Sunday, but I just didn't get the chance to tell you.ReplyDelete
Thank you for sharing your story! It's nice to hear the nitty gritty honesty. I love seeing the sweaty progress pictures too. You look MUCH better while working out than I do. I turn tomato red and look like I'm about to keel over. Anyway...keep up the awesome work, you look good, and you're body will appreciate all the hard work. :)ReplyDelete
OK - THANK YOU! I need a kick in the butt, and today seems to have been my "breaking point". Reading your post after deciding that I'm joining Weight Watchers with my mom tomorrow (meeting at 7 PM - nervous!!!!) just clinched the deal for me...thanks for pushing me!!
And I totally hate the same people you hate at the gym. Blah
You are a truly amazing inspiration!!!!! Keep on truckin. You are doing an amazing job!!ReplyDelete
You Go Girl! I am so Proud of YOU!ReplyDelete
Shelley, I am a long time reader and never comment anywhere, but man. You are amazing! Amazing. An incredibly strong woman. Strong! Keep going. You can do it!ReplyDelete
You are so amazing. I just loved that post and didn't want it to end (like a good movie). Thank you for knowing what so many of us moms are going through. It is so easy to give up but I have to keep convincing myself to stop listening to the lazy part of my brain and just go for it once and for all. I want to look good by the pool too and stop cringing everytime someone says, "we should have a pool party!" Keep it up and please post often on your working out to help others out. Your words mean more than you think!!ReplyDelete
Great job and keep it up, but don't be too hard on folks at the gym...who knows what their story is? I determined to make this year a year that I get fit and strong and stop those bad habits that were creating an upward trend on the scale. I'm on a team as part of a contest at my gym and while most folks are nice, there are plenty of people who complain that I'm not fat enough to be worthy of the support I get from the contest. Just saying that everyone who makes the choice to hit the gym instead of the bag of Oreos deserves some kudos.ReplyDelete
you will never be able to realize the inspiration you are to others that are on the same road in life as you, we all try to work on some area in our life wether it physical or spiritual. you seem to do amazing at all other things in your life, blogging,wife, mother and entrepreneur . I am still trying to reinvent how I feel and look at my body after having been through ovarian cancer in 2009 , I feel as though I was no longer a woman, my body isn't the same and feel like people still see me as the lady with cancer...but as we know heavenly father doesn't only give us trials for our benefit but for others, people are inspired by ours tories and can reach out and bear each others burdens!! thanks for sharing yours life, good bad and sweaty :) and keep up the good work!!ReplyDelete
you will never be able to realize the inspiration you are to others that are on the same road in life as you, we all try to work on some area in our life wether it physical or spiritual. you seem to do amazing at all other things in your life, blogging,wife, mother and entrepreneur . I am still trying to reinvent how I feel and look at my body after having been through ovarian cancer in 2009 , I feel as though I was no longer a woman, my body isn't the same and feel like people still see me as the lady with cancer...but as we know heavenly father doesn't only give us trials for our benefit but for others, people are inspired by ours tories and can reach out and bear each others burdens!! thanks for sharing yours life, good bad and sweaty :) and keep up the good work!!ReplyDelete
you will never be able to realize the inspiration you are to others that are on the same road in life as you, we all try to work on some area in our life wether it physical or spiritual. you seem to do amazing at all other things in your life, blogging,wife, mother and entrepreneur . I am still trying to reinvent how I feel and look at my body after having been through ovarian cancer in 2009 , I feel as though I was no longer a woman, my body isn't the same and feel like people still see me as the lady with cancer...but as we know heavenly father doesn't only give us trials for our benefit but for others, people are inspired by ours tories and can reach out and bear each others burdens!! thanks for sharing yours life, good bad and sweaty :) and keep up the good work!!ReplyDelete
can I just tell you how much I enjoy your blog, we all have some type of area in our lives we try to improve on, wether its spiritual emotional or physical. The fact that you are choosing to share this with others it helps and inspires so many others. there have been many times I have struggled and not thinking what I was going through had any affect on others, but in 2009 I had ovarian cancer and was basically split in 1/2 and stripped of my womanhood, so I struggled with feeling like I was a full woman and the fear of the cancer, but I chose to not let if beat me, as we know heavenly father gives us trials not only for our benefit and experience, but it helps others as well. So thanks for sharing your charm, craftiness, and sweat :) LOL keep up the good work, you can do hard things!!ReplyDelete
"a potatoe on toothpicks" Thats it! Thats what I feel like in heels. I could never find the right words. Ha! So Funny. You look awsome! Keep it up. I remind (on my weightloss quest) myself that it's for my health, I want to feel great (and look amazing). And think of the amazing example you are setting for your girls ... Thats what I tell myself when I want the ice cream! I know you can, I know you can, I know you can!ReplyDelete
I love your exercise/ weight loss posts. I am on this journey with you...8 lbs down so far! I know it isn't much, but this is HUGE for me. I've really NEVER lost weight before...it's only been going up, up, up. Now I know I CAN DO IT!ReplyDelete
Shelley~you rock girl!! You are so right, every POUND is a battle, a struggle and no one knows but you or can do it but you. That's awesome and frustrating all at the same time. I can already tell a difference in your face~you're looking so good! The gym isn't my favorite environment, but maybe I would see faster results if I went instead of running/Jillian dvds?? Keep the updates coming...love them.ReplyDelete
You are such a source of inspiration to everyone and I hope you realize the impact you're having on everyone! Cheers to you for sticking with it through all the ups and downs. A few of my girls friends and myself are trying to cheer eachother on through our own weight loss journey. No matter how many pounds one wants to loose it's HARD WORK-ugh! Thanks for your honesty and bringing us along for the ride. Keep up the great work and yes, listen to yourself and body...it does matter :)ReplyDelete
Shelly! You have seriously put into words EXACTLY how I feel when it comes to dieting and weight loss. You get the support in the beginning, but as you say, once everyone else goes back to eating "junk" that you can't eat, it really DOES put you into the test of doing this all on your own initive and it really DOES take every ounce of strength to persevere!!! You can do this! You are such a great example to me as I go through the same things and the same feelings as you! Thank you for putting it into words of the emotions that I feel. You're such a great example to us all :)ReplyDelete
Shelly!!! Thank you so much for putting into words the EXACT feelings that I have felt when it comes to embarking, enduring, and persevering on a weight loss journey! I loved the part when you talk about others around you who show semi-interest, but then pull away when they go back to eating their own kind of "junk." It just doesn't seem fair, but oh, it is completely worth it, YOU are COMPLETELY WORTH IT! And YOU will SUCCEED!!!You are such a great example to me and I truly appreciate your honesty and sense of humor. Because this journey is incredibly hard, you really do have to laugh you way through this :) Keep up the awesome work, YOU ARE AMAZING!!!ReplyDelete
Can I just tell you how incredibly timely this was?! I started INSANITY two days ago to try to lose the 40+ lbs I gained having four kids. I got halfway through my workout today and felt like I couldn't go any more, so I turned it off and came to check my email. I decided to hop on over to your blog and just check in to see if there was anything fun you have been working on and I read your post. After reading it, I knew it was a total heaven-sent post for me!!! You are so incredibly motivating. I love that you tell it how it is: its not easy, not fun, but incredibly worth it. I knew after reading it that I was having a more "poor me, I don't think I can do this, its meant for people who have smaller bodies, etc" moment. After I finished reading, I went straight back into my room and finished the workout I started. I know I will have more days like that, but getting over the blocks and seeing people like you who push through will help me beat it. Thanks for bearing it all and putting yourself out there. You truly made a difference to me!ReplyDelete
you are awesome! keep it up!!!ReplyDelete
you ROCK.ReplyDelete
Awesome! I put as my facebook status how true! credit all to you wish I could pin this :pReplyDelete
I have two things to say, what you just wrote, only a person in your situation truly knows what you mean (and I have been and am currently in that same situation), and YOU GO GIRL!! Keep it up!ReplyDelete
You are not alone, I have seen those same people at the gym and I totally want to kick muscle head's butt, and skinny chick on the treadmill next to me!! Also, YOU GO GIRL! Keep up the hard work. I lost a lot of weight 2 years ago, and I got sick of people asking how much I have lost so far, so I started telling them I've lost a 5 year old child off my body. But when I realized I had lost a 9 year old child (and I still wasn't a skinny girl) I just said I have more to go and left it at that. It really isn't anybody else's business.ReplyDelete
LOVE this post and you are soo inspiring!! Question though.. how do you take a pic of yourself while you are working out LOL?!!ReplyDelete
You go girl!! And I think I know all the people you were talking about at the gym! That was hilarious you hit the nail on the head!ReplyDelete
You go girl! I support you 100%! And I see those same people at the gym!ReplyDelete
I love how completely honest you are about this! I am having a baby in less than a month (missing SNAP- boo! but sending my blog partner/identical twin Kelli in my place- yay!) and am already struggling with the weight I've gained and know I will have to work hard to get it off after baby is here... right smack dab in the middle of swimsuit season. But reading your posts motivate the heck out of me and I love love love your ending quote about making it a habit that keeps it going. If you can do it, I can do it! Keep it up, girlfriend! We're all rooting for you!
Love It!! Thank you for your candor and humor. I have had these same conversations in my head I am learning to apply the word of God when the negative thoughts or words come. Verses like "I CAN do ALL things through Christ who gives me strength." Philippians 4:13 God is on our side and loves us. Keep going don't stop!ReplyDelete
Love It!! Thank you for your candor and humor. I have had these same conversations in my head I am learning to apply the word of God when the negative thoughts or words come. Verses like "I CAN do ALL things through Christ who gives me strength." Philippians 4:13 God is on our side and loves us. Keep going don't stop!ReplyDelete
I love this post! You are so awesome and beautiful no matter what, but it is great that you are making these changes for a healthier you! Every time I get mad and frustrated about how hard weight loss is, I just remind myself that it would be all the more difficult if I let another year of accumulating 10+ pounds go by. Hang in there - it's a journey, not a destination - and there are so many on the same road!ReplyDelete
I have been right where you are. Busting my ass to truly get in shape for the first time in my life. And now I'm right back where I swore I would never be again. I changed my life and then life changed me. Isn't it insane to think about all we endure and process as women? Marriage, children, complicated family situations, faith, life . . . I now wear my stress/weakness physically on my hips. I'd rather have it there than be smoking it or drinking it. But either way its unhealthy. I really hope you hold on to the fire you have right now and feed it everyday. My fire burnt out and I will tell you that it sucks majorly to try and re-light it. Hold onto where you are and keep pushing forward. Don't even think about looking back. Own it. This moment is all YOU baby :)ReplyDelete
If someone looks cute and "put together" during or after a workout, they're not doing it right.
So proud of you! Keep it up!!
If someone still looks cute and "put together" during or right after a workout, they're not doing it right.
So proud of you - keep it up!
The "muscle guy in the mirror" thing made me laugh. My husband laughs every time he comes home at the guys that make huge grunting noises and aren't even doing lifts right because they're trying to lift like 1000 lbs. And of course, always admiring themselves in the mirror. He's a firm believer mirrors just shouldn't be allowed in the gym :D Anywho, thanks for the laugh and keep it up!ReplyDelete
What a great honest post! I get really red in the face when I exercise even a little. So after a rough one I almost look purple I have had people ask if I am okay Muhahaha!
I read a book not to long ago called Women Food and God By Geneen Roth. It was a the start of my weight loss journey (the last and final one! was determines and realized i needed to be doing mental workouts too) It was enlightening and open my eyes to things i never realized. Its a great book if you get a chance to read it.
Keep up the hard work!
YOU ARE AWESOME!ReplyDelete
I'm with you sister! And I know there are more of "us" than there are of "them". We do what we can do. We have setbacks and we have victories too! I gave up having seconds of anything (including drink refills except water) for Lent. It is hard, and it sucks and I wholeheartedly believe pony-tail girl is starving...Keep on keeping on!ReplyDelete
What a great post!!! You really helped push me! I have been working out and losing weight since July. Lately I have just been working out...I haven't been pushing myself. Well after this post I have been pushing myself. I have spent the past 3 days with a very sore body. I keep pushing because I know I will see better results! I also love when I can do more.
I have always wanted to run. Today I ran longer on the treadmill then I ever have before. =)
Congrats! Personally I've gained quite a bit with both of my pregnancies and it took about a year and a half each time to get back to being a 'ponytail girl' again. I know some girls just talk the whole time but not me, I'm like trying not to puke on the machine. I've been there, it's hard work, every pound is blood and sweat and tears. Keep your head up, you're doing great!ReplyDelete
Had to smile at your post. I have plenty of pony tail flippers in my area! :) You just keep focused. Don't compare yourself (horizontally) with others, compare yourself (vertically) with your own self and where you have been in the past and where you are headed. Thats all that matters. You are an inspiration to me and I am proud of you and your commitment to take care of you. Soooo what I need to finally do.ReplyDelete
I love your posts. Thanks so much for telling it like it really is. I almost didnt write a comment on here because I didn't want to give you one more thing to think about in terms of your weight loss, i know if you are like me, once you have a plan that is working it so hard to change things up. You are on a roll! You are such an inspiration to me. But, You mentioned you are tempted by other foods and hungry and I feel for you! i wanted to share something with you that has been eye opening to me recently. Its a book called Eat To Live. (it's the closest thing to the word of wisdom i have ever found) anyway, whats awesome is, you eat as much as you want pretty much and you are never hungry! it's just eating whole foods no processed (even dark chocolate with not too much sugar) (and i eat what ever dressing i want on my salads) tons of fruits ( i always make smoothies) and veggies (salads, stir fry etc) and whole grains, beans seeds nuts etc. it's surprising the wonderful variety there is and how freeing it feels to not count calories etc. Anyway. check it out if you want to. My mom has had huge success with it (40lbs since the holidays and she is 67!) and I started a month or so ago and have dropped 8 lbs and it seems too good to be true. i don't feel like it's a diet at ALL! Anyway, It's a completely different mindset but if you check out the website there are some testimonials that are pretty dang inspiring. I wish you so much success! I appreciate all you do on your blog. : )ReplyDelete
My hat goes off to you. It is hard work. I reluctantly decided to post a comment here because everyone these days has an opinion on the best way to loose weight. I struggled for years with every meal plan, every gym, personal trainer etc... I constantly had at least ten different people at any given moment telling me I should try this plan or that gym etc... Telling me things I already knew and most times had already tried. I felt just like you do. Why do I have to fight so hard for such little reward?
One day on my way to the thrift store I noticed a gym across the from the LA boxing and next door to the hot yoga studio. I hadn't heard of it before. I didn't pay much mind to it and went about my business. Then I was walking to my car and it caught my eye again and for some strange reason I had this nagging voice inside me telling me to go in and see what it was. So I did.
That was when I first found out about Crossfit. It was expensive, and the people in there weren't messing around. It looked hard. Harder than anything I had ever done before. So I went home and jumped on you tube. I watched just about every video there was regarding Crossfit. I was excited, it was challenging, it produced results and it lit this fire inside me I hadn't felt about working out in a long long time.
My first class I learned how to lift weights. Weights I didn't think I was capable of lifting. And I felt totally silly squatting into these strange positions with a huge barbell over my head. Second class I actually did a workout. I puked mid session. Third class I tried to call in dead but they insisted I come just to use the rowing machine, then I was conned into doing the daily workout. I think I puked again. And all the while it was the strangest feeling to be doing these workouts and cursing myself for getting into this in the first place, but then when I went home I felt like some sort of victor and couldn't stop day dreaming about my next workout. I've never felt so empowered, like winning the olympics.
After a couple weeks I learned about Paleo eating. No counting calories, no measuring food portions, no special meal plans or food kits or protein shakes. Just good old fashioned clean eating. Veggies, Fruit, Lean meats, nuts and seeds. It was hard at first. I felt restricted. But I found resources online. Other bloggers living the paleo lifestyle. People creating amazing meals and desserts withing the confinements of clean foods. We don't eat any grains. Any, including rice or corn. No white potatoes or sugar. No Beans and no dairy. I eased my way into the world of paleo. First by cutting out the grains. Then the sugar and beans and last the dairy. My workouts have improved. My health has improved. I can't remember the last time I had heart burn or gas. I rarely get head aches. Even my menstrual cramps have all since diminished. Occassionally I feel the need to punish myself and I eat something full of gluten and sugar etc when dining out or with family and I'm sick as a dog for a few days. But today ( a year later) my family of 5 all eat paleo. We make our bread with almond and coconut flours. We use coconut milk and agave for sweetening. I use bananas to sweeten many of our foods. We love sweet potatoes. I can bake cakes, cookies, ice cream, pancakes etc... all within the paleo foods.
I'm not trying to sell you or convince you that this is for you. I just wanted to share my story because I wish someone had done so for me a long time ago.
Good luck in your adventures! Keep at it. One thing my trainers always told me was, it gets easier.
First off........You are absolutely beautiful without makeup, just as you are with makeup! I noticed that before I even read this post.
2nd..........Those other people at the gym sound like they are a bit self-absorbed and there to get attention, not to improve their health and meet personal goals. The heck with them....even though it may be easier said than done!!
3rd........I envy your self-disipline and commitment to pursue and continue to pursue your goal of better health and weight loss. Your self-disipline and commitment is truly inspiring and honestly helps push me to work harder to reach my weight-loss goal. I've fallen off the wagon, again!!!! Time for me to hop back on and stick with it!!!!!
First off........You are absolutely beautiful without makeup, just as you are with makeup! I noticed that before I even read this post.
2nd..........Those other people at the gym sound like they are a bit self-absorbed and there to get attention, not to improve their health and meet personal goals. The heck with them....even though it may be easier said than done!!
3rd........I envy your self-disipline and commitment to pursue and continue to pursue your goal of better health and weight loss. Your self-disipline and commitment is truly inspiring and honestly helps push me to work harder to reach my weight-loss goal. I've fallen off the wagon, again!!!! Time for me to hop back on and stick with it!!!!!
I wanted to thank you for this post. I have lost 40 lbs since the beginning of the year but this past 3 weeks I have completely fallen off the wagon. I told myself yesterday, "Monday is the day to get back on" (I needed to give myself Mother's day off). Then, today I stumbled accros your post and it really inspired me. You are AWESOME - THANK YOU!!!! Watch out Monday, here I come...ReplyDelete
I stumbled upon your blog today and am so impressed by your motivation. You look amazing and your dedication to becoming healthier is an inspiration to so many people! KEEP GOING!ReplyDelete
Thanks to you tomorrow I will be working out MUCH harder!!!ReplyDelete
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