4 words

There are 4 words that every girl loves to hear...
"Did you lose weight?"

Those are the 4 words that turned my day around today!  And they were not even spoken to me by someone who was close to me.  I think that even made it mean more. This person didn't know I was slaving away at the gym with an injured foot because I didn't want to break my newly formed habit.  She didn't know that I was literally starving myself 3 days a week on a fad diet I found online.  And she certainly didn't know how her four simple words would impact my day!

February 21, 2013
BEFORE PHOTO

I started running again and going to the gym in mid-February.  Part of it was because I guy I'd just met was really into being healthy and I wanted to impress him and the other part was because I was just sick of being fat.  Let's face it... there just comes a point when you've have enough, right?  Well the boy disappeared (that's a story for another post) but my will and desire to reach my goal didn't.  I am going to be thinner.  I've been overweight for my entire life... well for as long as I can remember!  There is a photo at my parents house of me and my younger brother.  We're lying on the floor in the family room of our first house and I don't even recognize the little girl.  She is super skinny, it couldn't possibly be me!!  But at some point, there was a thinner version of myself and now I'm on a quest to find her again!  To the right is my "before" photo... hopefully, through this blog, I can chronicle my journey so when I look back, I can see how far I've come.  And who knows... maybe I'll inspire someone else!

I'm not new to the diet scene... if there is a diet out there, I've most likely tried it!  I had the most success with Weight Watchers and Jenny Craig.  WW worked for a little and then I reached a plateau.  JC was great because there was no planning or thinking.  I just followed a menu and ate their pre-made frozen meals.  The issue is the price tag!  I'm barely able to pay my mortgage right now (again... another future blog post) so paying over $100 on food per week is not an option. So, I started the "military diet" last Monday (a week and a day ago) in order to help jumpstart my weight loss.  We all know that success is motivating so I needed something to give me success so I could forge on!  At the end of the 3-day diet, I had lost 5.5 lbs.  I was ecstatic! I ate healthy for the next 4 days and was able to maintain my weight loss.  So I started the 3-day diet again yesterday and have completed 2 days.  I can't wait for Thursday morning to see what this week's result yield.

This 4 words are definitely going to keep me going when I feel like giving up!!

Goodbye 2011.... YOU SUCKED!!!

I am by no means a writer... and I will not pretend to be.  I mean I write amazing papers for grad school, but I never kept a journal or a diary and I don't think my life is really that exciting enough for other people (especially strangers) to even give a crap about but I thought starting a blog this year would help me, so here goes...

2011 was by far the WORST year of my life.  In comparison to some other people, it wasn't all that bad, but compared to my other 33 years, it takes the cake!  I had a good job, got laid off, changed careers and struggled with dating.  I lost some good friends along the way and really realized who I could count on during my time of need.  All in all, I'm not sad to see 2011 end but I'm nervous about 2012 and have high expectations.  I'm just nervous about being let down.... again!

I thought writing a blog could be therapeutic.  Sharing my thoughts and actually writing them down should help, right? It's a step... baby steps.  This blog will be about my struggles as a single 34 year old, making a career change, trying to lose weight and searching for true love.  I think (or hope) this is going to be my year!  I'm following my dreams and becoming a teacher.  I'm going to get myself in shape and finally shed the excess pounds that have literally been "weighing me down" for years and I want to find the love we all deserve.  I'm sick of kissing the frogs.... I'm ready to find my Prince Charming!!

Thanks for taking my journey with me!!