Day 1

Here we go...

Let me start by saying that I will not be tracking my weight! I've done that in the past and it has done nothing but discourage me. I'm one of those people who will end up checking the scale every single day and that is not a good thing.

GOALS

1. Go from a size 16 to an 8
2. Add more natural foods to my diet. If I can't pronounce it then I shouldn't be eating it!
3. Conquer "mental hunger!" I plan on covering this little problem of mine a lot!
4. Become more active. I want to try new activities and share some of my favorite activities (canoeing).
5. Quit smoking!!! This is a huge struggle for me and it's very important to me and my sweet little daughter!
6. Have more energy
7. Have awesome collar bones! I know this one is kind of vain but I think they are so beautiful.
8. Participate in WARRIOR DASH next year! Yeah!

 That's it for now. I'm sure that I will  come up with more goals as I begin this process.

The Realization

Realization - coming to understand something clearly and distinctly

When I was a little girl my Grandmother would always make remarks about how thin I was. She would say things like, "Don't you feed this child? She's way too skinny!" As I grew and blossomed the remarks changed. "You're starting to look a little chunky around here," she would say while motioning to her own round hips. The thing is, I was completely normal. My whole life I was completely normal. Not thin, not fat.

Slowly, over time, this changed, I guess

Ok, here is a little background. Since meeting my husband, falling in love, starting college, finishing college, getting married, having a baby, finding a great job and being laid-off from said great job (on my birthday) I have put on ... drum roll please ... 70 pounds! Yes, I said it! 70 pounds!!! WOW! Well it's time for things to change in a BIG way!

So, what does and extra 70 pounds look like? I HAVE NO IDEA. I know, I know. I'm the one carrying all of that extra baggage around. This was such a slow process that I didn't see it happening. People would try to be helpful and give me "polite" suggestions but, I would just shrug it off. I knew I was carrying a few extra pounds around but I really didn't think it was a problem.

It's there, I know it's there. I just don't know how to really see it.