Back on the wagon

This is me.

It was taken during a headshot shoot I did of a very good friend of mine who was/is an amateur wrestler. He somehow managed to turn the lens on me. I am wearing his ball cap & making a very goofy face... but I am grateful. It is the only picture of me that I have from a time when I was running 4 days a week & eating well & felt stronger than I had for most of my life.

I love my family. But we are not a particularly active bunch. I have struggled with trying to learn how to be a healthy & active person. There have been moments in my life that I think I "get it" (hence, the picture above) but I am also an emotional eater (especially stress) & not long after this picture was taken, I met my husband. Being "woo-ed" was not good for my waistline either :)

My husband & I had a brief courtship (4 months dating - 4 months engaged) but by the time we got married, I think I gained almost 20lbs (stress...

not from him, but planning a wedding in 4 months - Yikes! Not to mention HE suddenly took up the time I used to spend working out & we were eating out a LOT - that's what you do when you're dating - well, it's what we did anyway)

- then I had my brief & ONLY experience with the birth control pill... I gained 40lbs in 3 months!! I got stretch marks I gained weight so fast!! I quickly went off the pill & have since gone up & down with my pregnancies (I lose weight when I am pregnant - as much as 30-35lbs) then gain it back in the first year after the baby is born. It is SOOOO frustrating!!

So I fell off the wagon (with a giant THUD) over Christmas - but the new year has given me renewed hope & energy.

I have found new support in my sisters who are taking the same journey along with me.

I have found new resources (if you have never heard of www.sparkpeople.com it is an AMAZING resource!! Tracks your nutrition & fitness based on goals you enter - ALL FOR FREE!!)

I have new hope & faith in myself & in TAKING time for me each day to try to achieve this.

I am going to lose 50lbs by August. I am down 2lbs so far & have been slowly easing my way into more & more activity. I am feeling better already.

Here's to swimsuit shopping for this summer!!