An important day

I haven’t really shared much on my blog about my journey that I’m on so I thought today would be a good day to share. This post could get long so I hope you’ll bear with me.

I’ve struggled with my weight for as long as I can remember. Although looking back, many of my struggles are more with what “I” see myself as vs. the way I really look/weigh. Regardless, it’s always been an “issue”.

My health has been fairly good..a few things here and there, mainly while I was pregnant. My family on the other hand, not so much. There is heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, cholesterol issues, etc. on both sides of my family.

During Sam’s last deployment I really packed on the pounds and got into some very unhealthy eating and non-exercising patterns. I didn’t think much about it. I mean, I knew I was overweight but just shrugged it off.

Then my best friend worked super hard over the last two years and done such a remarkable job--she’s lost around 70lbs and has kept it off! She’s established healthy eating habits and exercise. I’m so proud of her and she is my inspiration.

Then a few months ago the wake up call came to me…my mom was told she has diabetes. It hit me like a ton of bricks that if I don’t change what I’m doing, I’m going to be going in the same direction as my family. Not saying that I won’t get diabetes and etc., but I don’t want to just sit still and let it happen.

So on November 14, 2011, I began my journey to get healthy. Yes, I want to lose weight in the process but the main thing is to be healthier than I was.

Sometimes I think I’m not doing much or haven’t done much so I’m writing this more for me to acknowledge that I have done a lot. I know there’s lots more to do but you have to start somewhere!

So far I have~

• quit drinking my beloved Dr. Pepper--well, okay, I didn’t drink any soda for 2 months but then I just missed it so much so now I drink Pepsi Max and occasionally I splurge and have a Dr. Pepper--still MUCH better than the 2-3 a day I was drinking before.
• started really looking at calories and such for the foods I was eating
• kept a food diary--so interesting. I always thought my problem was sweets as I love cookies but turns out my problem areas are fast food and soda
• stopped going out to eat as much and changed what I order now--instead of my favorite Big Mac meal (UGH, I know, I know) I now order a salad or a kids meal.
• have started having more healthy snacks--fruits, veggies, baked crackers, trail mix, yogurt, etc.
• make myself go up and down our stairs a few extra times a day and play with the dogs a few more times a day too--chasing them around
• do the Wii Fit when I can
• joined Curves!

The last one, joining Curves, has been one of the best things I could’ve done. I can’t even begin to tell you how much that has helped me. It gets me up and out of the house every day throughout the week plus it gets me around adults and then of course, the benefit of the exercise.

Which brings us to why this is an important day. Today is my first weigh and measure day at Curves. I’ve been working out there a month-5 days a week.  When I started this journey in November I weighed myself on the Wii Fit and (I can’t believe I’m putting this out there) I weighed my heaviest, 179 lbs. I’m only 5’1 so this is way overweight! I didn’t measure myself when I started but I know I’ve lost a few inches because I can finally fit into a pair of jeans that I bought a year or more ago that I saved as a goal! Plus I can fit into my favorite pair of jeans that I haven’t worn in over 2 years.

So I’m curious and excited to see what the numbers say today but regardless, I know I’m on the right track! Wish me luck and I’ll post tomorrow what the results were!