My Journey

Weightloss and getting healthy are indeed a journey.  It is really a lifelong journey.  I can remember "Feeling fat" every since 2nd grade.  Honestly I remember a best friend and I setting in the cafeteria in 2nd grade complaining about how our thighs were fatter than another friend's.  Since then it has been a constant up and down battle with successes and failures along the way.  I always played sports.... tennis, softball, soccer, and I did marching band which is quite the cardiovascular activity.  I remember running 4 miles a day in for soccer in high school.  That was about my healthiest weight days.  When I was a senior in high school I had a lot of muscular health issues and was diagnosed with Myofascial Pain Syndrome.  The weight piled on that year as I got used to the MPS and what I could and couldn't do.  Then of course I lost some weight and gained it back etc.  With MPS/Fibromyalgia you can work out and live a normal life you just have to pace yourself so that you don't do too much one day and keep yourself from being able to do anything the next day.  I have in the 8 years of dealing with it learned to live with it VERY well.  Its basically in the back of my mind now.


Growing up I had wonderful parents that loved me unconditionally and even loved me enough to help me with my weight.  I used to get upset with them for advising me on my calorie intake, but I'm so thankful that they did.  They always advised me in a very loving and encouraging manner.  They always encouraged exercise and even joined a gym and took me.  I remember my dad losing a bit of weight himself when I was in high school.  He set a great example for what was possible.  


My brother was always the athlete of the family.  I promise you that when we were kids he could eat ten tons of food and never gain an ounce.  I promise!!!  He was always competitive with me when we were little about our sports, but he was always a good big brother that encouraged me as well and was never ashamed of his chubby sister!  We were even cheerleaders the same year once!


My entire family continues to encourage me to this day... My brother and sister-in-law are runners and my brother and I have frequent health conversations, My mom and I talk "healthy food" like its our job, My dad never fails to call me and tell me he's Jullian (from Biggest Loser) and ask what I ate/ how I exercised that day (don't think I'm not his Jullian too), and my husband is a support to me 24/7... we have exercised together, planned healthy meals together, and joined a gym before we even moved to Bowling Green!


Last January Brandon (my husband) and I set out to lose weight.  I lost 20 lbs between Jan and May.  I felt great and was so proud of myself.  I did it by counting calories, making sure I was eating a balanced diet, and exercising.  I used wii fit, my treadmill with Couch to 5K, and went to Zumba classes.  In May we made a big move back to Kentucky for our jobs.  In the process of moving back and not having a kitchen to cook in for about 3 months I gained back 24 lbs!!! yikes. So, I was then at my highest weight. I am going to be very honest here and let you know that that put me at 193 lbs.


As soon as we got our jobs in KY we joined the Total Fitness Connection gym.  In August I began taking Zumba and yoga.  I did that very faithfully but I still hadn't gotten back into eating right. So the weight and inches were not coming back off.  So, here it was November...  I needed something more...

Here I am... 193 pounds with my Lily.

I feel like this is not me at my fullest potential.  As the scripture at the top of my blog talks about taking care of what God created, I feel like I have a lot more to do to be at my best and be taking care of God's creation to the best of my ability.

So, I started with a personal trainer, Greg.  We started with measurements and a food log and we talked about how and what to eat and we began with my training.  For the first 5 weeks it went like this:

Monday: Train with Greg... we did weight training that also served as cardio because we bounced around that gym like a ping pong ball.

Tuesday: yoga

Wednesday: Zumba

Thursday: yoga

Fri-Sun:rest

After 5 weeks I had lost .4 lbs, but had lost 2.5% body fat, and 5 inches! I was stoked.  2.5 of those inches came straight from my waist!  I wasn't too worried about the .4 lbs and neither was my trainer.

So we had success. Now my next 5 weeks is starting..... my routine is changing and so will I

I don't know who might read this, but I'm so excited to blog about my journey.  I know that with the support of my family and friends, God's strength, and a desire to become my best that this will continue to be quite a journey with many successes along the way.

Please feel free to comment at any time.

 With my husband Brandon at my parents house. (another "before" picture)

One more "before" picture with my hubby!