The First Day!

My blog is entitled, "The First Day", even though today isn't anywhere close to being the first day. It is probably more like, the 3,650th day.

I was thin and athletic in High School and one fine day, I decided to let go of everything in my life that mattered to me. I gave up on life and myself and over a 15 year period, I proceeded to gain a total of 175 pounds. I began at about 145 pounds, so you can do the math.

I have tried to lose weight over and over and for some reason, I always end up giving up.....on my diet and on myself. I have been a member of weight watchers more times than I care to remember. I have heard so many people say that diets don't work. I think they are right....Diets don't work because the word "Diet" suggests a temporary state of presence. One of the reasons I have always been allured by weight watchers is because they have taught me about how to eat for life. They have taught me that this is a way of life. They don't believe in temporary solutions.

But let me not get ahead of myself. This blog is not about weight watchers or any diet plan. This is about me making a promise to myself to commit to a healthy way of life. It's not just about eating less calories. This is about eating more healthy foods and exercising. This is about being heart healthy. This is about being mentally healthy again.

I took my life away. Now I am going to give it back. Then, I can get back to being the girl I once was. The girl who had a voracious hunger for life and adventure. I am living in the shell of someone who is dead, but somewhere inside, that girl who had so much energy for life is in there somewhere, alive and full of zeal! Over the next 12 months, I will dig and work hard to find her and bring her back to life again!

I can't wait to remember what it is like to be alive!

To begin this journey, I have already taken some critical steps. My eating habits are a struggle for me every single day. I know what is right and wrong to eat, but I don't always have the willpower to do the right thing. But I am trying very hard. A friend of mine once shared this quote with me, "It's not that some people have willpower and some don't. It's that some people are ready to change and others are not." ~ James Gordon

This hit me like a ton of bricks! How badly do I really want to change my life? I want it bad! That is why back on November 5th, 2009, I decided not only to work on eating more healthy, but I decided to strive for a more active lifestyle as well. I joined curves! That was a turning point for me. I have been going 3 times a week for a little over 2 months. And so far I lost 7 lbs and 14". to me this is a success because this was over the holidays when I normally would have gained 10 lbs for more. But I know now that because the holidays are over, I can lose a lot more than just 7 pounds in 2 months. I am striving for at least 3.5 pounds a week.

I am on my way. But I know that there will be struggles along the way. But ultimately, I know that I CAN do this! I can do anything I put my mind to! In the words of Nike; "Just Do It!"

Dale Carnegie, one of the most amazing motivational speakers that has ever lived, has put something amazing into my head that helps me get through each day. Because although I want to lose 150 pounds, I can't look at the big picture, as it is too scary. He has taught me to, "Live in day tight compartments." I will live for today and will make no more excuses. My new way of life starts (Continues) today! There is NO TOMORROW! Tomorrow never comes. And "Someday" is the 8th day of the week, which also never comes!

I have to do it for TODAY and today only!

So, here I go. Today, I officially begin my quest for a healthier way of life and I begin my journey to shed this "coat of armor" that is holding me back and preventing me from living my life.
The count down begins. 361 days from today, I will have lost 150 pounds!