January 13, 2014: The Beginning (officially)

I'm fat.  There it is.  Whew!

Now, don't go getting all "Oh Mandi, you're not fat" on me.  I'm fat, and by medical standards I'm very obese.  Again, don't come at me with your take on obesity and medical standards and what not.  I'm fat.  I'm not self-hating.  I'm being honest.  That honesty is exactly what I needed to finally be "ready" to get healthy.  I've joked before with my friends "Well, what I see in the mirror is NOT what I see in the picture haha!" and the sad truth of that is that I wasn't really seeing myself.  I didn't see myself the way the picture showed me.  I saw what I wanted to see in the mirror.

For a couple years now I've been off and on when it comes to the fitness wagon.  I get into these phases where I'm so pumped up about losing weight and eating healthy and it goes well for a few weeks and then I'm back to pounding Hershey bars and Swiss Cake Rolls and chugging as much Wild Cherry Pepsi as I can.  I'm done with that.  I am ready to change my lifestyle and eat right and get healthy.  Yes, losing weight is my main objective but I am also focusing on HEALTH.  I want to be healthy!  For those of you who don't know me here is a little background information.

I am a stay at home mother of two boys who keep me very busy.  Busy enough to fail every time I start an organizing project.....or folding clothes or doing the dishes, etc!  I don't have one of those bodies that bounces right back after pregnancy.  After our first born, Scott, I nursed and pumped and was back down to my pre-pregnancy weight within a few months but my body shape had changed so much.  After our second son, Noah, was born, my body was in such bad condition!  It didn't help that Noah was 11lbs 5.2oz.  It didn't help that I wasn't able to nurse OR pump much.  While those two things are true, I can't blame it all on poor Noah.  What really didn't help was my lack of activity.  What also did not help was my constant snacking on junk food and drinking pop.  I was my own worst enemy, and on top of that, I am an emotional eater.

So, I decided about a year ago that I was going to change everything.  I started out well, but fizzled out.  I'd get so exited to see a bit of progress and think "Oh, I can eat/drink this, I'm doing so well" but it all comes back to not treating yourself with food or drinks.  Anyway, I'm getting off topic.

So now it's real.  I registered, and PAID, for my first 5K (it's in May - if you want to be on my team sign up for Run or Dye in Kzoo!).  I want to be able to run and play with my boys and not be tired.  I want to make it up and down the stairs without being winded.  This time I'm ready; I know 100% that I am ready!

I was looking through a clothing catalog yesterday (and it wasn't a plus-size catalog!) and rather than thinking "I wish I could wear that" I thought "I can't wait until I will wear that!" and was so excited at the thought of putting on a size 12 something.  Mentally I'm there.  I'm finally there.  I haven't been really ready until now and that is the reason I always failed.  Mentally, I'm ready to become a healthier me.

I started a membership at the YMCA thanks to a monetary Christmas gift.  I started a step aerobics class Monday (1/13) night (it's every Mon and Wed) and it was so much fun even though it really challenged me and kicked my butt!  I'll eventually move on to more intense classes, but for now it's step!

So, here goes nothing.  I'm putting it all out there.  Weight, goals, progress, etc.  I hope that by documenting this publicly it will keep me motivated, if being healthy isn't enough of a motivator!  My plan is to check in at least weekly, if not more.

Current Weight: 242.2
Goal weight: 160
Goal activity: Cardio - 4 days/week
And of course changing my lifestyle when it comes to eating.

I'm on www.myfitnesspal.com (alsmith1104) so look me up if you're on there.  It helps me track my calories, exercise and all that.  I also have a fitbit to help me with daily activity and calories burned.

Let's do this!  Fat to Fit baby!