Day 21 - Week 3 Results

Alright, I am revamping my plan to blog daily - no excuse, other than laziness - and lots of crazy Tornado forming storms in my area have kept me entertained and forgetful. BUT I didn't forget to weigh myself today and update the pictures to my blog! My current weight is: 230.4!!

That is -2.6 lbs from last week bringing my weightloss total to:::::::::::


-7.6!!! WAHOO!!!!

  

Week 1                                      Week 3

 

If I keep going like this I'll lose 10lbs in a month! That would be pretty awesome!!

Day 14 - Week Two Results

Well the results are in! I am down to an even 233 pounds!! That would be -1.6 pounds since last week!!! Making my grand total weight loss so far 5 pounds!!

Here are comparison pictures from Day 1 (left) to the end of Week 2 (right). I can tell a difference in just 5 pounds!!

  

  

Okay... maybe I should put a t-shirt on just to make sure... but from here I'm glad to see that my stomach doesn't stick out the farthest on my front side anymore! Small victory but it's going in the right direction!!

   

In other news, my foot is back to normal, I woke up today without any foot pain!! YAY! So I think tomorrow I'm going to start walking around the complex... I'll see how that goes and if I don't overdue it I'll start increasing the distance! I'm very proud of myself!

Day 10 - Family Fun Day

I am not, not writing about Day 9 because I don't want to... but simply because I forgot to write down what I ate and I know I didn't get any exercise :( ... and now it's Day 11... I've come to realize that I kinda stink at this daily blog thing!!

Day 10 was quite a hectic day. My husband and I share a vehicle and I needed to get around yesterday so my day started at 0430 when I got up. By 0530 I dropped my husband off at work on post. From there I came back to the apartment to eat breakfast - a multi-grain (YUMMY) bagel with butter, a glass of apple juice and a bowl of Special K Red Berries!

Then I ran south to drop off some job applications. When I got back from that fun escapade I had enough time to change clothes and head back to base, well, close to base for Family Fun Day. Now the email I got about it made it sound like they had activities for the families to partake in (potato sack hop, flag football, softball, etc etc etc) So I thought it sounded like a fun way to spend the day with my husband. Well the email failed to explain that my husband's company was running the event and he would be stuck as flag-football referee. I was kinda  bummed because I thought I'd get to watch him participate in the events,  not adjudicate them. Luckily, some of the other wives were there and I was able to play catch up with one for most of the day.

We ended up leaving a little early because my husband had a doctor's appointment - I thought it had spared me from pigging out on hamburgers and crappy chips - yeah, by the time we unwove our way back to the apartment I was starving and gave in to Wendy's... ugh... damn convenience with a time crunch. So I pigged out on a cheese burger and fries... yeah, I felt pretty nasty later!

Well got my husband to his appointment on time... then the sunburn kicked in. Oops! I was definitely feeling the effects of a beautiful Tennessee day!! <3 the weather! So between my unhealthy lunch and my sunburn, I was having a lot of trouble staying awake in the waiting room. Luckily, I made it and we were able to get home in time to take our other cat to the vet for bloodwork. We are having Ninja tested for FIP and we have decided that if his results are negative (meaning he does not have FIP) we will have to put Karma down so that Ninja will have the chance to live without it. If his results come back positive, meaning they both have FIP, we will keep them both until they get worse, then have them put to sleep as needed. It's a crappy reality, but we want out cats not to suffer. I should find out today what his results are. It's kind of hard to hope for one result versus the other because either way we lose.

When we got back from the vet I threw together a quick dinner of Shredded Chicken, Asparagus and Strawberries - YUM!!!

So that was my day 10... I will try to update on today before I go to bed tonight... ARGH! I know I can do this!

Day 8 - Blahville

Since finding out that Karma is terminal I spent majority of my day cuddling her and kind of cat proofing our furniture. My husband and I decided we will schedule an appointment to get Ninja's blood work so we will know if he is also Positive for FIP (see previous blog for explanation).

For breakfast I had a bowl of rice crispies with milk, a 8-grain bagel with butter and a glass of water.

For lunch I fixed a sandwich and had some veggie chips (yum!)

Dinner time came and I wasn't very hungry but my husband still wanted to have our Mexican themed night. We fixed quesadillas, soft and hard tacos - I only ate the quesadilla. I can tell my stomach is shrinking because it isn't taking as much to fill me up.

My foot gave me a lot of trouble - I have been uncomfortable sleeping in that boot and end up taking it off midway through the night... which isn't helping me heal. The anti-inflammatory seems to provide a lot of relief though!

Well, it's actually Day 9 today and I need to get our stove area ready for them to install Stove Top Firestops. I'm not sure what that means, but I'm sure it will be better than what we have. Our apartments are owned by the same company of another complex that caught on fire and was destroyed about a month ago. It's nice to know they are working hard to update all the complexes! Makes me feel safe!!

Day 7 - F.I.P. & Week 1 Results

I know that I said I was going to devote this blog to my eating and exercise schedule... but I need to take a temporary time out and share what happened today.

About 2 months ago, my husband and I adopted 2 kittens from a local adoption agency. They were from different litters, but near the same age. Meet Karma (tiger) and Ninja (black)...

  

Ninja as you can tell is quite the gentleman (just teasing). Karma is a delicate lady. Both kittens are about 8 months old. 

Unfortunately, Karma has had a lot of health problems in the last three weeks. We're talking horrid gas, vomiting and diarrhea. We have had numerous appointments at the vet various tests, hoping it was just the type of food upsetting her stomach. Everything kept coming back negative... until today. I had a good friend drive me to the vet with Karma after her latest episode this morning with a fresh sample (if you need to ask what kind of sample I'm talking about - you don't want to know). The vet called the lab to follow up on an outstanding test we'd had run... and it came back positive. Guess I didn't need that sample after all :( Karma has tested positive for FIP (Feline Infectious Peritonitis). Allow me to quote from the papers the vet gave me so that I don't mis-explain anything...

"Feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) is a viral disease of cats caused by a certain strain of a virus called the feline coronavirus... With the assistance of the antibodies that are supposed to protect the cat, white blood cells are infected with virus, and these cells then transport the virus throughout the cat's body. An intense inflammatory reaction occurs around vessels in the tissues where these infected cells locate, often in the abdomen, kidney or brain. It is this interaction between the body's own immune system and the virus that is responsible for the disease. Once a cat develops clinical FIP  involving one or many systems of the cat's body, the disease is progressive and is almost always fatal. It is unlike any other viral disease of animals or humans.

...

In cats that develop FIP, the symptonms can appear to be sudden since cats have an amazing ability to mask disease until they are in crisis state. Once symptoms develop, often there is increasing severity over the course of several weeks, ending in death.

...

Unfortunately, there is no known cure or effective treatment for FIP at this time. Some treatments may induce short-term remissions in a small percentage of cats; however, FIP is a fatal disease. Treatment is generally aimed at supportive care, such as good nursing care and nutrition, and alleviating the inflammatory response of the disease."

For more information check out Cornell Feline Health Center

So today is a sad day, because now my husband and I have to decide what to do about our loving little kitten. She has become such a part of this family... we hate to see her suffer, but we don't want to have her put to sleep. Ninja, having shared a litter box, has probably caught the disease as well. 

Major suck.

This afternoon has been very quiet at our apartment. Karma is curled up on her cat tree... Ninja is beside her located inside one of the holes.

I have to be honest, I came home and pigged out on Edamame ... and then I ate 4 Buckeye Bars. Ouch. Worse part is that as I was eating those Buckeye Bars I knew I shouldn't have done that... but I didn't stop. Can we say emotional eater?

My husband cooked dinner tonight (his turn, and he makes it better than I do). We both have different ways for making Beef Stroganoff... he made his version tonight (delicious!) Our recipes are basically the same, except he uses ground beef and serves it over mashed potatoes... I use beef tip cut into thin strips served over noodles...

Okay, the moment we've all been waiting for (weighting for? nah, too lame of a joke)... the results of week 1 are in... My current weight is.......

*insert drum roll here*

234.6 pounds 

which is -3.4 pounds in the first week of me paying attention... and that's after my stupid Buckeye Bar binge too... now I really wish I hadn't eaten them... BAH!!!

Okay, now for the comparative pictures... let's see if we notice what -3.4 looks like (doubtful, but I promised pictures!)

  

             Day 1                             End of Week 1 (-3.6lbs)

  

-3.6 is an awesome start!!! It's a big step in the right direction! Can't wait for my foot to get back to normal so I can really get moving again!!!

Day 5 & Day 6 - The Commissary

I have been really neglectful in my blogging - I haven't taken the time to post and wish I could blame it on the sick kitten we are (still) dealing with, a busy weekend with my husband or some other excuse, but when it comes right down to it - I just didn't make the time.

Our weekends consisted of a lot of leftovers - but it also involves my husband and his almost famous Waffle making skills :) Instead of indulging myself in a waffle covered in butter and syrup I opted for a half of a waffle covered in strawberries with a little bit of powdered sugar. And 2 scrambled eggs top with Miracle Blend from the Alden Mill House, in Michigan! Yum!!

I finally finished off the Ziti for lunch and when dinner rolled around I had a small piece of meatloaf, roasted potato medley! Yum again!!

Yesterday I overslept and woke up around lunchtime, so I just fixed a Veggie Burger, leftover roasted potato Medley and some grapes... and then my husband and I went to the grocery store...

Grocery stores are somewhat limited here in Clarksville - we have Walmart, Food Lion, Kroger (which I've never actually seen) and the Commissary on post. We usually go to Walmart... when it's not crazy (for my Columbus followers - it's not like the International Walmart near Easton at all). Ours is crammed full of townies and miscellaneous soldiers and their families. I don't mind shopping there... I mean, I was raised to shop at Meijer, but I have quickly adapted my ways to the world of Wally.

Yesterday, however, my husband decided we should go to the Commissary on post (for my Columbus followers - it's not like the International Walmart near Easton at all - it's much scarier!) The Commissary on post is not for the weak at heart. As a good friend of mine once put it "You have to think like a football player"... Granted she said I should act like a quarterback. Well, quarterbacks usually come with a line of Offensive Tackles, a center and running backs (and whatever else I've forgotten). This quarterback didn't have those so she kept getting sacked!! We had a good plan - I was calling the plays (what we needed) and my husband was running long to catch the odds and ends... while I tried to relearn my shopping strategy. I got run over/into 4 times that I can recall. The Commissary has a secret room filled with household cleaning items and pet stuff... it was kind of creepy. Then you have the regular aisles filled with frozen foods and generic food items. Then the produce... which was ... alright? Granted, when I got home and cut up the Cauliflower it had purple tints to it.... yeah, it was strange.

The final challenge of shopping at the Commissary is making it to the check out line... after the mass amounts of weaving through the dividers (or whatever they're called) and paying for your order you get the pleasure of walking to the car with a bagger. Who tells you her life story. Then unloads the groceries while telling you more of her life story. And the minute you tip her - runs back to the Commissary :P

So yes, we got all of our groceries, and yes, we saved some money by going there - but I got home with a very sore foot. I guess I should've taken my husbands offer to get pushed around in the kiddie cart... it even has steering wheels for the kids! hahaha,

Last night for dinner my husband made the BEST chicken EVER!!! Russian Chicken!! YUM!! It's chicken breasts baked in Russian dressing, onion soup mix and apricot preserves. I know it sounds strange but it's delicious!! And all of it was over a cup of rice :)

Today marks day 7, which means I've completed week 1 of the "new Stacey" attitude. I'll post more later this evening and upload a picture along with my first weigh-in results :) I hope this new attitude gives me a positive reaction :D To be continued...

Day 3 & Day 4 - Catching Up, Movie Review & Crunchy Tossed Salad Recipe

Yesterday has quickly become a blur. I spent a lot of the day stretching out my foot... icing down my foot... then stretching it... then well, I don't remember what else. My husband told me he was going to have a few of his battle buddies over for dinner last night so I made a ton of Meatloaf and Mashed Potatoes. Although I used a large plate, I kept the portions reasonable and was actually too full to finish my potatoes. We ended up having only one of his buddies over last night BUT they were able to enjoy Buckeye Bars that I had made (again, planning on having at least 3 additional soldiers at my apartment). That has been a huge challenge... Anyone want to help me get rid of these devils??

Today has been a different story - I kept forgetting to eat!! We stayed up late last night with our company and my husband has a 3-day weekend (one perk of a year long deployment) so we were able to sleep in today. Today is laundry day and I'm one of those people that if I don't start the laundry right away, it won't get done. So I got up and started the laundry and before I knew it it was lunchtime. Being that we choose not to eat meat on Fridays during Lent I had a repeat meal of the Ziti from a couple nights ago. It still tastes fantastic!! I also had a banana... pretty boring right? Well I've been so focused on laundry and watching the news about this ridiculous potential government shutdown that it has been easy to forget about eating today.

Eventually we decided to get out of the apartment and see Russell Brand's new movie "Arthur"...

HIL-AR-IOUS!!! I think I may have just fallen in love with Russell Brand - what a nut!! I must brag about our movie adventure though - I didn't get ANYTHING from the concession stand!!! YAY!! That's pretty big for me - usually it's popcorn, pop and Buncha Crunch! So to not get anything, and live through the movie w/o munching - I'm very proud of myself!!

Tonight for dinner my husband wanted Mac-N-Cheese... Another something that I formerly used to gorge myself on. Tonight I only had one cup of MnC and a large bowl of Crunchy Tossed Salad. It has homemade (super easy) dressing on it along with Roasted Almonds and Chinese Noodles... YUUUUUUM!!! Usually it also has bacon, but since it's Meat-Free Friday I skipped that detail.

I'm certain this has to be one of my most boring posts but that's all I have to report in today. I am hoping to try some Active2 Yoga tomorrow as my foot is finally beginning to feel better. Only the side hurts all the time - the rest has pain that comes and goes. I also read that Clarksville will be having some activities coming up along the river soon. So between that and the BEAUTIFUL 81* weather we had today... I cannot wait for Spring to stick around and to be more active outside. Maybe we'll put some air in my bike tires, I'm not sure yet!!

Here's that salad dressing recipe - I promise it's delicious and you've probably already got all the ingredients in your pantry!

Crunchy Tossed Salad

1/2 c. Vegetable or Canola Oil

1/4 c. Sugar
2 T. Vinegar
1 tsp. Salt
1/4 tsp. Pepper
1 large head of Iceberg Lettuce, sliced or chopped
6 Bacon Strips, cooked and crumbled
1/3 c. sliced Almonds, toasted
1/3 c. Sesame Seeds, toasted
3/4 c. Chow Mein Noodles

In a jar with a tight-fitting lid, combine oil, sugar, vinegar, salt, and pepper; shake well. Chill for 1 hour. Just before serving combine the lettuce, bacon, almonds and sesame seeds in a large bowl; add dressing and toss. Top with chow mein noodles.

ENJOY!!!

Day 3 - Lacking Sleep

Here is the lovely night splint I get to wear for the next 45 nights (booo!) And let me tell you - it was not easy getting comfortable in bed. It is designed to keep my foot bent which helps stretch out my foot and calf. So needless to say, I tossed and turned in bed for hours last night. It also didn't help that we have new neighbors in the apartment above us for the first time since I moved in. Yeah, they're a young couple with a 3 year old. The guy is straight out of basic. Last night at about 11PM they decided to start moving furniture around... and it didn't stop until 1AM... which was just before I was about to hobble upstairs and ask them to be quieter. This wasn't a problem for my husband bc he can sleep through almost anything - but for me, it was a challenge.

I can already tell today will be a tough day - I'm not sure what I'm going to do for exercise... and when I just sit around I get bored, and I'm the type of person who eats when she's bored... DANGER!!!

Thankfully, my husband was nice enough to run to the store last night so we are now fully stocked up on fruits and vegetables :) So here's to a new day - full of new challenges!!

Day 2 - Plantar Fasciitis

Today I was so amped up to get out and go walking!! I got up and made a nice protein filled breakfast (3 scrambled eggs, a bagel with peanut butter and a glass of raspberry lemonade).

After breakfast I laced up my tennis shoes and started out on my walk. Yeah, I didn't make it very far before the pain in my heel started shooting both towards my toes, up the outside of my foot and through my ankle.

Last night, I was a little sore from the walk but I figured it was simply because I hadn't been very active recently... So I kicked back and watched Glee, Raising Hope and who was eliminated from Dancing with the Stars. When I went to go to bed my heel was tender but tolerable.

This morning it was still sore but I wasn't really moving throughout the apartment too wildly. When I started out on my walk I went about .2 miles and could barely stand the pain shooting through my foot. I text my mom about what was going on and she advised me to get it looked at (her guess was that I had Plantar Fasciitis)- which was perfect because I had already text my friend to see if she had her car (her husband is also in the Army - and they share a car much like I do with my husband). As luck(?) would have it - her husband had his wisdom teeth removed earlier this morning so he was off work and she had access to the car. My husband drove the truck to work (not that I would have been able to deal with the clutch as my left foot is the one effected) and still isn't home.

Anyway, I started at Urgent Care in the hospital but they were so backed up they actually asked me to go to the Emergency Room to be examined instead. I had my vitals taken and settled into the book I'm reading (Pride & Prejudice by Jane Austen). I don't believe I sat there for more than 30 minutes before I was taken to the exam room. 

The doctor was very friendly and asked me a few questions about recent activity. She then examined my foot by poking around to find the sore spots (which is so fun), asking me to stand and walk. She explained that there was no need for x-ray as she knew I had Plantar Fasciitis. She then gave me directions for how to heal the injury, a prescription for orthotic shoe inserts/a night splint boot/anti-inflammatory medicine. Lucky me?!

I've read up on it thanks to the many papers and handouts from the doctor and here's what I've learned... Plantar Fasciitis is an injury to the Plantar Fascia. The Plantar Fascia is a long band of fibers that go from the bottom of the heal to the toes that helps support your arches and provide shock absorption for the bottom of the foot. When you tear or stress the Plantar Fascia (ie: sudden increase in workouts) it causes inflammation and lots of pain (as I have found out). 

Well, I have low arches to begin with (not quite flat footed but close) so that right there was a problem. The doctor told me that it would take 6-8 weeks to feel improvement and anywhere from 3-18 months to fully heal the area since it's such an overly used area. 

Recovery is pretty simple - I'm supposed to try and stay off my foot as much as possible while I have pain and inflammation - listening to my foot to know when I can return to my walking routine and even then, taking it slowly. I also will be icing the bottom of my foot via a frozen water bottle. I am to put it on the floor under my foot and gently roll my foot back and forth across it which will help with the swelling. I have these very comfy pair of orthotic shoe inserts that I am to wear in all my shoes (no flip flops) and a night splint that I wear while I sleep. The night splint will keep my foot from bending downward while I sleep and also stretches the area helping it to heal. Also, stretch-stretch-stretch with a side of an anti-inflammatory medicine 2 times a day.

It sucks getting old. LOL!

Anyway, I came home and decided to have leftover Ziti and strawberries with a Coke Zero for lunch with my new medicines. Yum!

I laid low the rest of the afternoon and just finished a lovely "frozen bag" dinner. I didn't feel like cooking much tonight or standing long on my foot so this did the trick. 

The serving is a cup and a half so I am filled up!! A glass of water for good measure and probably no dessert. We are low on groceries and I had to beg my husband to go to the store tonight for fruits, veggies & eggs. Oh well, I'd drive if I didn't think it would cause a lot of pain and complications driving. I'm going to probably continue to lay low tonight and keep icing my foot and taking care of it. 

What a bummer way to start day 2?? I'm not going to let it slow me down! Instead I have to be extra conscience of what I'm eating and find an alternative way to get exercise. I cannot let this affect my goals!!

Day 1 - Post 4 - Sometimes the Truth Hurts

Alright, I'm a photographer by previous job and hobby and maybe someday by true profession. That being said... I know how to hold the camera to create a flattering photo... So when my mother suggested I post a before picture so that the difference could be seen I thought "Oh my god... a photo - of me?"

Normally this wouldn't be a problem... I'd just take a zillion pictures until I get one with good hair, the least amount of chins showing and somehow manage to crop out the tire around my midsection. But not tonight. Tonight I'm letting it all hang out because I need to face reality and see what I keep sucking in and cropping out...

Ready?

Set?

Ouch...

 

So... there we have it... the painful reality known as "un-sucked-in-looks-like-I-should-have-a-baby-any-day-now" stomach with a side of a double chin.

Yikes.

Well, now that that's over with - time to keep focused! I will be weighing myself and taking the same type pictures weekly so that I can show the difference (more accountability!)

Time for Glee!!

Day 1 - Post 3 - Mental versus Physical

My husband is home from work and we just finished dinner. We decided to eat leftover Chinese from last night. Last night I pigged out. Tonight however I decided to take a small plate (salad plate size) and put only 1.5 cups of the chicken and broccoli mixture on it - not a single piece more - and I skipped the rice. I also had a half can of Coke Zero.

Ta Da!!

So now that I have finished my new dinner portion and drink the game begins - am I still physically hungry? OR is my brain not registering that there is food in my stomach?

Yup - it's totally mental.

One thing you have to know about my husband is he's lucky. His job (Army) requires that he maintain a certain physique. Now I know that doesn't sound like he's lucky - but the lucky part is because his job actually makes him (and the other soldiers) work out daily - sometimes twice a day depending on the mood. And it's a very intense workout too.

That being said, he is able to eat larger portions and not gain weight because he will work it all off. His metabolism is a million times better and his muscle mass uses the food better than my body does. This creates a problem for me and my brain - mentally when I see his portions or him going back for seconds (like tonight) my brain and I like to believe that I can eat the same amount that he does and not gain weight either. The difference is that I'm a housewife - if I am not intentional about moving throughout the day, the most movement I see is vacuuming or making the bed or loading the washing machine ... not nearly like what my husband gets.

So tonight, when I finished my downsized portion and I saw my husband going back for a second dinner plate size helping, my brain said "OMG! NEED FOOD! STILL HUNGRY! MUST EAT MORE!" Then I looked from my seat at the table all over the kitchen for something to munch on. All I spotted was more Chinese food... and chips... good in moderation... not good when you're brain is planning a feeding frenzy. Luckily, I told my husband what was going through my brain and when we got to laughing about it I was able to run from the dining room away from the food and chips that were overpowering my brain. Whew! Thank goodness I am doing this blog as it gave me an excuse to hide from the food.

Hide from the food? Yeah, I know this sounds goofy but unless you've been a food addict (yikes, I can't believe I'm using that term) then you probably don't understand. My stomach is full. Now that I've sat here typing for the last 15 minutes my brain has calmed down and has accepted that I'm not hungry, but that I'm content. Later I will probably have a little dessert (a frozen ice cup or single scoop of ice cream perhaps?). In the meantime, I am going to continue to sip on my glass of water - and avoid the candy dish (that needs to go).

First meal down with the new attitude. Just got to remember to make sure each time I eat that I'm legitimately hungry - not being over powered by emotions or my crazy food driven brain.

Day 1 - Post 2 - Walk Around the Block

I did it! It took me a few hours to get up off my butt and go but I finally walked around the neighborhood. I enjoyed being out in the beautiful 57* Tennessee sunshine and fresh air for an hour and seven minutes. According to mapquest the route I took was 4 miles.

I got home about 30 minutes ago with swollen fingers. Ouch! But I've been drinking water and the swelling has gone away! I think I'll be taking water with me tomorrow...

Next on my agenda is figuring out what to fix for dinner tonight :)

Day 1 - Post 1 - The First Step

Well... here I go! Day one of a long and winding journey ahead of me. I have decided that it is time to stop coming up with reasons... OK, excuses not to lose all my excess baggage. I will be documenting in this blog as much as I can - whoops, that was another excuse... I take it back, I will be documenting EVERYTHING I do regarding food and exercise. I believe that this will hold me accountable for my actions and help me stay positive and motivated.

I have been overweight since I was in my fourth year of college so that's about 5 (probably more) years of unhealthy habits, and obvious weight gain. When I left college, I wasn't nearly as active as I had been. In college, I was forced to walk all over campus to get to classes and to the better dining halls. I was involved in a sorority (Tau Beta Sigma) and also the marching band. I was rarely in my dorm or apartment, except to study - so moving about was natural.

Once I entered into my fourth year of college, I was overcome with depression. It effected my grades and my desire to be active. Many days I just laid around and watched TV or munched on food. I became a bored and emotional eater, yet I wasn't feeling any better. My mother noticed a change in my behavior and asked me if I was depressed. She told me that she was concerned about me. I blew off her suggestion but one day while watching one of those depressing Zoloft commercials, I realized I was the woman on the couch, wrapped in a blanket not wanting to move a muscle. I saw a counselor and took Zoloft for a few months.

I moved home with my parents and found a full time job. One would think that kept me active but it did the opposite. I worked as a school photographer and although it was a physical job, it conflicted with a healthy eating schedule. I was up really early in the morning to drive to the schools - and if you know me you know I've never been a morning person. So I would roll out of bed and scramble to shower and get out the door - meaning I would swing through McDonald's or Tim Horton's for breakfast. Lunchtime seldom exists when you are responsible for photographing a school. Yes, most jobs they sent more than one photographer - but often times the school would have classes scheduled so that there wasn't enough time for you to take a lunch break. That meant, either on my way home from work (with a growling stomach) or on my way to the next job - I made another pitstop through McDonald's or Wendy's... sometimes Subway if I felt guilty and had the time.

I've tried Atkins diet, Weight Watchers, Jazzercize, Jenny Craig, not eating, over eating, walking, jogging, swimming, Xbox 360 Kinect active2, gyms ... and the list goes on.

So why have I decided NOW that I need to get healthy? I married a wonderful man in 2009 and prior to our wedding I went to the doctor just to get my annual check up. My doctor told me that I was considered severely obese (because of a high BMI). I lost about 12 pounds before the wedding - but unfortunately, I found it (and some of it's friends) after we got married. My husband deployed to Afghanistan for a year and I thought it would be a great time to lose all the weight I needed to be healthy again. I lost nearly 20 pounds (putting me lower than at the time of our wedding) in time for my husband's mid-tour leave. He was very complimentary and proud of what I had to lose the weight... we even tried jogging together on vacation!!!

But then when our 2 week vacation was up and he returned to Afghanistan, I let the stress of him being in a hazardous area, the holidays, moving back to post, unpacking and winter affect my weightloss... and gained even more weight back.

Last week I peeked at my all time highest weight - 238 pounds.

There is no way I am going to be able to fit myself into a gown for the military ball in 25 days - yuck!!

So now the fun begins, I know this isn't going to happen in 1 week - for goodness sake we're talking about losing a minimum of 75 pounds here!! But I am ready to take the first step. This blog is going to be my outlet - my honest outlet - where I can talk about everything that happened during the day regarding my food consumption and exercise (or lack thereof).

My husband and I are very good at eating healthy on a regular basis - my problem is that I don't know when to stop.

Beginning as soon as I click "publish post" I vow to track all my food consumption and exercise. I vow to learn to control my portions and to find ways around that "mentally hungry but not physically hungry" feeling. I vow to find some form of physical movement to get myself up and active.

I owe it to myself. I owe it to my future.

I am off to take a walk around the neighborhood - my first step towards a healthier future!!!