The Journey Begins

My journey starts today........well, tomorrow actually. Isn't that how it always goes?

This blog is a very hopeful start to my weight loss journey. I begin this being 50 lbs overweight. Not quite as bad as the 80 extra lbs I was carrying around five years ago. But obviously still a huge hurdle to overcome. I am hopeful. And I've decided to keep it simple, for the first time in my weight loss history. Simple. And hopeful.

I've decided to document weekly struggles, challenges, and triumphs from the start, in hopes that this will finally help me get motivated. I am a 42 year old woman who, like many women, struggles with weight loss. I have been up and down with my weight for the past ten years. I have tried all extreme and not-so-extreme options for losing weight, from fad diets and diet pills, to Weight Watchers and hiring of a life coach. You name it, I've tried it. I've read just about every weight loss book there is. I tried to find just one book that didn't tell me I had some sort of childhood drama, or that my parents were at fault for my obesity. But I knew, I had no deep seeded issues, my childhood was fantastic, my parents were the best ever. At the end of the day, I just liked food. And I really like junk food. Why does it always have to be about some underlying issue? I just like the taste of food. Period. Someone needs to write a book called, "I just like the damn food."

In my early 30's, I was in the best shape of my life. I exercised daily, sometimes twice daily. I hiked, I kick-boxed, I had a personal trainer. People would stop me in the halls at work to ask me how I got my calves so perfectly shaped. I thrived on exercise, I ate healthy most of the time. I was on my game. But then life got in the way. I started traveling for work every week, I got off of my exercise regimen, and have never quite recovered. I know there are a lot of people out there (including me) that can't quite relate to how that can happen. I remember thinking, "this is the best feeling ever, I'm never going to stop exercising!!!" But I did. And now I'm trying to get the control back.

A couple of weeks ago, as I drove home from work, I passed a hiking area that I used to frequent. I realized that it would be so easy for me to stop there on my way home from work for a hike. So, I decided that on Monday I would take my workout clothes and go hiking after work. I forgot my clothes that day. On Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, I remembered my clothes. But each day, as the day came to an end, I would have an excuse for not going. So here I am, a week later, and I still haven't done it.

This blog is an attempt to put some structure and accountability to tomorrow, next week, next month. I think I am ready.

Tomorrow I start my journey.......