The Beginning of the Journey

Since I was a young kid, I've always been big. Now I'm not saying I'm obese, but I have always been big. I was raised by a wonderful single mom who worked very hard to keep me in private school, but since she worked so much, we ate a lot of boxed and quick dinners. I loved mac n cheese, hot dogs, cube steaks and mashed potatoes with thick gravy, hamburger helper, etc. One of my first words was “fry fry” (that was my name for McDonalds). When I was 13, I was 5’ 6” and wore a size 18.

I have never been a great athlete, nor has anyone else in my family. I am terrible at basketball, only marginally good at softball, and never got past underhand serving at volleyball. Only “sport” I was ever good at was colorguard. And I was darn good at it, too. I spun rifle, saber, and flags for 3 years. From the time I started marching with the band in 7^th grade, I dropped down from a size 18 to a size 14 dress when I graduated high school.

When I got to college in the fall of 2007, I was the smallest I had ever been. I worked all through college, so I never had a lot of time to eat and I dropped to a size 12 without really trying. After graduating though, I got a job traveling 100% of the time. I ate out, lived in hotels, and drove for the better part of my 40+ hour work weeks. After that ended, I got a desk job where I have been for the last year. Since I graduated, I have gained about 20 lbs. I can squeeze into size 12 pants, but if I buy new clothes, I guess I’m a 14. I went to the doctor last week and found out that I weigh 185 lbs. Like I said, I’m not obese, but I’m definitely about 30 lbs. over where I should be.    

I have been big all my life and I’m resolved to the fact that I’m always going to have wide hips and shoulders and a big chest; however, the fact that I have a high BMI with a family history of diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, heart attack, etc. means it’s time for a change.

I have made a commitment to myself to make myself into a fitter person. I don’t need to be a bikini model, but I would like to go out in a bathing suit and feel confident and not like a beached whale. As I sit here typing this, sipping my Diet Coke and realizing January is half over I have a few things I need to post for the general public to see. I do this because feel the need to be held accountable. This will be my food and exercise diary where I will record my triumphs and my struggles.

I will be making the following changes:

Cutting out soda completely – Even diet is bad for you

Eliminating refined sugar
Eliminating white flour products
Cutting down on high sugar/starchy vegetables
Eliminating fast food
Lower red meat intake
Increasing my water and tea intake
Increased lean protein intake
Keeping caloric intake in check – goal is 1800 calories
Exercise of some kind EVERYDAY
Weekly weigh-ins
Weekly menu planning that is heavy with fresh vegetables
Walking and biking more
Cutting down on artificial sweeteners in tea and coffee

More will be added as I complete goals and think of new goals