Catching up

Whoa! A year passed really quickly!! I can't believe all the neglect I've allowed my little space on the Internets to have. This past year has been trying, exciting, happy, devastating and full of so much personal growth. 

While I'm not ready to open up about the past year quite yet, I will someday.

First, I guess getting it out there and typing this out loud will make it real and I can't turn back after I hit post. Well, I can, but I won't. In the past 7 months I've gained 20 pounds! It feels good to get that off my chest. I've hidden myself more from the world the past few months because my self esteem is just so far from what it used to be.

Don't get me wrong, I don't hate the way I look physically, I just don't love it. The thing I hate about it is that, my overall health is affected. I can still run. I can still lift (heavy) weights. I can still complete plenty of Jillian Michaels DVDs. I just don't do it often enough.

When I lost 22 lbs back from August '09 to April '10, I felt AMAZING! I couldn't believe I had done it! Me! The girl who didn't realize how out of shape she had gotten until a camping trip and walking a 1/4 of a mile(out of a measly 1 mile hiking loop) made her hyperventilate. That was the moment I knew I had to do something for my health and myself. I knew I was the only one that could change my life and I had to put in the hardwork to get it done. 

I maintained my lowest weight(+ or - 3 pounds) for about a year. Then slowly gained about 10 back. I was still working out hard 4-5 days a week. I put on a significant amount of muscle in that time as well. I basically only ran a couple of times a month, and instead, I was hitting the stairmaster a lot(Hello Miss New Booty!!) I still felt good about myself with the 10+ pounds.  I maintained that weight for a couple more years.

Then in September of last year, things got a little "difficult". I had a lot on my plate. The boyfriend suggested we bowl and after a few times, I was hooked. We got our own balls and shoes and started going 3-5 times a week. Every time we went, I would drink at least 2 or 3 beers. Before I knew it, I was above my 2009 starting weight and working out took the backseat. I still went to the gym a few times a week, but wasn't having "quality" workouts.

Around Christmas, I had to go and buy new jeans because NOTHING in my closet fit. Even that didn't push me into needing to drop the extra lbs I had gained. Then, we decided to go to Vegas and I said that I would lose some weight before we left....because....I'm turning 30(!!!) and I don't want to feel negatively about myself when I do. 

So, we leave for Vegas the 3rd weekend in April! Giving me just over 4 weeks to get my groove back. I'm on day 2 of early morning workouts (and NO BOOZE!) with 4 running sessions a week. I know what makes me happy and I know what makes me healthy. 

Here's to a Happier, Healthier Me!!!