Time to Get Started

Well, I'm back again today.  That's a good sign, right?  Apparently I want to try and write here every day... because that's kinda how I am.  Writing helps.  A lot.  

After finishing up my first post, yesterday, I decided that I needed to take care of a few things to really get myself in gear.  First thing was creating a "Brief History" page for any newcomers.  Even though I'm starting this blog completely over, I'd like to let people know that I've been here and done this before.  It's more of an accountability thing than anything else.  I don't want to give the impression that I'm new at this, and haven't struggled for years and years with my weight.  

It's mostly for three reasons:

1.  I don't want to confuse new readers when I ever refer to my blogging about weight loss in the past.  I think it's only right that new readers are a little aware of my back story and what I'm bringing to the table.

2.  If I do finally succeed at losing the weight and keeping it off, I don't want people to think that this is when I first started and succeeded.  I think everyone should know that I'm not one of those people that can decide one day to lose the weight and do it in a matter of a few months.  It's been an adult life-long struggle, and I want that to be clear so that there are no misconceptions.  That's the honest thing to do...and that's just how I roll.

3.  I want readers to know at one point, I did have a lot of success with my weight loss.  But, because I didn't stick with it and let bad situations take over, I lost all of my progress.  Weight loss is a life-long battle, and not something that can be obtained and completed in a matter of months.

The other thing I realized I needed to do was take some "Before" pictures.  Oh, how I hate taking pictures.  In fact, for the past year or so, I haven't taken many pictures of myself...and the ones I have taken are mostly head shots.  

This is why...

Yep.  That's me.  As of yesterday.  Excuse the towel on my head... I'd just taken a shower, and figured it the perfect time to capture some pictures of me in all of my glory.  

My starting weight is 260lbs.  I'm not proud of that number.  Not by any means.  I've gained about 10lbs since January...and 40lbs more since 2011 for a total gain of 50lbs in the past 2 years.

It's a hard pill to swallow, cause had I lost those 50lbs in the past two years... I'd be at my goal weight.   Or at least pretty darn close.  I weighed 212lbs in May, 2011.  Had I lost another 50lbs since then, I would be teetering around 160lbs.. which is my ultimate goal weight.  Well, the weight my doctor told me I should be.

But, one thing I'm going to have to do if I truly want to start over is quit beating myself up for my past mistakes.  They're done and over with. There's nothing I can do now, except lose the weight again.  I've done it before, I can do it again.

This time, though, I don't have school AND work... I just have my dream job.  I don't have the stress and worry of hating my living situation... I have my dream house.  There's absolutely nothing standing in my way...except... myself.  I either do it or I don't.  Right?

Yesterday, I was proud of myself.  I started the day out with a Greek Yogurt.  And water.  Lunch was a noodle bowl.  And water.  Dinner was chicken fajita salad.  And water.  And then more water.  I ended the day with another Greek yogurt.  And more water.

I don't have any form of "plan" that I'm going to use.  I'm just going to stick with what's tried and true... watching what I eat, keeping an eye on my calorie intake, and avoiding junk food.  Oh, and drinking lots of water.

Exercise will come.  Soon.  How can it not with such a wonderful in-ground pool in my backyard?  No excuses there... swimming is one of my most favorite things to do.  I have to wait for a couple more days before I can get back to swimming, due to a monthly visitor... but until then, I'll be teaching summer school and getting in a ton of exercise running around with kids all day.

Which, actually, I need to get ready for right now.

Till next time....

Joanna

a/k/a Mad, Fat Woman