The Beginning...

Let me tell you a little bit about me and where I am coming from. I am 24 years old, and have had a weight problem my entire life. I could always come up with some rather great excuses as to why I should not workout or eat right. After I was married at 21, I started working full time, and I felt that I didn't have the energy or time to change the way I looked. And after drinking lots and lots of "coffee" (ie frappucinos) almost everyday because my husband used to work at starbucks, I gained about 30 pounds to my already overweight body. This of course didn't help my emotions or outlook on life. My husband (who was slightly overweight) decided he would start going to the gym, and he dragged my lazy butt over to LA Fitness to get signed up (This was in August 2005). Let me tell you I was not at all thrilled about going to a gym where everyone who is in there is in top notch shape.

It's a bit intimidating walking into a gym as I had never stepped foot into a gym before. So after much persuasion, we got signed up for personal trainers because I didn't have a clue as to what I was doing. I remember the first time I went in with the trainer and it wasn't very pleasant. The first thing she had me work was lifting weights to target my arms. I've never had upper body strength, and I about died working my arms. I was sore for the entire week, and I seriously wanted to quit going to the gym if all my workouts were going to be like that! Well needless to say, I stopped having the personal trainer after only a month, and then I went periodically throughout each week up until January 2006.

You know how when the first of the year comes around we all start making new yearly goals for ourselves? Well, I decided that I would try to get more into the gym on a regular basis, but I still was very unsure on what I should be doing each day. I remember the first time I went to the gym by myself, I used a bunch of random machines that I had gone over with my trainer but I had no plan. A very good friend of mine at work decided to help me out with getting me on a workout schedule. It was incredibly hard at first, and I wanted to quit many many many times because I didn't see much of any gains at first.

When I started working out with my friend's new schedule, I weighed 246 pounds! I was aghast to know that is where I was. It is now August 2006 and I weigh 202 pounds. I have lost 44 pounds in 8 months, and it is incredible to me to see the gains. My new goal is to lose 30 pounds by this Christmas. I just want you to know that it has been very hard but definately worth it.

As I get more and more into working out and eating right, I've started reading health and fitness magazines. I don't know how anyone can be motivated to lose weight just by reading a book so I decided to start writing about my experience because if I can make these gains anyone can. I know that sounds a bit cliche, but it's true. You just need the motivation and determination and you can accomplish great things! I hope that you will!!

Here is me and all my glory at 246 pounds. I'll post a more recent picture of me tomorrow as I post my workouts:

Hello! Welcome to my Fitness Journey :)

Welcome to my blog! I've decided to create this website to detail the health and fitness journey that I have begun. My hope is to post daily my workouts and eating habits as a record and inspiration to others who might be like I am: overweight but working to change.