About Me

Me around 7th grade dancing with my dad

I have always been a heavy kid. For as long as I can remember, I was always the "heavier" one. Although I was never really obese, I have always been overweight and have had trouble with my stomach and thighs. I was always chubby and although many people have told me that I'm not fat, I've definitely never been skinny. Due to bullying when I was younger, I have always had poor body image and hated the curves of my body. Although I have learned to embrace my curves and love myself for who I am from the love and support of friends and family as well as healing through God and counseling, I want to lose weight because I want to be healthy.

Me at my heaviest (174lbs.) studying abroad in Costa Rica (Dec 2011

Last year, I was determined to lose weight (as everyone else makes that New Year's resolution). I started in January of 2012, and worked hard during the spring semester (I was a Junior in college) by working out consistently in a mixture of cardiovascular workouts and weight training and watching what I ate. I also tracked my calories, macro-nutrients, and workouts on MyFitnessPal. It's basically Weight Watchers without the points! By the time I started school the following fall, I was 150 pounds (I'm 5'6"), down 23 pounds from when I started in January. Everyone noticed and I was so excited! But unfortunately, that is when it went downhill. I went from preparing my own healthy meals to eating again in the dining hall, where food is never ending and healthy options are scarce. I started eating late again and picking up more fast food than before. I would pull all-nighters and then nap instead of working out. Early into the semester, me and my boyfriend of 2 years broke up, shattering my world. I stopped eating all together for several days, which probably shot my metabolism. Fortunately, we reconciled and got back together after a while, but by then I had gotten out of the swing of the healthy routine that I had been practicing the months before.

Me, at 150lbs (August 2012)

Although I still was able to keep up a solid workout schedule of cardio and resistance training 4 times a week, it wasn't enough to negate my poor lifestyle decisions. Between all of that and the holidays, I am now at 160 pounds. I am still 14 pounds lighter than last year (and I have more muscle mass now than back then), I am disappointed because instead of being 5 pounds away from my goal weight, I am now 15 pounds away. I lost 15 pounds last year, I know I can do it this year!

I decided to make a blog to keep myself accountable and document my progress, so that hopefully if I am a success, I can share it with others. I was inspired by my cousin Melanie, who created a blog last year called Melanie's Journey to Tiner Pants. There are a lot of misconceptions about weight loss, especially with women. I hope to add good information to help women make educated fitness decisions about losing weight. Cheers to 2013, and here's hoping that by summer you'll see me 15 (or more!) pounds lighter! :)