The Beginning...My Fitness Story!

I have always felt like I was never the "right" weight. I felt like I was always the "bigger" one. I tried things from the slim-fast (make you want to go) shakes, diet pills, cereal diet, not eating at all, and whatever else was on the shelf at walmart!
I started to lose a bit right before I had Lucas and had a very healthy pregnancy. I only gained 35 pounds and was on my feet walking for most of my preganancy. The doctor told me I should not have a problem losing it. I did swell up two days before I had him and had lots of puffiness a good week or two after.
The weight eventually started coming off quickly, as I was trying to breast feed. After six weeks of tough times, the breastfeeding did not work out and I had to stop. From that moment on, I felt that I was eating to stay awake and to make me feel better. I was home by myself with a newborn baby and I didn't even have the evenings to look forward to family and friends coming to visit...there were only a couple and they already came to see us the week Lucas was born. ( I know get your tissues out! All I did was feel SORRY for myself!) The more I felt sorry, the more I ate...and I wanted to know why the weight was not coming off. Duh! Someone had to hit me in the head and wake me up!
Well, someone did because in July of 2010 I decided I was going to join the YMCA at a discounted rate because of where Andrew works. This was not going to be another gym membership that was going to be a donation while I sit on my butt at home. I started doing little things like the elliptical where I was in the back of the gym and no one could see me sweating like a man and huffing and puffing, what I thought was my last breaths! Then it was off to water aerobics for two months...your thinking what I was thinking...what was I going to wear, not a bathing suit for sure! (I searched all over for what could cover the most and found a short/tanktop bathing suit!) I was told that this would be a great aerobic activity with my Scleroderma and joint pain. From July-September I lost 20 pounds. I was also "slightly" watching what I ate.
Then the beginning of September I started getting nervous because our pool was going to be closing mid-September for the winter and would not start back up till May. This was the only thing I really enjoyed doing and was dedicated to it. Most of the other classes were at times Andrew was not home from work and I was not too crazy about the daycare there. I got an aerobic schedule and took it home to look at. I saw this "Power Hour" class that was at 5:00-6:00am on Fridays and thought that would be perferct before Andrew leaves for work. I read the discription and thought "oh, hell no, that is not for me!" I would never be able to keep up with all of that. That night (Wednesday) I laid in bed thinking of what I could possibly do or what classes could I take. I was not one to get a lot done in the gym by myself. I always thought after 20 minutes "oh no one is looking and I'm tired" and I would leave.
The next night, after not working out, I laid there again thinking about that Power Hour class. At 4:20am I woke up and was wide awake. I looked over at the clock and thought "this is a sign...get your butt out of bed and go to that class!" So...I did! On the drive there I was thinking "I am half asleep, maybe the others at the class will be too and they won't see how out of shape I am!" I started getting that nervous stomach, almost like the first day of school! I walked in to a gym with only about 6 other people of all ages giggling and hollaring. I met a great team of people there that have been so welcoming and motivating since day one! I was asked to join them at 5:00am on Mondays and Wednesdays also for a Spin (Cycling class). I was unsure of that also since I have never done it before. Well, I was there for those classes too! I didn't die trying all those out but, I was sore after each class because our instuctor knows how to kick some a**! I could feel my body transforming after one class. Then the cycling was something else...I never thought I would ever be able to sit again after riding for one whole hour. I got past that...I bought a bike coushin and after a week I was good. (you must build up a calaus or something! )
So now here we are in February 2011. I was able to lose the weight I had set for Lori and Bobby's wedding. A total of 30 pounds. Now I am on to losing the next 30 pounds. I have been training to run my first 5k for the past 7 weeks. I realized after doing some reading and talking with my fitness instuctor that I need to change my workout up and bit because I was hitting a plataeu. My body was getting used to what I was doing and it was not being challenged. I added running and weigh training to my cycling and powerhour. I have lost 2 more pounds but have noticed a big difference in my clothes from toning up a bit. My instructor told me to weigh myself now and then but to go by the way my clothes fit and take measurements. I will see difference in inches and not to get disappointment by the scale because I am developing muscle along the way.
So that was the beginning of my journey and I decided I wanted to include my family and friends on the rest of my journey to help motivate me even more. I will share with you my weight, measurements, pictures, goals, accomplishments,feelings, what I am eating, tips and motivation I get along the way. My goal is to help motivate someone else, while I reach my goals! Thanks for being a part of my journey!