Measurements

Today I took my measurements. Here they are:
Arms: 14"
Chest: 38"
Breast: 41.5"
Waist: 35"
Stomach: 40.25"
Hips: 45.75"
Thigh: 28.25"

Over the next five and a half weeks I hope to see a dramatic decrease in these measurements. I didn't realize this before but my breast to waist to hip ratio is huge. I have 41.5-35-45.75. I'm one curvy girl!! I can't wait to actually be able to show it off!

Wow, Do I Feel Amazing

I feel fantastic. It's only my second day and I already feel great. I ate a lot today, but ate mostly fruit so I stayed within my limit of 1,300 calories. I can't help but imagine how wonderful I'm going to feel after I drop 5 pounds and then 10, 15, and so on... I'll be even happier when my thighs no longer touch.

I have drug a friend of mine to participate in my weight-loss experience. She worked out with me tonight and I found it fun. For the first time in my life, running was a fun experience. That's something I've never felt before. I usually just hop on the elliptical for a half hour, but I've decided to train for a 5K run. I have no idea where I got that idea because I've always been a horrible runner, but somehow I got the idea. Today was merely 30 minutes of mixed jogging and running and was immensely refreshing, especially after I took a nice hot shower. Two more days of working out this week before I can move on to the next stage of my training.

I realized tonight after discussing how to eat healthy with my friend today that I could be onto something life-changing. After all I've been through the last two and a half years, I deserve this. I deserve to feel wonderful about my looks, not to be just accepting of them. I've sorted out my mind, my emotions, and my amazing ability to be a pack-rat. Now all that's really left is my body. It's been a long two and a half years and now I should have a reward.

I deserve this, damnit. And I also deserve the movie tickets I bet my friend, John. The bet is that I can lose a higher percentage of weight than he can in six weeks. Men have an easier time with this so I'm looking forward to buying tickets for two skinnier people the day the bet is over. Come March 8th, I will know for sure. (I'm going to take him though.)

It's on.

The Beginning

I've started my weight-loss challenge today.  It wasn't as rough as my past tries have been.  Usually I'm starving at this point in time.  I feel just fine though; almost better.  I didn't think about blogging about my journey until I took a shower tonight.  It's amazing how many ideas happen while people are bathing.  I've always tried to lose weight for other people.  For my mom, for my sister, for my friends.  I'm not going to tell them about this though.  This is all about me.

I've just recently become accustomed to my body.  I've learned to love it this past year for every dimple, mole, and imperfection.  A lot of that has to do with my boyfriend, Francis.  He loved me for who I was even when I didn't.  That's the first step in my journey.  Finally being comfortable with who I am.  At least now, if I lose a few pounds I'll be happy whereas before it would never have been good enough.  I think that's the most important thing.

Above all else, I'm going to do something I didn't think I'd ever really do: I'm going to post pictures of myself.  I don't even like a one-piece bathing suit.  However, I'm doing this as encouragement for myself and hopefully to inspire the rest of you reading this to love yourself, not necessarily to lose weight.

Now, the run-down.  I am 21, female, and weigh 195 pounds.  I've been at that weight for about a year and a half and I'm sick of it.  My personality no longer matches my outward appearance.  The catalyst for all this was the planning of my trip to Europe this summer.  I realized I would have to be in a bathing suit for part of the trip.  As much as I am comfortable with my body, a bathing suit is something I still can't do confidently, especially in front of Francis.  It's strange, I can be naked in front of him and have no shame but I don't want to be in a bathing suit.  (Perhaps I should just swim naked then.)  If only swimming naked were an option; his father and step-mother will be around and I'm guessing they wouldn't be too fond of such an act.

The How:  Basically, I hate working out unless I'm playing sports.  I'm going to try working out a few times a week and see how it goes.  This will at least prepare me for long walks all over Europe.  If it doesn't work out well (pun intended), I will continue just to eat healthy and lose weight that way.

So bring on the change.


Ahh!!! No face!! (for obvious reasons, I hope)


Should probably fix the sign...