My Journey Toward Being Free of 20 Pounds: 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.