So I started....

ETA: This is me
Pic 1. Let's face it. I have a huge butt and big thighs, ,they are not going anyplace, I will try to tone it up, but that is it. I do have a rather small waist, which helps out a bit

Pic 2. My problem area: The infamous KANGAROO POUCH, I am so trying to eliminate that. I discovered it, after giving birth to my second child. It just seems to want to stick around

Pic 3. The big arms... and fat back.... If I can just get rid of that I will be ok...But it has slimmed down... This is me, and how I look now...and I do not like to take pics of myself. Have you ever noticed that I am the 'INVISIBLE WOMAN', I always post pics of my dh, kids, pets, and family, but it's rare that you see me...I hate how I photograph...
But this is who I am, and I have to accept it...
Walking....

I try to exercise atleast 4 times a week. Keywords: "I try". HeHE
But, I have started to walk which is something I do relatively well. I can walk miles and it not affect me.

So I walked a mile and a half yesterday, and I wasn't feeling any pain...

Until...

This morning. I had the worst leg cramps ever.

I stretched before and after I walked...

I drank plenty of water...
I even worked out later that night....

Did I over do it?

I made the decision to get in shape FOR ME...
I don't look heavy to the physical eye, but I am overweight. By (and I shutter to say this) 35 pounds.

However it was over 50 pounds, because I lost 22 so far!!!

I am what they consider to be "thick".
I carry weight well...

My cousin teases that it goes to right places, but I still can feel the weight...
I get tired sometimes doing the simplest tasks...
I am tired all the time...
I am out of breath,

And let's face it, I am not getting any younger!
I want to LIVE....

I have already started eating healthy...
More water...Less soda...
More chicken and fish....less red meat and pork....
Smaller portions...
More fruits and veggies ....less junk foods...
No more midnight snacking and if I do ...It's fresh fruits....

With that being said...

I find myself more energetic...

But it has not been easy...

I love Sprite, I love Twix, I love Cheetos, I love STEAK, PASTA, I love going to Harold's Chicken after the club and getting a 4 piece with mild sauce, but I love myself MORE....

And I want to be here for my children and grandchildren.....

I have to tell you I have not eliminated EVERYTHING, I just eat it very sparingly...
I can't eat a lot of fried foods, because I had a terrible bout with GALLSTONES, and ended up getting my gall bladder removed, a few years ago, so my body really won't tolerate too much friend foods anyway.

I just pray and remember WHY, I am doing what I am doing...
What Purpose it serves...

I don't beat myself up when I relapse either, I just work extra hard the next day. If I walk for an hour, then I am walking for 2 hours....If I work out for 30 minutes I will work out for an hour.

My kids and Baptiste have been soooo supportive.

they eat what I eat!
They even work out with me....
Baptiste walks with me every morning...

And Jariel and Bee hold my legs as I do reverse crunches... well they don't hold them, they push them back down...

Jaree even helps me by keeping my mind off of junk food...

They are so proud of me!
My sons both tell me "YOu can't leave the house, because I don't want any men looking at my mom"

They compliment me everyday and they notice the weight loss..

I don't want to be a size 5 or weight 115 like I was in high school!
I am a size 14/16 you know the in between sizes...
I would like to be a size 8 or even a 10
and be a comfortable 135.

Because I like my hips, my butt, and my breast, and I have pretty nice legs...
If I lose too much, all of that will go with it....LOL

But my head will still be big...and I don't want to have the Star Jones BOBBLE HEAD look...LOL

I will keep you posted....

Now if I can just get rid of my kangaroo pouch ....I would be just fine!

In other news,

I did venture out to Border's yesterday!
I swear I love this store...
I have to go atleast 2 or 3 times a week....LOL

Well, when I did go, I was in search of Stacy Julian's Photo Freedom. They did not have it...
So I ended up coming home with some new mags:
The Artful Blogger (I have been hearing about this for the longest and finally was able to find it)
Somerset Memories for April/May
Papercrafts (April/May)

While in Borders I did see a good book called PHOTOCRAFT, it had some awesome Ideas in there. I must go back and get this book...

I did notice they have a very nice scrapbook section...
I thought it may have been very cheesy, but they had some pretty decent stuff..

I love their notebooks and journals!!

Also, they had some really cute lunch boxes for 7.99. They called them "carrying cases", but I know a lunch box when I see it....LOL

They matched the journals....
I have a 25% off coupon, I think I will go and get some stuff on Friday...wohoo!

Well, I have to go...

Until next time