day one...aka "how did i get here?"

so, for those of you who might not know, i have decided to take on one of the biggest challenges i've had to face so far...losing weight and getting healthy...i know it won't be easy, but i also know if i don't somehow publicly declare this, then it will never happen...i figure now that i'm telling everyone, it's out there and i am not only going to have to be accountable to myself, but to anyone who reads this blog...no longer will i hide!

i am being realistic in what i want to accomplish and of course i have a "goal weight" in mind, but that's really not the point of this...i want to chronicle my journey and possibly give others an insight into what it takes to get healthy and stay healthy...with a little bit of sarcasm and humor thrown in for good measure!  

i won't be going on any crazy fad diet or unhealthy eating plan...i am doing it sensibly this time...i will be having my blood pressure checked and weight checked every two weeks at my doctor's office (who knew they'd do this for free) and am also meeting with a nutritionist in a couple of weeks...i just had a full physical and pretty much every test run in the last week, so we're good on that end as well!  i would suggest meeting with a doctor before starting a weight loss program just so you know what you're in for and that you won't be harming yourself in any way...also, i am going to eat REAL food!  not pre-packed, frozen things that at one point resembled food...not liquids, not pills...but actual, real, food...and i'm not having any kind of surgery...the thought of cutting something off of me kinda grosses me out, actually!  so, i will be doing this the old-fashioned way...eating healthy, realistic portions of real food and exercising reasonably and responsibly.

a couple of things i am going to do...i am taking my measurements today (dear, god) and will take them on the same day each month...i don't know about you, but my weight seems to fluctuate daily and i can judge better how i'm doing through measurements...also, since i'm going to the doctor's office to get weighed, i am packing my scale away so i am not tempted to freakishly monitor my weight continuously...even though i have a goal weight in mind, my real goal is to fit into a pair of jeans i have had since before i got pregnant with alex (18 years ago)...i figure when i can fit into these again...i'll have more than reached my goal!  and of course, there's other things i want to accomplish...like not having to shop in the plus sized section...not having the nurse have to get the large sized blood pressure cuff...not seeing the double chins in each picture...but, mostly, i just want to end every excuse i've ever made for being overweight...fat...obese...whatever you want to call it...the only junk in my trunk i want is the extra set of jumper cables...


so, i hope you will join me on this adventure...who knows...perhaps we'll both learn something along the way...but, no matter what...it'll be a helluva a ride!