Drum roll please.....

over the past two years, as you all know, my life has changed in every kind of way. I became a mother, I was asked to be a wife, I quit my (very very very loved and adored) job, and life has taken over. there has been a time or two hundred that i have to stop and ask myself; Who am i anymore?! I love my new life and wouldn't change it for anything in the world. Being a mom has made me more compassionate, caring, nurturing, thoughtful, selfless, and fat. yeah, i said it. i was slowly gaining and gaining and i noticed every bit of it. I have always struggled with my weight, but being a mom is truly my #1 prioirity and i wasn't worried about anything that i was doing, as long as my kids and soon to be hubby were happy. One day I realized... I'm loosing myself in this new life. I still get to be a PERSON. I still deserve to be happy, I still deserve to be ME. I've never wanted to be stick thin, I've always appreciated and loved my curves (holla thick girls!) but i needed to tone it down. I always said i would start working on it when i was ready. and BAM. here it is. I'm ready!!

I decided the first of this year would be my go time. after all the holidays, after everything settles down, i could start thinking about myself again; especially my health. I've been dreading to post this... but... here goes nothing.

Here I am in all my (fat) glory. tipping my awkward scales at 151.1 lbs. I didn't know how uncomfortable in my own skin i truly was, until 3 months later i was looking at this.

I FEEL AMAZING! I am so happy to get dressed each day. I mean, seriously, are those 2 different people?! look at that little waist! proud to weigh in at a 126.4 right now. yeah, you heard me.

first things first, i did this the RIGHT way. a little miracle called the South Beach Diet. good carbs vs. bad carbs, no sugars, low cal, protein. its all things i feel comfortable feeding my family. I know how to eat to be/stay healthy. I just have to keep it up.

I have adapted something very new in my life-- running. It is NOT easy to start running. I've been following the amazing couch to 5k app, and, each week it gets a little bit harder and harder... but guess what? each week i finish. and I amaze myself every time. I have some amazing motivation in my life. My kids, my family and friend, and of course my PREGNANT sister. who goes to the gym 5 days a week, and runs for fun. she just follows where that little (getting bigger!) belly leads her, and she works her ass off. my excuse? I'm lazy. yeah... can't cut it anymore. I need to get healthy, BE healthy, and teach my kids a healthy lifestyle. Signed up for my very first 5k in a little less than 2 weeks!! very excited for my new lifestyle.

I'm going to be a BRIDE!! I've picked out my dream dress. and i look better in it then i ever dreamed i would. my life is coming together and I am a much happier person. I still have a road ahead of me, and the scariest thing for me, mainatnce. sure i can GET skinny, but it's all about staying skinny. Actually, scratch that all. It's all about being happy in my own skin. i am determined to always be a better mom, and by being active and healthy, I can deliver that much more to my kids. 

Happy to be me again. Happy to have my life under control. Happy.

XoXo!