And the Journey Begins....

We all need motivation sometimes, for many things we do in life. Sometimes, it is to get ourselves to go to work in a job that isn't suited for you. Sometimes, it is to get yourself exercising, when you haven't been active before. Sometimes, it is to get yourself eating better. When we have those types of motivations come into our life, we can either ignore them blindly, or allow them to be the impetus to begin a new path.

My entire life I have been overweight, not morbidly obese, but definitely overweight. Now, I can blame it on genetics...there is a lot of that in my family, but in reality, I have done little to change that. I have lost weight (at one time up to 50 lbs!), and gained some back--fortunately not all. But in the end, I am still overweight.

I began exercising during my last attempt at weight loss, and have never looked back. Even being overweight, I have become a group exercise instructor, I have run half marathons, I have scaled walls, but in the end, I am still overweight.

It used to seriously bother me. Not as much anymore, because I can still do all the things I want to do. However, in the last few months, and even the last few weeks, all that has changed in my mind. It isn't about the vanity of the overweight, but the fact that I have other things ahead that I need to keep in mind, and my weight is challenging that.

First, I am most concerned about my health. My family is fortunate, as there is not a bunch of hereditary diseases throughout the family, no cancer, diabetes, etc. What we do have though....lots of increased blood pressure and heart attacks throughout the family. I was "lucky" enough to get my dad's genes and my blood pressure has become a bit of a concern. I would like to keep it at a normal rate, and I don't foresee that happening without some serious change.

Second, I am planning on an exciting activity this time next year, that I would much prefer to do without the extra weight on. (More on the activity later.) It would make it much more enjoyable, and would make me even more proud to be there.

So, my plan...well, I am hoping that by doing this, I will make myself accountable to the 10 people that may someday follow this, as well as to myself. I joined Weight Watchers a few months ago, and about 4 pounds have come off, and I can fluctuate on that in a weeks time! Maybe this will be an answer, because really...who would want to post on their blog, "I gained 3 pounds this week..."?

However, I do have to question my timing here. Really? The week before Thanksgiving? But, no time like the present, so they say.

So here goes. I am going to do something few people will do. I am not only going to write down my goal, I am going to write down my starting point! YIKES! My ultimate goal will be more sized based, because in all reality, my legs are like tree trunks, solid and huge. I won't be losing any mass there. It should all be tummy. But, seems that whenever we give something a number, we become more accountable. Here goes nothing!

My goal is 40 pounds in 11 months. (Is that doable?) Even more scary, I am going to give the starting point. This morning my scale said 209.0 lbs, while two weeks ago at Weight Watchers, their scale said 207.6 lbs. I'll go with the bigger number (after all, it will make a bigger number at the end), as my starting point.

So, there it is. I have gone completely crazy and posted my actual weight out there for everyone in the world to see. WTH am I thinking????? But, in the end, I am looking at another number...smaller and hopefully acheivable.

What do I hope to accomplish in 11 months, besides (hopefully!) having 40 pounds off? I hope that I have given people an idea that just because it has always been this way, doesn't mean it ALWAYS must be that way.

So, I am calling this blog "we all need motivation"....if putting my actual weight out there in the world is not motivation enough, what will be? My hope is to laugh and smile as I do these, and maybe do the same for someone else. But more than anything get that positive message out there.