Another Year Older . . . And Wiser

Yes, today is my birthday.  Thirty-one years ago today, my mother spent 24 hours trying to meet me before I decided to make my appearance.  Yesterday, I spent a wonderful time with family celebrating that and look forward to today spending it with my husband, coworkers, students and friends.  I truly feel blessed by all the people in my life.

As I look back on the past year or two, I feel that I have gained much knowledge and wisdom on how to take care of my body.  While I still feel like there is more for me to learn, I feel like the changes that I have made are not temporary but lasting.  When you truly desire to lead a healthier life, you just have to come to a realization that there are some things you have to learn to live without or find ways to make substitutions that will make it easier on you.  In my past, I would lose weight, then lose track and gain it all back.  I would make excuses as to why I should or should not do something.  My biggest one over the past few years has been, I'll wait until the summer, I'll have more time to get healthy then.  Of course, summer would come and I was more busy in the summer than I was during the school year.  I finally realized this year that I needed to stop making those excuses and make a change.  I just had to start making an effort and making my health and well being a priority.  I started working out at 5am.  I know, CRAZY!!! Right?!  Well, it has been the best change I have made this whole school year.  Now there are about 2 weeks of school left and I'm about 24lbs down since September of last year.  That is an average of 3lbs a month.  Ok, so maybe it's not as quick as I would like it to be, but I am down 24lbs and I cannot tell you how many inches.  I feel great physically and mentally.  That in itself is a huge reward.  I have so much more energy than I used to and I can move in ways that I have not moved probably since high school.  Like I said, I feel like I have so much more to learn, but this has been one great year!  I cannot wait to see what the next one brings.  I'm at 189lbs this year.  Hopefully by next year I will reach my goal of at least 165lbs.  Shooting for 155lbs, but I will be happy with 165lbs if that is as far as my body will go.