It starts

I am blogging this experience for a couple of reasons. First, I think it will help make me accountable, if even to myself. Second, if when I am successful I want to be able to share with others what I did and how I did it because if I can do it ANYONE can, and I don't want to forget anything.

A little background; I weighed 145 and was healthy when I graduated high school in 1990. By 1993 I gained 100 pounds during a very high risk pregnancy where I had to lay on my back for 7 months in hopes of not losing my baby. The bad news; I was scared, depressed and turned to food for comfort and distraction- and with no activity I gained 100 pounds! The good news; I had a healthy baby girl that is worth every single second and pound! I initially lost 20 pounds but gained it back over the years, plus some more. So the reason I gained the weight was overeating with no activity. The reason I am still overweight? I learned to seek comfort in food and have not been able to change that successfully, add that to some bad genes in the way of metabolism and hormones and losing weight (and keeping it off) has been very difficult. It is now 21 years later- my high risk pregnancy can no longer be an excuse, it may be a reason for the initial gain, but it can no longer be an excuse.

I have tried a lot of diets over the years but lost interest when I didn't see results quickly enough, so I ended up gaining anything I lost back each time and I stayed fat. Simply speaking- it has taken me a long time to realize that there is no excuse and I have very weak willpower and that I just didn't want it that badly. (I thought I did but if I quit, then I clearly did not!) I think with a happy marriage and supportive husband (who has NEVER said anything negative about my body) I just didn't want it bad enough for myself.

Now, in my 40's I am realizing that my health is more important than my looks. I have to do this for my husband, my kids and grandkids, not just for myself. I believe I am ready now. So here we go.

I think the toughest obstacle for me will be not seeing results and still staying focused. I feel overwhelmed with the amount of weight I need to shed. It is basically another person! I need to lose between 100-150 pounds.  (my goal is to lose at least 110.) That can be an overwhelming number but I am trying to start thinking that this is a health change and NOT a losing weight attempt. I will lose weight in the change to seek health as a secondary motive.

I have prayed about this and truly believe that God is laying on my heart to eat meat, vegetables, fruit, healthy oils and very little of anything else. In researching that- I found that this is basically the Paleo lifestyle (modified a little bit).

My starting weight was 296. I started on March 10,2014. I will post my week 1 and week 2 menu, recipes and results next.

Thank you for going on this journey with me and for any encouragement you give me. I hope that if you need to get healthy this encourages you to stay motivated.