Hail Mary Goal

When I was 18, I pinched a nerve in my back. It went undiagnosed for a few months because my doctor thought I had simply sprained it...again. I rested, did everything he told me to do, and lost mobility in my right leg for several months. It was so bad when they finally realized what had happened that I had to see a Physical Therapist every day for 5 weeks. I left for my Freshman year of college still doing PT exercises 4 times a day. I gained 40 pounds that year despite the exercise. I want those 40 pounds to go away plus another 10 they invited over to party.

My goal, starting today, is to exercise everyday and actually eat breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks that I cook. 

I'm trying to get my priorities straightened out where it comes to my health. I have a tendency--as I think many of us do--to put myself last on the list of things to care for and my health has suffered for it. I'm not getting on a scale but using the tried and true "my skinny jeans just zipped up without having to lie down and stop breathing" method of measuring. After all, muscle weighs more than fat and takes up less space. I'm also not going to necessarily worry about what I eat as long as I cook it and eat on a regular basis. The whole actually eating more than 2 meals a day and prepping meals ahead of time so I don't run through the drive-thru will be a huge change all by itself.

I shall evaluate my progress on the 1st of each month and January 1, 2012, actually get on a scale. By this time next year, I would like to be the same size I was in high school. I was healthy, fit, and strong. It will be tough but I'm tired of looking in the mirror and being shocked that I don't look like this picture anymore. I used to dance, rock climb, hike, run, play volleyball and basketball, and swim on a regular basis without feeling like I needed to prep in the gym for months prior to a pick-up game. I want to climb Half Dome next year and run a river with Runoff River Adventures, owned by my friend Alyssa and her husband. I can't do any of that in the shape I'm in right now.

I can do this! Okay, and, break!

Tangent: Can you believe this gorgeous girl was not asked out on a date until she was 22?? What is wrong with men in the world?? I was hot!

Me in London
1997