About Me (and Resurrection...Blog Style)

So folks, it looks like it's time for me to resurrect this running blog again.  But this time, I think it is not going to be just about running.  I think it's time for me to be more transparent.  At least in terms of my body image, wanting to lose weight, my motivations for running, etc.

To just put it out there, I'd like to lose at least15 pounds.  Why?  And how did I get to this point?  Well, for starters, I am not happy at my current weight.  I've only been here for 3 months, but I hate it.  I always heard that you gain weight when you get married, but I thought I'd be different.  Not so.  My wedding was 4 months ago, and I'm already 6 pounds heavier than I was on my wedding day.  Not good.  My satisfaction with my body has plummeted.  My most recent weight gain is probably a combination of 1) Being happy (being a newlywed is awesome!), 2) Less time to exercise (I moved to another city and spend a lot of my day driving), 3) Often eating unhealthily (again, less time to prepare healthy food), 4) A crazy food and wine fest on our Honeymoon in late November combined with the same over Christmas.

I think I've REALLY wanted to lose weight for the past 2 years or so, but nothing I've tried has worked.  Mostly because I don't have the discipline to stick to both diet and enough exercise.  I've always thought, "Oh, I'll just train for another race to get my mileage up and burn more calories", or "Oh, I'll eat healthy for a few weeks and drop the 5 pounds that just came on recently".  Unlike most brides, I didn't even lose weight for my wedding!  But since I turned 25, my weight has crept up and up.  I rationalize it by saying, "My clothes still fit...I still look the same, my husband thinks I look great, etc".  But, I've hit the point where I don't want to rationalize anymore.  I don't want to gain 5 more pounds every 2 years.  Soon, I'll be rationalizing 10 more pounds, and then maybe 20.  No, my doctor doesn't think I'm overweight, so it is not a dire health issue like many people who need to lose weight.  But I don't feel healthy.  My jeans are a bit tight and fit differently.  I gain weight in my abdomen, which is the least healthy place to gain.  Unless I am training hardcore for a race or marathon, I don't exercise enough.  I'm lazy (obviously not just as a runner!).

So, I think I'm finally ready to embark on a weight-loss journey.  A journey of facing my issues with food (I always view it as a treat and not fuel!), becoming more disciplined with exercise, and sticking with something sensible. It won't be dramatic (I don't have 100 or even 50 pounds to lose!).  It may be a long journey (I am never good at losing 1 pound per week!).  And, I don't have any special insight, but I do think there are probably more folks out there like me...who could stand to lose a few pounds, but don't have the motivation.  I'm working on my motivation, I guess, and putting this out in the blog world is probably a good start!

My goal weight is 150 pounds.  When I think back on my adult body, that is where I was most happy with my body...both health-wise, image-wise, and life-wise. Funny that when I was at 150 pounds...I was happy, but would have preferred to be at 140!  But, that is an issue to write about at another time.

There is so much more I could write about (my food plan, my exercise plan, my history with weight loss/gain, food, and exercise), but then, I'd have nothing to blog about in the future!  So here we go...

Day 1, March 31st, 2011

Stats

Height: 5'7"
Starting weight: 165 lbs
BMI: 25.8 (technically overweight...but I fall into the muscular/athletic body type)

Measurements
Chest (around ribcage): 34.5"
Hips: 41"
Waist: 32.5"

I will plan to update these stats weekly.