Preface: Journey #1

I'm going to preface my WLC (weight loss challenge) journey..

First of all, in case anyone is actually reading this, I want to start off by saying that I recognize that my interpretation of "fat" may not be the same as yours. Understand that I am referring to what I consider to be 'uncomfortable' for MY body -- for what I am used to carrying around with me.

Everyone has their personal goal weight and their personal breaking point as well. Whether it's your dress size or the number on the scale, everyone is different. 

I'm pretty hard on myself, and will likely phrase things in a way that may sound offensive or insulting to other people. Please don't take any of my posts the wrong way -- this blog isn't about you, it's about me. Don't take it personally.

So let's start.

I'm 5'5" and my 'healthy weight' is 120 lbs. but I prefer to be between 115 - 117 lbs. (my husband highly dis-approves of this)

As I previously mentioned, this isn't my first time going through this whole weight loss thing -- after having each of my other kids, I struggled to get the baby weight off for over two years following their births. 

Let's call this Journey #1:

Xierra was born in May 2004. I gained a lot of weight during that pregnancy (164 lbs.). I didn't get back to my pre-pregnancy weight until December 2006

Age: 24-26

Highest weight: 150 lbs.

Lowest weight: 109 lbs. 

This journey was kick-started by a couple of things -- a relationship gone bad and a huge lifestyle change. Exercise was my outlet. I was more or less living alone and working at the movie theatre. After a closing shift, I would go to Shapes anywhere from 1am - 3am on most nights and just work out till I was completely exhausted. In January 2006, I started on the South Beach diet. I lost 11 lbs in the first 2 weeks and was hooked on losing weight after that. 

A few pros and cons from that experience:

PROS:

- I was young (when 26 is 'young', you know you're old)

- I had metabolism on my side

- I worked a good amount of evening shifts so that gave me all morning/afternoon to prep my food

- I only had Xierra part time, so I had more freedom to go to the gym when I wanted to

- I met the love of my life, which kept me motivated

CONS:

- I was erratic 

- I may have abused diet pills

- I never really toned up 

- 109 lbs. was WAY too light for me

Journey #1 isn't exactly my idea of 'success'. It wasn't driven by positive influences. I was under a lot of stress, I was going through a really challenging time in my life and this was how I dealt with it. I was obsessed, and looking back on it, I didn't do it the right way. 

Maintenance involved eating healthy and staying moderately active. I think I stopped going to the gym a little before my husband moved up to Canada in 2007. 

I hovered between 115 - 120 lbs. through 2008 and 2009 and then... well... I decided to start trying for baby #2.

To be continued...