How Can This Be MY FAULT?

It happens without any warning. It's not something you can be ready for. One day you wake up and you wonder... how did I get here?

Okay, maybe it doesn't work that way for everyone, but it sure did for me.

Driving to work a few weeks ago I noticed my blouse (that's for you Tracy) was puffing up a bit over my seat belt. I hate when that happens, so I immediately patted it down and straighten it out but this time something different happened. It didn't move! This time it wasn't the way my shirt was lying, it was my BELLY! I was horrified.

All my life I could eat whatever I wanted and my weight would remain the same. People would tell me that everything would change after I had my babies, after I turned 30, 35, after 40; yet nothing really changed for me. Then this last year I guess Mother Nature decided it was time to hit me with it! I woke up one morning and my cloths felt tighter, I told myself they fit better. Now, with this seat belt "incident" there is no justifying it.

The next week I to the gym and took a walk but nothing seemed to change. Feeling frustrated I called my mom and asked her how I am supposed to lose this extra weight. I told her I was doomed and that I only had eight pounds extra but there is no way it will ever come off. I even complained that "I guess this is how I am now."

My mom is a pretty straight-forward kind of woman and I love her for that. Here is how the conversation went...

Mom: "What are you doing to lose the weight?"
Me: "I went to the gym"
Mom: "How many times?"
Me: "Once"
Mom: "What else?"
Me: "I took a walk"
Mom: "Just one?"
Me: (getting annoyed) "Yes"

So, you see how the conversation was going; she was calling me out on my lack of trying. It was then that I realized again how valuable friends and family that tell you the truth are.

The next few days I spent really looking at my habits and was able to clearly see my faults. No longer was I eating a healthy breakfast (unless you can count a diet coke Big Gulp and 7-11 potato chips healthy), I never walked by a vending machine without getting a little something, if there was a bowl of candy at any office I went to for work I figured I would be polite and take one (or five...right Cole!) and I couldn't remember the last time I went for a run or used my gym membership like I should.

I guess it wasn't Mother Nature being cruel to me after all. I hated to admit it but it was ME that caused this belly I disliked so much. All those years I could eat whatever I wanted I was eating small, healthy snacks and meals all day. (OKAY, I did eat Reese's Peanut Butter Cups from time to time) I exercised regularly and I drank lots of water. Somehow I let myself fall into bad habits and over time I have completely lost my good habits to the bad ones and now it's showing.

For the past four days I have watched what I am eating, I have stopped drinking soda and eating potato chips and I have been trying to workout for at least 30 minutes each day. I am happy to say I already notice a difference! The biggest difference I notice is I feel so good! I have so much more energy and in only four days I already feel so much healthier.

Thanks Mom!