Motivated to get Moving

When Trish asked me if I wanted to be a featured fave spot on her blog, I said “sure, but what is that?”  She told me all I had to do was tell my story, talk about my journey: where I am, where I want to go and how I am going to get there.  Until Trish said that I never really thought I had a story, I was just another person fighting to drop weight once and for all.  I realize now just because I don’t think there is anything special about my story, doesn’t mean someone else wouldn’t.  We all find motivation in different places, I know I have been inspired and motivated by tons of people I have never met in real life, yet I feel like I know them thanks to Twitter (KellyK_C) and blogs.  Because of that, I feel like it is my obligation to share my story with you, I hope you will sit back, relax and enjoy the ride I am about to take you on.

My name is Kelly, I recently turned 35.  I live in NJ with my husband.  Like many people I struggled with my weight most of my adult life.  I joined Weight Watchers years ago with some co-workers and experienced great success, unfortunately I left before I reached my goal weight (I have no idea why.) Slowly but surely the weight came back on.  I dropped that weight again and low and behold it came back, this up and down continued for awhile, sometimes even without me realizing.  That is what happens when you have a wide range of clothes in your closet (8-14 to be exact) Fast forward to Christmas 2009, I was enjoy the holidays with my family.  Of course that means pictures were being taken all over the place.  Shortly after Christmas I saw a pic of myself and my husband on Facebook and I thought “Oh My God, is that what I really look like?”  I need to do something about that STAT!!  January 5^th 2010 I rejoined Weight Watchers for what I know will be the last time.  I approached the program with an open mind and a “must win” attitude.  I follow the program as designed, I write down everything I eat, drink 6-8 glasses of water a day (more like 3 liters a day but who’s counting) and eat tons of fruits and vegetables.  I still enjoy most of my favorite foods, and the occasional glass of wine, I just do it in moderation and enjoy it more now than I ever did before.    Watching what I eat is only part of the equation that has allowed me to be successful the other more important part is exercise.  I have had a gym membership for YEARS; however, I was not a dedicated gym goer, I had the membership so I could go to yoga, if I missed a day or a week or at times even a month I was okay with that.  Not anymore, I am all about the exercise now, dare I say I enjoy it?  When I first started working out I remember telling my husband my goal was to be able to ride the exercise bike for 30 minutes and maybe one day complete the 5k loop on the treadmill.  Little did I know I was going to blow past those goals rather quickly.  The 5k loop is now something I do all the time, ,as a matter of fact I recently said “I won’t be at the gym long, I am only doing 5k” seriously, did I say that?!?  ONLY 5k is not something I thought I would ever utter.  I went from taking yoga 1 day a week to doing yoga as many as 4 days a week and taking classes like “total body conditioning” and doing “butt bustin workouts” I feel like a new woman.   When going away even if overnight one of the first things I pack are my sneakers, I am now “that person” that works out while on vacation and I love it!!

30 weeks into my journey, I have lost 31 pounds, and 24 total inches (16 of which were on my waist and hips); however, this isn’t really about what I have lost, but what I have gained.  I have a new found confidence that allows me to continue to try new things, meet new people and grow as a person.  I am about 5 pounds away from my goal weight, once I achieve “lifetime” status I hope to work for Weight Watchers, giving others the motivation and inspiration that will one day make them want to share their story. 

**ETA** I have lost 35 pounds and am 3 pounds away from my goal weight!!