It's Nice to See You Again

Ah, today I reunited with a number on the scale I hadn't seen since 2003. Since I got pregnant with my oldest, 6 years ago. It's been way too long.

I debated about making this post, because I certainly don't want to come off as one who is bragging.
Because you know what? This didn't happen easily for me.

My weight-loss journey has been a very long one.
One with many ups & downs, and more downs than ups.

I have worked very hard over the past few months to achieve a weight I am happy with.
It's taken a lot of hard work...many hours of exercise, much menu planning, looking endlessly for recipes that are low fat & still enjoyable.
It's doing the daunting task of writing everything down that I eat, measuring servings, going to meetings for motivation, turning to friends for inspiration.
It's meant being selfish at times, putting my need to exercise over my family's wanting to play a game, etc.  (no worries, most of the time it's only 25 minutes!)

So because of all of that, I can post this, because I worked hard for it.
I will have to continue to work hard to maintain this, for the rest of my life.
Exercising and eating well are not a stage. No, it's a lifestlye change I've gradually made over the last 6 years.
Best of all, it's a change I am happy my boys will grow up knowing.
Wheat vs white, diet vs regular, baked vs fried...it may sound trivial or like something to roll your eyes at. but it's good health. I value good health.

There was a day I thought the 120's would not be a number I'd see on the scale again.
I foolishly excused it, telling myself that I'm a mother now, and it's harder for moms to be a healthy weight.

That is true. But being a mom, in my opinion, makes it that much more important to aim for healthiness.
I'm not much away from 130's, but my personal goal was to just even see 129.9 on the scale. Today I saw 129.8 (never thought I'd publicly list my weight...lordy lordy). I could be smaller, thinner, but I am happy. I have this, written here, now, to remind myself I can do it. If the day comes where I don't believe again, I can come back to this.

I am a 29 year old woman who has had 3 pregnancies. I am a woman who doesn't have the money to spend on all fresh-all organic foods. I work with a grocery budget of $150 every 2 weeks.
I stay home, have no gym membership, and a husband who is gone to grad school a few nights a week.
All of that used to be reasons excuses why I was a higher weight, or why I wasn't exercising.
I had no gym. I had a lack of money to eat healthy. I had a body that endured 3 pregnancies.

Guess what? That doesn't matter. A tight budget, using your home as a gym, whatever...it can be done.
This post here, this is my reality check.

These words I am pouring out into the world, right now, are my "hey you!" words.
If I say I can't again, I will read this.
Because I can.
And so can you.