Today I discovered...

Just a few short months ago, I weighed 330 Pounds. Yes, my little 5'3" frame was carrying around 330 pounds. Today, I am so glad to say that I am 48 pounds lighter... I weigh in at 282 pounds (hoping it is less, but I won't weigh in until this Friday). It is amazing what losing 48 pounds can do. Yes, I am still morbidly obese but I believe I am in the best shape of my adult life! It is incredible. Today, I find that:

I get bored just sitting around
I am full of energy
I enjoy being outdoors
I don't ask my son to grab things for me as much anymore
I no longer plan my grocery trips around someone being home to carry in the groceries
I can ride my bike for 5 miles strait, what?!?!
I can hike 10 miles, woot-woot!
I find reasons to go outside
I actually like riding my bike
I enjoy breaking a good sweat
I know I will lose the weight once and for all

and I FINALLY have a reason for all of my tennis shoes!

Can you believe it? A woman having a reason for shoes, other than love?!? Well, let me tell you, at 330 pounds, shoes were are all about comfort! I have beautiful gorgeous shoes that haven't seen the light of day in years. I simply could not carry my weight on them. I had honestly, all but given up on ever wearing any of these sexy stilettos again. Everything I put on my feet was about finding comfort. It was next to impossible to find something my feet could handle. In the end, it was tennis shoes. Even then, it was hard.

Over the years, I collected several pairs, I would basically wear a pair until they were worn out. Being so overweight, it happened sooner than later.

What I realized today, is that I actually have a reason for my many tennis shoes... how exciting. I am so active I need tennis shoes! Woo-Hoo! I know this may not seem like a huge feat but to me, its AMAZING! I finally have a reason for grabbing my tennies that doesn't evolve around achy feet in 8 hours. Don't get me wrong, comfort is key but I actually pick a specific shoe for certain activities now. Yea that's right, I am active enough to need more than one pair of tennies! Oh boy, oh boy, I love needing more than one pair!

Sketchers Walking Shoes, LOVE these shoes! If you invest in these, watch the instruction DVD before wearing! Seriously!


My workout and bike shoes


My Dance shoes for Zumba and Hip Hop Abs


My hiking and trail shoes, look at the miles on those babies


After a few more months of grabbing my tennies, I will be dusting off my sexy stilettos! Can I get a woot-woot!

A little rain never hurt anyone

I remember when a rainy day meant, staying inside curled up on the couch, a movie marathon... an actual excuse to stay indoors all weekend and not feel to guilty about it. That was the old me, the new me, the girl that has the beaming athlete inside, just couldn't do it. I was ancy, needed to get out of the house. Earlier, my son and I popped in a DVD but before you know it, both of us were ready to get somewhere.

Outside, it was overcast but tempature wise, it was incredible. It had been drizzling all morning off and on but it hadn't poured. I decided to do a little research and found a nature center right around the corner from me. WHAT?!?!?!? How was this place here for all of these years? Literally, I must have driven by it atleast 100 times ... a little piece of nature in the middle of the city. I asked my son if he'd like to take a hike and he was ready to go. We grab our backpack and head out the door, 15 minutes later, we were walking into a gorgeous piece of country that was just tucked away in the city.

There was a little drizzle but hey, when did rain ever hurt anyone? The first thing we see


You might not of read the sign but the thing that jumped out at us was the snake warning, POISONOUS SNAKES! Now, I know, snakes are everywhere, especially in the great outdoors but I have to admit, when its pointed out, you really become aware. We decided, we would use caution but that sign wouldn't hinder us, we put on our smiles and off we go.


We find a map and pick a trail, Fossil Valley, it's a mile and half trail (level difficult) that will take us the pond which we can walk another two miles around.


We using caution but were ready to go, off into the trail... oh look another sign...


Okay, this time its in red... boy oh boy, good thing I dont have herpetophobia... it's a little creepy seing ANOTHER sign! Smiles on, feet moving, onward we go.



Oh wait, hold up, third times a charm...


Clearly were on alert now, three signs, there must be a reason that there are three signs! Honestly, we have only walked 100 feet or so. This was the wrong day to forget your walking stick. My son won't even think about getting off the path to find us on. He kindly reminds me that there are POISONOUS snakes out there and there ain't no way he is getting off the path! My son decides to ask: "have you ever been biten by a snake?" What, are you serious??? "NO, I have not been biten by a snake and I hope it stays like that!" Geez, don't ask me something like that, not now... come on son, don't let the signs get to you... just keep going and have a good time. Mind over matter. I chuckle as I notice, he is not walking off the beaten path, on the trail he stays and the he tells me he is so glad that he decided to wear his hiking boots today, his ankles are protected. Okay, all the signs, all the talk, I am getting a little spooked, we gotta change the subject! We begin to appreciate the view.. what a gorgeous trail were on. It's still drizzling outside. A few months ago, there is no way that I would be walking in the rain, much less hiking! It's amazing how much has changed, I am so happy



We keep moving further along the trail and really begin to enjoy each others company, I have a little slip and fall


I wasn't hurt, I just had major dirty drawers...


My son and I laughed and keep on going





We finally feel like we are getting close and oh man...


It happens sometimes, no worries, we found another trail to have some fun on


my son even found a tree to meditate in


a guide for animal tracks (we didn't find any this time with all the rain)


When it was all said and done, we were wet, full of mud and had lots of fun!