Let's Try This Again

I know, I know... I've been here before.

I actually "started over" again around this same time last year. I guess the New Year makes us all want to renew, change, and refresh. This year has been a whirlwind of change for me. It was a great year, and I have learned so much about myself.  I am about to encounter even more changes, and I decided I wanted and needed some accountability along the way. That is where the BLOG comes in. I think it is therapeutic and stressful for me all at once, but I want to give it a go again. I gained so much during my few blogging years.

To update you all, I still live in Beautiful Winston Salem, NC, and I am about to move to the downtown area. I am super excited, and cannot wait to show you all pictures of my new place. I am now the Executive Director for a Long Term Facility for geriatrics patients with dementia, an though it is the toughest thing I have ever done it is also the most rewarding. I absolutely love what I do. My job keeps me very busy, which can be great, but it also be a big pain in the booty when it comes to having any kind of outside life... including exercising!  I have actually done OK this year, but I am far from my goal. I started working out with a personal trainer, and it is amazing what motivation that brings.  Knowing I have an appointment with him makes a world of difference. Through training I have met some wonderful, life long friends who have been there each step of the way. I lost 15 pounds and started developing some major definition in my arms, abs etc. I was stoked to say the least!! I also started doing Zumba three nights a week with an amazing group of people. Here is a little taste of where I had come...

Some of you may remember some of these pictures from a few years back when I actually blogged on a regular basis.  I had come a long way!!  (Side note - I am far from the last picture now)
I thought, "I am on a roll... nothing can stop me!" Life has a funny way of throwing curve balls at you when you least expect it. I went through a tough break up (again... long story for another day), was in rough shape mentally and emotionally due to work related BS.  But I think it was just what I needed to help get me back on track. I have taken many steps to begin changing my life for the better, and I cannot wait to share with you all of those fun things down the road. I did, however, begin to ignore my health. I began over-eating and over-indulging again along with just occasionally working out, and I have kept up this trend until now. It is time to change it. Much of my recent inspiration came from Keelie over at REAL FAT. She was an inspiration to me in the past, and she too has "started over."  Reading her blog again gave me enough push to try again. This time with a different outlook... The Scale does not make me who I am!!!  I want to lose weight for me and me alone; I want to be healthy because I choose to; I want to share it with you because I cannot do it all alone! I will be turning 30 this year, and I want to be proud of how far I have come by that time. I have many things to work on - self love included.

I want this Blog to be more than a "Weight loss Journey... I Want to Wear a Bikini Blog."  I want it to be about MY COMPLICATED LIFE!  I want to invite you join me, critique me, love me, encourage me. I know I will need it. I will be taking recent Before Pics and posting them this week.

HERE WE GO! Thank you to all of you who have stuck with me and will be with me this go round! Here are a few Pics from my 2012 Life:  Real time pics to follow soon!!!

I have now lost some muscle definition and gained about 20 pounds back. (I do not know my current weight because I am Scared to get on the scale)  But, this is where it all begins! I am READY... are YOU?