30 by 30: #12 -Lose 50 pounds- The Basics

My weight has been a struggle for a while now.  I am not ashamed to talk about it, because anyone who looks at me can obviously tell that I have a weight issue.  It isn't a big secret.  Way back in high school I was thin... like a little too thin if you look at photos of my arms.  Sometime after high school the weight slowly began to creep up.  I know that at first it was because I had moved out and was eating a lot of fast food.  I also stopped walking anywhere.  At first it wasn't that bad.  No big deal to see the scale at 140.  Then suddenly it was at 185.  Then slowly 190... 200... 220...235...246.  The climb from 185 to where I am now took about 7 years.


I am an emotional eater.  When I am bored... I eat.  When I am upset... I eat.  Unfortunately, I am upset more than it is really healthy... especially since I eat, but because of the stress and hormonal spikes too.


I am addicted to soda.  Dr. Pepper is my drug of choice.  The flavors mix beautifully with the carbonation.  I love it.  This is a very bad love affair.  High fructose corn syrup is what makes the soda so yummy... and addictive.  It was invented in 1957 but mass production was not viable at that time.  However, by 1975 soda companies began putting it into their drinks.  By 1985 high fructose corn syrup was in tons of products... not just soda... but of course in all the sodas.  It is no surprise that obesity rates have steadily climbed over the last 25 years.


So obviously, I have not made all the best nutrition and activity choices over the last ten or so years, but it is also not all my fault.  So many of us are in the same situation.  And the soda companies know that their products are addictive... but they don't care.  They are not going to stop producing these products because they sell and make them money.  It is a vicious circle really.


I however, have decided to take back my health.  Three weeks ago a group of women and myself decided to do a biggest looser competition.  We decided that we would all put in $50 and that the person who lost the most pounds and the person who lost the most inches after a full 6 weeks would each get $100.  There were four of us doing the competition.  We are supposed to walk three times a week together and of course we can do whatever we want on our own the rest of the time.  Our challenge is scheduled to end on June 1st.  I plan to keep up the plans throughout the summer months.  


This is not a quick journey.  I am not searching for a quick fix.  I don't want some fad diet where you drop the inches but in a week they come back with a vengeance.  I want a healthier lifestyle.  Exercise and nutritious foods.


This will be an ongoing post.  Join me on my journey.

This is the beginning...

Welcome!  

Since this is the very first post on my latest blog, I feel that I should introduce what to expect, even though very soon this post will be at the very bottom of a long list... I hope!  This is what we are all about...

Life.

About myself:  I am a mother of one darling daughter named Kiera and yes, you will hear about her often here on the blog... and you will see her too because I love taking photos of her... even though she doesn't really let me anymore.  I have my own photography company... Laughter & Love Notes Photography.  It sounds glamorous but unfortunately I am barely getting started with it and I find it difficult to get new business.  I am in an over-saturated market here for photographers.  Everywhere you turn it seems like there is another photographer.  I am also a wife.  One year ago tomorrow (May 13th) I married my husband.  He is Kiera's father, not that it is really any concern, and he is my first husband.
About Kiera:  She is 4 years old and just about to finish her first year of Pre-K.  She has two years of Pre-K because of her birthday and the cutoff for Kindergarten.    It bugs me.  Oh well, nothing I can do about it.  
About Frankie:  He is my husband.  He is obsessed with computers and is considering going back to school for some computer based classes.  He has been rebuilding and installing since I met him.

Home.

I am not an instinctive homemaker.  My house is messy more often than it is clean.  I don't want it to be but it has always been very difficult for me to keep my house kept up.  I want a home that looks like it should be in Better Homes and Gardens.   

Projects.

I have a confession... I am addicted to Pintrest.  As of today (May 12, 2012) I have 17 different boards.  I will be honest... my obsession with Pintrest is the real reason for me making this blog.  I have so many projects that I am planning to do around my house very soon and yes, some of the ideas did come from Pintrest.  Some didn't but either way I wanted a place to document my projects.
I also have a project called 30 by 30.  This is an ongoing project that will continue until my 31st birthday (cause I count the entire year that I am 30... not just until the birthday).  Some of the things on this list will have photo opportunities and some won't... but I will post photos whenever I can.