Hard work and dedication

After my first baby turned one year old, I remember a conversation I had with a family member. I wanted so badly to lose weight, but I didn't want it badly enough to do something about it. I specifically remember the words that came out of my mouth when asked why I just didn't do something about it. I said "Because it takes hard work and dedication, and I don't want to do that." Wow. What a powerful statement. One that I remember ten years later. But it was true! I wanted my pre-pregnancy body back, but I wasn't willing to put forth the work to do it. I wanted the easy way out. I knew it would be hard, so I did nothing about it. Well, except complain. At 20 years old I was at about 40 pounds overweight.

How many people actually want something in life, but are afraid of the work that it will take to make it happen? This fear doesn't just happen when it comes to weight loss. I would dare to say that many Americans actually waste their entire lives working jobs that pay the bills, but they aren't careers that they would choose for themselves if given a choice. If you have a dream, a goal, a passion, but ignore it, what's the use? I understand that "life" gets in the way for most people. It's hard to squeeze time out of our busy schedule to get to the gym. It's oftentimes out of the budget to go continue our education or get a degree in what we really want to do with our life. I understand, believe me. But it's not impossible. Some dreams get put on hold until your children graduate and are old enough to move out on their own, and others because timing or finances are not right. But don't let your dreams die because of fear. Don't fear hard work and dedication.

Ask yourself:

• What do you want for yourself?
• What are your goals?
• What is standing in your way to reach for them?

Discovering what I want

It's been in the back of my mind since I was young. I don't know what sparked the idea, but as a preteen, I wanted to become a bodybuilder. And each time I said it out loud, there was always someone there who thought it was silly. I remember high school gym class being able to bench press more than some of those scrawny guys! I have always had my eyes wide open to my own physical appearance, and admittedly, I've never given myself the chance to shine.

Last year I turned thirty. After the initial shock of not knowing how time escaped so quickly from my grasp, I started thinking about how unhappy I was with myself. Not in the way of my character, as I've done a lot of growing up both emotionally and spiritually, but more specifically in my body. I've had all these dreams of becoming lean and fit, but have never had the drive to make these dreams a reality. After 3 pregnancies, all of which I gained far too much weight, I thought my body was forever stretched out and ruined. That is until now. I don't care what others think, and I certainly will not be turned away by negativity and opposing opinions. I have to push past what my mind has led me to believe. If I don't try I will always have regret. There is no better time than now.

I plan to use this blog more to document personal growth and development, but I'd also like to hope that someone out there will benefit from it as well. I'm not a professional by any sense of the word when it comes to fitness or nutrition. I'm just a real mom and housewife on a journey to prove my self-doubt wrong.

My journey started 'for real' four months ago, with a New Year's Resolution that I was determined to finally go through with. I've gone from the over-weight chick that needed a swift-kick out the door to go to the gym, to the chick you can count on seeing at the gym every night. I love it, and I love where I am right now.