So what's next?

Now that I'm all about a New Me for 2011, what exactly do I want for the "New Me"? Obviously the major goal is to lose weight. But what else? There are a lot of things that I want to improve upon and they are not all physical. Back in 2008, I wrote a post titled "9 Goals for 2009". This list included 9 things that I wanted to cross off my to-do list. Out of the 9, I think I accomplished two. LOL! Some of the items on the list are still things that I want to accomplish, like run in a 5k race.

I am a pessimist at heart and that is one thing that I really want to change. I am quick to be negative or see the negative side of things. My justification? I don't want to be disappointed. So the best thing to do is to think that something's not going to happen so that if it doesn't, the let down is easier. I need to stop doing that. For the next 4 weeks I am going to make a conscious effort to stop being a Debbie Downer. It's not going to be easy. Old habits die hard. But I'm going to try my best.

We've all experienced that point in our lives where we feel like we looked our best. For me, that time was the summer/fall before I got pregnant with D. I was the smallest I'd been in a long time. I weighed 123 lbs and was wearing a size 6. I was working out twice a day and eating healthy. I loved the way my body looked and I was working hard for it. Is it my goal to get back down to 120lbs? No. It would be nice but I know my body has completely changed since having a child and being over 30. My metabolism is on an extended vacation. My goal weight is 130/135. Why that? When I was in college, I had gained the college 15. So when I left college, I weighed around 140-145 lbs. At that weight, I had the one thing that I can't stand - back fat. I abhor it! Can't stand it! Don't want it! May seem petty but that's how I feel. Thanks to my weight gain I have more back fat than I can handle and I'm sick and tired of it. So I know I won't be happy until the back fat is gone!

The pictures below is when I felt my best, 1997 (wow that's a long time ago). Vacationing in the Bahamas, I wore a string bikini for the first time EVER! I haven't worn one since.

I don't know if you can see it clearly in the pic, but I had awesome muscle definition in my thighs. I got that through hours upon hours of spinning.

Halloween (obviously). These jeans were tight as hell! But I had no muffin top, no spill-over. Nothing. I felt good in them.

Those were the good old days or as I like to call them, B.D (before Darrius). I'm going to use these pictures to keep me motivated. These pictures were taken at a time where I was at my healthiest and at my physical best.

The plan is to get back to that place again.

New Year, New Me.

Happy New Year! I know, I know! We're 15 days into the New Year already. Better late than never right? So far 2011 has been good to me. Can't complain. It's only been 15 days, right?  Sorry I haven't been posting here often. My book blog has absolutely consumed what little free time that I have. I'm going to try to post more frequently this year. I promise.

For 2011, I've decided that this will be the year of ME! Last year, I seriously slacked off on taking care of myself - physically, mentally, emotionally. With Alfred being busy with his new business, I was pretty much a single parent last year. Everything was on my shoulders and I felt the full effects of it. Now that he sold his business (believe me that is a good thing) and is no longer working 14+ hours a day, I have the time to focus my energy on the most important person - ME. I had a doctor's appointment last month that made me take a hard look at myself. I'd gained 17 lbs in a year! That's a lot considering I'm only 5'1" and was already carrying around extra weight. I did not need another 17 lbs to add to it. I decided right then and there that this needs to stop. I'm about to turn 38 (yikes!) and my metabolism isn't getting any faster. This weight-gaining crap needs to be stopped in its tracks. So fast forward 3 1/2 weeks and I am finally at a place where I'm ready to stop talking and start doing.

I decided to track my progress on my personal blog. I plan on continuing to blog about family and random stuff (even though I haven't done much of that lately). I am quick to say that I am famous for starting things and not following through. I am the Queen of Not Following Through. Ask me if I've run a 5k yet. Guess what the answer is. A big fat NO. *sigh* So the 5k thing is back on my list also. I don't know what my problem is. I'm lazy, I get discouraged easily, I procrastinate like a mofo and I expect the weight to fall off after 1 week of exercising. I need to stop beating myself up and be realistic. It didn't take a month for this weight to appear and it's not going to take a month to lose it (unfortunately). There's no magic pill; only through exercise and diet will it finally come off.

So here's to a start of a new ME. Know this for sure, I plan on being selfish this year. I've neglected myself for far too long.

Join me on my journey to a new me!

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HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Happy Birthday D!

I can't believe my baby is 12! I know I always say this but I'm going to say it again - Time flies! He's becoming a little man. He's starting Middle School in September. Soon he'll be going through the dreaded puberty and start thinking about girls! I just hope that as he gets older, he'll still want hugs and kisses from his mom. 

THEN

NOW

Back on the wagon

Hey folks! This is my first post since I deleted my 5k training blog and merged it with this one. Woo hoo?

I can't believe it's August already. Summer is practically over. Yeah, I'm a glass half empty kinda person. Summer has been pretty uneventful for us. No Caribbean vacation for us this summer which totally sucks. I haven't even made it to the pool but one time. I would blame it on being too busy but I'd be lying. The reason why I haven't gone to the pool is because going to the pool would require that I wear a swim suit. And I definitely don't want to do that! Why, you ask? Because I'm probably the only idiot on the planet who has managed to gain weight DURING THE SUMMER! I feel disgusted and disgusting. There is no excuse. I've just been lazy. And when I don't workout at all, my body rebels. It's not like I'm eating tons of food. But ever since I hit 35, my metabolism has shut down. I could eat the daily recommended calories or less, not workout and STILL gain weight. But if I eat the same way and exercise, I maintain my weight. So what the hell do I need to do to lose? Starve? I'm starting to think that's the case.

I started working out again last week after my unplanned hiatus. I was super out of shape and when I was done, I was super sore. I attempted to workout to the week 1 5k running podcast and I thought I was going to have a heart attack I was breathing so hard. That's not good. Not good at all. I'm going to keep working out, eating healthy, drinking my H2O and hope that the scale starts budging. I'm also going to schedule an appointment with my doctor. I need to get a physical just to make sure there's not something else going on with my body that's got it acting all weird. Oh! Forgot to mention - my migraines are BACK! after not having regular migraines for 2 years! I now have one every two to three weeks. Not normal. Not appreciated. I'm having sleeping issues and my skin is breaking out. I'm wondering if I'm experiencing menopause? Isn't everything tied to our hormones? All I know is my body is a mess and I need somebody to fix it.

I know - TMI. But that's how I roll (sometimes).

I'm back to square one with the 5k running. Boo! I'm still all about The Chubby Jones podcast to workout to. It's fun and the music is great.

Anyway, I will try to post more often. I know it's been mad sporadic on this side of the world but my goal is to remedy that.

I still have pics from the 4th of July I need to upload. Yep, I suck.

Catch y'all on the flip side!

6th Grade Graduation

Last Thursday, Darrius' school had their Promotion Ceremony. The kids in teh 6th grade are leaving behind elementary school and headed to the big league - Middle School. I don't know where the time has gone. It feels like just yesterday I was registering D for kindergarten. My baby is no longer a baby.

The graduates seats

Of course, with the last name starting with W, you're destined to sit in the back

Darrius' "graduation" certificate

D got the Presidential Fitness certificate

The grandparents came out to celebrate the occassion

After the ceremony, there was cake and punch at the school. Afterwards, we went to Darrius' favorite restaurant, Bertucci's, for some brick-oven pizza. Once lunch was over, the grandparents headed home and I became a taxi for 4 ex-sixth graders. They had their graduation party at a bowling alley.

Now it's summer and Darrius will be attending summer camp. He also has homework that will count as his first English test grade. I still can't believe he's going to middle school. Time truly goes by too fast.

Braces!

I'm about 3 weeks late posting this but you know the saying, Better late than never. We finally did the deed - Darrius got his braces! After a year and half of pre-orthodontia treatment, the orthodontist finally said that Darrius was ready for braces. He has all of his permanent teeth, including his 12 yr old molars. I couldn't believe it since he's only 11!  But first, he had to have 4 teeth pulled.

Here they are. All 4 of them. Root and all. Aren't they huge?

Once the teradyctal teeth were pulled and he had a week to heal, it was time to get the braces on. The entire process took 2 1/2 hours. Darrius was a trooper the entire time.  He also got his braces "decorated" with colored plastics that they put on the braces. He got them black and gold - the colors of the Baltimore Ravens.

Cheese!

Once we got home and the Tylenol wore off, he was in a lot of pain. And no longer excited about having the braces. He had difficulty eating for about a week but now that we're almost a month in, he's finally getting used to them. He had a band concert tonight and I didn't think about how the braces would affect his clarinet playing. Whenever he had a break, I'd catch him massaging his jaws. But he soldiered through.

He has to wear the braces for 2 - 2 1/2 years. Darrius already has a great smile; it's going to be a showstopper once we finishes the treatment. Watch out!