Happy Anniversary to Me!!

On April 7th 2008 I rededicated myself to getting healthy and I have come a long way. I have lost 129 pounds in that year and gained so much life. Honestly it has been the best experience and I am so proud of myself. I set my first "goal" 35 pound from now. I will probably lose 15-20 more than that to make me satisfied but my new lifestyle will never change, this is the new me, this is the way I have to live my life and I love it. There are times I still want to eat crap but I have found alternatives. Just a year ago someone posted a very nasty comic of a heavy woman and a thin man in the "bedroom"...this was a hateful comic referring to me. Now this person pretended to be my friend so it hurt even more when I saw it smeared on the internet for everyone to see. Sadly just weeks before I had received emails from this friends "friend" warning me about all of the hurtful, mean things she was saying. I am an adult but when people knock you down without knowing why you are the way you are or assuming you are just fat and lazy it really hurts. Why would I rehash this a year later? Something that seems so petty and worthless. Well, because I can now enjoy the fact that it didn't break me. Living well is the best revenge. I was struggling with my emotions and letting childish behavior reek havoc on my life but along with gaining control I found myself again.

For my 1 year anniversary I tried a new workout at the gym, a hanging reverse crunch. I have been wanting to do this since I started there. I would always see these fit people hanging from this tower and working their abs, I never thought I could do it and yesterday I did a full set. My stomach hurt like hell this morning but I did it and I will do it again. These are all things I can do now that I couldn't a year ago:

• Run
• Cycle over 25 miles
• Play with my children
• Shop and not get tired
• Buy clothes from the "normal" size rack
• Paint my toenails without taking a break
• Keep up with my husband
• Feel bones in my ankles and collar
• Spend 45 minutes on the elliptical
• Walk 5 miles without taking a break
• No longer fear group exercise
• Wear my grandmother's jewelry
• Do crunches with 120 pounds
• Pull down 90 pounds on the lat machine
• Hold yoga poses without shaking
• Go to my children's school without embarrassment
• Dance and not feel winded
• Fit in any seat and not have to scan the room for one that will fit my ass
• Speak my mind without the fear of being judged by my weight
• Feel satisfied with a serving of dessert instead of the whole thing
• Cross my legs
• Get on my husbands motorcycle without feeling self conscious
• Love myself