Losing it.

This year is different than any other year I have done before, it is my fourth year of university and I am graduating in less than 6 months. EEP! Overwhelming, exciting and too-fast are all words that come to mind as I cannot believe that I will have my degree before I know it! (fyi: I am graduating with my BA in Music, with plans to pursue an after degree in Education).

I have worked immensely hard at school and have overcome many challenges, both academically and personally. I am proud. Another crazy thing is how quickly the wedding is coming, it is one SHORT week post my graduation. What was I thinking?? Things are coming along smoothly, right now my mother in law is finishing up with the guest list/getting me addresses and then we plan to have them sent before Christmas. (Insert another what was I thinking moment). We will have them done though, and I plan to recruit some sweet girls from my hall to help me put them all together.

Another challenge I'm overcoming kicking a-- on is the weight battle. My girlfriend S posted about her journey recently and it gave me the courage to share my story. With an upcoming wedding, there is tons of pressure to look your best, and often times it seems impossible to meet all the standards. I'm doing my best, and what else is there that I can do right?

Summer of 2009. 

Way back when... in grade 12 I was a lean mean 120lbs. (I had just finished my lifeguarding, was super active and of course I was 17!) Speed up to my fourth year of uni, and due to many things: lazy cooking, cafeteria food (from my first 2 years), inactive lifestyle (hitting the books!!), not enough sleep... It all zones in to being at my heaviest weight yet. 160lbs. I'm only 5 "4", maybe an inch more than that on a good day... so needless to say, I'm not at a healthy weight nor am I happy with it.

If you know this girl, you also know how incredibly stubborn I can be. I was in denial for a long time. I did weight watchers for a while (for the record I think it is a great program and really did teach me some helpful tips) but in the long run I was taking in WAY to many calories than I needed to. (Even if it was "healthy" i.e. fruits or veggies which with weight watchers are 0 points...but in real life, those are still calories and still a source of something!) I had yo-yo'd with my weight last fall, and lost about 15 lbs and then proceeded to gain in all back as soon as I stopped religiously counting points. This clearly wasn't the way to go for me!

So now, here we are: fall of 2012 on a new journey. I was sitting in biology class, listening to our lecture about nutrition feeling guilty, guilty, guilty. Our Prof pulled up a site called http://loseit.com/ and the more I explored the site the more I wanted to try it.

It's simple really (I promise). You can join for free, there is a sweet community and many challenges you can join to keep you motivated. It has a free app to go with, both for the iPhone and android and provides you with a caloric count in order to get you to your goal weight. I'm already noticing a difference (No lie!). Yesterday when I was grocery shopping I was much more controlled, made healthy choices and even had self restraint that night when a group of friends went to Mc'Ds! (I "guarded" the car!)

I've lost about 2 lbs (Ok, I know this isn't really losing... it's just the way my weight fluctuates, but give me some credit!) In all seriousness though I feel better eating healthy from the last 36 ish hours. Crazy isn't it? I know that we are created so uniquely and our body can do amazing things, so it's great to say thank you again by treating my body with some love.

So anyhow, here's to losing it and loving my body once more. Thanks S for unknowingly giving me the courage to share my story.

Love, Heidi