it's a new year ...

okay ... so I've fallen into the guilt of it being a new year and new resolutions ... so here I am on my blog - updating after FAR, FAR too long. I apologize to my avid readers (if I have some lol).

My update is generally a happy one though. Although I've gained a bit over Christmas, I still feel great about my healthy lifestyle and continued work with my trainer. Like most people over the holidays, one cheat day turned into cheat weeks (which does not equal success).

Now here I am .. putting it all out there. I think the realization as to where I was and where I am now was when I was looking at my friend Laura's scrapbook on New Year's Eve. The picture was from 2010 and I was probably at my heaviest (258 ish) mark ... now I'm still teetering on the 200 mark .. back up to 206 (grr) .. but generally over the last 8 months I've maintained a 50 pound weight loss and stayed between 198 and 207.

Ideally I would like that number to go down .. and I'm sure in time it will .. but the fact I've maintained the weight loss and exercise regularly is what I'm so excited about. I never thought exercise would become part of my life the way it has.

I watched this great movie tonight that partly inspired my blog post (thanks Mom for the suggestion) - one thing it talked about was loving yourself unconditionally. My self love has definitely improved over the years, but I still don't think it's where it should be .. so I'm going to promise to do the task they recommend in the video. Look at yourself 2 times a day in the mirror and say "I accept myself unconditionally right now". They say by day 28 you will have more self love than you had and self love = healthier being. If you are on any sort of self love journey, weight loss or otherwise - I challenge you to say that positive message everyday with me ... see if you notice a change!

To kick start I thought of the whole idea of "love yourself naked". I said I'm doing it .. I will take a picture of my exposed self and see where I am next month. I kinda jumped for joy when I fit into my size 10 bikini from first year university (although don't think the top quite fits). I'm putting this picture out there.. more for myself. Do I LOVE the picture of myself in a bikini? not quite yet ... can you tell I work my ass off and try and build muscles ? probably not like most woman body builders but hell I'm still proud of that body and I know the crazy things I have done to start and tone my muscles.


Remember ... you have the power to change yourself.
A quote worth remembering as we head into the new year
"My life tomorrow will be the result of my attitudes and the choices I make today."


and here it is .... it seems crazy for me to "put myself out there" like this .. but I am!! .... stay tuned ...