Changes over a decade

I was asked to select a photo from 10 years ago, and compare it to a photo taken recently. What has changed? How do I view myself differently? Well, 10 years ago I had a 1 year old and now I have an 11, 9, 3, and 1 yr old (rounding up for my early 2014 birthdays). I have learned and changed, a lot. I have discovered those who accept me for who I am, those who are willing to hold my hand through trials, and those who were friends for statistical purposes (at least that is what I see them as now).

12/03

11/13

One of the hardest things one can ever do is look back over the past decade. I had a hard time selecting a photo of myself from late 2003 to match with 2013. Not because I hated the way I looked, but because I was not into having my photo taken. I have thousands of photographs of Peanut, though.

That got me thinking. Much of my life has been spent thinking about my weight. I am always depressed about my size. What is scary is that between 2003 and 2013, I have gained 60 pounds. I have not lost much more than 30 and put it all back on. This year, that is going to change. I am working to get my affairs in order and reserve 90 minutes a day that is mine. That is when I will work out and then shower.

Many moms will agree that it is very hard to put yourself first at any point in the day. Especially when you have children that need you. However, I realized that I am having a hard time keeping up with them. I don't care why this may be, I just want it to change. To make it easier for me, I have told myself that I want the change FOR the kids.

Here are my goals:
~ Work out 30 min a day 3x a week. After 4 weeks of success, I will bump it up to 4x a week. Again, after 4 weeks of success, I will bump it up to 5x a week. This will repeat until I do some form of exercise every day of the week.
~ Eventually work up to Blogilates & purchase the Fitness Journal
~ Eat clean (meat at 1 meal and other protein at all other meals, vegetarian 1 day a week)
~ Drink more water
~ Be completely soda free by my birthday (10/23/2014)
~ Make meals from scratch again by the time school is out (end of May 2014) using my subscription to eMeals (ask me how to enter a drawing for an iPad).

So... what is my end goal?

While I would love this transformation-

   

 I will be happy with any steady weight loss and an increase of energy.