Away we go...

Wondering what the heck you've stumbled upon? Well, I'm not sure you're going to get much clarity through this post. I still don't know what this is. In theory, this will be a safe space for me to blog about my experience with a healthier lifestyle, a practice that I hope will force some accountability into my process. In reality, it may end up being a place where I lament my poor decisions (did you really need seven mini danishes today, Ashley?) and make pronouncements about how I will do better in future. The anonymity of the blog will allow me some room for brutal honesty. (Yes, I know it's not entirely anonymous.  But it's more anonymous than Facebook.)

We shall see.

My motivation for change is three-fold:

1. Since starting at a new job with added responsibilities and associated stresses, I gained about 10 pounds. I've been here a year now, and it's time for that weight to be a memory.
2. The family bi-annual trip to Maui is fast approaching (June) and I would love to finally have some pictures of me in a bathing suit that don't cause me to cringe inwardly.
3. There are a lot of cute outfits I'd like to start wearing that don't quite work at my current body composition. Tied to this is the potential for dating and nights out, which--shallow as it sounds-- I would feel more comfortable doing if I were a tad more... svelte.

My goal is to reach a size/weight I accomplished a few years ago through some health issues (I was on pain medication that made me nauseated, so I ate very little), but this time to reach it in a healthy manner. Having seen what I CAN look like, I am now dissatisfied with my norm. My sister, who is in recovery from an eating disorder would probably tell me that this is not a healthy mindset, but whatever. At 32 years old, I think I've learned what's healthy and what's not for myself.

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I am 5' 5".  The goal is 120 pounds, and a size 0/2 by June 3 (the day I leave for Maui), with 20% or lower BMI. Currently, I am 131.8 pounds, and a size 4, with 22% BMI.  This means a pound a week, and some inches along the way.*

My plan is to blog at least every other day about my progress, recipes I'm trying, strategies I'm embracing, exercises I am liking or hating, and how I'm looking and feeling. Some days I may post more than once, but there will be a new post at least three days each week.

My process for my new healthy lifestyle centers around Isagenix, which is a premium nutrition and meal replacement program. I'll explain how it works in a separate post. Since weight loss and health are really mostly dependent on diet, that is my main focus. In addition, I work out 5-6 days per week, including 2-3 days of Les Mills Body Pump at 24-Hour Fitness, and 3-4 days of cardio (gym cardio machines, 5-mile run, long hike, etc.).


Thanks for checking in. Away we go!


*I am well aware of the difference between pounds and inches, muscle weight vs. fat weight, etc. This isn't my first rodeo.