I don't know if I'll ever publish this blog but I feel like I have to start somewhere.
It's the same story you've heard millions of times. Maybe it's even your story. I didn't have to worry about my weight when I was younger. I used to laugh when people said, "You're not always going to be able to eat like that," when I was eating whatever the heck I wanted in high school. My favorite teacher called me "Bones." I gained the usual "Freshman 15" in college. Then I got a job, did some traveling, and ended up on an assignment in Belgium for six months. I think that's probably where I first started gaining weight. (They have really good chocolate. I mean, seriously, have you ever tried Leonidas Belgian chocolate? Ugh! SO GOOD!) So when I came back to the States, I joined Weight Watchers and started working out. I did awesome! I couldn't believe people complained about how hard it is to lose weight. What's so hard about it? You count your points and go the gym every day. What's so hard about that?
Yep, you guessed it. I met my knight in shining armor, got married and had kids. It was all downhill from there, well, at least weight-wise. If you have kids, you understand what I'm talking about. If you don't have kids, just wait, you'll understand. If you don't have kids and never plan on it? Shut up you skinny bitch.
So, anyway, here I am. I got married at 38, had my first kid at 39, my second at 43 and now I'm 53, 5'6" and 199 pounds. I've always been proud of the fact that I never weighed 200 pounds. I might not be able to say that much longer.
Throughout the years (it's amazing how quickly they slip by) I've always told myself that I was going to get back in shape and look amazing for my age. But all talk and no action doesn't make very much progress.
Over the past year or two, I've been following Tammy White on Facebook (Lifting My Spirits.) She has done what I want to do. She started lifting weights at 48 and became a bodybuilder. This is Tammy:
It's the same story you've heard millions of times. Maybe it's even your story. I didn't have to worry about my weight when I was younger. I used to laugh when people said, "You're not always going to be able to eat like that," when I was eating whatever the heck I wanted in high school. My favorite teacher called me "Bones." I gained the usual "Freshman 15" in college. Then I got a job, did some traveling, and ended up on an assignment in Belgium for six months. I think that's probably where I first started gaining weight. (They have really good chocolate. I mean, seriously, have you ever tried Leonidas Belgian chocolate? Ugh! SO GOOD!) So when I came back to the States, I joined Weight Watchers and started working out. I did awesome! I couldn't believe people complained about how hard it is to lose weight. What's so hard about it? You count your points and go the gym every day. What's so hard about that?
Yep, you guessed it. I met my knight in shining armor, got married and had kids. It was all downhill from there, well, at least weight-wise. If you have kids, you understand what I'm talking about. If you don't have kids, just wait, you'll understand. If you don't have kids and never plan on it? Shut up you skinny bitch.
So, anyway, here I am. I got married at 38, had my first kid at 39, my second at 43 and now I'm 53, 5'6" and 199 pounds. I've always been proud of the fact that I never weighed 200 pounds. I might not be able to say that much longer.
Throughout the years (it's amazing how quickly they slip by) I've always told myself that I was going to get back in shape and look amazing for my age. But all talk and no action doesn't make very much progress.
Over the past year or two, I've been following Tammy White on Facebook (Lifting My Spirits.) She has done what I want to do. She started lifting weights at 48 and became a bodybuilder. This is Tammy:
Holy crap, right!?! I would be happy if I could look half as good as her! I also came across Ernestine “Ernie” Shepherd. This amazing woman started working out at 56 years old after going bathing suit shopping with her sister and in March 2010, on a stage in Rome, Italy, she was formally given the title of World’s Oldest Performing Female Bodybuilder by the Guinness World Records! Here's Ernestine:
Seriously! Are you kidding me?? This woman is 82-years-old and in the best shape of her life! (Okay, she might be only 80 in this picture but still . . . )
So, what I'm trying to say is, it's been done before. I have role models and I admire these women. And these are only two. There are more.
But for now, it's late and I need to get my little one to bed. We'll chat more soon. Love to all. <3
So, what I'm trying to say is, it's been done before. I have role models and I admire these women. And these are only two. There are more.
But for now, it's late and I need to get my little one to bed. We'll chat more soon. Love to all. <3