Never say never

Its the start of the new year....lots of resolutions are are made....hell I have my own for this year....some are big most are small....most everyone has on there some form of "I want to lose this...." or "I want to be healthier"... and on top of all that all the tv ads and sale ads are geared towards dieting and exercising after the holiday "binging".....its time to seize the day....

I started my path 2 yrs and 3 months ago....and got more serious about it 1 yr and 7 months ago.....I didn't want to end up another statistic....I didn't want to follow in my father's path....I am a female version of him....most of you know the back story, but some do not....in Jan of 2005 (actually 8 yrs ago this week) I got a call that no 26 yr old wants....that my (at the time) 49 yr old father was admitted to the hospital for chest pain on a Sunday and they were running all forms of tests....come Monday he had a angioplasty done where it showed 4 blockages one so severe to the main artery to the left ventricle that if he would have had a full blown heart attack he would have never been revived.....and that he needed an emergency quadruple bypass as soon as he recovered from the angioplasty....I have never been so shocked and scared in my life....talking to my father on the phone while I was 1300 miles away in another state saying what could have been good bye was one of the hardest moments in my life.....I spent 6 weeks with him in MN helping him with his recovery.....and seeing what he went through and we went through as a family....I never want to put myself or my family and kids through that......

After I had Syd I was at my all time high of 180....yes I will admit my numbers....I was a size 14 pants (and even that was tight) and a size large top.....if I had actually had a physical I am sure my blood pressure and cholesterol was not in good shape....and after awhile I just got tired of it....I did not want to be that person anymore....I did not want to be the mom who could not keep up with her kids....I did not want to be that type of role model for them....I want them to see me being active and healthy....so they don't end up a statistic either.....

So after 2 yrs and 3 months my journey continues....I have lost a total of 60 pounds...my BMI has gone from a 28.8% to a 18.8%....I am now in a size 4 pants and a size small top.....I am not looking to lose anymore weight....my original goal was actually 135....but the extra 15 came off when I switched training programs and picked up more running....and when we moved into a house that had three levels.....I wished I would have taken before measurements....but here is a pic from heaviest....to a current pic from Sunday:

Never say never....once you put your mind to it you can do anything...I hated running when I was younger....and now I love it and can not wait to get back to it (I am still on activity restrictions)....I have completed 3 5k's this past summer....one of them I placed 9th overall and 2nd in my age division....I completed my first 10 mile in October....my goals for this spring/summer/fall are high....as long as I get the okay from my Doctor....fingers crossed

If someone would have told me that I would have completed all this 3 yrs ago I would have laughed.....but I have come along way and I do not regret it for a moment....all the early morning wake ups, pain, sweat, sore muscles, and tears are 100% worth it.....so just remember that when you don't think you can....you actually can....cuz if I can do it anyone can!

Here's to continuing on my path of healthy living!

Elisa