Welcome to the Blog!

Hi everyone. In an effort to become healthier, happier and (most of all) SMALLER, I am starting this blog to keep track of my effort to achieve the above.

I remember when I was in high school and the daily calories in a diet were 1200. Now the daily caloric intake on everything you see is based off of a 2000 calorie diet and America's average sizes, in turn, are no longer a 6 or 8 for women. They say the average size for women nowadays is a 12 or 14. Well, after Annie I was a 12 or 14 and not very happy with myself at all.

When you have your first baby, all you want is to be your pre-pregnancy size, in my case, a 5. When you have your second baby, you are happy to be your pre-pregnant size. The size you were NOT happy with after baby one.

I'm happy with my body right now, however I know that I am in no way healthy. I may eat tons of vegetables, a few fruits and a little bit of meat, but it's not right. I eat too much bread, pasta and rice and LOTS of junk foods. Chips mainly, but cookies and other things loaded with sugar as well.

I am almost positive that my caloric intake far exceeds the 2000-based diet we all seem to have. Because of that and this new child, I have grown to be just over 200 pounds and a size 18 or 20. At 5'3", this is not healthy.

I don't exercise, eat all the time and (worst of all) go to bed RIGHT AFTER eating. Because of the last thing, your body doesn't have time to break down the fats in your food and instead of processing it, it shuts down and the fat will distribute to various places of your body.

I used to measure 38-28-38, now I am 42-38-48. That is a total gain of 24" over a period of two and a half years.

My goal is to get to half my size (a size 9) by this time next year. That's an approximate weight loss of about 50 pounds. I am starting a Pilates exercise as well as running/walking next week, but I am starting my calorie counting today as a preemptive. My goal is to still eat the things I like, but in smaller amounts, actually exercise and keep my intake under the "norm" (2000 calories a day). My ideal intake is 1200-1500 or less without being detrimental to my health, body, family or self. I will be eating REAL food. None of this "chicken without the skin" crap or tofu beans or a salad at every meal. If I want fries, I will have them, dammit!

Feel free to leave comments!