I wasn’t sure about writing this post yet. I didn’t want to jinx any of the hard work I’ve been doing but then I realized that was dumb as hell! At my heaviest weight I was around 135/136 and I hated it. I’m very short (4 10) and all my short people out there know we carry weight differently than our taller counterparts. If we gain 5lbs, everyone knows. It doesn’t take much for clothes to feel tight, it doesn’t take much to feel sluggish. I’m not one to diet though. I don’t want to start something I know won’t be sustainable, that’s why I’m simply counting calories and working out. That’s it. I’m not joining some fad diet, or doing some weird juice cleanse. What I did do was rejoin MyFitnessPal. I didn’t just start using it again, I started 100% over. I deleted my old account and started a new one. I wanted to have a clean slate for this new journey. I joined /r/LoseIt on Reddit as well and found a really helpful and supportive community! Plus there’s the Powerpuff Bloggers group on Facebook! Of course there’s the support of friends like Katy who’s on her own journey. It’s nice to have someone who you can vent to but also understands the struggles. Xpose Fitness has played a huge part in all of this as well. As you all know, I love my classes that I take and it helps me get to the gym during the week because I want to keep the good vibes going.

I wasn’t sure about writing this yet because I haven’t hit my first goal. Instead of having one giant goal and feeling overwhelmed by it, I’m doing smaller goals and adjusting along the way. The first weight goal is 125lbs. I have no date set for it. Whenever I hit it, I hit it. Do you know how much stress that takes off?! A ton! There’s no fighting the calendar or worrying about an event that’s months away. I fully believe that small victories are a huge part of hitting whatever your end goal might be. I’ll be honest in the fact that I don’t have one yet. I know I’ll never be down to my lowest weight, and that’s fine! I’m not 21 years old anymore. I’m 35 and I have boobs and an ass. And I like them! But I also have a bit of a pouch and some extra jiggle that I don’t like. And guess what? That’s fine too. Because in the end, it’s about how you feel about your body. No one else but you wakes up in your body every day. You’re the only one who deals with it 24/7. And while we’re on the topic of how we feel about our bodies, please refrain from making certain statements to friends or family who are trying to drop a few pounds or get healthy. I know I’m not “fat.” I know I look pretty fine. I know all of this, but again it’s not what you think about their bodies or health. It’s how they feel. When we’re sharing our progress or thoughts we’re not looking for reassurance, or fishing for compliments. Trust me, if I want/need compliments you’ll know it! We’re just sharing! Just like we share everything else on social media. If I talk about a vacation I have booked, I’m not looking for suggestions on other options. If I post about a cosplay I’m planning, I’m not looking for input for the next one. And look, I know you mean well. We all do. And I’m sure 99% of us (myself included) are guilty of telling someone “But you’re fine!.” Just stop and think next time when someone is sharing about their weight before responding is all I’m asking. We know you mean well, but when every other comment is kinda along the same lines, it gets annoying quick.

If you’re someone who’s trying to get into a new healthy habit, I highly recommend checking out the groups I mentioned above. They’re great places for finding support, workout ideas, recipes, and more. Plus LoseIt has scheduled challenges which can help put a little fire under you if you feel like you’ve been slacking a bit. I’m taking part in my first challenge and I’m pretty excited about it! If you’re looking to get started at home, I want to mention I saw some workout related gear in the “Dollar Spot” at Target. I noticed yoga mats, water bottles, cute gym bags, yoga blocks, and a few other things. The prices ranged from $3-$5. I think right now via Cartwheel you can get 30% off of Champion brand workout clothing too. Don’t quote me on the amount though, double check via the app! TJ Maxx has some great pricing on things too! I actually bought my super thick yoga mat there for just $12 compared to $25-$30 at other stores. Seriously, if you’re like me and your knees are kinda shitty, invest in a decent mat! You’ll thank me later.

Alright, this post is getting too long but if anyone out there is on a related journey, you can do it! I believe in you. It’s hard but it’ll be worth it. You didn’t gain the weight overnight, don’t expect it to vanish overnight either!