Saying,"Good-Bye", to "Bob".

So you are all probably wondering who "Bob" is. I can't believe I am really going to tell you but, here goes.......

Bob is my lovely Belly. My fat, my excess, my six pack in the cooler, call it what you want, but I chose the name "Bob". There........you know. Laugh all you want (I do). After flucuating with my weight since the day I left my mama's uterus, i am finally ready to say good bye.

Bob, used to not be so bad, but after 1 single baby pregnancy, and 1 multiple baby pregnancy, Bob has shown me my fair share of dissapointments.

So I am here to blog about my weight loss journey. For those of you have known me my whole life, (you lucky people) you are well aware how easy it is to love me, and that there is a lot of me to love. :) Well not any longer......I am finished with you, Bob. You have been my best buddy for way too long. I give and give to you and all you do is add stretch marks and make my jeans look way too tight. So it is with great pleasure and joy that I bid you a farewell and say "Good-Bye".

I have known my entire life that I was, how do I say,........"fluffy", "soft", "extra-cushioney", whatever you want to call it, use your imagination. But I haven't ever been really ready to take care of it. Mostly because I have have always really liked myself. After all I am a funny girl. I have great hair, and I rarely find a person who doesn't like me. (This would be the humble side of me that everyone also seems to love so much) Then I had 3 experiences, which Oprah herself calls, "Ahh-Haa" moments, that really changed my life. They made me realize, no matter how great my hair was, or how cute my clothes were, or how pretty my best friend was (Keelee, you little 5ft. 10 in. 145 lb. hoe-bag) I WAS FAT !!! No if and or buts. I know we should love ourselves for who we are, but it' s even better and easier loving yourself when you can fit in a size 5.

"Ahhh-Haaa" Moment #1. I was at Old Navy Christmas Eve 2007 shopping for my Christmas outfit that I would wear the next day. I walked into the giant wall of jeans and started sorting through trying to find my size. A few minutes later another girl started searching through the jeans too. My firt impression of this girl was that it would do her some real good to lose some weight because although she had a pretty face, she was thick. She noticed me searching around for quite some time and finally asked me, that if i happened to come across her style and size of jeans, would I please grab it for her and she would do the same for me. So she told me her size........................................................It was the same as mine. enough said!

"Ahhh-Haaa" Moment #2. I went to my yearly doctor check-up in early January. I stood on the scale, and about had an anuerism. 191 lbs. (Holy $#%@, I can't believe I just informed the entire world of my fattest weigh in) again, enough said!

"Ahhh-Haaa" Moment #3. James and I went to Maui in March of 2007 (and had a blast by the way) I video recorded a ton. We practically lived in our bathing suits. Well again in January I decided to pull out the home videos of Maui, because I was so sick of winter. I was watching a video shot I had taken of my husband, James swinging on a rope swing through a water-fall and into a pond. Then I noticed this chunky chic hop on the rope and take a try at it. Well, friends, that chic was me.

And so, it is now April 1st, 2008. What has become of "Bob" you ask? Happily he has started to pack his bags and move on out. As of February 4th, I have chosen to follow the South Beach Diet as my big life style change and visit "Gym", (the other man in my life, as my husband likes to call it) better known to you as,"Golds Gym", every morning at 5:00 a.m. I am proud to say that I have lost 24 pounds and now weigh 166 pounds. I have gone down 2 pant sizes and am running my first 5K in May.

It is a beginning, and a good one at that! But I still have a long ways to go, so cheer me on as I keep you posted. In the mean time I will leave with some of my "fat- pictures" just to give you an idea of what I am talking about. (even though those of you who know me are already fully aware.) Icouldn't really find any full body shots, due to the fact that I, being the mother and wife, am always the one behind the camera. I did my best. Enjoy ! (because you won't be able to for long, sucka's !!!!)

This one is my Favorite!

Told ya I have good hair.

I am the one on your far left in the red shirt. AwEsOmE, huh?

So here are my newest pictures of myself as of April 1st, 2008. You may not see much change, or maybe you do. Honestly I haven't noticed it so much in the way I see myself, but my clothes tell me a different story. Most of my pants don't fit and I have been able to wear pants that I haven't worn since before Chase was born. Also the sleeves on my shirt aren't as tight.

Lost: 24 pounds

Still to go: 33 pounds