My Journey to destroy my unhappiness...

People.  It's been a long &*$% journey!!  To make a loooooong story very short because, frankly, I don't even know where to begin, I will let the pictures do most of the talking.  

In 2007, I found myself in a very unhappy place.  3 babies under the age of 3, living in a small apartment in the heat and humidity of Texas and grossly overweight.  

I had no idea what I was capable of back then but I set out to find what makes me deep down happy. 

I began walking, cutting back on carbs and sugars and with very little knowledge, I lost 30 pounds.  I moved to Seattle with my family of 5 and continued to gain an education on how to lose weight in a healthy way.  I worked out every day at the gym, trained and ran/jogged a half marathon, lost another 30 pounds and then...got pregnant.  And I was told to turn around and head down the proverbial weight-loss mountain.  I was not happy about that and promptly gained 40 back.  

Then, I tried again, with 4 babies in tow.  Worked hard again, counted calories, started weight-lifting, gained an education on nutrition and lost that 40.  

Then I got pregnant AGAIN! 

This time I was SHOVED down that mountain and I died a little inside. 

I was &**$@ furious!!!

It took me a looooong time to get past that one.  But I did.  And I am insanely stronger for it.

But that is where this part of the story begins...

Baby #5 was 7  months old and I thought it was time to strap on my hiking boots.  I had tried many times after her birth but 5 kids just kept kicking me down.

December 27, 2012 I finally said enough is enough.

And I began again.

I was determined to conquer this mountain one last time and scream obscenities from the top.  

I am so so sick of climbing that mountain!!

December 27, 2012 - October 29, 2012 (58.6 lbs down)

My goal was to lose 50 and I exceeded that.  I had plenty of help along the way with a few dear friends, friendly competitions, my own stubborn will, plenty of 5k's, generous compliments, my dear supportive husband, insanely brilliant trainers at Ronin and of course my Heavenly Father.  Thank you to all those who gave me courage to keep going.

I began in December and worked hard until May.  Took the summer off to maintain and then started a friendly competition September 3rd to kick the last 20.  Today was our final weigh-in day and I killed it.  I lost 24 more pounds in 8 weeks and am now at a place I have never been before.

The same shirt I wore 7 years ago.  It has been my favorite but now it serves as only a reminder of 7 years of extremely hard work.

       December                 March                    September                October                       Today

 As insanely hard as it is to be this vulnerable and share with you some of the most painful parts of my personal life, I am the strong-willed amazing person I am today because of it.  I know how to eat right, push myself when I exercise, live a healthy lifestyle and in turn it creates health in all areas of my life.  Although it will be a journey that never ends, I am so GRATEFUL to be here.  At this place of contentment and hope for a better future.  I feel on top of the world even if it is just my little mountain!!

Since I started in 2007, I have lost over 80 pounds.  This is a place that suits me.