Die Fat or Get Tough

Yikes! The title of the post sounds threatening, right?

Well, it is.

Now, I have no intention of turning Wooley's World into a diet blog. But our blog does serve as a purpose to keep people up to date about what is going on in our lives, and right now my focus is on getting fit.

My friend and co-worker, Brittany, has lost 90 pounds over the past 10 months. She truly is an inspiration. CBS Atlanta is doing a story on her, and I was listening to her interview today. And she said something that really resonated with me. "I did this to myself." And you know what...that's true. No one force fed me unhealthy food. We are each responsible for what we eat.

So, back to the post title.

This book landed on my desk at work about a month or so ago. I flipped through it and then put it down. Tonight, I picked it up again. I have multiple reasons for wanting to read the book. The first: I'm having the author on my public affairs show in a few weeks, and I want to pull some quotes out to round out our segment. The second: I'm curious as to what he has to say.

So, as I ease my sore muscles in my wonderful jetted tub, I started reading. And a few things hit me right off the top.

The first...I am responsible for being overweight. Over the past few weeks I've been going over the reasons I gained weight in my head. Sure, there were certainly external factors. But ultimately it comes down to personal responsibility. (And that is one of my pet peeves.)

I could blame the time in my life when I was limited to spending $50 for two weeks worth of groceries. It was during that time that I figured out how to sneak extra food into my diet and not be discovered. These typically came in the form of getting cash back at the grocery store (so really...I was spending my $35-40 on two weeks of groceries), and then using that money to eat out during the work week. (This is one of the things I've never admitted to publicly.)

I could blame my severely sprained ankle the week before I started college that has never been the same and always aches when I workout.

I could blame genetics. "I was just born fat."

And right now, I could blame the spin bike because I am in PAIN from my first class.

I'm sure genetics plays a part. But the rest are just excuses.

1. I chose to eat out at lunch and I picked the delicious, mouth-watering cheeseburger over a sensible salad.

2. I chose not to get back to working out as soon as my ankle healed.

3. I knew getting on that spin bike was going to be painful.

Bottom line...I made choices and now I have to pay the price for those choices.

I love Winnie the Pooh. But I most certainly don't believe this:

Sorry Pooh Bear! I may be short...and I may be fat...but I am most certainly NOT proud of that.

So as I continue to nurse my post-spin class pain, know I'll be back up there. And next week, no excuses. Go to sleep early. Get up and get moving.

Can't wait to see you soon and...

I most definitely could not start and stay on this journey without my darling husband, who throws his support behind everything I do. I want to make him proud to be seen with me (I know, babe...you are). But I want to know that I am best wife I can be...physically, spiritually, and emotionally.

Until next time...

So It Begins...

That's my new mantra.

Ever since high school, I've had an up and down battle with my weight. Back then, my mom and I joined Weight Watchers and the gym right down the street from our house. And we were pretty successful. I did a good job of staying at a healthy weight throughout high school - granted taking ballet and tap classes, plus production rehearsals 5 days a week definitely helped with that! I remember being "bigger" (at least in my mind) than most of my friends in high school. But looking back at pictures, I have to admit it was in my head.

Then came college...and the dining hall food plan. I can't say honestly that I made a real effort to make smart choices when eating my freshman year of college. I gained about 20 pounds and hated my body. At the same time, while I wasn't making those smart choices, I wasn't taking advantage of the free gym the university offered to its students. I started working out again when I moved to an apartment, but it wasn't nearly what I needed to really lose weight.

My first year out of college, my mom and I joined the gym again (my apartment complex offered a free membership, so why not?!) I probably lost about 20 pounds by working out every morning with my mom. We continued the gym thing after I bought my house in Columbia...and we were pretty good at working out together. I did BodyPump and met her to ride the bike afterwards.

Then I moved to Jacksonville. A few rough years down there led to me eating whatever I could find and I only popped in and out of the workout room at work.

When Matt and I moved to Atlanta, I saw a picture of myself and was like, "whoa!" Enough is enough. We started eating healthier and I lost about 20 pounds before our wedding back in December. But then I got complacent again. I've been working out with a friend for the past two months but haven't seen the results I'd like to.

That brings me to today...

I joined the gym this morning and took my first group fitness class. Tomorrow morning, I'll be up early to take a spin class.

I know in my mind how much I want to lose, but I know you can't always go on pounds. I'll keep track with measurements and see how my clothes feel. (Hey...if I lose enough weight I'll have to go shopping! Who can say no to that??)

I want to be a healthy wife. I want to be a healthy mom.

Most importantly...

So here's to being accountable and healthy!! Stay tuned for updates!

Until next time...

Who Loves New York City???

The answer to this is a resounding...ME!!!!

Matt and I went up to New York this past weekend to help his mom and dad clean out/organize a storage unit and to get some of Matt's grandmother's stuff to bring back for the house. We got some pretty cool stuff I'm excited about.

Anyway, while we were there, we got a chance to head into the city a few times. (Matt's parents actually live in White Plains...a short drive/train ride away.)

Sunday, we headed into the city for the Mets/Cardinals game at Citi Field. It started to rain momentarily while the top to Matt's dad's convertible was down -- yikes! But luckily the rain stopped just as suddenly and it didn't ruin the game.

Citi Field

The "home run" apple from Shea Stadium

Shea Bridge -- an homage to the former Mets stadium

It was the Hall of Fame induction ceremony for 2012. The Mets inducted John Franco. He was a pitcher for the team in the 90s/early 2000s.

Who knew the NYC Dept. of Sanitation had a pipe and drum band?

John Franco - then

John Franco - now

Check out the big white ball head -- that's Mr. Met

Me and Matt at the game

Check out the awesome seats my dad-in-law got for us!

Monday we took the train and headed back to the city on the Hudson River Line.

Little Italy food - YUM!!

Times Square

We visited the M&M store

Mets M&M collection

A wall of M&Ms

Matt drinking his M&Ms

Hershey store in Times Square

Grand Central Station

The best cannoli's in town -- from Ferrara's Bakery

"It's coooooold."

Awesome trip!! I can't wait to go back up!!

Until next time...