Healthy Starts Here

I've been making excuses all summer not to run. I'm battling asthma again which is really fun, combined with being out of shape makes working out pure hell. But my clothes not fitting is even worse... so I need to suck it up. 

I finally ordered some new running shoes, which was my biggest barrier of all. I splurged and got the new Nike Zoom Pegasus 31's, and ran in them for the first time this morning. I LOVE THEM. Granted, I pretty much died of exhaustion after one mile, but the shoes are fantastic. If anyone is looking for new shoes, I highly recommend them. They dont even need to be broken in much, they are so comfy and supportive! 

So here's to no more excuses. Im going to become a runner again. I miss running and not wanting to kill myself in the process. 

If this isn't motivation, I don't know what is. 

2012 to 2014, 35 pounds heavier. 

Granted, I'm SO much happier in that second picture. But... I want the old body back. 

Your waist: is where you keep some pretty important organs

Your hips: don’t lie

Your body shape is: The shape of a body

Alright. I'm back. How many times have I magically re-appeared to Tumblr with big plans of "this is it"? Countless. But I truly believe in this community and in the strength that I have found previously through this blog. So I'm coming to Tumblr for help once more. 

I just returned from the most amazing trip of my life. I've been living in South Africa since January, and it was the most beautiful, life-changing, heart-wrenching experience I'll ever have. I only gained about 6 pounds while I was there, but I did hit my highest weight of 178 pounds. I went into the trip with a mindset that I didn't want to worry about my diet or my body, which I was able to do for the most-part. That's a HUGE step for me, as I would have normally obsessed about it the entire time and let it ruin everything. So I don't regret the extra pounds.

Now, though, I need to do something about it. I don't fit in most of my clothes. I'm getting new stretch marks on my breasts and hips, and I graduate in six months. Its time to make a change. I'm at the point where I don't want to lose drastic amounts of weight anymore. Honestly, I just want to be back at the weight that I was when I first started this blog. It seems so crazy to look back at those pictures that I posted of myself in the beginning. I looked so miserable and thought that I was SO fat, when right now I would give anything to look like that. 

It has taught me though, to treasure my body at every stage. I need to appreciate my beauty right now, at this number, because one day I'll look at pictures of myself at this age and wish I could be there again, no matter what the scale says. 

My goal by graduation is to lose at least 20 pounds. I am currently at 174 pounds, so I would like to be at 154 by December 14. 20 pounds lighter by the end of 2014. Thats the goal. 

So here we go. If any of you have any tips for me, about anything, I'm going to need some serious support. I feel like I've dug myself such a deep hole, and starting all over again is incredibly frustrating. I'm excited to start seeing results again and to start feeling like I'm making changes.