Sprout!

I can't believe it's been two years since I've written on my blog. Especially since I really enjoyed writing on it and the feedback I received from friends, family and strangers. Many things have happened since then, but it has all happened for the purpose of growth. Aside from exploring with make up and skincare, I started a yoga practice and began a journey to take better care of my mind, body and spirit.

Last month, I read an article about growing food inside of your home, particularly celery.  I read that cutting the base of celery and adding it to a bowl of water will produce a brand new celery stalk. I thought that would be simple enough, so I added the base of a celery stalk to water. Low and behold, about one week later Sprout was born.

Watching this plant grow from water is amazing to me. I've never had a plant of any kind before. What amazes me is how this plant is thriving solely with water, and my love of course. I admit, I talk to Sprout everyday and tell it how beautiful and strong it is. That's how impressed I am. To me, Sprout is a lesson in strength. This plant is not thriving in it's natural habitat, which would be outside in soil and the sun. It's thriving in a bowl of water, indoors. I've faced some challenges that have definitely taken me out of my comfort zone and forced me to show myself what I'm made of. I was challenged to grow with what I thought wasn't going to be enough. That's when I realized I had exactly what I needed.

Sprout is a month old now and it just dawned on me that it's going to get bigger. Much bigger. Of course I'm going to move it to a bigger bowl or pot or something when the time is right. This is just another lesson in growth and preparing to move to bigger and better places as you grow. Who knew that celery would become one of my teachers?

My Weight Loss Journey

Last year I reached the heaviest weight of my life. According to some people, I was "thick". I never planned on being thick. I was always a thin person. But a little thing called complacency set in when I started to gain weight. A few pounds here and there weren't that bad because I didn't start off heavy and I kinda liked finally having some meat on my bones. I was always small and wanted to gain weight. I didn't know that once I started gaining, it wasn't going to stop. The weight kept coming because I wasn't paying attention.

When I started gaining weight, it really did sneak up on me. I liked to blame it on being happy, being sad, good food, blah blah blah. The excuses were endless. But really, I had nothing and no one to blame but myself. At some point I stopped paying attention and became complacent.

One day, I had a moment. That all defining moment that has to happen in order for someone to take weight loss seriously. I saw a picture of myself in what I thought was my favorite yellow dress. When I looked at the picture I thought this can't be me! How did I let myself get to this point? Why didn't anyone tell me? My cheeks were starting to eat my face.

No one is going to tell you you're fat. Either the people around you haven't noticed or they don't want to hurt your feelings.

I decided to do something about it. I mean really. I joined a gym that has exercise classes pertaining to my fitness goals and interests. I've tried losing weight before. I joined a regular gym and worked with a trainer. I know, I know, everyone either joins a gym or gets a trainer. I did both. But um..why did I gain even more weight with the trainer? It was during a time when I still wasn't paying attention and apparently, neither was my trainer. Either that, or he was paying attention and thought as long as I was heavy, he would always have a client. But I digress.

Here's my before and after, followed by what I did to lose weight.

1. I figured out why I wanted to lose weight and decided fitness is going to be a way of life and not a temporary solution.

2. I found workouts that pertained to my interests and fitness goals.

3. I didn't go on a diet. I changed my diet.

4. I found THE BEST fitness friend in the whole world. It's a great idea to find one if you can. My friend and I do not belong to the same gym, we have never worked out together and we don't live near each other. We just keep each other accountable.

5. I made exercise a part of my life.

6. I stopped making excuses.

I took about four months to lose 30 pounds and I've kept it off for the last six months. I have a few more to go and I believe I will accomplish my goal before 2012.