The Why of it all...

This is a post that I have been working on in my head since I started this blog.  Well actually since I started losing weight.  Why. Why do this now?  Why is it working now?  I have tried before but this time I am committed for real.  Why?  I have searched within myself and decided there are two main factors.
1. My Family.  I am a mom.  And when you become a mom you are willing to do anything for your child.  From the moment I found out I was pregnant with Mady I was filled with emotions.  I loved this teeny tiny little thing inside me and I was going to do anything to protect it.  When you hold your child for the first time, no matter what number child it is your heart is filled with overwhelming love. These 2 little girls that God has entrusted to Steven and I to take care of and love are amazing.  Let me tell you about them, this has nothing to do with how to lose weight, but it has everything to do with why I am losing weight.  Madelynn is a fabulous, outgoing, energetic, and smarter than she lets on.  At 2 she has a better memory than I do. She makes friends with everyone.  She has literally taken the had of a stranger in Old Navy and walked her around showing her the different things in the store and then cried when the girl had to go. (Just so you don't think we are bad parents, Steven was following right beside them.)  She is also a handful.  Her doctor told me at one appointment that she was going to be stubborn because she's smart.  She's smart enough to know if we are trying to trick her.  But she is wonderful.  She brightens up everyone's day and has an imagination like her Daddy.  Brynn is our smiley, happy, laid back, quick learner.  She seems to take a lot in and then put it into practice.  She spent part of one day watching Mady play with one of her knew big kid toys, and when Mady walked away Brynn crawled right over and started playing with it, the right way.  She has figured out the locks we have on our cabinets (thankfully she is only interested if we are standing right there).  Her recent feats have included walking and calling us mama and dada.  She is content to just hang out on the couch with Daddy or be right in it playing, wrestling and dancing with her sister.  The two girls are completely different, and so similiar all at the same time.  They make me want to be the best mom I can be.  For them I want to be in the best shape that I can so I can give them the kind of mom they deserve.  They deserve a mom that can run and play and get down and dirty with them.  They deserve a mom who will show them how to stay healthy and make wise choices in life.  These are things my husband deserves too.  Steven deserves a wife that is going to be able to help with things and not just sit around because I am tired.  He deserves a wife that will push him to be the best he can be as a father, husband and sailor.  If that means that I get my butt in gear to help his run time get faster, then that's what I'll do.  Lord knows I'll never run a mile and half in Navy standard times though.

Above is the Sassy miss Madelynn and below is Brynn playing pretend phone, with a calculator.

 2.  Myself.  I am selfish, a large part of the reason I want to lose weight is for myself.  I want to feel better, I want to look better, I want to be better.  I am not afraid to say that part of the reason I am doing this is for myself.  I want to be around someday to see my girls go to prom and get married and have babies of their own.  I want to be able to do some of the things on my bucket list without limiting myself because I can't physically do it.  I want to wear a smaller jeans size.  I want to feel good in a bathing suit (for the first time this year I don't feel horrible in one).  I fully believe that if you aren't a little selfish, your weight loss goals will never happen.  I know it sounds bad, but go with me on this one.  Think about it, you have to find the motivation in your life to start losing weight, and lots of times those reasons are somewhat selfish.  But I think it is a good selfishness.  This doesn't mean that you should spend excess amounts of money on yourself or spend tons of time working out and not playing with your kids or spending time with your loved ones.  But it does mean that you take some time out for yourself and not feel guilty.  (Any new mom friends of mine please do this! I have gone too long without going out by myself and you do not want to get to the point I was at, ever!)

So this is why.  I am finally comitted to losing weight and getting healthy because I love my family and I love myself.  You have to find your own reasons.  No matter how big or small they are, find the reasons in your life to get healthy and finally stick with it.