I was morbidly obese.

Do you know a BMI (body mass index) of 30 or more is "obese".

When I weighed 204 pounds my BMI was 41.2. Any BMI over 35 is considered "morbid obesity". Any BMI over 40 is stage 3 obese.

Which means I was stage 3 and morbidly obese.

That fact gives me chills. Even after a year and a half later. I can not believe I was that big.

Check me out...

This is perhaps one of the worst pictures of me. From a few years ago. seriously. wow.

You see, I didn't really realize what I was doing. I was overweight since I was about 8. I didn't really understand calories. I knew what foods were healthy. But for some reason. The two didn't connect. I can't explain it. I just didn't get it. When I was an adult I didn't think it was possible to lose weight on purpose.

The sad part is, I still have a BMI of 28. Still overweight.

I needed to see it for what it really is. Death.

Sometimes I might seem crazy for the way I eat. Because its not like other people.

But I must be this way. Because I want to live.

And here I am today. (well.. last week)

Its more than what I look like. Its about my health.

Who knows the damage I've already done. Being healthy is worth eating things that aren't always the tastiest or most popular. Its worth it.

Have you done your research lately?

Do you know how being overweight can effect you and your future?

http://www.win.niddk.nih.gov/publications/health_risks.htm#cancer


Health risks?

http://www.mentalhelp.net/poc/view_doc.php?type=doc&id=5912&cn=219

Check out you BMI..use this website to calculate your BMI..

http://www.nhlbisupport.com/bmi/

the runner lover

“Running has never failed to give me great end results, and that's why I keep coming back for more!”

So back in the 7th grade we had to run a mile. yep. 1 mile. I remember running around the track at school. My asthma was overwhelming. My face burned like fire. That was the last time I ran the entire mile without walking. Until.. a few years ago. I told some friends that I wanted to run a mile. So we started out running on the sidewalk. Every other day we would get together, run, and eat an apple. We did that for months until we finally.. RAN A mile!

About 6 months after that I had the desire to lose some weight. Running was not really something I was good at. I was horrible! So I made running my passion. I ran and ran.

Since I got married a few months ago I have only ran once. We got bikes and so biking had become our exercise. Today.. I did an exercise video.. and then.. I ran. 1 mile.

The mile. I ran it in 13 minutes 31 seconds.

And I was in love. Again.

{Soon I will beat my 5 mile speed of 75 minutes}

the skinny on gettin skinny

Lets face reality.

Its hard to change.

Its hard to break our habits.

Its hard to do something different, to be different.

Its been over a year. I am thinner. But not as healthy as I'd like.

The past 3 months have been the hardest. Getting married, moving into a new house, living with someone new. Trying to get the hang on things.

I have not lost a single pound since getting married. Its not from lack of trying. I eat well.. And I exercise. A lot.. I'm not sure what's going on. Its been very hard. I am happy. I love my life. I love my body. I like me. But I want to be healthier. And I know I still carry a lot of extra pounds that I shouldn't.

But lets be honest. This is hard. I don't want to always eat right or exercise. And seriously.. who always does? Besides maybe Arnold..

But we regular people. We have husbands who like pizza. We have families that want ice cream. We have jobs that provide free lunches. We love our treats.. or meats.. our starbucks.

But lets look deep into ourselves. Who controls us? Do we? Or do we let those things control us? Who's in charge of my health? ME. Yes.. ME.

I'm not just who people assume I am. Because I use to be 204 pounds. Because I wore big pants and shirts. That doesn't define me. But Who controls my life. Yes.. that is everything. Because that makes me who I am.

So to be skinny. I simply live my life with me in control. Completely aware of me.
The good parts, the strong parts, and the parts of me that want to just give up. And by loving all those parts that make me who I am. I am able to change.