The Road Leading Up to Now!

 

Here is a picture of my mother and myself prior to starting Weight Watchers.  I think I had a little Huddy in my belly at this time…but you get the picture!  Having 3 babies in 5 years does some crazy things to your body and before you know it, you are 60 lbs heavier than you were before you started…see the picture to the left! (and that is postpartum!).  I’m mostly blown away by my mom’s transformation!  Its extremely important to never forget from where you came so that you never get to back to that place!  We decided when we joined Weight Watchers this time that there wasn’t ever going to be a time where this was what we did.  They teach such healthy habits so that you lose the weight slowly and don’t set yourself up to fail when “its over.”  (There is no offseason!  Jenni, Carrie, and Katy-that was for you!)  We know now we are on a lifelong journey of healthy behaviors…and its so nice to have a partner in crime!  My leader, Becky, has also been extremely instrumental in my success.  She knows what we’re going through because she’s been there and she is a great support system (and very entertaining, too!).

 

This one is about 8 weeks into weight loss journey!

 

 

 

Here is a picture of me 1 month prior to rejoining Jazzercise.  It was summer of 2011.  I was pretty happy with myself at this point.  I had no idea the changes that were about to occur with my body.  Jazzercise has been so many things for me.  Its mentally stimulating, physically challenging, and, most importantly for my husband and my boys, it is an outlet for me to release the stress of my day.  In the next chapter of this story, I hope to be an instructor for Jazzercise.  I am training my tail off because this is something that I truly believe in with my whole heart.  I hope that I can use my experience to inspire other people who are just getting started to fall in love with it, just as I have.  The Jazz instructors sometimes forget just how important they are to all of us…it’s the relationships I’ve made with those girls that has kept me going day after day.  Starla Yarbrough, the Liberty Jazzercise owner, goes out of her way to get to know her members and has truly found her vocation through Jazzercise.  She has a way of making everyone feel like they are the only ones in the room when she is talking to them, which is especially a feat if you know just how much that girl has on her plate at once!  She is amazing and has been quite the inspiration to me throughout this process.

1 month after starting Jazzercise.

 

This is my sister and I on the day of my very first 5K!  Turkey Trot 2011!  I don’t think my sister will ever know just how inspirational she has been to me.  She has taught me so many things (even though she is 7 years younger!)  I have learned that, just when you think you can’t push yourself any more, you can.  I’ve learned that if you put your mind to it, you can accomplish anything you want as long as you have the ability to give it your all.  She is a big reason I am where I am today.  I wasn’t blessed with the athletic genes of the family, but I sure love to dance!  She has shown me that if you’re passionate about something, it can take you wherever you want to go! 

December 2011…Feeling so much better!

 

This is the family about 3 months ago…the best I’ve felt in a long time!

 

So proud of my beautiful mama!

…and now the outside really is starting to match the inside!  I remember feeling so guilty at first leaving my children to go Jazz…but then I realize what an impact it has on the entire family for me to take care of myself.  I’m happier, have much more energy and most importantly I’m so much more patient with those beautiful kiddos!  I feel so lucky to be at this point right now and I’m excited to see where this path will take me next!