Welcome back, world!

Well, hello there!  It's been a while, hasn't it!?!?  I kind of feel like I should write pages of updates on all the changes and updates that have happened in my little family's lives, but that would take up way too much time on my end and yours!

I admit it, I fell off the wagon.  A few times.  Got REALLY distracted by life and stress and really just took my focus off my mission of living like I'm fit.

But.... After our move last year to Ochlocknee (yes, that's the name of our town), God absolutely placed me in a job where nearly every person there is a fitness freak enthusiast, so I've had some majorly positive peer pressure going on at work.  In fact, the truth is I was and am more than a little intimidated at their level of fitness - and their dedication to it.  So I'd make some good choices while I'm at work -- like bringing my Healthy Choice lunches, etc.  -- but for the most part, it wasn't a full-time commitment.

At the beginning of this year, we all took part in "Team Lean" which is a weight-loss contest our area does each year.  I was so excited about it that I actually coordinated one at our church (Our church is The Bridge Church of God, so our contest at the church was fittingly called "BRIDGEST Loser"...cute, right?).  Well in about 12-ish weeks, I lost a bit over 15 pounds!  Had a great time doing it too!  Even at my morbidly obese weight, I actually started RUNNING and even walk/jogged a 5K in my hometown in honor of my dad, who became a lung cancer survivor this year!

Then I became less focused since the contests were over (by the way, I got 3rd place at work!).  Drinking the Mountain Dews again (that part-- the Mountain Dew Struggle--  hasn't changed in the 3 years of having this blog)...not exercising as much...being a LOT more indulgent with my food choices.

To say I fell off the wagon doesn't quite cover it.

I JUMPED OFF THAT WAGON!

Then, last week I stepped back on the scale again for the first time since the weight loss competition ended...and realized that not only did I gain those 15 lbs back...I added another 5 lbs just to even out the equation!  I was SOOOOOOOO disgusted.  Disappointed.  Depressed.

After wallowing for a while, I just had to come to conclusion that I HAVE to be in control of this day in and day out.

I've dieted off again and on-again for years now.  I know nearly everything there is to know about the science of weight loss, some of the psychology of weight loss and have tried (and sometimes succeeded with)  several different  methods of weight loss in my adult life.

Now it's time to stop the dieting and start living like I'm fit.  Like I said I would when I first started this blog.

I've learned I am definitely one of those people that has to have my inspiration and motivation in my face, day in and day out.  So I will be updating my blog a LOT more often, and I've got a few tricks up my sleeve I'll be telling you about as I journey along.

So, to keep me accountable, let me close by encouraging you to find me on sparkpeople.com - my username is fit4tab.  Also, can I ask you to post comments - even questions - on my blog posts?  And when you read, share my posts to get others to read?

Basically, I need you --- my unknown audience --- to put my story out there as it is being built.  Because I've also learned that I am someone who will do something quicker if I know someone else is counting on it.

Thanks for visiting!  Y'all come back, now!

Still Standing..

I'm still here!!!  It's been such a CRAZY summer!  4 of our nieces (well, the ones 8 years and older) came to spend a week with us in consecutive order (most of them made it the whole week), my Dad joined the party one of those weeks, we've had youth camps, funerals, birthdays and anniversaries, spend-the-nights, the premature birth of my may-as-well-be nephew, and actually worked in a date night for me and the hubs!  My fitness has absolutely taken a back burner and it shows...One of my reasons for not posting is, of course, the guilt I feel about not doing my best.  But, I'm trying to get over that. I actually get irritated because I don't WANT to NOT drink a Mountain Dew or NOT eat an unhealthy snack.  I totally understand Paul when he mentioned in the Bible something along the lines of "the things I don't want to do, I do and the things I want to do, I don't do."  I'm totally there.

So pray for me as I put one foot in front of the other and do what I know needs to happen.

Here's a bit of inspiration for you (and me!!):

And, because I now have this song stuck in my head from the title of this post, here's something to get your praise on (listen all the way to the end!):

Have you seen this? - a tip for you!

So, I'm not a spokesperson for this website or anything - truth be known, they probably have no idea I exist! LOL 

But I wanted to share with you this really cool site I've found!  Sparkpeople.com is a great way of tracking your calorie intake, fitness routines, fitness goals, and much more.  I've been able to read articles about issues I'm dealing with, connect with people on their message boards - it's just great!

One of the coolest things is that when you start using it, you get points for nearly everything you do that's fitness-related, or sparkpeople.com related.  I didn't realize how competitive I was till I started racking those points up!  Guess we can blame the video game generation...

The part my husband likes best is that it's FREE! :-) 

So, check it out here: sparkpeople.com  --- You're going to love it, just like me! (oh, and they have a free app for iPhone that I use SEVERAL times a day!  very user-friendly!)