Yup, that's me. The sweater is beautiful (thank you Aunt Nancy) but the smiling girl, not feeling so beautiful! See that double chin? It's a family curse! Yes, beauty is much more than an outside appearance, but looking and feeling great are not bad things to strive for! (I apologize now but I am an exclamation point junky! :)

So here I am, on my first blog, and probably my last. I am not a writer, but I thought it would be fun to post my journey. I may not have any followers and I may have one. That's quite alright! Maybe I can just call this an online journal!

I am embarking on a scary journey. One that I know many people have already embarked on. It's menacing and nerve wracking. It's called "weight loss". Heard that expression? Yup, it's surrounded me and been stuck in my head for my entire life! Seriously, my entire life! I began my life with a nickname that some find adorable. "piggy", yes, you heard me correctly. "Piggy". I have also been called "meathooks" because of my fat arms. Nice, right? Well they were endearingly bestowed upon me by my big brother. He is the only one allowed to call me that and live. :)

My nicknames are true to who I am. I will admit it, I am a pig when it comes to food. I won't turn my nose up to many things and I certainly overeat and stuff myself to oblivion. I repulse myself just saying it. I believe I have turned to food in this way throughout my life to feed my stress. Sad, but true. I have tried many, many fad diets. I have lost tons of weight and gained it all back. I am at the heaviest I have ever been. UGH! Why? Because I lack a Biblical principle called "self-control". It is even a fruit of the spirit. Now, if I have the spirit living in me, where is that self control????? It's in me, just not when it comes to food. I am a glutton of the highest measure and I sin on a daily basis when I eat too much and give into temptation.

Well that has to stop. I don't want to just look pretty (c'mon ladies, who doesn't?). I want my husband to see the woman he married. I want to feel good about myself. I want to enjoy shopping again (I LOATHE IT!). I want to manage my PCOS (Polycistic Ovary Syndrome) and not let it manage me. Most of all, I want to honor God in my choices. 

I have heard all about this Paleo Diet. It interests me and makes me nervous all at the same time. It also makes a lot of sense. I can't say that about every "diet" I have tried. This is a way of living, not a diet. So here I am, ready to do it....not try it! 

This weekend will be the beginning of finding the me I know I can be....the weekend I clean out my cupboards and begin eating clean. 

I pray you enjoy this journey with me and find it amusing, entertaining, uplifting, and downright inspirational! 

I will sign out tonight and will every night with a scripture verse that encourages me and I hope it encourages you...

"I can do all this through Him who gives me strength" Philippians 4:13