*What being healthy looks like, tastes like, and feels like*

I have never been stick thin...well at least that I can remember. I do remember in middle school a boy was joking around with me, poked me in the stomach, and joked about how his finger almost got lost. Keep in mind in middle school I was wearing size 25 (waist) jeans; I'm pretty sure that is pretty small. All throughout school I had to work hard to keep a decent waste. I remember staying after high school and running the bleachers until I almost passed out. I remember using the blocks as jumping points. I very much remember how hard I worked to keep a decent body. I can honestly say that I thought about, and think about my weight every single day. I am not sure why I am the way I am....are most girls and women? I don't know. I DO know that to this day I think about my weight daily.

When I was 15 I was diagnosed with epilepsy and was prescribed Depakote. I was told that this may or may not effect my weight. I thought, 'they also said the Depo shot would make me gain and it didn't,' so I wasn't worried. I took the prescribed medicine 3x a day for years, not noticing a significant difference. In hindsight though, I look at how my weight has slowly crept up. I would love to blame it on the medications I was on until I was 24 years old but I can't solely say that's true. My rigorous workout schedule has pretty much become obsolete. I don't eat horribly but I am not the best eater either.

Now that I have my daughter, I am more determined now than ever before to get healthy. I don't want to be a size skinny, I want to be a size healthy; if not for me, then for my sweet, innocent baby girl. I need to show Annie what being healthy looks like, tastes like, and feels like. THAT is my job as her mother. That is my new motivation.

So how. How am I going to do this? After many hours of research and talking with doctors and friends and family, I have decided to get a jump start by doing the HCG diet. I know it comes with skepticism from many people, I do. However, I am going the "safe" route. I am doing this under doctor supervision and I have weekly appointments and routine blood work. I have to be safe. Remember, I have a family and epilepsy.

If you are interested, please follow me on this journey. Encourage me when I need you and maybe I can encourage you; maybe not through HCG but just to GET HEALTHY.