Tara's thoughts before the Fall Shape Up starts

So, a little about myself.

I'm 33, married, and the mother of an adorable 9 month old little girl named Zoe. I am about 40-50 lbs over my ideal healthy weight and the fat mainly lies in my belly (no, the tire around my belly is not part of the outfit). All the weight I gained from my pregnancy, I lost in 8 weeks after I had her, but I have slowly (or quickly) gained about 30 lbs since then and have really tried to deny it by wearing baggy clothes, making jokes about my weight, or covering up the embaressment by just eating more.

As for weight-loss techniques, I have tried almost all of them. Weight watchers was the most successful, but that taught me how to fast for a day before each weigh in and then gorge myself that night after the weigh-in (not healthy). I tried Atkins but that was gross eating all that meat. I even did Phen-fen back in the day. About two years ago, I stopped eating red meat and joined a "Commit to get fit" group and lost about 20 lbs and felt really good. But, got pregnant and so anything with the word exercise was thrown out the window with the alcohol and fish I couldn't eat or drink.

I am also an ex-college athlete and know what I need to do, but just don't have the motivation. I don't really enjoy excersing, probably because it was a job for me in college (lifiting weights, running, and practicing EVERYDAY). But, I do welcome the discipline I miss from those years of my life.

This Fall Shape Up opportunity is a great thing eventhough I might look like I am not enjoying myself or will complain often. I know that if I am committed to it, this could change my lifestyle (which would be awesome). I know I am not going to be able to get out of doing this because I have 3 other people that I work with doing this, and they will get onto me if I give up. So, here I go, it starts on Monday, so I might reward myself this weekend and go and buy a new work-out outfit.

Toodles,
Tara