In The Beginning

Welcome! Welcome! I'm so glad you all could be here! My partners in crime weight loss will be posting soon to introduce themselves. For now, here is everything you ever wanted to know about Janet (but were too polite to ask).

What would you like readers to know about you?
Many of you read my other blog Stuff I Think About and already know more than you should about my life. In a nutshell, I'm 37, divorced (after 13 years of marriage) for four years, no children (I love them, just haven't had the privilege at this point in time), two fabulous dogs (Daisy and Rudy) and three iffy cats (Tigger, Sammie, and Beavis). I have a great job working with child care providers. My hobbies include reading, decorating, garage sales, yoga, and walking (okay, clearly not enough of those last two things lately).

Why did you choose to join this project?
I've loved blogging on my own for a while, but my other blog is pretty random. I wanted another project that would be more structured. You know, have like a story to it? I also seriously need to get back in shape. I figured the two goals could compliment each other. And if I blogged about my weight loss journey, I would be more likely to actually do something. Because I do not want to come back here next week and tell ya'll that I sat on my butt all week eating ice cream and gained a pound. That would make me look silly. I have a couple friends with similar goals, so this project was born.

What do you hope to gain?
Obviously, my main goal is to lose just shy of 50 pounds. (Really?! Is it that much?! How did that happen?!) I hope this blog will help keep me on track by making me accountable for my actions and by recording and celebrating the smallest successes. (You'll notice the .2 on my ticker. If I lose even .1 lbs each week, we are partying around here.) I also hope to help out a few friends along the way. Not just my two co-authors, but all of you who choose to follow along on our journey.

What is your plan?
I don't have a plan exactly. It's kind of my own thing, which I'll admit was inspired by various articles I've read, things I've seen on tv, etc... where a person is encouraged to make one small change at a time. I'm not making drastic changes all at once. I'm calling it Baby Steps. No pressure. We'll see how it works out for me!

What is your history with this battle?
I am not one of those people who was always chubby, has struggled with weight all my life, etc... My mom had to buy me the "slim" jeans when I was a kid. I could actually wear children's clothing for most of high school. My favorite dress was a size two. Of course, I thought I was fat then. I soooo wasn't. But, into adulthood, I think I've put on like five pounds a year. At one point ten years ago, I lost a bunch of weight (and no, I don't recall exactly how or why) and got down to 112 lbs. and a size 4 to 6. That lasted about a day, then I started going up again. And here I sit (on my couch eating ice cream) the biggest I've ever been.

Do you promise to share both success and struggles?
I do solemnly swear, for better or worse.