Because, I Made a 'New Me' Resolution ...

So, here we are, Day 3 of 365 into 2012 and I have been asked numerous times what my New Year's resolution is. My answer never changes; I simply state that I didn't need to make one, and then ... I get the confused look with replies ranging from "why" to "I don't get it." I then get to explain my "New Me" resolution, something I am very excited about! 

First, allow me to provide some helpful details to you readers. 

I'm a real facts and figures, detail oriented kind of girl. Somewhere along the lines some of my details became disoriented, but a number always held a meaning with me. I can remember the license plate to my first car clear as a bell. I had to get married on 9/9/09, there was no stopping that, not even the fact that it was a Wednesday. Therefore I had two weddings, but that's another subject. I am one of the weird people that has their driver's license number stored in memory. With this tidbit, I will tell you that my "New Me" resolution was born Nov. 11—or, 11/11/11 (I however didn't realize the date until I was reflecting on my decision one night a few weeks later).

So, early on in 2011 I started to feel generally ill a lot! I spent over half of the year at doctors appointments and hospitals for testing. It seems that I had some health issues arise, nothing life threatening just extremely uncomfortable. Fibromyalgia, spondylolisthesis, and osteoarthritis. This, in addition to the fact that I am a diabetic, and a smoker of 18 years. The doctors recommendation was to take a bunch of pills, quit smoking, and exercise to relieve the joint pain and lose some weight.

Ironically enough, after leaving a doctors appointment my husband notices that a Planet Fitness was opening soon in Elkton. He is all smiles, and is immediately ready to join and put himself through body boot camp, while I'm think, "Oh wonderful, guess he is going to push this on me now". 

On the night of Nov. 10 (11/10/11), as I was getting ready for bed I did something I rarely ever did: I weighed myself. I weighed myself three times total because I just did not want to believe my eyes. (I can't believe I am about to admit my weight). I looked at that scale from 5-foot-10 in the air and I see that the scale reads 275.6, and my heart sinks to the floor. Tears flood my face, and I tell my husband that I am out of control. I got my gym membership the next day.

So let's see, after being sick, and weighing myself I decide to get a gym membership, on 11/11/11. I start exercising and I feel like I am dying. Smoking over a pack a day really caught up with me. Here lies Phase 2 of the "New Me" and I tell my husband I am going to quit smoking. Phase 3 of my resolution is now my food intake, I immediately start practicing portion control. I smoked my last cigarette on November 20, 2011! Portion control is going well, and I have learned to eat some things I never did before ... like a salad.

I made sure to weigh myself at the start of the 2012, just to track my progress. I am down to 259.8, for a total loss of 15.8 pounds. I think that at nearly 5-foot-10, a healthy weight would be in the neighborhood of 150 pounds. I have 109.8 more pounds to shed. I resolve to be a "New Me!" The "New Me" will hopefully include a lot less medications, a lot less pain, and a more positive outlook on life!

So, that's the reason I didn't need to make a New Year's resolution. :)