About a year and a half ago I was feeling pretty fat and unhappy so I decided that I was going to try the Keto diet to lose weight and feel better.  I’m all for a quick and easy solution and I started it with that intention.  Let me tell you, it’s a bear and in no way easy.  It was totally NOT something I could sustain for a long period of time but I knew I could manage doing it for awhile to kick start my journey.  I lost about 35 pounds really quickly on just diet alone.  I wasn’t sure whether that speed of weight loss was good for me or not but it didn’t feel right.  I also know that losing weight so quickly can cause hair loss and fragile nails and for someone with baby fine hair that just can’t happen.  I decided to intentionally slow down my weight loss and switch to a low carb diet rather than continue with Keto.
     The weight loss came to a screeching stall, but I was ok with that.  I continued to eat low carb (splurge at times when I want to – I believe you have to enjoy life!) and slowly kept losing.  When we were getting ready to move I went completely crazy and all we ate were foods of convenience.  Yum but oh man did I feel gross.  I gained a few pounds but after we got settled, I started to work on losing those and getting serious about my body and how I want to feel.
   Here’s the part about the Apple rings…I bought an Apple Watch for cheap thanks to FB Marketplace and a lady who’s boyfriend tried to convert her to Apple when she’s an android girl.  Not only does it remind me to breathe and be still, the Activity Rings are a visual reminder to me about my goals for the day.  The inside ring is if I stand up each hour.  There are days when nap time makes that impossible, but I’m ok w that.  The middle ring is the exercise ring, it closes when I reach 30 minutes of elevated activity.  The outside ring is my overall movement ring.  So, the coolest part about the rings is that I am connected to a dear friend, Kate. I get notified when she works out and inspires me to get up and get moving.  We send each other atta girls and it feels good to be held accountable and know someone else is working hard right along with me.
    My goal for the month of September was to walk/exercise 3-4 days/week.  For my first month, I feel like I was off to a pretty good start.  I am now up to walking 2-3 miles per day and it feels great.  Rain or shine I make it a priority to get out and walk.  Sometimes I’m pushing a stroller, walking with friends, carrying a baby on my back or doing a solo walk with great music.  There are days when I really wished I wasn’t walking and sometimes doesn’t even feel good after I’m done.  Those are the days I’m most proud of.  I want you all to hold me accountable.  I want this change for me.  I know won’t ever be a supermodel or be skinny, but I’m happy to be fueling my body with good food and working it to be healthy.
   As I was walking today, I was wondering what people think when they see me.  I can’t really see people’s faces while they drive by (crazy but true – sorry if you’ve waved and I haven’t waved back) and I smile and say Hi to those I pass but really don’t have an idea of how I look to others. In my mind, it’s like the movie “Brittany Runs a Marathon” or “I Feel Pretty” and I’ll always be the big boned girl who maybe shouldn’t be wearing the spandex yoga pants.  For the most part, I don’t really care what everyone thinks.  My workout clothes are comfortable and have pockets where I need them and cover the essentials.  Still, I want to not embarrass my kids.  So far, they haven’t asked me to change.  You can say “they should be proud you are out there, yadda yadda yadda” but we all know that teenagers are a prickly group and a parent’s fashion faux pax can be incredibly tragic.  I try to respect that.
    I also think back to this guy who I used to see every single day riding his bike on the highway.  He was really overweight but he was there and getting it done.  No judgement from me, just admiration.  As time went on, he got faster and I could tell he was losing weight.  I always wanted to roll down the window and yell something encouraging and let him know what an inspiration he was but seemed a bit stalker/creepy.  Are people seeing me like him?  Watching the work and seeing a change?  Just seeing a big girl on a stroll?
    Here’s to hard work paying off and having 1 mile stretch to 3 miles and many more.  I have talked w a friend about a half marathon…maybe that’s in the future, would be a pretty good goal.