SOUTH

Clearwater Beach, FL my first vacation EVER:)

Pass Christian, MS in December after Katrina

         

Cocoa Beach, FL after a week at Disney

Galveston, TX with my Aunt and Uncle

New Orleans, LA on our "honeymoon" trip

As you can see, every few years I have been compelled to go so far south that I am surrounded by sand, palm trees, and water.  I get the "itch".  The travel bug.  The NEED to be somewhere else to take my cares away.  This year is no different than the others.  We are going to Gulf Shores, MS and I couldn't be more ecstatic!

I haven't realized at the time of these vacations but I have honestly been very lucky and blessed to have been able to go on these trips.  I have always had just enough money to make these trips happen.  I have always had just the right people to go with.  It has always just worked out.

Now usually I get all up in arms about how I look because I want to look nice in pictures and obviously, look nice in the dreaded swim suit.  This year I have taken a different approach.

I have decided if size zeros can wear it...so can I. 
BEWARE---my beach photos are going to look VERY different this year :)


I am just excited and needed to get it out there...I AM HEADED TO THE BEACH!!!!
and I realize that my body is good enough to be there.

We are in it together

This last week we buckled down and made some serious changes.

I had a bridesmaid dress I HAD TO WEAR on Saturday; don't get me wrong-it zipped and all that but it felt super tight around my stomach.

So over the course of the last week we went on a couple of walks, I did a lot of work in my new classroom, and really cut back on what I was eating.  I was able to lose 5 pounds last week. AND with the help of a girdle (they aren't called that anymore they are now called "SHAPERS") that dress fit MUCH better.

The best part is my husband and I have been in this together.  He has also been making changes in his diet (more portion control) and he lost 7 pounds last week!  It really helps when you are trying to cut back when you're not a lone. At least we have both been miserably hungry, right?

Hopefully we will continue and not let life get in the way.

Life happens.

That doesn't mean we have to abandon our own health just because we are too involved in something else that we can't see the damage we are doing to ourselves.

We have let life happen too much this year.  Life happened (relatives getting sick, stress at work, exhaustion) and instead of being reactive to it, we sank to the bottom.  We are in this life together.  We only get this one.  We need to continue to take care of ourselves so that we can enjoy all our lives have to offer us (and not just enjoy the offering of "wanting fries with that").