my body is unraveling

I have decided to take the plunge and begin a blog again. I have made all of my old ones private, so I can begin anew. I haven't written in a while and I think it has begun to take its toll on me. Many of you know that I was a Journalism major (writing school drop out... think: Grease!) Writing is my true passion. I don't do it often, nor do I do it well enough to make some sort of public display of it, but I think it's good to exercise my ability and just do it! So... lucky you.

I named my blog "Little Maggie" (the 09 is just circumstancial, littlemaggie was already taken. May I add- taken by a newborn named Magnolia who was born Dec. 2005, and who decided after two entries that they were too cool to keep up the blog... I shall not be disgruntled!) because I am on my way to becoming a healthy, happy "little" maggie. I began this journey January 5th this year, and so far, so good! I will probably end up boring you, the reader, with work out stories and many shopping excursions as my poundage lessens- I hope you don't mind.

I want this blog to be a place where I can eventually look back and realize the effort I put into this... or the times when I wasn't putting my "best foot forward." So, as it stands right now, this is where I am at with the weight loss:

January 5th I started out at 252 pounds, and a size 22/24 pant and 3X top. I was miserable, lethargic, and obviously obese. I made a decision, after the love of my life, Dave, went back home to sunny California to continue his military mission (we'll get to him later) to change my life- once and for all.

The journey began slow. I started working out at the YMCA located less than a mile from my house and eating less, and healthier. The results were good, I began losing 2lbs a week, bringing me down to 248 by January 19th. This wasn't good enough for me. I began a lot of fad diets- not anything like a "24 hour celebrity diet" but I started juicing and a vegan diet... they didn't really work out too well. I ended up despising carrots (from the juicing) and craving chicken and turkey (i had already sworn off red meat and pork in February '08)

I was still losing weight slowly, by February 10th it was 10 pounds, but my body was craving all of these things, and headaches began to ensue. I went to my doctor and he decided that I needed a metabolism-booster to help me jump start my weight loss. He prescribed me Phentermine, which is an appetite suppresant and metabolism booster. I know it may sound like a cop-out, but I truly believe it is the single best thing that has ever happened to me, as far as weight loss/my body is concerned.

I began getting energy like you wouldn't believe! Which made working out much easier, and more fulfilling. I ordered some Biggest Loser DVDs (which I highly recommend for anyone who has stage fright when it comes to workout classes at the gym, or anyone who wants a quick workout in between juggling the kids - they are anywhere from 10-60 minutes each, and can be as easy or as difficult as you choose)

By March 13th I was down to 228 pounds! I don't recall ever weighing this little. There was a stint of about 3 years (19 years old - 22 years old) that I didn't step on the scale, because I couldn't face the inevitable reality. I had lost 24 pounds in a little over 2 months... this just made me want to work harder and more diligently!

This brings us almost up to date on where I am at with my weight loss journey. However I must be honest and divulge to you that I have not worked out in 2 weeks because I have been sick as a dog. It upsets me, but I know that I need to focus on getting well right now. I have had the flu plague that usually finds its way around the general population this time of year. The reason why this is such a bummer is because I am leaving in four days to go to California to see aforementioned love of my life, Dave.

Now let's get to him. Dave is an amazing man I met in December of '07 while out with my sister and sister-in-law for a night on the town. Jessi was dating a guy at the time that worked with Dave, and for weeks and possibly even months they had been trying to set us up- but it never worked out. This night they decided to pull one over on me, and not tell me Dave was going to be where we were headed. I would love to be able to say that it was love at first sight, but to be quite honest it wasn't. Not because I didn't find him attractive, but because I was so shocked that they had actually pulled the wool over my eyes, and a little embarassed.

Dave and I ended up staying up all night that night talking, way past the sun's arrival to that particular Sunday morning. We had a lot in common, and enjoyed many laughs. There were some ackward silences, but no more than to be expected. For the next few weeks Dave and I would text occasionally, mostly me texting him, and him not responding- but that made the "chase" much more exhilerating. Eventually I gave up and that was the golden ticket. One fateful Tuesday evening (while in L-dub, no less) Dave texted and called me, wanting to hang out. And, that's all she wrote...

Well, you know that isn't exactly it- but honestly, from that moment on, we have been getting closer each day. Times were hard because Dave was shy, and unfamiliar to these types of encounters. Dave is in the Army, and I would soon learn why so many military wives spend their nights alone, and holidays just as solemn. On February 13th, 2008 Dave got orders that he was going to Monterey, California for a minimum of 16 months to enroll in a course at DLI. He re-enlisted for 5 years the next day, Valentine's Day.

He would be leaving March 31st for arrival by April 6th. I was so devestated. Here is this amazing guy, unlike anyone i had ever met before... and he was being taken from me! Over the next month and a half Dave and I spent every day together, growing in love and learning more and more about each other each day. The day he left was one of the hardest days I've ever had to live through... I had just begun a new job, which I failed to mention earlier, sorry, at the Shipyard (my lifelong dream. no, really. either a writer or a job doing anything at the shipyard. i guess it's like a family thing- the shipyard has been extremely good to my family)

Anyway, I got home from work that day and it was like my world was stolen from me. No room in my house was without a reminder of Dave. Dave and I had originally decided to "call it quits" when he left because at 3,000 miles apart and the fact we'd only been dating for less than 4 months made it seem like we wouldn't be able to do it long distance. I am so happy that we changed our minds!

The first few months were hard, but once we both got into the groove of everyday life, things began looking up. Dave came back to Virginia for his first visit in October of '08. Meaning we had not seen each other in 6 months. Man, was it ackward the first few days! The following pictures ensued from that reunion:












We're cute, yes I know. He visited for a week and then he was gone again. It is so hard to see him go! But, we would only have to wait 2 months this time until we would see each other again. He came to visit me again for two weeks at Christmas. We had such an amazing time! We also decided that we would "claim" the day we met, December 23rd, as our anniversary. So we spent a few days in DC to celebrate.

Then he left again on January 2nd, which leads us back to the beginning of my blog where I wrote about my weight loss. That has been my big focus the past few months while his has been gone. I am so excited to see him for the first time after these past 3 months. He knows I have been losing weight, but he hasn't seen a picture of me since he's been gone.

So... are you anxious to see my weight stats as of today??!! I know you are just dying over there! This is where I am as of Saturday, April 4th:

219.6 pounds, size 16/18 pant, size 2X top. I have been known to fit into an XL at Old Navy, but to be quite honest, I do not think I have lost that much off top- my legs and hips have seen the most fat go, as you can probably tell by the drastic drop in pant size.

I bought my first size 16 jean shorts today! I cannot wait to be done with this sickness (which better be gone by Monday because if not I am heading to the doctor's office...) so I can get back into the mode of working out every day. I am still eating right and all that jazz, so I have actually lost 2.5 pounds since not working out. I am saddened to think about the weight I could have been losing if it weren't for being ill stricken.

I leave for my first flight ever on Wednesday, at 7am. I have never flown, and I am incredibly nervous. Not necessarily of the flight itself, but of missing a flight or putting my luggage in the wrong place, losing something, etc. I am sure I will be fine once I get there.

Well, I think I have written enough for one night. I plan to be back again and again to share all my daily mishaps, and celebrations!

Good night!