Welcome to Just Stop Jiggling, Jessie!

I've been thinking about writing a 'get fit' blog for a long time, as a way to keep myself accountable for my actions. I have a monumental sweet tooth, and gained 40 pounds throughout college, therapy, and a lot of drunken nights and quick, greasy meals.

No matter what issues you have, I think it's important to recognize them, and incorporate them into what drives you to reach your goals.

I really want this blog to be interactive, with my friends and some strangers joining in to toss ideas and stories around! Subscribe, and start talking with me. There's nothing better than having accountability partners!

Here's the hard part: admitting my weight. I am 5'11" and currently weigh anywhere from 207 - 215 pounds. ZOINKS! That's a tough pill to swallow. (Though all the junk that got me here tasted fan-fucking-tastic!)

The weight I will get back to is 170 - 175 pounds. I looked great at that weight, but wasn't at my "scary thin" weight that I hit my freshman year of college. At my thinnest, I was 160 pounds at a size 4/6, and according to my sister, I looked a little scary. Ok, 170 sounds good. That's like a size 8 for me, and that ain't bad. I still want curves. I am a 28-year old woman, and dammit, I want to look the part!

Okay, time for the issues. I had listed a few earlier, but I'm a big fan of bullet points, so let's go with that.

• Ridiculous sweet tooth
• Addiction to anything carbtastic
• Fairly sedentary lifestyle
• Somewhat low self-esteem - I don't like what I see when I look in the mirror, and that's that. Obviously, working on it! ;) My favorite thing a guy has said to me lately: "I just know that you have a gorgeous face . . . what about the rest?" WTF?! It's not like I'm Sasquatch!
• Erratic workout habits
• I'm an emotional eater

Okay, these aren't insurmountable issues. Now, for the things that are going well for me:

• A job that allows me to work out during my workday, if I choose
  
• A membership, and easy geographical access to a kick-ass gym
• Access to a boatload of healthy foods - Whole Foods is right down the street; Austin is chock-full of organic, healthy, delightful choices
• A lot of clothes I used to wear, and will again . . .
• Fit and supportive friends
• The benefit of having a set work schedule, M-F, and the ability to plan ahead.

THE PLAN:
Ok, so I'm taking a little from Oprah's boot camp, a little from The Biggest Loser, a little from my imagination, and other stuff.

I already work out about 5 times per week, but my diet is nowhere near where it should be. For example, this morning, Kandice brought in donuts. I had two. Then I had a healthy lunch, but wait, there was pizza, so I had half a slice of pepperoni, and since it was Sarah's birthday, we had cake. A huge slab of cake. WTF, Jess? You want to stop jiggling, and you can't stay away from the fried, gloppy, deliciously frosted danger zone? Well, I'm a work in progress.

So, from Oprah's boot camp: Work out 8 times per week. Not as hard as one might think, I think (?) Monday - Saturday, with two double work outs. Okay, before work and after work two days a week. Got it.

Pack my lunch. I cave when I'm hungry. Blood sugar dips, and so does my ability to say NO. I eat worse when I'm hungry, and I have to forage for my own lunch. Bad news bears.

Plan for my sweet tooth. This part is still in development. I don't eat sweets every day, but when I have a bite, I have the whole sugar cow. Moo. I need to look more into healthy options here, but some berries with a DRIZZLE of chocolate may help.

Load up on the greens. Green is good. I learned last night that I greatly dislike raw kale. BLECH. I'll keep trying.

Take weekly measurements. The truth hurts, and I need to see it in black & white before I'll do anything about it.

Some of the best advice I ever got was from a complete jackass, but I'll share it with you now: "Be dumb about things. I became successful because I did what I was told, and I was too dumb to second-guess it. Just do what you're told, and don't over think it."

Good advice, not easy to follow. Oh well, I'll try. And as Michaelangelo said, "Ancora Imparo"; I am still learning.