I started this blog to keep track and share different recipes and kitchen ideas and tips. But, today it is taking a different spin! I have been trying for the last couple of years to be a healthier person, taking charge of the things I eat and trying to learn what is best for my body vs others. I should first go back a couple of years, it was a time in my life where it seemed no matter how hard I tried I could not lose any weight. I was doing Weight Watchers and the only thing I was watching was my friend losing and me struggling! I was distraught! So I did what I was good at....I threw in the towel! Then I got news from the doctor. I had a "fatty" liver, well there's news to me (insert snarky voice) I needed him to tell me I was fat (not) and it was my liver to blame! Blah! So I went to my general practitioner and they put me on some kinda of diet pill. I took this for a couple of months but I did not like how it made me feel.... yes, I did lose a little weight. I still wasn't eating the best, mostly I wasn't eating!  But, a few months later things in my life was really about to change!

October 2011 I went to a parent meeting for Ethan's soccer team, the meeting was to discuss keeping the boys active and providing them with extra training in the off months. Little did I know I was about to embark on a journey that would forever change my life! One of the guest speakers, Derek Long,  was a man who provided personal training and he was the one that the team agreed to use for their extra training. He also said he would take the parents on as a group for a special price providing he could get enough to sign on. I was willing to give it a try! There was 5 of us that would begin working out with him starting in November. This man came to be a huge influence in my life! I realized that the only way I was going to be healthier and happier was to make exercise a huge part of my life..... let me tell you there were times when if I had any energy to spare I would have punched him!! Now though I mostly want to thank him. I would love to say that I didn't quit which is my usual way of doing things, but, I can't- I worked with him for 7 months and I was looking damn fine and feeling amazing! But, I thought I could do it on my own (yea right!) So a midst the hottest summer ever(I'm sure it really wasn't) I strayed! I didn't want to leave the house and I didn't much. I started watching cake boss and baking.... not my brightest moment! I stayed out of the gym the rest of that year.(2102) Talk about bad choices.

Then in 2013 still thinking I was ready to do it on my own I joined Workout Anytime. This was February-ish.  I stuck with it until about March or April and just by chance I ran into Derek. I decided I would give it another whirl. Skyler (my daughter) and I started working with him 3 times a week. I started feeling better and finally feeling like I was seeing some results. By August I was getting frustrated I hit a wall! So to shake things up I decided to quit drinking coke zeroes and not have a cheat day. My daughters best friend was getting married on September 14 and I wanted to look good. I had 4 weeks to really kick things up! Well, that didn't work out so good for me! I was so good....so good I gained weight instead of losing, not gaining muscle either! My stomach, where everything I eat lands was not changing! Then things really took a nose dive after I came back from the wedding weekend. I had 2 events coming up. I was doing a 5K for suicide prevention and then I was doing a 5K to promote healthy living. I did okay at the first event but by the second which was mid-October I was struggling. I was having difficulty even walking let alone trying to run! I managed to complete the walk/run in about 46  minutes. Things were about to get even worse!

But, I am going to save more of that for another day....

Today I restarted my "cleanse". I did it for 2 weeks before Christmas, no sugar, no diary, no bread, no pasta, no alcohol, no sodas, no yeast. I will explain more later on how I came to make this decision.

Today is the beginning of a new year and today I am determined to be healthier. I am going to be more active.
I have ate very good today. I have drank plenty of distilled water w/lemon.
I have exercised... my husband and I went on a hike @ Shanty Hollow Lake.
I am taking my supplements......Let us see where this leads us! I want to lose 30 pounds.
I am challenging myself to a 31 day overhaul! So come February 1st I want to see where I am at!

This blog is going to be about happy bellies, but healthy happy bellies!