I know you're supposed to pick a topic and stick to it when you are blogging, but I have way too many things to talk about to stick to one thing. So for my first post, I will be talking about my lifelong battle of the bulge.

I was never a skinny kid. I mean, when I look back at pictures of myself from when I was 12, I look skinny compared to how I look now, but I was still heavier than most of the other girls.

I steadily gained weight throughout my teens and early-to-mid 20's. For a short time in my late 20's, I had no car and was walking everywhere. I went from a size 16/17 down to a 12/13. My weight loss was short-lived, however, as I put it all back on (and then some) as I approached my 30's.

At the age of 31, I was completely horrified at how I looked. Even bending down to put on shoes left me out of breath. I could no longer suck in my gut to hide the "bulge." At that time, I began working a job that was very active. Also, I worked overnights, so I did not have a multitide of fast food choices for meals. The pounds started to drop. I then went through a painful breakup, so I took up going to the gym. After several months, I had gone from a 16/17 to as small as a 6/8 in womens' jeans and a size 11 in juniors (and the 11's were loose).

My success was once again short-lived. After a while, I stopped going to the gym. Eventually, I went up a pants size.  I'd go through bouts of going to the gym for a while, then I'd fall off the wagon. Lather, rinse, repeat. Went through another bad breakup and took myself off the market for a while. I started eating out more and not exercising.

Then, as I approached the age of 35, I finally got off the night shift. My job was still somewhat active, but not nearly as much. I rarely went to the gym, and my fast food lunch choices were abundant. I began to eat lunch out every day, and I was eating large quantities of food. I started to notice how terrible I was looking in pictures. I started having to buy larger clothes. Size 14 jeans were becoming tight.

Then, I recently left my active retail job and took a desk job. Now, I don't move around much. Still overeating, still eating out too much. My wake-up call happened at a doctor's appointment. I stepped on the scale and was completely horrified. My blood pressure was through the roof. Not good.

I have now finally found the motivation to really make changes this time. I am not one who would do well on a "diet."  I decided to go back to basics and recall how I lost weight before. It was a combination of portion control and exercise. So, I am trying that approach once again. As much as I want that second bowl of spaghetti and meatballs, it is not healthy for me, and it makes me uncomfortably full. This sets the stage for more and more overeating.

I have also begun to increase my exercise.  Even if it is just a quick walk, some exercise is better than none. I have been moving my butt a lot more. So far, I am down 7 lbs, and it has only been  two weeks! I can do this!

So, I don't necessarily want to turn this into a weight loss blog. But right now, it is a topic that is on my mind. My next post? Who knows?