The Life-Changing Challenge Determined...

I have been struggling' with being overweight for as long as I can remember. In 2008, I made little changes in my life that allowed me to lose about 50 lbs. I discovered confidence, a greater freedom to live my life and the drive to live healthier. But, two years later, I still would not call myself healthy and "fit" is definitly not on my resume. But I want it to be...

I just finished watching the Julie and Julia Project (love this movie). What I loved about the character Julie was that she took a good look at herself realizing she has to have a new approach. She knew her own character to know enough that this would have to be something different in order to finish it. So she set a deadline for herself. She had a very measurable, CLEAR goal with a deadline. In summary, she made herself accountable.

I have tried everything in the book. Well, alright...maybe not EVERYTHING. But sometimes, it feels like it. Although I have recently reached mild success (50 lbs is a lot of weight), I'm still not where I want to be. Like Julie, I need a new approach combined with accountability.

Enter in, "Angela's Veggie Tales."

So here are my goals: (oh man…I have to get specific! This is tough!)
I don’t have a goal weight…I have a goal size. And because I have no idea what is just right FOR ME, I’m going to start with what I think is reasonable and reachable yet far enough way that I'm going to really, really have to reach.

Current size, 16. (OMG, I can't believe I just posted this on the worldwide web!)
GOAL size, 12.

Plan of Action:  Eat mostly veggies and exercise.

This may sound like the governments "Eat five a day" cliché, but for me, this is a big deal.
I never ate fresh or raw vegetables growing up. Couldn’t stand them. I have never purchased or ate a Brussels sprout. Chances are, I couldn't pick them out of a line up at the grocery store.

Today, I can only eat a handful that I have become comfortable with. But I'm learning about the potentially life changing health benefits of veggies and I'm ready to get "RADICAL". So tomatos and Brussels sprouts, here I come!

I want my food pyramid to have the bottom and biggest section available for vegetables, predominately, green leaf veggies. Then fruits. Then beans and whole grains. And at the top, in the smallest tip, oils/nuts/seeds.
This is and will be a dramatic switch from my current taste buds (you will notice the absence of meat).

There will be no restriction of how much of the above I can eat. When I’m hungry, I eat. But I think I will allow for at least one day of the week as treat day…to allow for friends, family, eating out or something of the like.

I will do my best in this blog to keep you well informed of my veggie adventures...because they are, for me, scary adventures!