Pooh-poohers not welcome here.

As I prepare for my evolution, I am forced to look over what has worked, and most important, what has not worked in the past. Having reflected, I KNOW that there are three solid rules that have held steady. Three solid pieces of advice I wish I had been given yeeeears ago.

1. Know where you are.

For years I have watched the biggest loser. I have watched people parade their jiggly bodies, dressed in nothing but a sports bra and bike shorts. I have seen with my EYES their flabby bits and have gasped in horror. I have been thankful that I wasn't that bad. I was not to that point. Who does that? Those people have serious issues.

Gross. Pretty bad, right?

I have the fabulous ability to hear what I want to hear. I see what I want to see. I have to force myself to apply my fabulous uncle's best advice: be circumspect. Ok, UH, I'll be circumspect. Even when it sucks.

This is me.

Ouch. That is a seriously sucky reality check.

I have to see that. I have to know where I am in order to know what I need to do to get to where I am suppose to be. It is important to know that I am 5'3", 230 pounds, 52" hips, 42" waist, 44" bust line. Here's why I need to know:

I can continue going through life thinking that's not me, I'm not that bad. But maintaining that is lying to myself. I have lied to myself. I am that bad. I do need help. I need to make a change. I am not healthy, I am shortening my own life, I am blocking my own path, I am being a terrible example to my children. I won't pretend that cutting out coke for a week will help me get to where I need to be. Eating a salad at lunch and a cheeseburger at dinner is not a diet. Snacking on ingredients while I cook a semi-healthy dinner is not healthy. And that is not what I need in order to leave the place where I am at, now. 230.

I won't wallow in it. I am moving forward. This brings me to the next solid truth.

2. Get professional help.

Find these people. They are professionals. They are born to kick your ass.

I tried running with friends, working out with my husband &  joined a gym. All lasting no longer than 2 weeks. There is no accountability in friends. No matter how good their intentions are. They are my friends, forgiveness is required. Missed runs are not a problem for good friends. The check-in girl at the gym is not going to call me and ask why I have never used my membership.  Being where I am, there is a need for accountability. If I had the skill set to do this alone then I would have done it years ago. Find a trainer, pay him in advance.

And finally...

3. Stop putting obstacles in your own path. Really. Stop it.

Steven Tyler once said, "No food tastes better than being thin feels." 

I can think of a million meals that are good enough to die for. And I mean that. If I keep indulging in these fabulous meals I will go to the grave for them. Literally. Perhaps because I love food more than I love myself? Perhaps. I won't go into the psychology of it, but I put that obstacle in my own path. I can't keep buying a cheeseburger and fries and tell myself the lie that I am only going to eat a small portion of each. Lie. But it's not always food. People, family especially, are the hardest obstacles to remove. If I tell someone that I am making life changes and there response is anything less than, "That's awesome, you are going to rock it!" they are being labeled an obstacle. I'm avoiding them like the plague. I decline their calls. I do not go out of my way to make them a part of my life. Anymore.

Pooh-poohers not welcome here.

I won't be ugly, I won't confront, I'm not on that mission right now. I'm fixing me. I can't be anything to anyone else if I am nothing to me.

We'll see what day one brings.