In the Beginning

     So, as a new blogger I'm not sure how to go about starting this whole thing. A lot of thoughts are swirling around in my mind, "How do I know people will read this?", "Do I want people to read this?", "Do you address the 'audience' or keep it more journal-ish?" I think the whole point of a blog is having a space where you're free to just be you, but as I'm ignorant here, I may be breaking some unknown blog rule. I love rules, and unless I deem them silly (and then I break them with surprising and embarrassing ease), I hate breaking rules - you'll learn that about me as we go, I'm sure. Getting more to the point of things, I think it's important to have a clear beginning to this journey on which I am embarking, and I think stating who I am is just as important for you to know as it is for me. So here goes...

     I'm Aleece. I'm 24, and I am short short short! I come in at 4'11", but the adorableness of that stature is pretty much wasted because I'm almost the same dimensions going around! Ok, that's a bit of an exaggeration, but I am rather rotund. Here is the painful truth: I weigh something between 165 lbs. and 170 lbs. I don't know the actual number because in the recent past I haven't been brave enough to check. Don't get me wrong: I'm not obsessed with being skinny. In fact, I don't want to be skinny at all - I want to be healthy! I want to stand on a scale or look in a mirror and say, "Dang girl, you fiiine!" because I know that I am taking good care of myself. The part that's depressing is this: I remember looking at the scale when it said 155 and saying to myself, "I'm almost to 160! That is so depressing...I am making a stand right now that I will never EVER get to 170. If I ever get that heavy I will have to do something drastic!" And now here I am - 170 lbs and doing something drastic. 

     Ok, yes. Starting a blog about my weight-loss journey is hardly drastic, but I am a really committed introvert, so this is a pretty big step for me! Those of you who know me know that I've tried just about everything to lose some weight: Jenny Craig, Weight Watchers, Atkins (I actually gained weight on that one!), South Beach Diet, Digest Diet, Flat Belly Diet, counting calories, etc. It seems like nothing works! I realize that as a pre-diabetic it will be more difficult to shed those pounds, but it's hard to stay motivated when a good month means I lost one or two pounds. Most recently I have started taking Reliv - a dietary supplement packed full of good vitamins and nutrients which are supposed to increase energy, speed up metabolism, boost the immune system, and a whole slew of other good things. I've only been taking it for a couple days so I'm not seeing any changes yet, but I'm hopeful!

     I have a few goals I'd like to reach by this summer, which means I've got just over 3 months to achieve them (Holy mackerel! Only 3 months!?! YIKES!) I'm pretty certain that maintaining a positive attitude is key to being successful, so I'm really trying to suppress my "Debbie Downer" side which is extra vocal in regards to weight loss. My goals are these:

1. Become a regular morning exerciser
2. Be a faithful Reliv taker
3. Kill my fried food cravings (I may have to delete my "I Love Fries" pinterest board...)

     That's only 3 things - I can do that, right? Right! I totally can! I mean, the whole point of this is to learn to take care of my body - God's temple - and he is honored by that and wants me to have success! With Him anything is possible - especially the things that I don't think I can do. When I focus on his ability to succeed instead of my own stamina, his power is put on display! And really, who doesn't want to put such an awesome God on display?