Newbie Alert!

Hello to anyone that reads this.
I am new to this site, so I thought Id start here. I am a mother of 2 toddlers, they are my greatest inspiration. I want to set a positive example for them. I want to teach and show my daughters that it is important to live a healthy active live and anything you put your mind to you can achieve. Everyday I am teaching them new things about how to talk, walk, read, and understand the world. I show them the importance of education and a healthy lifestyle.I am currently in the process of obtaining a Bachelors Degree at Carthage College in Marketing. On most days, I am so exhausted from chasing them around, playing with them, and meeting their every need that I forget about myself. I need to put my health as a higher priority so I will be able to have more energy and live longer.

Before I had kids, I was small and had a large discretionary income that I so loosely spent on clothes. I have over 40 pairs of Jeans ranging from size 0-7 and about 4 plastic boxes stuffed with shirts that are a size small or medium. Not to mention all the super cute mini skirts that I wouldnt feel right wearing unless I toned up my thighs! Right now, and for the last 18 months, I can only stare at them and hope that I will fit into them someday. After having baby #2 I worked out, ate right and followed all the rules to lose weight effectively. I hit a plateau and couldnt break it for over 7 months!! I got discouraged and quit working out. Prior to this week, in 5 weeks I probably worked out like 6 times. I do chase around my kids all day, go up and down the stairs a million times a day and lift alot of heavy stuff around the house, but that is no excuse to not work out.

Inspired by all my friends on Facebook who are all working out and losing weight, I feel like I have to jump on the bandwagon to get motivated. This time around, I WILL reach my goal by the spring. For motivation, I found an impressive bargain at the thrift store. A brand new pink silk jacket from Banana Republic that goes for over $180! Of course it is a small. I WILL FIT INTO THAT JACKET IN TIME TO WEAR IT AND SHOW IT OFF!!!! Wish me luck!