Maybe I should introduce myself

I've just kind of jumped in and realized I haven't actually introduced myself yet. I started on my "eating better & exercise" journey a whopping 10 days ago! I really started struggling with weight post pregnancy #1. I gained 70lbs with him, and I had lost 55 before baby #2 came along. I gained 45lbs with him and only lost 15 after he was born. I yo yo'd between 160lbs and 175lbs for years. I then had baby #3 and then #4 and pretty much decided I was going to be happily chubby forever!

I'm not exactly sure what happened to change things but a change happened inside of me about 6 weeks ago. I think it was the realization that I was turning 35 this year. Birthdays have never bothered me and I don't think this one is bothering me either but I just decided to make some changes for the better. I quit smoking on January 22 of this year. And for the first time it was so easy! I have no idea why but it hasn't bothered me in the least. I've quit before (because of pregnancies) but it was so hard. This time I just stopped and the first 4 days were awful but I honestly haven't wanted one since then!

However at the one month mark I realized I had gained 12lbs. That was all I needed to kick my *kitten* in gear. So now I'm taking on my next challenge. I work nights Monday to Friday so fast food and convenience foods had become a part of my daily routine and exercise wasn't even in my vocabulary! So far my changes have consisted of actually drinking water (bleh), eating more veggies, fruit and picking whole wheat over white, and slowly adding exercise into my (somewhat) daily routine. I've even started walking the dog (who has gained a whole lot of weight right along with me!) instead of getting the older kids to do it. I think its paying off anyway, I've lost 2lbs so far, so I must be doing something right! Anyway, I'm finding these changes super easy too. Whenever I would make these changes before in my life it was last 2 days and then I was back to my same ol same ol routine. So like I said, not sure what's happened to me but I'm liking it!