On February 18, 2008 I weighed in just shy of my goal, a loss of over 30 pounds. Then I did over 10,000 strides on the elliptical--more than the counter could handle. Since it was a holiday, I got to spend the day with my husband working around the house. It was a great day. That night, about twenty minutes after going to sleep, I had a grand mal seizure.

In the grand scheme of things, that event, and the epilepsy diagnosis that would follow were not huge deals. I've had only two ...

On February 18, 2008 I weighed in just shy of my goal, a loss of over 30 pounds. Then I did over 10,000 strides on the elliptical--more than the counter could handle. Since it was a holiday, I got to spend the day with my husband working around the house. It was a great day. That night, about twenty minutes after going to sleep, I had a grand mal seizure.

In the grand scheme of things, that event, and the epilepsy diagnosis that would follow were not huge deals. I've had only two more seizures since then, something most epileptics would love to be able to say. But not being able to drive for six months derailed my routines, and the medicine I started taking after GM #2 has impacted my ability to lose weight.

So five years later, I've regained the weight I lost plus ten pounds. I don't say all of that to make excuses, but they are factors that contributed to getting back here. Now I just have to find a way to work around them.

A woman losing weight, however, is not who I am.

I am a wife. My husband and I will celebrate our 10th anniversary in June 2013. We met my senior year of high school, and have truly grown up together.

I am a mother. My daughter is six years old, gorgeous, brilliant, and the sweetest most well-mannered child in existence. All moms should think that about their children, but everyone else says this about her, too.

I am a teacher. I attempt to teach 17 and 18 year olds to love literature and writing. In eleven years, over 1,500 students have passed through my classroom. That amazes me.

I am a writer. I had an essay published in the book _What Teaching Means: Stories from America's Classrooms_ in 2012. It was an incredibly empowering experience. After doing a reading at a National conference, people actually asked me to sign their book. Wow. I recently finished writing a New Adult novel, something I never even knew I wanted to do.

I am a creator. Whether it's planning a party, sewing an outfit, or knocking off an expensive home decor item, I love being creative.

So welcome to my journey. Feel free to nudge me if you notice me walking the wrong way...

Read More About 615_HEATHER (Updated January 11)

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