December, 2012
This time of year we often look towards the next year and our list of "new year's resolutions". We look at ways we can FIX out old selves. This year, I am embracing my old self by choosing to put the past in the past. I'm done working towards my old goals. I am no longer 100lbs overweight. I am 20-30lbs from GOAL. I am no longer unhealthy, unfit, unhappy. I am striving, working, succeeding, and re-challenging myself towards the prize. FIT is a lifestyle. and I will never go ...

December, 2012
This time of year we often look towards the next year and our list of "new year's resolutions". We look at ways we can FIX out old selves. This year, I am embracing my old self by choosing to put the past in the past. I'm done working towards my old goals. I am no longer 100lbs overweight. I am 20-30lbs from GOAL. I am no longer unhealthy, unfit, unhappy. I am striving, working, succeeding, and re-challenging myself towards the prize. FIT is a lifestyle. and I will never go back to who I used to be....

MY STORY:
September 2009: I began the weight loss journey. Starting weight: 251lbs. Goal weight: 150. Between 2009-2011, I lost 80lbs. My main goal was to create a healthy lifestyle: one that could influence my family, friends, and future. I changed habits- ate better, slept more, prayed more, moved more. I fell in love with what HEALTH could do for me.

WHO I WAS:
I had always been a heavy person...my lowest weight in memory was 157lbs at the age of 10. In my family, food was savored and enjoyed. The process of growing, tending, harvesting, butchering, wrapping, and packing was a family affair that encouraged togetherness and the counting of blessings. Most of my cherished memories are centered around people and the wonderful food I associate with them- granny Fran's pancakes, mamma's apple pie...As a child, I was encouraged to clear my plate, try everything, and eat up. My after school snacks would often be a box of cereal, a bag of popcorn, or a bowl of cookie dough. I blamed my obesity on genetics and quickly learned to become the fat-funny friend. I was never extremely UNHAPPY, however, I always knew something was missing.

After being mugged in 2008, I fell into a deep depression. I had difficulty moving, let alone exercising. I burrowed so deep into my emotions, and allowed food to comfort me.

August 2009 I transferred to a new college. I just remember waking up and being tired of who I was. Unhappy, growing larger by the week, and lost to any sense of my personal being. It was time to change.

April 2012 I got divorced. It wasn't the typical messy divorce, but more of a letting go. Letting go of the past, letting go of the unhealthy. Giving myself the chance to truly move on with life.

WHO I AM NOW:
It's been over 3 years since I started my journey. And I'm happy to say I've maintained this healthy lifestyle since then. It is part of me. However, this is not enough. I still have goals, still have challenges, and still want to succeed. It is time to put behind me the "fat funny girl", the "overweight", the "100lbs to lose". it is time to embrace this me: the healthy but still training, the 20lbs goal, the eat clean for health me.

WHO I WILL BE:
I will focus on life. I will set new goals: lose 20lbs, hike the long trail, run the 5k, go to graduate school, eat paleo, live STRONG, live LONG.

Ultimately:
I want to LIVE. Life is worth living and should be full and beautiful! I am ready to embrace LIFE to the fullest and see what I can see. I am ready to create CHANGE: become STRONG: and FIND MYSELF

Read More About KKITTSY (Updated February 25)

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