a new "phaze"

Firstly, I've never concerned myself with losing weight until after I birthed a child. I've spent the majority of my life being content with my body. I've always had a poochy belly and cottage-cheesy upper thighs, but no one was looking and being tall and having nicely turned calves made up for any hidden flab. In fact, I was generally more concerned with finding pants that didn't look like floods than knowing what size they were.

Secondly, I've never been athletic or even remotely interested in moving my body, which my uncoordinated body was generally fine with. But, over the last 5 years, age and inactivity have combined to bite me in the maternal butt. Mine is a familiar story: 128 in high school, 138 in college, 145 as a newlywed, 165 after the first born, and finally 185 after the second born. Now I'm a size sixteen(?!) who's still accustomed to looking at size tens and is perfectly okay with never again being a size six.

I think the biggest shocker was topping 200 lbs. toward the end of my 2nd pregnancy - yikes! What was that about?! I knew my body needed to be healthier, but I was still dealing with bouts of depression and well... depression and weight gain are forever friends - or maybe forever frenemies - and pregnancy is a GREAT excuse for gaining weight. I was not quite ready for a new phaze yet.

Well, time passed. My moods lightened and my baby turned one. My thoughts started turning to the planning of another pregnancy. Oi! let me tell you, the thought of being overweight and pregnant paired with the thought of permanently gaining another 20 lbs and ENDING UP at 205 lbs. assured me of the need for some change. I was very nearly ready for a new phaze, but was unsure of what measures to take.

I could do WeightWatchers again. It was definitely working before I got pregnant and had to stop, but I didn't think I was up to counting points. I could be good and start walking more, but ugh! it was so stinkin' cold! I could bust out the exercise videos, but that route has yet to work for me - sorry Mr. Simmons.

Then I came across a flyer for Phazes Fitness and I checked out their blog. It was located here in town, it had an interesting mission statement, and wasn't very expensive. So while I was out and about on a walk with Hazel (see, I was already being a little bit good) I decided to peruse the antique store and afterward found myself checking out Phazes. Well, it wasn't what I thought it'd be, that's for sure, but after a few trial visits I signed up. The new phaze had finally begun and this phaze would see the digits decreasing.

That was early last month and I just took my second fitness evaluation this morning. So, what were the results? HOT DOG! I lost one inch from my waist, two inches from my hips, and 4 pounds from the all-in-all. This is all quite satisfying considering that this occurred in spite of the holidays and my spotty attendance (it's been an icky, sicky month.) I have also been quite a slacker when it comes to watching what I eat, drinking enough water, and exercising on off-days. So, if I were being very good all-around... oh the possibilities!

It's all SO EXCITING! And, quite frankly, a little unbelievable. It seems so odd that just doing half an hour of equipmentless exercise, a few exercises at a time, twice a week could make such a difference. But I can definitely feel the difference. I've already improved from getting light headed and all sorts of sore to being able to get through the workout without any side effects. My resting heart rate has improved from poor to excellent and I've turned my two girly push-ups into twenty.

It's also exciting to watch more and more people join because I see them start and know how happy and successful they are going to be. Another perk is that my kids see me exercising and are now part of an exercising culture. Their dad has always been good about being active, but now they see both parents trying to be fit. It's been highly amusing to watch as they each do their own version of jumping jacks, push-ups, and crunches.

So this is my new phaze. I've turned a new leaf. The dawning of my third decade finds me redefining Saddie in order to find myself again and today is proof positive that I'm headed in the right direction to being a smashing new version of my fabulous old me.