New Year's Resolution.. in September

It's time to get real.

I'm still sitting here struggling with everything I wrote about here. 

At this point.. it's clear that it's not going away unless I turn around and call this beast into an epic battle. 

Me versus self-doubt, insecurity, and a nagging feeling that I'm not living my best life.

The excuses are plenty.. and I don't want to ever minimalize the excuses.  Because all of us women have a plethora of reasons why we can't seem to get this weight-loss beast battled permanently.  And those excuses are legitimate.  We are busy, over-stressed, highly anxious beings who give so much to everyone around us and sometimes forget that it is just as important to take care of ourselves as it is our kids.  Like the flight attendants say, always get your own oxygen mask on before helping others get theirs.

Now before you get some mental picture of me being some overweight lazy, pajama pant wearing mom in your mind, know that I've had lots of success before.  And I know, short-term, I can get it done again.  Believe me, after the first baby, I worked out and ate right and got back to where I wanted to be.  After the second, same thing.. a little slower in the progress but I got there. 

Now I'm 31, with three hungry kids and an equally hungry husband, a hundred places to get in one day, and a bank account that has a propensity to look dismal sometimes.  I work part-time, I volunteer, and I have a passion for horses that keeps me on the go most months.

Like I said, I've had success, and I know that I can do it again.  Over a few months, I can lose all the weight I want, but then as soon as loosen the reigns just enough to find myself back at the beginning again a few months later.  Maintenance is an elusive Eden I have simply not found thus far in my life.

So here I stand (ok sit..) and I'm wondering if there is anyone else out there that wants to hop onto the Permanent Train to the Shangri-La of Maintenance. 
After all, there's plenty of room, and  I AM an incredibly social creature.  So let's see if maybe we can do this together.

But first, I guess you all might want to know what you are signing up for.

I am no professional.. I'm not selling any products or any lines of supplements that promise to make this easier.

I also don't have unlimited pockets to dig into for a professional food plan and personal trainer.  Workouts and food has to be reasonable and easily accessible.

I have three kids and don't have time to make separate meals for everyone, or time to prep each week for a thousand hours.

I like food.. I LOVE food.  And wine.  And places where I can go and enjoy wine and food.  And I vow to NEVER make deserts with whole wheat flour because that is gross.  So I need some wiggle room.  Or a cheat day. 

I pledge to eat as many whole foods as possible, minimal carbs and sugar, and to work out 5x a week.  And no diet pop. 

I am using this blog as a forum to keep me accountable, which is a reason a lot of people put a lot of things on social media, but really the greatest way I know to express myself and to come to terms with how I am feeling, is to write it down. 

I know I am not the only mom and wife of a busy household that is struggling with the inspiration and dedication towards permanent change, and maybe my daily struggles will help you get through yours.

Ultimately, I've learned throughout my life that the best advice comes from people just like me.  After becoming a mom, I realized that it was those around me that had the best advice for colicky babies, teething, breastfeeding, the terrible twos, potty training and sleeping through the night.  It didn't matter how many articles or books that came out, there was no 'one' way to do everything.  As much as we all wished, there was no book every single parent could buy in order to guarantee a happy, well adjusted baby.

So I figured, why not approach this particular type of Goliath, the same way I did parenting. 

We all know it takes a village to raise a child, so maybe it takes a village to find my happy, healthy place.

I plan on blogging every other day.. maybe every day depending on how things went that particular day.  I would love comments and recipes sent my way, and I'll post them on my Facebook page, or on here if I try them out and decide everyone must know.

(But please don't waste your time trying to sell me anything.. quite frankly it's back to school time and I don't have the money anyways.  ("The bus is HOW MUCH for two kids?!?!?!") )

So if you're on board.. awesome.  Let's do this..