Just a Thought....

Sitting here listening to the new and FANTASTIC Sleeperstar album while enjoying my free Starbucks on a cold morning and I must say, these are the moments I truly enjoy the most.

With Thanksgiving a week away I usually find myself at a huge panic as it always feels like the holidays sneak up on us, not this year though. I find that while on this journey of healthy living, I've found more balance in all things. It's not just the eating better and being more active part that seems to have benefited me more but the entire uncluttering my life of all negativity in all its forms. Friendships, relationships, social media, negative thinking, self doubt, fighting to control things NOT in my control to even nixing certain TV and music....it all adds up.

I'm far more relaxed, I don't find myself worrying about every little thing like I used to. I used to get overwhelmed so easily and now...hardly at all. Don't get me wrong, it's still a journey, the process is very much still in place. However, if you look at who I was 2 years ago to now, it's a clear and wonderful difference. Who'd of thought that it would be so easy?! Joking of course because it's totally not an overnight change at all and there were times in every front be it living healthy, living life or the living free part where I wanted to throw in the towel and just go back to not caring for myself, putting my happiness aside to make others happy with me was far easier as I yet again, Cared about the wrong things! My priorities have changed with having my own family and that has been the biggest help of all. Their support, their love and their understanding of what I needed to find and gain for MYSELF has been the best thing of all.

Ironically enough, it's never been about a number on a scale as so many people often assume and the most questions I get about this blog are about weight loss. No, it's about yourself as a whole. If you truly work hard to better yourself, the weight is just an added bonus, however it's way down low on that list of things you are rewarded by.

Find your strength, Find your voice, set goals for yourself and never take no for an answer when it comes to your happiness and overall well being. It's about and for YOU. Not anyone else and everyone is DIFFERENT.

Bring on the Holidays, the hoopla, the extra sweets and family. I'm totally ready.

Did You Hear The News?!

So I've been away, busy with life. I am so excited to get back to blogging and sharing some things I've come to love and realize on my Healthy Living journey. Things around here are going to be a bit busy(er)....

HEALTHY LIVING CHICK IS PREGNANT!

I feel like a broken record since Evan announced it on FB after a sweet reveal to our family and then of course on twitter and the family blog but I am just now getting around to announcing it here. (Never had to worry about that with Avery since it was before all the social media stuff) So yes, after 6 months of trying we finally got what we have been praying for! Come late Dec/early Jan our family will welcome Baby #2 or "gummy bear" as Avery calls him/her.

I'm finally getting over the worst of the symptoms and I've only lost 5.5lbs but I am feeling great and baby is doing amazingly. We are just so excited!!

I will say the one thing I love about being pregnant is how much I crave fruits and veggies. It's insane. With Avery I ate salads and fuji apples nonstop and so far with this pregnancy it's mexican food and honeycrisp apples (and yes it has to be honeycrisp, not any other kind). My running is on hold for now which saddens me but with the Texas heat it's a small blessing and I get my morning walks in and by the time I'm home, I'm just as sweaty as if I had run 3miles. :)

Good things are coming!

-Britt The HLC

Living Life.

Ever since I started HLC I set out on a serious mission. To actually practice what I was preaching! Living Healthy, Living Life, Living Free. Three very easy (or seemingly easy) rules to live by to live a full, happy, healthy and regret free life. Right? Add in a blog for accountability purposes and Ta-Da!

In the 9 months of my transition I have hit several high and low points (I am human after all) but the biggest thing was that I am sticking to it! Do I blog all the time? No. Do I benge eat or do crazy diets? No. Do I exercises every day? Not close. However. Do I eat healthier and make better food choices? Yes. Do I guilt myself for having dessert? No. Do I exercise regularly? Yes.

It's all about your perspective and your ambition. Setting realistic goals and reminding yourself that it's okay to go at it on your rules and at your pace. It doesn't matter if your blog doesn't look as cool as others you read, it's not about how many followers you have, how often you post, if you don't count calories, join a gym, follow a workout routine or if you only run 3 days a week.

Do it for YOU. Do what makes YOU happy.

Alright well, enough beating around the bush...

In the part of living free and figuring out a way to help my goals for this chapter of living a healthy lifestyle I made a bucket list...yes, a bucket list. I made one years back in an old journal and every once in awhile when I stumble upon it I have been able to add the dates to the events after I cross it off the list and that feeling, as quick and seemingly nonimportant makes me so happy and feel accomplished.

A bucket list doesn't have to necessarily be these HUGE events, they can be small goals or dreams that you set out to obtain. It can be a vision board you visually see everyday, a small checklist you check often, anything you wish to make it.

Mine is simply an updated list from my old list I made in 2003. Once I accomplish something from the list, I take a photo (if applicable) and write an entry about it. Like my latest accomplishment on my bucket list.

I wanna know: If YOU had a bucket list, what would be on it?

Britt The HLC

HLC goes Blonde.

Literally.

After years and years (well, okay 9) of asking or offering to let me try going blonde, I took Evan up almost as a dare or "yeah, that'd be fun for summer" thing and I have to say....I'm totally liking this.  I've always thought of trying to go drastic from my dark hair, I mean I was blonde the first 3 years of my life and was pretty cute. I can rock an auburn do with burgundy highlights like no other especially with short hair.

This time around though I put complete faith in a long time friend who also happens to be my stylist and for once (she told me last time to lose some weight before I chop my hair so short, ha) she said "Let's try it out" so off I went after Megans wedding to get my hair chopped off and to lighten my hair a shade or two (since I have no desire to go full blonde in one day). When I got to the salon though we decided to do all over highlights and low lights and test it out for a month. Again, I love it. I'm super excited to go back and get more blonde put in and test it out for the summer. The old me would never take such a bold risk, let alone feel so confident simply over a hair cut.

So far I've gotten positive feedback and only my mothers semi "ohh, well, that's new". I even ran into an ex at the grocery store and he didn't know who I was!!! (which was awesome)

What do YOU think?

Here we go!

Rockin' the foil...

Goodbye 6 inches!!!

TA Da!

Hmmmm

Oh Yeah!

Have you ever taken a risk with your appearance to make yourself feel good?

Living Free,
Britt the HLC

8 months later....

8 months ago I made a choice.

I made myself a priority. I put my health, my happiness, my self esteem and my well being into prospective. I started making different and new types of sacrifices, I got educated, got focused, got involved with activities that helped motivate me. I let go of unhealthy friendships and relationships and in the process have met some amazing new friends and connections.

I still have a way to go to reach some personal goals but after 8 months...



I am HAPPY. I am HEALTHY. I am FREE.

1st time I have EVER felt good in a dress in almost 6 years!

My amazing Husband, so supportive and inspiring with his own journey to living healthy.(42lbs down)

This is what HLC is all about.

I was in a friends wedding this weekend and during the whole process of helping her plan and make this wedding happen I noticed a lot of differences in the old me verses the new me. The old me would never have agreed to wear a dress like these. I would have requested being covered head to toe and in something not flesh colored. The shoes were also foreign to me with towering heels, bright glitter and a lot of sex appeal. (pain, oh they were painful to wear). The old me would have cried over how insecure I felt and would have been miserable the entire day. Not happy, smiling and feeling amazing in front of a church full of people. The old me would have headed for the wine and cake at the reception and sat in the far corner of the room with a plate full of food; not skip them both and just enjoy being with friends. Oh the old me would have been miserable and left early and felt guilty days later.

Little changes, results from little choices have truly made me who I am today and I am so amazed that I have let 8 months go by and I'm still sticking with this! I'm happy. I'm truly happy and I'm learning that the old me was focused and dwelt on the wrong priorities and used every excuse to not look at herself in the mirror and face the music on how bad she was treating herself.

It's not about the weight, in fact, the less I dwell on it, the easier it is to lose (14lbs down). The less I worry about all the non important keys of losing weight and gaining confidence the more happy I am in my own skin. The more confidence I have and the more I realize how truly blessed I am.

Have you ever had an "aha!" moment about yourself?

Body Image Tuesday

I haven't done one of these posts in awhile, yikes. Quite awhile.

I love how honest I can be here, like my little domain of truth and honesty that I block off my negative thoughts and excuses from that I find myself bickering with internally everyday. You all know what I am talking about, don't deny it.

So true story......

I've gained 13lbs. Oh yeah, out of nowhere I'd say but at the same time...I've slacked off big time with my normal regime of eating better, sleeping more and not drinking soda. Add in I'm on 2 new medications and there you have it. 13lbs.

I will also say  that despite this little news shocker, I'm totally OKAY with it. I'm not crying about it, feeling guilty or down. I feel great about how I look and yes, I can tell in some of my newer clothes that I need to get back to my healthier eating and living habits but it's just a different stand point than I used to do when I gained a bit of weight or suddenly couldn't seem to lose weight.

I have accepted who I am and what my body looks like and no longer having the stress of those unrealistic thoughts and weight goals has been such a sweet relief and an amazing turn around for me!!

Don't get me wrong though, it's spring. My butt will be in the gym more and running more with the warmer temps, not too mention....swimsuit season? Hello!

At Cracker Barrel, my one weakness for food.

It's safe to say that for me, Healthy living has become a bit different than I once thought and scoffed about it being. 8 months of little changes have had a HUGE impact on my self image, my food knowledge and even friendships. It's not about the number on the scale, what you eat or don't eat, how often or not often you work out....it's just about making the attempt, finding what works for you and trying new things before quitting and NEVER losing focus on your goals.

What works for you?

Britt The HLC

Closure and Reality

After reading the update from her amazing blog I had to take a few minutes to let my emotions out.

They finally found Sherry. She gets to go home, her family gets to restart the grieving process and they get what we all get, her family, her town and running community, friends, students.

Closure.

Although I doubt any of us truly figure out the whys of this senseless and tragic murder of a woman simply doing what so many of us do everyday by random strangers consumed by drugs. It truly saddens me to know that we are not safe anywhere. Sherry was in the comfort of her run, surrounded by the country she loved and grew up with, I doubt she had any inkling to what would happen to her a few miles from her home just minutes after getting out of bed beside her husband and  setting out as she did every morning.

I simply can not understand any of this.

I hope her family rests now with her being home finally at peace, I hope they  get justice with Sherry's murders going to trial soon and I hope they know how, even though it's not under the greatest of circumstances, far from it actually, just how much of an impact Sherry has made on SO many people across the globe.

During the virtual run I ran the Hot Chocolate 5k and saw so many others wearing their Sherry bibs in her honor and I knew then it was worth it. To pay tribute to another fellow runner when it's clear to me how much of a community it truly is.

Be safe, fellow runners. Be passionate, be free and always remember why we run and often who we run for.

-Britt The HLC

What does being healthy mean?

So it's official. I am CLEARED to run again!

I was so excited when I was told this that when we got home I told Evan he had to go on a run with me before we picked Avery up from MDO. Not to mention it was yet again, another 80* day in Texas with just a bit too much wind but man....it was too good to pass up on.

My foot is a bit tense still and I didn't push myself too hard, just being outside and moving was almost euphoric. Wait, did I just say euphoric about running? Seriously? *Shrug* Guess I am turning into a runner after all. I can't wait to hit the gym tomorrow, it's going to be hard but I'm prepared for the burn. I also know I can not get ahead of myself and that I must take it easy, one of my biggest things I do not manage well is following directions when it comes to health stuff. I get it into my head that  I know myself better than a medical professional and before I know it I've re-injured myself which is no mi Gusta.

Before my foot appointment we also had our follow up appointment with the OB. No, we are not pregnant yet and we are still going to try but we're also not going to stress about it. I'm on a prenatal to fit my needs now and will be taking a baby asprin a day to help prepare myself for potential blood issues. All my lab work came back good which is both good and bad news I guess. Considering how messed up both sides of my gene pool are, I've lucked out with only having one gene mutation. This mutation however, is very common, like 50% common with most people and can be treated with more folic acid, b12 and an all together healthy living lifestyle.

I'm also still a high probability for stroke, heart attack and blot clots due to my family history and this gene mutation signified that as well. I'll take it over some of the other variable mutations out there. Whats important is that I am healthy and able to conceive a baby. Does this mean I'll not have another miscarriage, no, it's not up to me or a doctor but it's up to God and I have to continue to give it up to him. Does it mean I won't try again, no. We still want another baby. We're going to be patient about this and if it's meant to be, it's meant to be. There's no medical reason why I shouldn't be able to get pregnant again.


I'm glad I decided to do the lab work and find out where I am with my health. I think it's something all woman should take into consideration, regardless if your trying to get pregnant or if babies are not even on the radar. It's good to be informed of your genetics and your health.

Evan and I have come a long way in our health if you ask me. I can look at pictures of us when we were dating to after we got married to now and you can visibly see how we've changed. It's seriously a journey and it's one you have to make for yourself. Nobody else has to live with YOUR health. For me being healthy meant having a baby. It meant letting go of foods I thought I needed, saying good by to sugary drinks and making myself get more sleep. It meant making better choices and decisions for myself, my husband and my potential family. I took it one day at a time and one choice at a time...

Here's us at our heaviest:

And 4 months later...

You can see the difference. This was also right before we got pregnant with Avery

3 months pregnant and I was still looking thin!

2008

Last week.

(Yes, I'm a dork.)

It's like I said before...a balance.

Eating right, excercising, sleeping, drinking water, taking vitmains, being active and staying positive.

I'm curious though, what does being healthy mean to YOU?

**EDIT** Last night my foot went back to hurting, today, I can't put any pressure on it whatsoever. I am miserable. Bought a brace and have been propped up with ice and heat per doctors orders. This is possibly the worst injury to date and the Dr. now wants me to come in for more x-rays. :(

-Britt The HLC

Hot Chocolate 5k Re-Cap!

I've been meaning to re-cap since Saturday night but I was waiting for more pictures to become available and for my official results but it appears they were never taken during the race and I'm waiting for customer relations to get back to me to see about getting it all fixed.

Of course in true Texas style, we had 70 degree weather in the beginning of the week then down to low 50's the rest so we didn't think much of the weather for the 7:30am start time. However, Friday brought an Arctic front and the temp went from upper 50's to low 30's with the wind chill in the teens!!! Needless to say it was all about the layers for the 5k.

6:00am and Evan and I were out the door and off to pick up my friend Beth then on the road to Dallas (35-40 minute drive). I drove and we came up with a plan of action for where to meet at the end, what play list to jam too and strategies and enjoyed the non-traffic commute for once. Jinxed ourselves as we merged onto 30 to see a parking lot!!!! So I exited and we took a back way thanks to Beth's phone and parked in the very front row of gate 5 with 11 minutes to spare!!!

SIDE NOTE-Apparently several exits to fair park were closed and there was an accident so LOTS of people were stuck in traffic and missed the start time. However, reading through all the rude and complaint comments on the site and FB I must say, I don't see how the race sponsors or PR people could have known it would happen and they tried to communicate best they could and let people know the time they could arrive to still race the 5k. The fact that people assumed they should have postponed the race until everyone arrived is dumb. Plan ahead folks, arrive early and seek alternate routes, plain and simple.

So anyway, we made our way to our corrals and stretched and tried to stay warm. The dj was playing pumped up music and then they were off. It took us 12 minutes to get from Corral G to the start line so it added 10minutes to my time for my runkeeper app.

                                                        Making our way to the Corrals
                         (I forgot to put my glasses up and ended up wearing them while I raced, opps!)

Where's the start line? (Wayyyyyyy up there)

Evan stayed with me the first half mile before I shooed him on. I never saw him again haha, he's in better shape and condition than I am and I wanted him to enjoy himself. Not only that but for me, running is so relaxing and freeing so once I get into the music and set my pace I just kinda...zone out.

I was making good time and for once, was passing people in my intervals but I was also not doing my breathing right and as cold as it was (I forgot my gloves too) I was winded by the time I got to the 2nd mile. After a small breather on a bridge to take a picture I suddenly had lost all my steam. Thankfully, the volunteers were amazing and when I got to the 2nd water station they were cracking me up and I shuffled my play list to get more motivated to keep going.

"Running a red light" Ba Dum Dum

Downtown Dallas and Fair Park.

After the 2nd mile I literally struggled. I kept my intervals but seemed to just be moving at a snail pace. Then suddenly a song came on I hadn't heard in forever and I suddenly had some momentum. Does anyone ever get that way with music? So help me the following 3 songs were fast paced and had me grooving and then before I knew it I was no longer 5 minutes under my "goal pace" but only 2 minutes behind and I could breath without hurting so much. The only discomfort I had was my hands and my left foot was burning for some reason. I crossed the finish line at 50:01 to my favorite Devotchka song blaring in my head and a smile on my face. As I started walking and searching for Evan and Beth, I was grabbed from behind by my sweet husband who started cheering for me and hugging me like crazy and for some ridiculous reason I just leaned into him and started crying.

Do not ask me why I cried. I know a 5k is nothing big and is easy peasy compared to a half or full marathon but I ran this 5k more than I've ran any time in my training. I stuck with it when I was ready to quit at mile 2 and I finally finished a personal goal for myself this year that I really and in all honesty have been making far too many excuses on not fully committing to last year when I had other opportunities to do one.

                                                                  We Did it!

Why you always come prepared for cold weather!!!

He was just a bit excited/ happy for me.

Challenge accepted & completed.

After we completed our race it was off to the automobile building to enjoy some chocolate fondue and hot chocolate, you know, the main reason so many people signed up for the race to begin with!!! The lines were fast moving and the volunteers were yet again, super helpful. Here's the photographic proof....

                                                            The awesome Volunteers!!

                                                                         YUMMY!

 Enjoying my treats                                   Giant Chocolate fountain!

Beth and I being goofy.

My husbands version of goofy. :)

Needless to say, when the Hot Chocolate 5k comes back, we will be there, no doubt about it! Very well organized, the volunteers were super helpful and sweet and a big thanks to the vendors, Dallas PD and everyone else involved in this fun 5k experience.

I'm so glad Evan did this with me and Beth, he is so hooked now. He wants to go get a new pair of running shoes from Run On! or Lukes soon and asked to run with me now.

After the race and goodies we decided to leave and head back to Denton thinking it was noon but it wasn't even 9:30!!! haha. So we stopped at Cracker Barrel for a celebratory breakfast where I ate the most amazing feast ever!!

  ohhhh yeah, Sweet potato pancakes with cinnamon butter, scrambled egg whites and bacon. BLISS!

I'll be sure to add any pictures of the 3 of us if Brightroom caught us in action. There's my re-cap. I'd suggest anyone wanting to do a 5k or 15k to give this one a try. :)

Get up and get running,

Britt The HLC



Coming soon

Update tonight!!

I'll share a bunch of pictures from Saturdays fun race and how I did.

For now, I'm dealing with an injury from the race and am off my feet (literally) for a few days.

Ohhhh the many ups and down of running.

Happy Monday,
Britt The HLC

Goal 1 of 5. Done!

Tomorrow is RACE DAY!!

I've got my outfit set out, new gear ready, play list added to my iPod, both my race bibs (the race one and the virtual race for sherry too) and the nerves are starting to show. I know for some you may think it's silly to have nerves for a measly 5k but for me, it's huge! I've only done one before and I walked it the entire way. For the Hot Chocolate 5k you have to maintain a 15:00 pace or more and since I haven't been training or running as often as I wish I had the last 2 months that stupid number is intimidating. I know I can do it though and that makes it so exciting.

I believe my time to beat is 48:21...

Yesterday, Evan and I drove to Dallas to pick our race packets and see the expo. I was excited to have him with me and overall it was a fun time. However, Dallas traffic is RIDICULOUS all day! and it took us forever to get back in time to pick up Avery from MDO even though we left Denton at 10:30.

Getting our packs was easy and our chips were set to go with the correct information. The expo had me a little disappointed though and for a few reasons.
1. we arrived on the first day of check-in 30 minutes after the doors opened. Yet, all the merchandise had already been picked through, everything was not marked as listed and there was hardly ANYTHING in a size larger than large. and the place was nowhere being packed or busy.
2. They had a DJ set up I guess practicing for the event on Saturday and he was on the far side of the building and yet, you couldn't hear anything over him! We tried to talk to a few vendors and it was useless, they couldn't hear us and we couldn't hear them. I felt bad for them to be honest.
3. There were only 6 vendors present and the kid zone area took up the most space. I love that they had a place for kids to play but the vendors (minus Ghiradelli) were crammed together against one wall and away from the busy side of the expo. It was weird to me.
4. My biggest issue even though it's not the race sponsor or programs fault but...in our goodie bags we got wind jackets with the 5k logo on it. I was super excited to get mine and since I'm top heavy, and most races run small in sizes, I ordered a XL. When I tried it on...I couldn't get it closed to zip up. IT WAS TINY ON ME! When I went to trade it in there wasn't a size up for women in size! So I tried on Mens sizes. The L in mens swallowed me up so I asked for a Mens M only to be told they had none in stock and not enough to hand out in the goodie bags. I'm a size 12 people! I wear L in shirts.....so for me NOT to be able to wear an XL in a jacket made me sad for all the bigger woman picking up their bags with the biggest size being available being a XL. I think they should be more realistic with sizing.

I dunno, am I crazy? I just expected more at a Expo I guess even though I've never been to one.

I did buy some chocolate and got a very much discounted hoodie (which is super snug on me but once I get my rear in gear should fit fine by the summer).

I also got a new arm band to hold my iPod since my other one started fraying at the seams :(.

Before we left Evan and I also signed up for another 5k.

http://runproject.org/dash-down-greenville-5k

I'm excited about this one. After the race we'll do the whole Greenville Avenue St. Patty's day event of drinking green beer and watching the craziest parade ever!

That will mean by March 16, I'll already have 3 5ks done with for 2012 when my goal for the year was 5!

What are your 2012 goals?

XOXO-

Britt The HLC

Ready, Set, RUN!!

The new year has officially been here for two months and that means my goal to run at least three 5ks and (Possible) a 10k is off and running. My first 5k of the year is Saturday.

Evan, myself and my friend Beth will be up bright and early to head to Dallas for This Yummy Run . Evan picked it so of course it had to be food or sugar related. There's a chocolate party afterwards so I'm sure it'll be interesting to watch people stuff down chocolate after running 3 miles. :)

On top of doing the 5k on February 11th, I'll also be involved in the virtual run for Sherry .

Many of you don't know Sherry, but you know her story. She's the Montana teacher who went for an early morning run and never came home. She was simply doing something she loved before starting her day and a random act of violence took her away. I'm sure many of you read her cousins blog and have heard about the virtual run this Saturday. Once I read it I knew I wanted to be a part of it. I'll have my race bib and Sherrys bib on during the race.

When I started running, I never thought it would bring me in a circle of some amazing people. Through twitter, the blogs and face to face people I have met at runs and the gym and on the road doing what we love to do I have learned so much and received so much positive energy and comments and motivation. I love it!

I'm truly grateful for some of you awesome ladies. Thanks for keeping me consistent and pushing me to go farther and do more.

Sept. 2010- The start of something BIG in my life.

October 2011- My first 5k

2012 is going to be so fantastic, it just keeps getting better and better.

Happy Wednesday Friends,

Britt The HLC

February Running Mix

I'm kinda proud of myself for it being only the 1st day of the month and I actually have a mix ready to go. I used it today for my gym workout as well as my 2mile run in this ridiculous 80* weather day we're having here in Texas today (it is Feb. right?).

I was so stoked to be able to run again. Today was hard and I used a new interval system on my runkeeper app that if I can tweak the time on the intervals I may keep using it but if not..I'll stick with my own regime. I almost forgot how good it feels after a run. However, I'm no longer going to dwell on pace and speed and just focus on my distance because realistically any distance you run, is better than nothing at all.

Ready to run again!!

Enjoy!

1. Dark Into Light - Shawn Lee & AM
2. Chop And Change - The Black Keys The Twilight Saga: Eclipse (Original soundtrack)
3. We Are Young (Glee Cast Version) - Glee Cast
4. Naturally - Selena Gomez & the Scene
5. Ordinary World - Red
6. Paradise - Coldplay
7. Kites (Courtesy Of Tricycle Records) - Geographer
8. Cracks (Flux Pavilion Remix) [feat. Belle Humble] - Freestylers
9.  A Year Without Rain - Selena Gomez & the Scene
10. Moth's Wings - Passion Pit
11. Young Blood - The Naked and Famous
12. Under Pressure - Queen
13. How It Ends - DeVotchKa

Found any cool tunes you love sweating to lately? Share them with me.


XOXO-
Britt The HLC

Dear Self....

I was recently on a cleaning spree with Evan when I came across a box of letters and photos from high school. I sat for awhile laughing at some of the letters to friends I wrote, magazine clippings of Jake Gylenhal, Josh Hartnett and my geek crush Josh Groban when I found a CD with my senior pictures on it....

            

90's perm                                                 Age 10                                                    Just smile.

To be honest, looking at my younger pictures is hard for me. I hardly had friends and in the majority of them I have 1 of 2 looks, one where I have this huge false smile on my face and the other where I look sad or upset with having a camera in my face. My how that seems like a lifetime ago.....

Just before I started my Senior year, I had a breast reduction surgery that truly was what I wanted. Besides the fact that I needed to lose weight and I had medical issues due to the weight I was. I  wanted to fit in, I wanted to feel pretty and accepted, I wanted to be healthy and stay in school without constantly being sent home due to my medical issues.

To sum up a sad and pointless story....I had my Senior pictures re-done in Feb of my senior year and the pictures were Amazing. I was smiling in them, I was posing and not hiding myself, I even had my best friend be in a few with me. I look so relaxed and just comfortable and I didn't cry about them to my mom. I remember printing so many of them out and handing them out to people I knew and even Evan, who was a sweet friend of mine with no romantic feelings yet surfaced. I think that stage of my youth I felt good in my skin for the first time and started to make my way into the world with my head high and yet...I still felt overweight, I felt "Fat".

So there I was, sitting in my fave pj's, no make-up on, hair in a messy bun laughing at these pictures with my husband and proclaiming "GOD, look how thin I am!! Look at my skin! I want to be this thin again..." and internally scoffing at my younger self for being so silly and for thinking I wasn't beautiful or worth much. It doesn't take much to feel good about yourself....believe me. It's a process, a journey you hate at first and then even more when you realize...YOUR PERFECT AS YOU ARE!

I know we all do this to ourselves on bad days, I know people struggle with it. Lord knows I did a lot growing up pretty much until I turned 18 and started dating Evan. But once I realized I was beautiful for a multitude of reasons and a lot of them being on the inside....I let my true self show and that's attractive. I also think Evan saved me from myself....he saved me from a dangerous place in my life and he did it by starting off as my friend and by telling me flat out the choices I was making in my life were making me ugly. He wasn't the only one back then who had said as much to me but he was the one whose voice caught my attention. How I love him for that hard conversation. (long back story for that to make sense, sorry)

Still though, when you feel good about yourself it shows in so many GOOD ways and when you love someone who allows you to be yourself and brings the best of you out....you just get more attractive when you embrace who you are.

So to my Self (Past, Present & future):

-ALWAYS REMEMBER-

You are Beautiful. You may not feel it everyday, you may not act it on occasion but trust me. You are perfect the way you are. You are a woman capable of obtaining any goal you set before yourself. You are an amazing wife to a man who adores you for everything you are and a mom to one outstanding little girl who also brings out the best of you. BE PATIENT with her and remember to remind her always that she is beautiful by being unique in her individuality. Remember that diets only make you cranky, water is your friend and the gym makes you feel like a rock star so don't be so afraid of it. Running in the early morning suits you best because you get to clear your head and get a good quiet time in too. The scale lies, it always has and you realized this at 22 so don't bother going by it, in fact keep on not allowing them in your home all together. Your a strong christian who has a brilliant smile and contagious laugh to go with your awesome sense of humor. You choose to be positive rather than negative about things and your friends find you to be loyal and always there when they need you. You love musicals and British movies, your a history geek and a foodie at heart (you caught the microwave on fire, who does that?!) and you still believe you will be able to convince your husband to eat and love tofu. You are creative and crafty when you don't talk yourself out of doing something along those lines, you also tend to second guess yourself entirely too much. You are doing good for yourself by realizing your worth it and so is your family. Keep it up!!!

Let's Get Personal....

So while on vacation I received a sweet e-mail from a reader that really got me to thinking about a subject I kinda don't go into on my blog. It's not that I hide it completely because there's just NO WAY I can have my blog and not involve this topic.

My Family.

As many of you know I have a personal family blog HERE that I update more than I do my HLC blog. It's not that I do it on purpose but I post more there simply because...it's easier to talk about when it consumes so much of my life and time. Anyway, one of the questions the email asked me was simply "Why do you never call your family by their names? Why do you refer to them by letters?"

When I started this blog it was more of a focus on starting a healthy living lifestyle for my family with the 3 key things being the focus:  living healthy, living life and living free. It was also more for myself to find the motivation I needed to lose weight I have gained and confidence I have lost in myself. However...it wasn't just for me, it was for my family and I think I semi lost that train of thought when I started going number crazy with weigh-ins and watching every little thing I put in my mouth. Which in truth may be why the last month or so I have felt no push or zest to update the blog because I just felt like...if I'm not actually doing the work, what is there to post and reflect on and to pass on to other people who actually read my blog?

I've been so caught up in the glamour of getting my blog out there and noticed and trying to get more readers so it can be what I see it being in my head that I lost the focus of what it really is about!

I also had this weird privacy set in mind about my family. Yes, dumb since I have a family blog out there for the world to see but I guess I kinda liked the idea of HLC being all about ME! I just can't do that though without them being in it because they are both on the journey with me everyday!

So without further blabbering delay I give you an intro to...E & A.

Meet "E" aka- Evan:
My sweet and amazing husband of 6 years and best friend of 11 years! I jokingly refer to him as my idiot in tin foil sometimes but he truly is amazing in so many ways and he has been my number 1 cheerleader in my weight loss goal and all around "healthy kick". He gained 43lbs while I was pregnant and I gained ZERO. Soon after we became parents though I started gaining and he lost close to 40lbs!!!!  He is one awesome gamer guy who is obsessed with his daughter and works really hard to make his girls happy. I'm just a very blessed woman to have him as my hubby and "baby daddy". :)



Meet "A" aka- Avery or Avery Claire or A.C or "The CuppyCake":
She just turned 3 and is going on 6!! Potty training is being attempted (Lord, have mercy) and she is one amazing little miss. Being her mom I can (and have repeatedly) gushed for hours on end about her. She truly is my everything. She is the most rewarding thing in my life and she keeps me on my toes and laughing non-stop. Evan and I are still trying to figure out how we managed before she came along....

SO there's my happy little family......We're just trying to live healthier lives and this blog isn't just about things I do on that journey but also things we do as a family or a couple or as a picky eating toddler. :)

XOXO-

Brittnye "The HLC"