First Goal

My weight has always been a huge struggle for me.  After moving to Virginia I really let myself go.  I wasnt working as often, my husband was working long hours and had a long commute, and I didnt know anyone here.  What was left for me?  I found my comfort in food.  Its always been my go to source of comfort.
I hate admitting how big I had let myself get.  and being as though we didnt have a scale in the house, i was in denial about how much weight I had gained.

for the past several years there has been a number I have strived to reach.  I have fought and fought, but whenever i got close to that goal weight, i sabotaged myself and gained it all back.  After a conversation wtih my dad, I was real with myself and saw what I was doing.  Since starting this journey 2 months ago, this number was my first goal.  the first finish line for me, so to speak.  I just needed to get under 300.

the number 300 has haunted me pretty much my whole life.  I was a chubby kid, and my dad hated that.  His famous phrase to me was "you keeping eating like that, your going to weight 300 lbs"  (my dad was not the amazing man he is today, not even close)  I guess being as stubborn as I am, i took that as a challenge.  Some where in my psyche i kept myself above 300 as a way of punishing myself.

I look in the mirror now, and still see a huge fat person.  but I also see the progress I had made.  I look and say "how did you let it get so far?"  How did i get so fat??  Alot of people dont even see a difference, because when I was in Michigan I was no where near as fat as I got here.

But on the bright side, im not going to beat myself up over it.  Im just gonna keep moving forward, keep improving, and keep fixing what i broke.
I see huge changes in my blood pressure (provided i can keep the stress out of my life), my body is stronger, and im able to do things, i couldnt do 3 months ago.  My heart is acting alot more normal, and not trying to quit on me, or pound out of my chest.  And I have dropped down 1 dress size, fit into old shorts, that fit me in Michigan.  and actually they are kinda baggy, considering i don't need to unbutton or unzip them to take them off.

My next goal is simple. I just want to lose 25 more lbs before I go to Michigan in June.  that would make me 249 lbs.  and I havent weighed that since before I got pregnant with my daughter, 8 years ago.

If you ever feel like you cant do something, or life is too hard.  Just remember this, you can fix anything in your life, YOU ARE IN CONTROL of your life!!!!  If i can do this, you can do whatever you set your heart to!

National Cherry Blossom Festival Washington DC 2013

The blossom watch predicted peak bloom from the 6th-8th.  When we arrived down town, we saw this wasnt even close to true.  I would say only 4 or 5 trees were in full bloom, most were still in the budding stage.  But thats ok, I didnt mind.  Ya see, being from Michigan our spring doesnt come until May.  So when I see flowers in February and April, I get all kinds of happy! 

I convinced both my husband, and my 7 year old daughter to get up at 5 am and head on up to DC.  About an hours drive from my house.  I dont know why they let me talk them into such things, but I am so grateful they go along.  We arrived in Dc just as the sun was starting to crest the horizon.  

We have only been in this area for a year and a half, so much of DC is still left unexplored.  It was my first time visiting the Jefferson Memorial.  It was virtually emtpy.  I am not sure if this is because it was so early in the morning, or because everyone was outside viewing the cherry blossoms.   Either way, it was nice to enjoy the quiet beauty of it all.  

I have heard alot of other photographers complain about wasting the trip to DC this weekend, only to see the flowers NOT in full bloom.  I dont consider it a waste at all.  I got the pleasure to see and photograph the flowers in all their stages of progressions.  From tiny pink buds, to pink with a little white, to full white cloud bursts.  It was so magical to witness.  

Another handy little tip, besides going before dawn, is to go inland.  Everyone was set up on the tidal basin, seeing the same thing, getting the same shots.  We walked inland some and got to see Cherry blossoms, but also other flowering trees, and monuments that were virtually going unnoticed.  

 A beautiful magnolia basking in the morning sunshine.  Lending its fragrance, and colors to a magical morning.

 The lonely dogwood, hiding itself from the crowds up near the Roosevelt monument.










Dr King watching over the whole event, with his majestic stare.

and finally the massive Roosevelt display.  

All of these sites, a first for my family.  It was so much beauty to take in, and all before 9 am.  It was another one of our famous Rivera Adventures.  Seeing new things, things I can share with you. There is so much to see and do here.  Free things, I might add.  So many more adventures to be had.  So much more exploring to do.  I am so greatful I am blessed with this life.