Evolution of a former skinny girl...

I have always been a very thin person. When I met my husband at age 23, I was 115 pounds at 5'9" tall. And that was heavy for me. Throughout high school and my early 20's, I stayed from 105-110 pounds. My weight was never a concern... aside from doctors trying to make me gain weight, that is. I could eat what I wanted, when I wanted and never have a concern. As we graduated high school, my friends were worried about the freshman 15. Not me. I made it through unscathed. People quipped, "Just wait until you get pregnant. THEN you will gain weight." While I did reach upwards of 140 pounds during my first pregnancy, I was still at 125 pounds after Ariana, which was well within a healthy range for my height. And then came my second pregnancy. I actually gained less weight with Annika and quickly came back to size after her. I went on a girls' trip to Mexico 7 months after delivering her and was back in my bikini:

I was still eating what I wanted and exercising moderately. 

At pregnancy #3, my friends were convinced that this was the end... there was no way anyone could bounce back after having 3 babies to a bikini body again. 

But my third pregnancy was much the same as the first two...

{at 22 weeks}

{at 31 weeks}

{at 39 weeks}

I gained the least amount of weight with Acadia and had no issues losing it. In a few months, I was able to get back in my bikini:

Now, I wish that is where the story ended... sadly, no. I had made it 33 years, 3 pregnancies... through all manners of eating and exercising with close to the same figure. 

And then it happened... my 35th year. That is where it all went down hill. Suddenly, seemingly overnight, my metabolism changed. It was as if I could look at a cookie and gain a pound. I could pinpoint the exact time frame- over the holidays of last year (2010) I gained 10 pounds... within 2 months! I did not even know that was possible!

I did not think too much of it. I went back to my Wii Fit and cut back on the cake... but the weight did not really move. Now I was getting scared. Ten pounds was not a whole lot for me... but I certainly could not keep gaining 5 pounds a month! I did ok keeping my weight stable through the summer with moderate activity and a healthy diet throughout the summer. I did not, however get back in my bikinis last summer. The 10 pounds was not the issue, the issue was that the 10 pounds fell directly on my tummy and thighs. Now I was starting to look like a big ol' pear. 

And we all know that along with that big ol' pear shape comes many health issues.  Studies show that people with wide girths are more likely to have large amounts of deep-hidden belly fat around their organs. It might be the most dangerous kind of fat and could increase a person's risk of diabetes, heart disease, stroke and some types of cancer.  

I have three amazing children, a wonderful husband along with great friends and family that I need to live for. And considering the fact that I gained another 5 pounds over these past holidays, I am not going in the right direction. (If you are keeping track, those 5 pounds brings me to more weight than the 31 weeks photo above, and looking very similar to said photo!) 

BUT, this is not a poor, fat-ass me post... I am making a change... errr... changes.  But since I have carried on far too long and I do not like long posts, you will have to come back tomorrow to see what my changes are. (I know, cliffhanger... can you even wait???)