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Introduction Text My name is Karen and I recently turned 35. It wasn't the age that scared me, it was how I felt physically. After years of saying, "Meh, I'm young, I have plenty of time to get my act together," I realized that that phrase was wearing thin. I'm still young, don't get me wrong, but the time has come to stop putting off until tomorrow what I should have done yesterday. Or ten years ago. I was physically active throughout my entire youth right up through high school. I played softball (usually on multiple teams at one time), I was a cheerleader, I walked, rode my bike, played badminton and volleyball on the cul-de-sac, etc. I was usually not the skinniest girl in the room, but I was clearly an athlete. Now I'm the heaviest I've ever been in my life. I don't recall ever getting on a scale in high school (I never needed to), but I'd estimate I've packed on 90 lbs. easily since graduation. So where did it all go wrong? Well, like the common story goes, I went away to college. My physical activity fell to basically zero other than walking to class. My eating increased - as did my alcohol intake - and I mostly subsisted on pizza, ramen noodles, tuna subs and quick, pre-processed junk. My freshman 15 turned into my sophomore 25 and just kept going. After college I fell into a comfortable relationship and despite a half-hearted attempt to get in shape for the wedding (lost 20 lbs. or so) I continued to pile on the pounds. After five years of marriage I divorced, sold my house, moved in with my parents to save a downpayment for a new house (I love my parents dearly, but mom's cooking is not good for losing weight), had a new relationship end very badly, and bought a new house. That all took place in the span of about two years. And the weight gain continued. I have decided that it is time to take charge of my life and my body. My body has been nothing but kind to me throughout the years and I've treated it terribly in return, packing it full of junk food and not giving it the exercise that it needs. It is time to start worrying about myself first and treating myself right. I miss being athletic. I miss hiking and biking and playing sports. Hell, at this point, I miss walking up the stairs without feeling a little winded. I want to spend a week camping in Yellowstone and at this point, I'm too out of shape to get as much out of it as I could. I want to learn to do things like rock climbing and ice skating, but I feel too self-conscious and too out of shape. I'm tired of it, and nobody can change it but me. Tasty as it may be, stuffing pizza into my maw every weekend isn't going to get me anywhere but more overweight. Having walking to the mailbox be my primary physical activity isn't going to get me stronger or healthier. I love myself and it's time to act like it. I can still have whatever I want, I just don't need to have everything I want whenever I want it. I'm was never a weak person before, but I feel weak now. I want to be as strong physically as I am mentally. I want to look good and feel good about myself. My boyfriend and I (very) recently joined a gym and we've been going about five days per week. My goal is to do some physical activity every day, even if it's just taking the dogs for a walk on days when I'm really pressed for time. I'm also cutting out junk food and fast food and looking for healthy alternatives. Ideally I'd like to eat clean about 75% of the time. My page title is a line from the song Head Full of Doubt/Road Full of Promise by the Avett Brothers. I've decided what I want to be, now it's time to be it. I know that it's going to take time - as the cliche goes, I didn't get this way overnight - and I need to stay focused.

**Long-Term Goals** #1 Goal - BE STRONGER Be more flexible Lose weight Feel better/healthier Ride the Montour Trail (40+mi) on my bike See my collar bone again See my cheekbones again Take a pic of myself I actually like Wear a pretty dress and feel pretty Feel comfortable w/ my body Take a trampoline lesson Inspire someone Wear designer jeans Feel cute in a Halloween costume Play an ice hockey game Have one chin, and one chin only Take a rock climbing class See Gettysburg by bicycle Camp, bike, and hike in Yellowstone Do the Warrior Dash Run a 5K Avoid the insulin-dependent diabetes that plagues my family **Short-Term Goals** Not get winded so easily Fit into the purple shirt I wore two years ago **DONE 5/28/11** Fit into every pair of jeans in my drawer **DONE 6/8/11**

I've always focused on the number on the scale in the past and it's never worked, so this time I am focusing on eating right and exercising. Gym 5x per week, some physical activity every day, and eating clean 75% of the time.

My name is Karen and I live in Pittsburgh, PA.

The three loves of my life are my two dogs and Pittsburgh Penguins hockey.

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