I find myself typing - and retyping - recipes, tips, and tricks multiple times weekly...it hit me today that perhaps giving a blog another try was the best way to communicate those recipes and tips! Besides my health journey and helpful hints, my goal is also to use this blog to document life going forward. I hope that you enjoy the ride with me!
If we have not had the pleasure of meeting in real life, I will go ahead and share my "story" with you:
I'm Anna, and this is my husband, Joe. We have been married 2.5 years now, and I love my husband dearly. We met in youth group when I was in 9th grade and he was in 10th. {I don't remember the first time we met, he says he does...and that I was wearing black shorts and an orange shirt. told him that's impossible, I would never wear orange and black together, but he insists I did. Ew.} We didn't know each other that well, and after 2 good friends of mine died after high school, we lost touch when I stopped going to church altogether for a while. I'm not sure what prompted that, I think I was angry at God, but I never stopped believing in Him. {That's a whole other story for another day, possibly.} A few years later, I rededicated my life to Christ and began attending the church I grew up in again. Joe and I worked with the youth together, and became good friends. He had a crush on me and would ask me out, and I would tell him no. Fast forward through a lot of heartbreak, tears, stupid choices, and soul-searching...and in early 2012 it hit me: I loved Joe. We began dating in March, got engaged in May, and were married in October.
Then I fell into the typical happy newlywed lifestyle...and gained 20 pounds the first 6 months of marriage. I was miserable. I tried cutting carbs, going to the gym at 5am...and the scale didn't budge. A friend of mine was posting on Facebook about AdvoCare, and I asked her to tell me about it. Fast forward, and after dodging some calls for a while {I didn't want to get "sucked in" to a "new fad" to "lose weight fast," ...little did I know how wrong my thoughts were!}, I finally began using AdvoCare products on December 1, 2013. I completed a 24 Day Challenge, and on Christmas Day of 2013 I weighed in...I had lost 10 pounds and 9 inches! WHAT!? I "stuck and stayed" and was able to lose the remainder of the 20 pounds in early 2014, and have maintained the weight ever since.
These photos were Summer 2013, and November 2014. The photo on the left was while cutting carbs and working out; the photo on the right was after learning how to properly fuel my body and maintain a healthy weight.
Joe and I bought our first home together in 2014, also. We thoroughly enjoy DIY-projects, and working in the yard. You'll probably see some posts here and there about that, too. ;)
We have a goofy mixed-breed dog, named Bella. She is a "Cheagle" -- chihuahua/beagle. Joe adopted her a year before we began dating, and it took her QUITE some time to warm up to the idea of having another woman in the house. She drives me nuts sometimes but overall is probably one of the best-tempered dogs you'd ever meet.
One of my best friends is an amazing portrait/wedding photographer, and we are very fortunate to have her in our lives. She recently asked if I'd be willing to "play" with her and another of her photographer friends, and I agreed. I'll close with one of the photos from that session, so you know who's on the other end of this computer screen. I change my hair a lot, hence why each photo looks a little different! :)
I recently decided I'm no longer going to focus on just maintaining my weight. I've succeeded with creating a healthier version of me...now I want to transform my body into a stronger version of itself! So you will see posts about that too, I'm sure. I'm excited to have you on this journey with me!
Until next time,
-a
{all photos except before/after photo, courtesy of Beth Hamilton Photography}
No comments:
Post a Comment