Oh, hello.

A friend suggested that I start blogging my adventures through my lifestyle change and I decided that it would be a great idea.

I'm a dynamic, bubbly, sassy 24 year old animal and environment lover; who happens to be obese. I have been since I was 14 years old. I wasn't an overweight child, who grew into an even bigger adult. When I was a child, the only thing big about me was my personality and my imagination.

Growing up in southern Connecticut, my life consisted of playing. I would seek out my younger brother when I wanted to play cops and robbers, and when I wanted to feel mature and cool; I'd attempt to infiltrate my older sister's circle. When I wanted to be coddled and win at everything I did, I played with my mother or father. When I wanted to get down and dirty, I'd play wiffle ball with my Gram. My childhood was warm, and happy for the most part.

But that's not to say that I would have avoided being overweight had I stayed in Connecticut, and didn't move to Florida when I was 12. Most of my family is overweight; call it bad genes, blame it on us being Italian and loving food, call it what you want; we're overweight. I grew up seeing my family, and not thinking that being bigger was shameful. But we don't have to get into that.

All that needs to be said is that I'm fat, and I'm changing that.

I have goals, and rewards to go along with them when I reach those goals. Not if. When. Because for the first time in my life, I'm passionate about this. I have a lot of weight to lose, and so much more to gain; and I've never been more open to an experience like this.

I'll post my reward sheets next, along with a picture.