the beginnings

Weight has always been an issue with my growing up. I was always that fat kid in gymnastics and in school. My family is overweight so it's like I wasn't taught the right ways of working out and nutrition. I am not blaming them as the ultimate responsibility is my own doing. By the time jr. high rolled around I was in misses clothes. High school I graduated at a size 18. I really don't remember a time junk food wasn't in my house, or the common ride bike to the pizza joint a few blocks away to get breadsticks and down a whole box. College rolled around along with the "freshman 50." So it wasn't until my late 20's that I thought about losing weight, I have tried weight watchers= couldn't afford the weekly fee. Physician's Weight Loss center=fail at that attempt to, I couldn't afford the foods and every time I left I felt worse about myself. Self-confidence is a huge issue of mine, right up there with being my own worst critic, and feeling unworthy of anything which ironically comes with being a big girl in a society that thinks big=lazy and unattractive. During the time of going to Physician's weight loss, I was teaching Zumba as my main job and each time I went in there, they basically stated that because I am working out, their diet plan isn't working for me, well no considering I was on an 800 calorie plan. When I first started teaching Zumba, I was also teaching preschool dance and tumbling. I lost 60 lbs within a year. I went from a size 24 down to a 14. I wanted a full-time job so I quit teaching Zumba and went working for Red Cross. One thing about Red Cross, they sure like to feed you. I watched my size go right back up to a 24 in the same amount of time it took me to lose the weight. What I looked like at a size 14, teaching Zumba: