I made 2013 a promise...I would put the scale away until January 1, and enjoy the holidays without worrying about weight gain.

Then, the day after Christmas, I pulled on the "skinny jeans" -- and they wouldn't button.



I threw open the closet door, hunted beneath the newly-received presents, and pulled out the scale. And do you know what it said?!



That's right. Since Thanksgiving, I've gained a full 10 pounds.



So I resolved to keep my resolution (?) and put the scale away. I would enjoy my visit to Louisville, and put weight loss goals on the sidelines until New Years.

But, in the back of my mind, I remembered the WHOLE TIME that I had gained 10 pounds. It wasn't the stress-free New Year's with my girlfriends I wanted, let me tell you!!!

So....

Here I am, January 2, back in the office, with a scale telling me THIS!

I thought about making resolutions, but I've already made them all! I KNOW exactly what to do, I just got lazy over the holidays! I overindulged at the cheese sampler tray, and I should have asked what exactly what was IN the hot buttered rum before I had like five of them! (HINT: butter, rum, sugar. Lots of all three to make it taste that good!)

So instead, I'm writing a breakup letter to some of my favorite "bad" foods, and every time I want one of them, I'll reread it to remind myself why I don't REALLY want them.



Dear Taco Bell/Chinese Takeout/Pizza AND pizza rolls/French Onion Dip/That Awesome Mexican Restaurant with the Jumbo Margaritas/Any/all other foods that are so absolutely delicious I can't stop when I'm no longer hungry and have to eat until I'm about to bust a gut:

I'm so sorry, but this just isn't working for me anymore!

You're holding me back. You're keeping me a prisoner in this body with it's extra cushion and spare tire around the middle and sagging, flabby parts, and that's just not who I am! I have TONS of muscle underneath it all! And I want the world to see the real me -- the biker, the runner, the kayaker, the rock climber....all of it!!

That, and I'm sick of my thighs getting chafed when I run in shorts on the treadmill. I'll admit that it might not just be you....but you bear at least some of the responsibility!

How could you not have seen this coming?! We used to see each other all the time, several times a week, sometimes every day! But then I started pulling away, and soon we only saw each other once a month if at all! But once a month is STILL too much for me...it's time to end it completely!

I just feel sick afterwards, you know?! And heavy and weighted down, and I don't ever want to DO anything! Which sucks, because when I don't, I have SOOOO much energy, I always want to do something! That lethargic feeling is just too alien now, I can't take it anymore!

Don't feel bad. I'm also breaking up with Mr. Cigarette. I know, I said it before and went back. But this time, I'm done. I'm doing a clean sweep, and kicking all the toxic out of my life. Because 2013 is the year that I turn 30...it's not a joke, or a game, it's the health and fitness that will keep me healthy long past my 30's, and I'm out of time for a genie to just magically give it to me!

It's not you, it's me. I deserve better. I want to feel better. I want to look better. I want to run more than 8.5 miles someday. I want to run faster and not have to walk at all! I want to do the paddler's rendesvous, that 18.5 river mile stretch, in BETTER than four hours! And I don't want my arms to be sore afterwards!! And this summer, I'm going to take all the money I saved by NOT letting you and Mr. Cigarette into my life, and I'm going back to Yellowstone to hike and camp and backpack and kayak and hopefully rock climb!
How do you like them apples?! (Note to self, buy apples! )

Love and light and health in 2013!

Falon