How it all started.....

Welcome to my blog! This has been an idea that has been brewing in my mind for quite some time and I am so thrilled to share my journey with you!

I am a mommy to 2 1/2 year old Nicholas, wife to Vlad, grad student, teacher to many students, sister, daughter, aunt, and loyal friend to many. There isn't much that I do half-assed.....except taking care of myself, that is. December 27, 2010, that changed while my husband, Nick, Gabby (our dog) and myself were on our way home from a holiday visit to my hometown of Roseville, CA. Vlad and I had indulged quite a bit over the holidays and knew we needed to lose a few pounds. My husband is a marathon runner and has recently taken an interest in martial arts training. He rarely struggles with his weight unless he has taken some time off from working out. I, on the other hand, have struggled with my weight for most of my life. I proposed to Vlad that we have a weight loss competition....we decided that the first one to lose 5% of their body weight would get a gift card for $100 to the place of their choice. I choice Glen Ivy, the local day spa. I immediately sent a text to my sis and one of my BFFs, knowing how much they would love the idea. My friend Lori immediately responded with "I want in !"

After several texts were exchanged it was decided that her husband Brian and her would join our competition. We decided on a couple's competition (in addition to our original one) and that BOTH members of the couple would have to lose 5% and the first couple there would win a $100 to the place of their choice. Brian and Lori chose REI, Vlad and I (don't laugh) chose Fleming's Steakhouse.....we don't get out on dates much! ;-} Ironic, a weight loss competition and all we could think about was a big juicy steak! And one wonders how I came to be the voluptuous woman I am! So, that's how the competition came to be. Now, WHY did I want to do this in the first place?

As I mentioned, I have struggled with weight most of my life. My thinnest times in my life were after the break-up from a longtime boyfriend and while I was breast feeding my son....hardly the healthiest times! So, as I pondered my New Year's Resolutions, the one that has been on the list for over 20 years was "losing weight." I did take some pride in the fact that I would be perfectly happy with 15-20 lbs. That seems reachable to me, and a weight I can maintain. It didn't seem like a daunting task. I have to be realistic. I work full-time as a teacher and am finishing of my M.A. in Education. I love to cook for my boys and spend a couple of hours in the evening with them. Going to the gym after work is not an option for me, as I only have about 2 hours upon arriving home from work and my son going to bed. I enjoy Yoga on the weekends and plan to walk during lunch breaks at work. Therefore, the majority of my weight loss/management HAS to come from healthy eating. And this is how my blog came to be.

I have always enjoyed cooking, planning, and revising recipes. And yes, always enjoy eating too!!! I am always sharing recipes and how to modify more fattening favorites. When I joined Facebook a year or so ago, I realized the mass of people I could reach with a recipe-website/blog. I thought with the start of the new year and my competition before me, what a perfect time to start blogging! I sought the help of some friends to come up with a name and Laura came up with some great ones, including The Health Babe! I loved this one because while it spoke to the "healthy" aspect, someone was calling me a BABE and who wouldn't love that?!

So here I am, ready to share my journey of weight loss, my competitive spirit, my menus/recipes, my thoughts, my fears, and hopefully my successes with all of you! Please check back often as I get acquainted with this process and promise to provide frequent postings.

~The Health Babe