Here we go!

Hello, world....

Let's get down to business, shall we?  My name is Kristi, and I am on a mission....

My husband and I are going to St. Maarten in 28 days.  It's going to be great....sun, fun, swimsuits.  Oh crap....swimsuits. 

Quick update on why this bothers me so:  I am 33 years old, and I have had two children in the past three years.  Needless to say, my body has been stretched to its limit in more ways than one.

Yep....that was me....TWICE in the past three years.....OUCH....

As you can see by the above picture, my stomach was blown beyond repair in some ways, I'm sure.  I was blessed enough to not get any stretch marks, but the skin is pretty flacid and dimply due to the amount it was stretched out.  I'm sure that I'm not going to get my tight tummy back in that area, but if I could deal with the fat and muscle underneath, I'll take it!  Who knows, maybe I'll get lucky, and it will help tone up my skin a bit as well.  If I get to the point where it doesn't look like bread dough after you stick your fingers in it, that will be a good day.

I have heard a lot of good things about Jillian Michaels' 30 Day Shred video. I heard that it was a great video for people who don't have a lot of weight to lose (I don't....I'm actually back to my pre-pregnancy weight) but they have a lot of work to do in the ol' "toning up" department. Uh....that would be me. Even though I am at my pre-preggo weight, I have this RIDICULOUSLY fatty belly, complete with love handles and muffin top. If I don't suck in, I still look three months pregnant.  It's insane.

Anyway, I wanted to do this blog to make myself accountable.  I WILL POST--EVERY DAY--EVEN IF I SCREW UP OR BLOW OFF WORKING OUT.  I'm hoping, though, that I will make it work and not do that.  Even if noboday reads this but me, it will help me stay on track.

I don't have 30 days until I leave, but I do have 28.  I'll just have to make that work!  I'm starting today.  No going back.  Operation Baby Blubber Blastoff commences now.....

Let me introduce you to Jillian Michaels....the woman behind this workout video:

Are you kidding me right now?  I have never hated a woman--yet wanted to be her--so much in my entire life.....  PLEASE GOD, tell me that there is some airbrushing involved here.  Actually, forget that.....tell me that this video is going to do that to me.  And Jillian....quit laughing at me.

Now...for the hard part.....

Here are the before pictures.  I thought it was already an excrutiating task to post these pictures....but now to have to post them after that picture of Miss Michaels makes me want to stick my head in the oven.  Anyway, I digress.  Here they are:

FRONT VIEW--DAY ONE

SIDE VIEW (this pic is the one that shows the gut problem the most--BLEH)--DAY ONE

BACK VIEW--DAY ONE

As you can see--primarily by the side view shot, my stomach is still flabby and untoned.   My side "flank" area is a bit of a "muffin top", and I'm even sporting some back fat.  Fantastic.

Also, you can see that--overall--I'm not overweight.  My pound amount is where I want it to be.  I just need to fix my core area that was so damaged over the past three years.  According to reviews of this program, it is exactly what I need. 

So......here we go, people.  Feel free to follow along with me and comment if you'd like.  After posting these pics, I think I'm past the point of embarrassment.  I just keep telling myself that I'm doing something good for my health and my self-image.  It's going to take some work, and accountability, but I'm willing to go all out to make it happen.

I hope that this blog will speak to people out there who think that they don't have the time or ability to do this.  Trust me, if I can do this--you can do this.  I have a 3-year-old daughter and a 1-year-old son who pretty much hang on me at all times.  We are also having some health concerns with my son and, therefore, I am constantly traveling for or taking part in tests, therapy sessions, etc.   I am also in graduate school getting my master's degree.  TRUST ME....TIME is something that is in very short supply in my life right now.  I am just determined to make this happen and stop making excuses for why I keep putting it off.  I'm going to be busy for many years to come.  So, I have the choice to continue using that as a reason not to do this (yes, it is a good reason, but it is one that we have to fight through), or I can just suck it up and get it done.

I'm ready to feel good about my body again.  I know that I'll never have the tight, toned belly that I had before I had my babies, but I CAN get to the point where I know that I've done everything that I can to get as close as my body physically can.

It's on.  Let's do this.