Pick a size! Any size!

My closet could be its own little retail outlet. Not because it is full of cute and fashionable clothes though. It really isn't. However, it is chocked full of a plentitude of sizes.

Really. Pick a size, any size...and odds are you will find an outfit to work for you.

My fav? Size 4. I am completely certain that I will never get these hips into a size 4 again. Ever. But I have chosen to keep 3 outfits that are special to me that also happen to be the wonderful size of 4. I'm really not sentimental about clothes usually, so let me tell you what outfits they are. One is boxed...my wedding dress, so I guess that isn't too weird...everyone keeps their wedding dress, right? As for the other two? I still have the outfit I was wearing when Jerry proposed to me...for the second time. Not that that I said no the first time...it is just a really long story...another time, friends. And I still have the outfit that I wore to our rehearsal dinner. So they are all related to marriage. That makes me feel not quite so weird.

That pretty much represents size 4. Remember MetaboLife? Yeah. That is totally how I got skinny back in the day. Not the new kind, but the old kind that had some funky herb in it. I stopped taking it shortly after our wedding when the FDA banned the funky herb due to young people falling dead on their treadmills while taking it. What a way to go. I think spending my last minutes on earth on a treadmill could just be the worst thing ever. I'd rather keel over while enjoying a plate of Snuffer's cheese fries myself.

Anyway, back to my closet. On the other side of the size spectrum is 4 squared. 16. Sixteen. Nothing like being honest on the ol' blog. Size 16 isn't represented very well. Pretty much just a pair of "mom jeans" that got worn for a few weeks post Lily because I had sworn off any form of maternity clothes. Sadly though, that same pair got much more use post Jade.

Then there are lots of choices in between, mainly 8s and 10s, most of which I don't fit into very comfortably. Not without the muffin top syndrome at least. Keep the muffins in the pan...not over the top of the jeans, mama! Unless there is a muffin in the oven of course.

Why am I talking about all of this?

Well, my blog buddy Missy has put up a little weight loss accountability thingy over at her blog. Hot for the Holidays...how cute is that?

We're supposed to give our stats, a before picture, and list out our goals.

I'm cringing at this moment. I've learned recently that some of my old high school buddies are readers of the blog...isn't facebook fun? I'm positive they all still weigh 105 and wear their prom dresses on the weekends. Rock on Class of '94.

Here I go. Starting weight: 160. It really isn't my fault that Oreos were perpetually on sale when Jade was a newbie. And they beckoned me all through the night while I was up nursing her. And although it is frito lays old motto, I truly couldn't eat just one. Or is that pringles' jingle? I can't remember now. Maybe frito lay makes pringles too? Geez. I work for a snack food distributor, I should know this stuff. Hey, another excuse! Working for a snack food company isn't good for the waistline either.

Before pic: I usually show weight in my face, so here is a chubby face pic (with Lily on July 4th).

I actually started dieting on August 31st. So I am joining Hot for the Holidays with a bit of a head start. I've currently lost 13 pounds and am down to 147. Here is a current picture (with Jerry and Lily on her 4th b'day):

My goals:
I'm 5'7" and think I'd feel best around 135. I'm happily married and honestly don't feel pressured to look a certain way. At this point, I just want to get to a healthy weight and stay there. Eat well...lean meats and good veggies...and be a good example to my daughters. I want to teach them to cook in healthy ways and enjoy food for the right reasons. I'm also interested in staying away from high fructose corn syrup and hydrogenated fats.

The real place that I need accountability though is when it comes to exercise. We belong to a wonderful gym...way too wonderful actually. Our little mom and pop gym just got bought out by LifeTime Fitness and we are enjoying all of its benefits until they up our rates to God only knows how much.

Great gym. Great childcare. I've just got to get my hiney there. And regularly at that. And not just to sit in the steam room. I actually did that a few weeks back when my sinuses were about to explode. The eucalyptus steam room at LifeTime...I highly recommend it...thanks for the tip Melissa.

My goal is to work out 3-4 times weekly. I'm not up to classes yet, but I want to do cardio and even hit the weights. Yikes.

But hey? I've got up to 2 hours of free childcare daily...you'd think I'd be all over that. So. Lacking. Motivation.

And what size am I picking? I'm hoping for a size 8...maybe a 6. I just want to fit in it...not squeeze into it...with no baked goods hanging over. Is that too much for a girl to ask?

Want to join in? Head over to Missy's at It's Almost Naptime for more Hot for the Holidays fun.