Pumpkin Spice and Everything Not So Nice...

When Fall rolls around and the leaves start turning vibrant oranges, reds, yellows, and browns; when the smell in the air is of kindling crackling and warm while the wind is cool and gentle, I start to crave. I crave casseroles and anything advertised as "pumpkin-spice", pie, muffins, and lattes that heat the insides of my stomach like a spicy winter coat.

As I glance at the drive-thru Dunkin' Doughnuts with ninety-nine cents burning a hole through my pocket and the option of savoring a small latte while the kids are asleep in the back seat, I blame the primal instincts to fatten up before winter and the bogus "I-deserve-it" mentality. Unfortunately for me, I am not a bear, and I don't need a large layer of fat to act as a blanket during hibernation, and come to think of it, bears don't drink lattes. Instead, they fatten up with healthy fats and proteins; not green bean casserole and Reese's peanut butter cups in the shape of friendly pumpkins.

As for the "I-deserve-a-treat" mentality I should respond in kind: "Be gone, Satan!" Seriously, this frame of mind is why I'm so heavy. As a mother of two, I've convinced myself that the only way for me to achieve a moment to myself is through a bite of food or a television program that will help me to escape my life for half an hour. Both of which have resulted in a big flat bottom and a terrible disposition. Even as I'm typing this I've realized that I haven't tuned into MTV.com to watch this week's episode of "Skinny people with tons of money pretending that they have problems" i.e. "The Hills."

In investment terms, my current lifestyle is in the red. Instead of spending the money and time on food and activities that take away from my life, I should be investing it elsewhere. This is the reason I started this blog in the first place, to take me out of these mind-sets and to help me stay accountable to achieving the things I do deserve: life-long happiness with my family and healthy body to help me live long enough to enjoy life to its fullest.

The Weight Loss Challenge

My next resolution is to bump up my number of followers and starting November 1st, I will have a more interactive blog. I will be attempting the weight loss challenges in fitness and fashion magazines and reviewing them for the public. Whether it's lose a dress size in 10 days or lose 10 pounds in 30 days, I'm going to try it out.

My boundaries are as follows:
The challenge must be printed by a fashion or fitness magazine;
The challenge must be in either 10 day or 30 day increments;
The challenge must not include pills or diet drinks;
I will incorporate the challenge with my every day fitness routine so I don't lose momentum;
I will rate each challenge based on the following: affordability, practicality, life after the challenge, and if the goal was met.

If you have any recommendations for published weight loss challenges, please comment below and let me know!

My Birthday Resolution

My 27th year is coming to a close. When I was little I thought twenty-seven was the magical age even though all my other friends couldn't wait to be sixteen. I thought that my twenty-seventh year would be The Year when all my life dreams would be realized and/or coming into fruition. However, this was probably the most sedate year of my life. Yes, I started on the right path, but fears got in my way and I let them get the best of me.

I have maintained the weight I lost this summer, but my training has gone down the tubes and so has my energy level. Tomorrow will be my first day back in the gym to workout since early September. I know, YIKES!

My birthday resolution is this: Before my 27th year is over, I will start training again on a routine basis. That's it. No magic number of pounds to lose or dress size, but a simple goal that I know is attainable.

This year, on October 30th, I will be singing "Happy Birthday" while looking forward to the journey ahead.