Packing up and getting ready for the "journey"........

(yeppy - that's me at 207 lbs. last week during a television interview)

Trust me when I say that I'm not quite sure WHY I decided to blog about my journey to fitness. I don't know WHAT possessed me, but in my spirit - I feel like it's the right thing to do. I'm definitely a "vibe" kinda gal and I follow my instincts very closely.

A little background: Most people know me as "The WeddingDIVA", the no-nonsense, straight-talkin', "I can make a dolla holla" chica from Style Network's "Whose Wedding Is It Anyway?". Yeah - I'm her, but I'm also Linnyette - a 49 year old woman who's been struggling with her weight for over a decade. I've been on so many "diets", I've lost count. I've had two or three instances of "clarity" where I could honestly see the light down the tunnel to fitness...but I've always lost my way somehow.

I was looking at a photo from a live television shoot I did last weekend and it really HIT me: Girl, you are fat. Not "thick", but FAT. And I decided that very moment, it had to stop. I'm 5'3...and my "fighting weight" should be around 130 - 140 lbs. Guess what? It ain't. When I got on the scale this morning - it blinked back 203.5 pounds. Ain't that some shiggety? I'm carrying aroud THAT much weight on my small frame.

It's not healthy. Period. A lot of my fat is belly fat - which is the WORSE kind to have. I was diagnosed with secondary hypertension at the age of 18 and have been battling that demon ever since..so keeping my weight down is key. Here's a good question - what's been stopping me? Here's the answer: LIFE. I lead a hectic one and I will readily admit to be SUPER-STRESSED. Stress raises the level of cortisol in your body and that has been shown to increase the amount of belly fat you have. See...I know stuff, but I block it out...{don't ask why..}.

So, today....I made a decision. Get FIT. And NOW. Stop procrastinating. Oh...and yes, I am one hell of a procrastinator. That's one of my problems and it has been a hindrance in my need to get in shape. But like any other demon - it's about to be exorcised. Gotta go...and gotta go now.

I'm one of those people who MUST exercise - it's not an option. Exercise is really the "key" to getting my metabolism revved up and burning, melting the fat and lowering my stress. But the truth is: I HATE EXERCISE. I really do. I mean..I really do. However, I have to move past that dislike and make it a part of my daily routine. I am a workaholic - everyone knows that. So just like I schedule appointments - I must make time for a date with the gym. You cannot leave me to my own devices - I need structure. Which is why I became a member of Planet Fitness TODAY. It's open 24 hours (bonus!), it's close to home and the price ($10 per month) is just right. {I'm cheap too :)}

I have a goal in mind...I want to get rid of (I don't/won't say "lose" because that assumes it's something I want to find again...um, NOT!!) at least 50 pounds by December 1st, 2011. I think that's pretty darn reasonable - roughly 7 months. You see - I'm going to be 50 years old on Christmas Day {good Lord willing} and I think that one of the best birthday gifts I can bestow upon myself is fitter, healthier, leaner me. Yeah - I like that vision. Will this be difficult? YES. Will I fall "off the wagon"? Probably. Will I get back on and keep going? You better bet I will!

So..I invite you to follow along with me. I'll be posting my weigh-ins (once a week on Sundays), my exercise "expeditions" (that should be interesting!), my thoughts, recipes and how I manage my food as well as pictures of my progress (no - I won't burn your eyes!). Feel free to comment, ask questions..but most of all, I ask that you encourage me with positivity. No negativity allowed in this space..not even from me.

Ready? I know I am