her "battle scars"

Looking back on my first half marathon, I am the happiest to know that I shared something so special with my husband.  Although we did not race side by side, I am beyond proud of all that he has done.  He transformed his life and he says he felt amazing in that race and can't wait to race again!  As for me, I am planning on going for my first post-race run tomorrow and we'll see how it goes!  

I'm a little nervous, maybe that's normal?

Our anniversary this year was not chocolate covered strawberries and candles, it was sweat and tears...lots of tears!  Ha!  But it's an anniversary we'll NEVER forget, that's for sure!

Aimee's Story:

and now for a story I'd like to share!  My friend, Aimee has been in my life for years.  We went to school together and hung out a lot in jr. high and high school.  A very sweet girl.  Always knew how to make you smile, but like myself, we struggled with our weight as teenagers.  

She is a wonderful mother and a successful business owner these days, 

and has recently found a new way of life...

I am going to ask her for some pictures so you can actually "meet" her, 

but for now I'd like you to read her post below...

"As , most of you, my friends, know I try to keep my facebook post short, sweet and humorous. This time I have a message and if you happen to care or just have a few minutes of your life you want to use up please continue reading. I began a major lifestyle change.on December 1st, 2011. After crying in yet another dressing room, looking at pictures from my daughters birthday party and being the fatt...est mom there, and living the past 18 months praying and worrying my moms medicine would fix her heart disease I had an epiphany. I made the choice to get off the couch and stop abusing my body. My drug of choice being food. For those of you that think food and sweets are not legitimate addictions, I'm here to tell you that you are dead wrong. Since December 1st I have begun a regimine of eating right and exercising. I have lost almost 40 lbs and feel amazing. Of course fitting into smaller clothes is nice but being able to play football and soccer with my kids in the yard without having to sit down is worth more than any pair of jeans I can slip into. For years I was the fat kid. I was so lucky to have amazing friends in school and was never teased or made to feel different. I realize alot of kids and adults now a days are not so lucky. I spent the first 30 years of my life being the girl who was always told "you would be so pretty if you lost weight". but you know what I'm just as pretty, just as friendly and funny and care about people just as much being 40 lbs lighter and taking up a bit less square footage. You all know I am an open book. I will tell you anything you want to know about myself. Im not a trainer or nutrition specialists but I am here to listen to anyone who needs it. My movement is to put an end to heart disease and to encourage people to exercise to keep their hearts healthy. I'm just me, a fat girl who decided to do something about it. I'll never forget the past 30 years. They are my battle scars. They made me strong and made me who I am today. It will be a constant struggle but the fat girl has left the building, as long as I keep her away from the oreos, lol."

If you know someone who shares these same struggles, help them remember that it's NEVER too late.  As I was running that race on Sunday, I kept going back to the dark place I lived for so long.  Happiness covered by fear and embarrassment.  That shame I felt each time I had failed at a "diet".  So many of us share these struggles and it's SO hard to have someone understand.  If we have people to lean on, it helps but we MUST RELY ON OURSELVES.  Nobody can change for us, we must change OURSELVES!  I ran that race for ME.  I wanted to break free from that "fat girl" that I used to be.  And let me tell you, it felt great...that finish line held so much more than the end for me, it was more like a new beginning!  13.1 baby!

I'd like to say good luck to Aimee with her weight loss journey, sounds like she's on the right track!  

SO proud of you, girl!