First Introductions

I think it is important you first know who I am. Or at least who I thought I was until I started a crazy-ass path a year and a bit ago to better health both mentally and physically.

I am the girl with the pretty face. I have always been the girl with the pretty face. In grade school I was pretty but never was noticed by the boys (until I sprouted my boobs and then glances went from my pretty face to my chest). In high school I was super active in activities, had a hundred crushes but never dated. I was always told, "You have such a pretty face".

Now, while some may say I should be thankful for such compliments, I was and still am. This aided in my self confidence growing up and having the big personality that I have, having a pretty face was an ok package. But when people say that to a young girl and then a girl in her teens, she begins to understand what the underlying message there is... You have a pretty face; but the rest of you needs a little work to catch up.

So started my complete disconnection with my body.  I didn't know that at the time, but realize this now as I only now start to really feel, experience and listen to what my body goes through daily.  I didn't feel that what I was eating was making me obese; I didn't feel how absolutely terrible I felt every day until I knew the difference; I didn't recognize that indescribable exhaustion I was experiencing every day - all this was happening because I wasn't in my body.  And because I am where I am now in the process, I only realize that this is how I was living.

Maybe calling this post First Introductions is all that accurate because this really isn't who I am/was, but it's a good place to start, at least with looking back on where my health was.

I was "happy"; personable, had a lot of friends, did well in school, overly successful at anything I did from a young age - but worked hard for what I had.  The Girl with the Pretty Face was that and seemed to have a perfectly content life...