I’m preparing this post the night before it will be published because I feel like preparing it and sending it off to be published now will guarantee that I do what I say I’m going to in the morning.

Starting Monday February 1, 2010 I begin my 30 day journey. You guys all know that I plan on running my first half marathon on October 3 and my training will officially begin April 1st, but to get things going a little early I am going to do Jillian Michaels 30 Day Shredd for 30 days in a row. The month of February is only 28 days, but I will move 2 days into March before starting the second leg of my pretraining plan (I’ll tell you about that in a few weeks) on March 3rd.

For these next 30 days I will, like I said, do the 30 Day Shredd everyday as part of my fitness program as well as pilates on Tuesday afternoons. Saturday or Sunday will be my big cardio day (weather permitting) where I will begin working up to 5 miles on those days.

For the next 30 days Jason and I have vowed NOT to turn on the television in our bedroom after the girls have gone to bed. It keeps me up much later than I need to be causing me to be extra tired in the morning and at times skipping morning workouts. It also keeps us from conversing with each other in a meaningful way. That is the relationship part of my program.

Linsey and I will go for a long and speedy walk every Monday or Wednesday to get her used to the distance. That will also give us time to spend together without having to share my attention with Regan. That is the mother/daughter part of the 30 day program.

I’m calling this post Exposed because I’m revealing my EVERYTHING to you in it. I put on a pair of my favorite jeans a week or so ago and they fit quite a bit tighter than they had the last time I wore them. I have been quite the slacker with my exercise the past few months. I use the fact that it’s cold outside as an excuse when in reality I could easily have been doing serious work outs regularly inside with the abundance of DVD’s I own, but I decided to be lazy instead. Well, that stops now.

Today, February 1, 2010 I am weighing in at 120 lbs exactly. Not heavy by any means, but 5 lbs  heavier than I was in October and more than anything I’m getting soft and losing some of my physical endurance. I feel more tired in the evenings and have less energy throughout the day.

I came to terms with my body some time ago, but we continue to have this love/hate thing going on from time to time. Like when I put on a pair of jeans and they are tighter than before!! That isn’t a life or death situation, but it bothers me that I haven’t been paying enough attention to keep up the results I reached with hard work in the past.

Mish at eatingjourney has lovingly given me the OK to join her ‘Exposed’family. So, today, here I am. This is me…exposed. I’m not a hard body and may never be, but I’m striving for progress and not perfection. I may never actually look like Heidi Klum (Mostly because I will NEVER be 5 feet 10 inches tall) but I can always use her as my guide to what I believe that true beauty is!! She is beautiful inside just as much as out.

This is me…exposed. I am 30 years old. I am 120lbs. I once weighed 200 lbs. I am a wife. I am a mother. People tell me I’m too thin. People question my lifestyle. Some have questioned whether or not I have an eating disorder. People question my health. You know who you are. Some used to tell me that I had the perfect ‘birthing’ hips. I once was told my ass was too big. I previously was told that I needed to start working out because I was too fat… I am NONE of those things. I am happy. I am healthy. I am physically fit and getting fitter by the day. I eat healthy by choice and like it. My daughter’s will NEVER hear me talk negatively about myself or my body – EVER!!! To all those who have ever questioned me or my motives or my health – this is for you. This is me…exposed.

Don’t be afraid to be yourself. You do it right. You do it best. Don’t be afraid to be ‘Exposed’…

To thine own self be true, and it must follow, as the night the day, thou canst not then be false to any man. ~ William Shakespeare (my favorite author ever!)

Today you are You, that is truer than true. There is no one alive who is Youer than You. ~ Dr. Seuss (my 2nd favorite author ever!)

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