One Down...Many to Go

One complete year of blogging!!

I don't even know where to start this post. So let's just start with something I know we all love...cake!! Every birthday needs a cake and I think I found one we can all enjoy guilt-free :)  A couple of years ago was looking for something to make for my sister's birthday. She was trying to eat healthy. How can you be supportive and still make someone a birthday cake? Well, you hop on Pinterest....enter "watermelon birthday cake"...and let the fun begin.  (Her cake ended up being a version of the one with the rind - right middle picture.)

Just a quick word about Pinterest - love it!  However, I do have mixed feelings about using pictures I find because it is often difficult to properly credit individuals for their creativity. The following are the sources to the best of my sleuthing. One cake in particular, I couldn't find the original. It is clear from the pin the blogger didn't make the cake and didn't credit the person who did, therefore I will not be listing their blog as a source. (www.watermelon.org;www.apronstringsblog.com; www.digicrumbs.com;www.mommymoment.ca; www.thrivenutritionandwellness.wordpress.com)

Hopping off soapbox...Obviously, my blog needed a birthday cake to celebrate its 1st birthday. Using the above pictures as inspiration, this is what I came up with...

First I "peeled" the watermelon.

My plan was to make an elegant "cake" like the ones on my inspiration board. I started by making a couple of the spikes of fruit. I planned to make a lovely scalloped edge at the bottom using the orange slice halves. I planned to put a row of kiwis around the center of the watermelon base. Then I thought a blueberry in the center of the kiwi would be pretty. I attached the first kiwi with blueberry to the watermelon and instantly the cake was "looking" at me. One thing led to another and my cake went from elegant to ridiculous and I love it :)

Let me just say this. I will be seriously disappointed if at least one of you doesn't make a watermelon cake for some event this summer!

When I started this blog one year ago, I don't think I ever really considered that I would be celebrating this milestone. I didn't know what I was getting myself into. I wanted something to help hold me accountable on my latest fitness/weight loss attempt. I wasn't sure how open I would be and if anyone would read it.  Turns out a year later I have pretty much put it all out there and people are reading...crazy!

If you have been reading along with my journey (SPOILER ALERT) you know I have not "lost my puppy" yet.  The bottom line is that I had lost about 34 pounds (almost 1/2 my puppy) and then the bottom fell out. A couple of weeks ago Katie with Runs for Cookies posted about how the weight creeps back. I know I heard this exact conversation in my head.  As a result, according to the scale this morning, I have "lost" 6 pounds in the past year. UGH! To say I am disappointed is a massive understatement.  I would love to say "hey, I went through a terrible thing and here is how I continued to take care of myself." It isn't even that I am mad for not continuing to lose, but to have gained back "lost" weight is frustrating. It is difficult to admit that I still can't seem to string together enough "healthy" days to turn this journey around. And yet, I continue to try. I have NOT given up.

It is nearly impossible to give up when I have so many people in my corner. I had no idea what it would mean to have people take the time to read and comment about my journey. I had hoped my blog would someday have readers and even hoped that I might make a small difference to those readers. Little did I know it was the "readers" that would make a HUGE difference to me.  Truth is, I am still fighting because of the encouragement of readers...readers who I now count as friends.

Shortly after I started writing this blog, I found another blog that was actually started on the very same day - May 12, 2014.. It was also a weight loss blog written by a woman of similar age and weight. We kept in touch for awhile through blog comments and eventually she stopped blogging. I think of her often and wonder how she is doing. Just because she is not blogging doesn't mean she has fallen off. Blogging takes a huge time commitment and not everyone can afford that time. Even if she has fallen off I would want her to know that you can jump right back on anytime. Nancy, if you happen by this post. I just want to say thank you for all support. When I started, I wasn't sure if anyone would ever read my blog. It was quite thrilling to find that someone was reading and that someone was so kind and encouraging. I hope all is well in your world.

So what is the plan going forward? I will keep fighting to find my weight loss mojo! I will continue to share this adventure with anyone who would like to follow along. Maybe I can recycle some of my posts from last summer - who doesn't love summer reruns :)  One of my favorite posts was when I lost 25 pounds. I haven't done a race since last November. As much as I have enjoyed cheering on others and taking pictures of their races, I want to get off the sideline and back into racing.

Finally, since every birthday needs presents...I am offering two small giveaways.  Just leave a comment on this post and I will enter you into a drawing for one of the following prizes. I am doing two separate drawings. Please indicate in your comment if you would like to enter for prize 1 or 2 (or both).

1) $15 Subway gift card and 2 Fitbit wristbands.

Disclaimer: My husband bought the extra wristbands for me when he bought me a Fitbit Flex for Christmas (pictured above). Unfortunately, my wrists are not as dainty as he imagined and they are too small.  The picture shows three, but there are only two because I broke the black one trying to make it fit :(

2) Frisbee golf disc set. (This prize will be shipped directly from Amazon).  My husband and I have enjoyed some very amateur frisbee golf adventures. See us in action here and here.

I will announce the winner tomorrow evening and make arrangements to get the prize to you.  Good luck!

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My husband just drew the names....

Congratulations to the Winners!

Prize # 1 - One Crazy Penguin

Prize #2 - Desiree - Finding the Skinny Geek Within

We will be in touch about getting your prizes to you :) 

Thank you everyone for all your support and encouragement!. Your comments over the past year have made all the difference in me continuing to work toward my goal. 

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Millie on her 1st birthday.

Happy Birthday, Losing My Puppy!!! 

Linking to Weigh-In Wednesday. I feel like I am starting over and have just set a new starting weight on Monday. I was down almost a pound this morning. I am drinking a TON of water.  Hopefully, this will be the restart I really need :)   Don't forget to leave a comment indicating which prize you would like to enter to win - you can say both!