Living Beautifully – from the inside out.

I have to tell you all: I’m not sure why I volunteered to write about diet and exercise. If you could imagine the healthiest, most disciplined woman you know – the one who eats a half salad when you go out for lunch, the one who runs 5Ks for fun, the one who can walk by a mirror or go shopping without breaking down into tears – well, that would most certainly NOT be me.

Weight – and therefore, healthy eating and exercise – is something I have struggled with my whole life. I don’t ever remember not feeling fat.

But while I still feel fat on a verrry regular basis, my focus these days is truly about my health. Almost two years ago, I had a serious health scare. Just into my third trimester with my first child, I developed severe high blood pressure. Because the doctors were highly concerned about my health and safety, I delivered my daughter at 33 weeks – that’s seven weeks early for those of you keeping track! I then spent more than a week in the hospital getting myself – and my health – back under control.

You’d think that would be enough, right? Surely a scare like that would be enough to force me into better, healthier habits!

Unfortunately, no. I quickly returned to stress eating, emotional eating, this tastes good eating (surely you get the picture!). And exercise? Ha! You mean getting up earlier than I have to? No, thank you!

But I refuse to be beaten this time. It is completely possible to attain – and maintain – a healthy weight. And I know it can be done with healthy eating (not starving – I am SO not into that) and consistent exercise.

And so, in my effort to live beautifully – from the inside out – I’m going to take you along with me on this journey. Please read along as I share with you my healthy living ups and downs. I hope you’ll tell me some of your best tips and tricks for living a beautiful, healthy life. I know I can do this – but I bet it will be a little bit easier if we all do it together.

Today, will you tell me something about your health habits? Do you have a good habit that actually comes naturally for you? (For me, it's drinking water.) Is there something you wish you could add or remove from your life, in order to be more healthy?