Hey there Faith Fitness and Fun readers! I'm Lindsay and I blog over at Living Lindsay. I'm so honored that Tina has given me the opportunity to invade her corner of the blog world and share my story. Thank you so much Tina!

When you spend most of your life overweight, it becomes second nature to lose faith in yourself. Self- confidence flies out the window and you always view the cup as half-empty.

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I spent the majority of my life as an obese girl. Thankfully, I had a close group of friends and was well- liked by everyone, but that didn’t change the fact that I never had a boyfriend, was never asked to a school dance, and always dreaded being in front of the classroom for fear of being teased.

 

Me just before my senior year of high school

The majority of my negative memories and feelings involve gym class and the physical fitness tests that we had to complete each quarter. Part of the test included a one-mile run. I would always try to find an excuse to postpone it so that I could make it up and run it alone as opposed to running it with the whole class. Unfortunately, the teachers were REALLY good at keeping it a secret and we never knew about it until class time. I always finished last, but at least I finished. I never won the award for the most athletic or the fastest, but I always won the award for the most enthusiastic. I embraced that award and still do because I know that quality is what has made me who I am today.

In January 2010, I decided to change my life and lost 112 pounds. No fad diets were involved. In fact, no diet at all was involved. I simply ate healthy and exercised. I follow a 90/10 rule: eat healthy 90% of the time, and allow yourself some flexibility the rest of the time. This has truly been my key to success because I never feel deprived, restricted, or punished.

Exercise is no longer a fear of mine, as it used to be. Instead, it’s something I love doing and I embrace the challenge each and every day.

So in June, I decided it was time to face my fears and signed up for my first 5K. I didn’t train for it. I just decided two days prior to the race that it was time to prove that I could do it. Anyone who has lost weight can attest to the fact that seeing yourself as a “new” person is really difficult. Part of me still believed that I wasn’t strong enough or fit enough to do it. But I spent my entire life believing that I couldn’t do things and let my weight stand in the way of so many experiences and opportunities. I’m not the same girl and it was time to prove it to myself.

 
On the day of the race, I felt extremely nervous and almost backed out. What if I wouldn’t be able to finish? What if I finished last? I then reminded myself that it really didn’t matter. Do the best you can and you really can’t feel badly about anything. When the whistle blew and the race began, I felt invincible. I knew I wouldn’t finish first, but I was determined to run the whole race. When I passed the 2 mile mark, I felt so unbelievably proud. And when I saw the “Finish” line, I never felt more proud of myself.

 

Mission accomplished!

I suddenly realized that I blew the gym class fitness test out of the water that morning and it felt amazing! There was nothing to fear anymore.

Losing weight helped me gain control of my life. I now have the confidence and self-esteem to try new things and challenge myself. That little voice is still in the back of my head at times, trying to convince me that I can’t do something. But I’m strong enough to ignore it and instead choose to believe that I can.

I’ve learned to love myself. And you know what? I’ve learned to love who I used to be, too. Yes, I wish some things in my life could have been different, but I am who I am now because of who I used to be. You can spend time wishing your life had been different, or wishing you looked a different way. Or, you can focus on something about yourself that is absolutely incredible, and use it to propel your life forward in a positive direction. Give yourself an award and embrace it. I'm sticking with "most enthusiastic".

It certainly has taken me far. 

• What award would you give yourself?

Hello FFF readers!  Your regularly scheduled writer has been kidnapped, and I'm not sure when she will return. For part of today, you won't be met with the fantastic posts you've come to know and love 🙂  Instead, you will have to endure one from me, her better half...  As you may have figured out, I'm the one who is holding her for ransom. Shhhh, she doesn't know it yet and I hope she doesn't get too mad at me.

If you've been reading since at least last month, you might know that her birthday was not too long ago and there were a couple of items on her birthday wish list.  I tried to satisfy them all but there was one item she wanted/wants so bad.  Of course, being the great husband I am, I have to spoil her .

As I'm sure most of you have realized by now, Tina is a tinnie, winnie bit (pinching my fingers together), how should I say this, obsessed, with a show that is in town.

So a short two months ago, i got tickets for today’s show, and if your reading this now then we might just be there.  Well, that is if we aren't stuck in good old Atlanta traffic.

Surprising Tina is a monumental task.  You guys have no idea how incredibly hard it is to actually surprise her with something she really, really wants.  Sometimes I just wanted to give in and tell her.  I kept my mouth shut and shut tight. Hopefully she didn’t figure it out when she got home from her run and the kids were gone.  Of course they were missing..  “My work meeting got cancelled so I dropped them off at my mom’s.”  I can’t believe that worked!

So off we go!  I’m sure Tina will let everyone know how the little adventure went.  Oh and Tina, you better not be reading this on your iPhone or else I didn't do a good enough job keeping it away from you!

And now back to your regularly scheduled blogging…