Every story has a beginning. This is mine. I was 32, and more or less, a couch potato. I've always carried an extra 30-40 pounds but it didn't bother me (much). Sure, I would secretly day dream about wearing a bikini, but I wasnt unhappy. Then, in 2010, I gained almost 50 pounds in under a year. Suddenly, I was closer to 100 pounds overweight, tired and completely miserable.
Determined to slim down, early in 2011, I joined Weight Watchers and started exercising. Month after month, I was devastated to see that I wasn't losing any weight... in fact, I was still gaining! After seeing a dozen doctors, I was finally diagnosed with Hashimoto's Thyroiditis, an autoimmune disease that makes weight loss very difficult. I was started on thyroid medication and over the next 12 months, I only lost 12 pounds.
Frustrated, in June of 2012, I fired my endocrinologist and got a new doctor. She increased my medication and FINALLY, I'm losing weight! I've lost 19 pounds and I'm feeling better than ever. But, I need to lose a lot more to get into that bikini I've been dreaming of.
So, last month, when my friend Amanda mentioned training for a triathlon, I said YES without hesitating. I believe the training will help me shed the weight and give me a concrete goal.
I have 9 months. What have I gotten myself into...?
