Hello. I welcome you to take this journey with me as I attempt to become physically fit and lose weight. As a high school teacher working on her master's, I can easily become so overwhelmed with my many responsibilities and forget to take care of myself properly. I neglect myself by not eating properly and not getting enough physical activity. The result of this is high blood pressure, diabetes and obesity.

Now that the summer is here, I want to develop good habits when it comes to exercise and eating. Hopefully, this journal can inspire others to do the same as well as keep me accountable in order to continually make progress. I don't know how detailed I will be but I will give it a try.

I have already started increasing my physical activity. I started walking in my neighborhood in the mornings with my daughter. I did not today, but that's okay. (I did some aerobic exercises.) No excuses tomorrow. I enjoy walking, but I have to change my route just to keep it interesting. Listening to music as I walk helps also, but I must create an upbeat playlist. Slow songs slow my pace.

Also, to change our sedentary lives, I bought tennis rackets for everyone. Yesterday, at the local tennis center, we had fun learning to serve and hitting the ball at the tennis wall. We plan to return tonight. If this continues, I may invest in a basketball goal. I am just trying to find fun, inexpensive ways to keep us moving.

Tomorrow, I plan to walk and stretch for at least 60 minutes in the morning. I plan to cut most refined carbohydrates. So, I must finish off those chocolate chip cookies tonight!!!

Well, let the journey begin.