Sunday, August 2, 2009

I'm baaaaaaack!!!

So it's been about 6 weeks since I stopped blogging. I've done a lot of thinking and soul seraching to decide if and how I'd carry on.

I received so many heartfelt comments, emails, and so much encouragement from you!

As the day approaches that was supposed to be the end of the 20/20 Challenge, I've been really sad and a little embarassed. At times I feel like I let the group down, but it really just got to be too big and too hard to track. As many of you know, I was going through a move and some big changes in life during the challenge time. So it turns out it works much better for me to do things on my own. I thought I needed a big group to help support me through the last 20 lbs., but instead it was intimidating and stressful! I kind of went from being everyone's cheerleader to leaving the blog and hiding.
So now I'm in a scary, new, but good place in life. I moved 1000 miles away to Jacksonville, FL. I'm going to a new church, looking for a new job, meeting new people, and I'm feeling really free and refreshed. I feel like I'm prepared to be on my own again and lose the last 20-ish pounds.

It's going to be especially hard because it's HOT here, and running is much more difficult for me, so I'm going to have to focus more on other forms of exercise and keeping my food in check. I've also at this time decided to go back to vegetarianism. It's something I've been struggling with for a long, long time. If I was single and on my own, I would be. If you're a year in the kitchen reader, you'll still see some meaty meals because I'll make it for JJ and company.

So the plan is to hopefully get daily posts up with my food intake and exercise. Maybe I'll get some more fitness and health information in too! It just depends on how crazy things get when I start a new job and such. We'll see!

I hope you all welcome me back with open arms, I have missed blogging SO much on this and my food blog...

And to start this new adventure, I chopped off 10 inches of hair.... eek!


So to wrap this up, I was tagged by Meredith, and now I must list 6 of my favorite things... so here we go!

1. My husband, JJ! I don't really think I need to elaborate on how awesome he is and how much
I love him. 2. Pumpkin Spice! Again, everyone knows how much I love her :)3. My family. My family is wonderful... so supportive, loving and fantastic! 4. Ohio State Buckeyes Football!!! Thank goodness our all inclusive Comcast package in Florida carries the Big 10 Network!!! I was worried I'd only catch a couple games this season. Watching the Buckeyes makes me feel like I'm not so far from home :) 5. Food Shopping! It is probably the thing I look forward to the most. On Saturday mornings, I get out of bed so early because I can't wait to go food shopping. I love menu planning and getting there when it opens so it's empty and I have the whole store to myself. I wander down each aisle and spend about 2 hours doing my weekly food shop!6. Reading, especially Twilight :) I cannot wait for November 20 :) :) :) I'm looking forward to a long afternoon at the pool tomorrow reading my newest book, Chasing Harry Winston!

26 comments:

  1. Welcome back, and welcome to Jacksonville :)

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  2. So excited that you're back, and best of luck in your new town!

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  3. Glad you're back! I have quite a few Florida blog friends! They get up at insane early times to run. Crazy heads. ;)

    Your hair looks very cute in your Twilight picture!

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  4. welcome back! I, for one, am glad you started the 20/20 challenge, even if it got too big for its britches! You really inspired me to get my butt moving and teamed me up with some awesome girls who have been great cheerleaders. Thank you SO much! I look forward to what is yet to come.

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  5. Welcome back! You look awesome in that last picture. :)

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  6. Welcome back, Ash! Glad to see you!

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  7. Welcome back, Ash! Glad to 'see' you again! :-)

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  8. Thank heavens! I absolutely respect a girl's right to UNblog but I was so hoping you'd be back! You were the inspiration for me to start MY weight loss/food/health/misc. blog!

    Glad my muse is back, is all I'm sayin'.

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  9. Yay! So glad you are back! I have missed reading your posts. Hope your move went well and that you are getting to know your new stomping grounds. I am making the big move to Germany in a few weeks and am getting nervous about having a new job/not knowing anyone. Hopefully you are settling in and finding some things that you like!

    -Katie

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  10. Welcome back! I was so excited to see you in my Google reader!

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  11. Welcome back, you look great! :-)

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  12. Welcome back! Sometimes you do need to step away and regroup.

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  13. I'm glad you're back! And I love the new haircut-super cute!

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  14. SO glad your back! I was hoping that it was nothing permanent! I LOVE your hair, it's super cute! Again, glad you're back and doing well.

    Hope

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  15. Ash, I'm so happy and proud of you I could cry. Ok, I did a little. Don't make fun -- I'm hormonal!! Seriously, though I'm glad you're back on track and very happy that you have the Big 10 Network! We're Penn State fans and therefore we are rivals, but only for about 4 months of the year. ;)

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  16. Hey... losing 20 lbs of hair is cheating, lol. But it looks great!

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  17. I'm glad you are back! You were one of the first weightloss/fitness blogs I began reading and were a huge inspiration to me. I've got about 20 pounds left that I would like to lose & I'm looking forward to watching you plow through yours too! Good luck and I'm happy you are back in my google reader!

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  18. Yay!!! Soooo glad that you are back! Good luck on your new adventure, new place, etc.

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  19. Welcome back! Here in NC, while it isn't nearly as hot as Florida, it is still pretty steamy, we get up crazy early to run. Be sure to be safe when you do it, though. Light colored clothing and reflective gear if you are running pre-sunrise through dawn times.

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  20. Welcome back! We missed you. You didn't let anyone down. You are an inspiration to all that read your blog!

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  21. Welcome back!! Hope you are enjoying Florida!! And so glad to see you are a fellow Twilighter!!

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  22. I'm so glad you are back, I check out your blog everyday!

    I know how you feel I moved from the states to Australia and knew no one but my husband.

    It gets easier and in no time you will settle right in.

    Good luck!!

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  23. OK.. I stumbled upon your blog by googling for the 30 day shred... I just started a second blog about my weight loss journey (being over 40 it gets very hard to lose any weight!). Running in the humidity... I live in Alabama and the best advice I can give you is run early in the morning! That's my favorite time to run... around 5:30 before the sun is fully up!

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  24. So glad you are back. I look forward to reading your blog :)

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