One step

I took one very small step in a favorable direction yesterday.  I did a very small workout. 
                     <special emphasis on the "very small">

 But let me back up a bit. 
I've been somewhat overweight ever since I became pregnant with jiblet #1 in 2002.  I was an overweight child, but was a very healthy weight throughout my teens.  Early adulthood brought on more freedoms - so a few pounds found their way back to me - but it wasn't until the blessed "event"... that it came pouring back onto me. 
I reached my heaviest point in 2007 - just before conceiving jiblet #2.  There are pictures of me from that time that I still refuse to look at to this day.  I just can't believe that was actually ME! 
During the second pregnancy, I lost 34 pounds - yep - you read that right - DURING the pregnancy!  With my doctor's blessing, all I did was walk on the treadmill at work on both of my 15 minute breaks every workday for the duration of the pregnancy and "voila" - weight-go-buh-bye!
I managed to keep that weight off for a good long while - even during a SAHM stint (which, if you think its easy to keep weight off while staying at home with an infant - there are no words to tell you just how WRONG you are! LOL)
Its only been within the last 6 months that I've noticed it... its coming back!!  The weight that I've so miraculously kept off for nearly 5 years is creeping its way back into my midsection, my neck, my arms, my hands - everywhere! 
                     <disclaimer: I DO of course realize that this isn't some alien parasite that's invading my body
                      without any cause on my part...  I fully realize that my actions did cause this... admitting it is 
                      the difficult part>
My husband has likewise seen a certain robustness in his own midsection that wasn't there before... his has medical cause though - a new medication that has had unspeakably wonderful success with the affliction for which it was prescribed, has one major side-effect: extreme hunger (with an almost uncontrollable sugar craving)

Combined, we have put on a total of approximately 45 pounds since October. 

The good thing about all of this (because its something I trained myself to do years ago - ALWAYS find atleast one sliver of positivity in every situation) is that my husband and I have neither noticed nor judged the weight gain on each other.  We each noticed it in ourselves, of course, but I never would have noticed his gain if he hadn't pointed it out to me and talked about it.  Likewise, he told me that he never would have noticed mine.  Nor does it bother either of us that the other has gained.  We both still view each other the same as we always have!  <3 Love - I ask you - is there anything better?  :)

But I've veered off of my beginning thought... a step in a favorable direction. 
In conversation with Roxy, I managed to narrow down the causes of my gain and my problems in correcting it.  Basically it all boils down to laziness and disorganization. 
So I've decided to take the advice so widely given by the Nike company: "Just DO it!"
And that's exactly what I did last night. 
I've been trying to encourage my MIL for months to get some exercise (she, sadly, is rather morbidly obese).  During a google search, I found a series of exercise one can do while seated!  Cardio, core, arms, legs, everything!  Each of them are no longer than 11 minutes and are very doable. 
I decided I would by a hypocrite if I was nagging her to exercise and I myself was becoming more sedentary by the day... so I pulled up the basic 11 minute seated workout last night and tried it for myself. 
OMG - a serious eye-opener as to exactly how out of shape I have become!!! 
This workout was supposed to elevate the heart rate - but I got completely winded by the end of it!!!! 
I'm glad I started there - because now I have a gauge of exactly where I am, and how far I still have to go.
So last night was my one step in a positive direction. 
First, I need to "just do it" every day - work out.  EVERY day!  I'm not giving myself any days off! 
This will atleast get me started toward taking off the weight I've gained in the last few months...
once I'm back where I began - I can work toward taking off the rest of my excess bulk. 
I'm Matron of Honor in my SIL's wedding in September...  so I've got a goal date!!! 
Now I just need to make a plan and actually STICK to it!!!