Hello, World!

I have always been the kind of person to start to do something, become distracted, and then flitter away to something else like a four year old set loose in a Toys R Us. Because of this, for me to be on day three of dieting and yet not flagging - well, that means that a very large part of me must really want this for herself. (thanks, Past!Patricia).

So, hi. My name is Patricia. I'm 24 years old - 25 in March - and trying to lose 95 pounds. This will put me at 225 pounds, if you can believe it. Yes, I came into this weighing that much. But do you know what? That's okay. There is power just in being willing to say it, so I hope that this will help, even if it's just a touch more. Why 95 pounds? The number "100" feels serious and impossible. It's three digits long, it's scary. But 95? That seems much more friendly and reasonable. 95? I can do 95. 100? Maybe not, but 95? Sure, why not. (plus, by the time I get to 95, what's another 5 to 100 anyway? Shh, don't tell Future!Patricia about this).

I am starting this as a two-pronged effort:

• Counting calories on sparkpeople.com. I know most people prefer MyFitnessPal, and I tried it for a while, but Sparkpeople feels much more social, and is more flashy and has things like trophies and you can "level up," which appeals to me. Give me the shiny!
• Going to the gym at least 5 days a week. 5 is probably all that will happen - at first, at least. I work in a university, and so I get a discounted rate at the student gym. Before, it was too easy to say "Well I don't want to drive all that way, the weather is too bad ..." - now it's a block and a half from my office. Where is your excuse now, peasant? Plus, if I am spending $20 a month, this means I'm paying ~$1/day to these people if I show up or not. Might as well show up, right?

I hope that this blog can serve as hope to myself in the present, and motivation to others in the future. If I can do it then maybe, just maybe, you can - we all can. (except you. not you. well, okay. you can, too, I guess). I hope to do weekly progress posts, perhaps? Just at first. And we'll see where it goes from there!