It's been awhile since I've written a blog. As a matter of fact, the last one was a Nicaragua blog. In some ways this one is a continuation of that blog.

While in Nicaragua, Chris and I had a chance to go exploring on our own and while attempting to follow a nature trail, we got off course due to wrong directions and ended up trecking through the jungle during rainy season in a third world country. It was an adventure, but it could have been a dangerous one, but not for the reason you may be thinking.

On the course of our excursion, I became overheated, my breathing was rapid, my legs hurt with every step I took and my heart was pounding so loudly in my ears that I couldnt hear my best friend talking to me. I thought for the first time in my life that I was having a heart attack. Being a burn survivor is difficult enough, but over the years, i've allowed my weight to get away from me. As of the Nicaragua trip, I was weighing in at about 310lbs at 5'3 and 36 years old.

Chris was very concerned about me and was actually worried that I might be about to die in the middle of the mud in the jungle. She told me that she was very worried about my weight because I am one of the few women she trust and that she needed her best friend for another 20-30 years. I made a promise to her and myself to work on this problem.

Chris and I joined a local gym about a month before thanksgiving and have been working hard ever since. I have a long way to go but with such an incredible support system I know I can do it. We train 2 hours a night with a great deal of emphasis on cardio and abs. I told Emme about it and told her I would send pictures, but I thought that maybe I could help encourage others if I blogged about the process.

I am just trying to advocate being healthier. I know I am a real size woman and I have no desire to be a size two because I know that is an unrealistic goal for me, but I want to be healthier, I want to be in the hospital less. I have been in 29 times in the last four years and that is way too many trips. So I will be blogging periodically and posting new pictures. If anyone wants any advice or interested in our workout rountines I will be glad to shre them. Thanks everyone! The above pic is Chris and I on our Nicaragua trip. My weigh was 310lbs Weight as of 1/8/09-------------295lbs-------size 24W