Allow Me To Introduce Myself...

Hi, I'm Carly. Let me tell you a bit about myself.

I'm a 30-something woman with two dogs, a boyfriend, and a career I love! I'm also a big fan of being outdoors (hike, anyone?)  and I struggle with weight. Or maybe I should say, "I struggled with weight."

I did all the things that everyone does. I bought the workout programs, the supplements, the gym memberships with a trainer, and the "health food" that I never would've bought. I've done detoxes and crash diets, all in the name of getting my body back. And they worked...for a while.

Me in 2014, doing the gym thing with a personal trainer.

I was never obese. I'm not trying to say that. However, working a stressful job with long hours that had me always sitting in front of a computer, then coming home too tired to cook much less workout, I watched as my clothes became tighter and the number on the scale became larger and eventually, I didn't quite feel like myself anymore.

It wasn't an overnight thing. It happened over time. I didn't pay much attention to a pound here or a pound there, until I couldn't ignore it anymore.

At a Halloween wedding in 2015.

I was always a very active person. I played sports and spent my summers growing up on the lake water skiing and wake boarding. In the winter, I was in aerobics classes or training for the upcoming track season. I was IN SHAPE.

Then life happened like it does and while I wasn't depressed, I wasn't entirely thrilled seeing pictures of myself or how I felt in my own skin.

That's when I started "getting serious." By getting serious, I mean spending a whole bunch of time, money and frustration on workout programs, supplements and meal plans that, in the long run, weren't sustainable.

I'd lose some weight just to gain it back and I was making myself miserable! "Why isn't this working?? I've only had this many calories today," or "I've taken the supplements like I'm supposed to."

I was starving and cranky and REALLY didn't like myself then.

I knew I couldn't go on this way. I didn't want to fight this weight battle for the rest of my life. I needed something that was sustainable for myself and my bank account.

I began to research. That's when I realized that maybe the answer had been in front of me for quite a while. You see, I had a friend who was doing this thing that seemed really weird to me, but it really seemed to be working for her.

She was constantly posting on Facebook about how much weight she'd lost and how great she felt, etc. Typical "diet" stuff, right?

I was sooo wrong.

I finally reached out and asked her to give me her story. What was so fantastic about her plan...and how do I start?

Turns out, it was ridiculously simple and best of all? FREEEEEEEEEEEEE

I decided to start right then and there and I haven't looked back.

Me in August 2018 with my amazingly supportive boyfriend in my GOAL dress!

I reached my goal weight in 6 months and it was the easiest thing I've done. In fact, I would've gotten there quicker had I been a bit more strict with myself, but I'm only human, right?

That's something that's so easy to forget about ourselves...but that's a topic for another post.

So, what was this amazing, light bulb, FINALLY-works-for-me lifestyle change?

Two words: Intermittent Fasting.

I know what you might be thinking..."So, starving yourself, right?" Not even close!

Lemme tell ya, I EAT. I eat whatever I want...just not when I want. And while I do keep focus on having a balanced diet, I can have cake, steak, bread, cheese, even WINE! (One of the hardest things I've ever tried to give up...)

I've even dressed up like it for Halloween...ok, I'm champagne (on the right), but it still counts.

The best part? It works around my schedule and my lifestyle.

I've rambled on long enough for today, but if IF sounds intriguing to you, checkout the Resources page with some excellent info from a few folks more qualified than myself to explain things a bit better.

I'll definitely be talking more about my experience with IF and my journey on getting my body back! It's always a work in progress.

With that being said, if you have any questions about IF, or, anything really, I'd love to hear from you. Feel free to comment below or signup for my newsletter right here!