Where does one start blogging?

Where does one start with blogging? Frankly, I do not have the slightest idea.  I do know why I decided to start a blog though. Simple, I want to be me. I want to say what I want to say, brag about what I want to brag about, and actually give my opinions... that solely relates to food - and probably some fitness too. I hope my healthy love affair with food will some day inspire someone or help someone.

A little background, growing up I had always had a complex with food - the complex being I could never seem to quench any cravings, so I engorged in whatever it was I was craving - primarily being salty stuff.  Good Lord, give me a bag of potato chips, pop corn, or butter noodles and I thought I had died and gon' to heaven. And Taco Bell, on the menu at least two or three times a week. 

To top if off, I was thee pickiest eater growing up.  My mom would pay me to try new foods, and of course I did, I wanted that flippin' dollar.  I didn't start to venture out with my food preferences until I moved out when I was 19. I have slowly tried new foods, and started cooking with new foods. However, it wasn't until this past year where my true love of food has come out. 

Eleven months ago, I was 40 pounds heavier than I am today. My incredible boyfriend, David, and I went to Maui in the end of September. Once I started looking at the pictures from the trip and the previous few months, I realized how large I had gotten. When I saw my arms - that was my wake up call. I decided I wanted to go from 164 to 149. Just fifteen pounds - great! But I didn't end up losing just fifteen pounds, I ended up losing 40 pounds - super great!! 

I have been extremely lucky in life when it comes to having incredible bosses who have turned into some of the most inspiring people I have met. The Belhassan family are my fitness guru's, my accountability partners, and gently gave me tough love. My gratitude runs deeps towards them. Maria and my Mom taught me how to cook healthy and healthy alternatives to unhealthy ingredients, along with pinterest too!

I started out by being on a 1,200 calorie day, so I literally counted every calorie I consumed, and stopped eating carbs. There are tons of Apps. to help you, the one I used was Calorie Counter. After about four months or so, I trusted myself enough to stop using it. I studied a lot about food, best foods for the body, best times to eat, etc. I always allowed cheat days, it was from Saturday afternoon to Sunday morning - I never would go to overboard because the few times I did, I felt so sick because it was shock of unhealthiness to my body. I also quit drinking - yes I would still have a glass of wine here and there though. Next, I started running just four months ago. I hated every single second in the beginning, but I stuck to it, and now I actually enjoy running. I also have incorporated some carbs here and there back into my diet.

Anyways, so long story short, through this journey it created this obsession I have now to be healthy and eat healthy. I guess I ended up like a tree hugger just like my Mama after all - all those dollar bills paid off after all ;)