A+

For the majority of our school lives, achieving an A+ is a wonderful moment. Now that I'm out of school, I don't want much to say 'plus' beside it, but especially my clothing.

Let me introduce myself: I'm a 35 year old Wife and Mom living in the dreaded suburbs. There are many things I never thought would happen to me. I never thought I'd live in the 'burbs, wearing a size 16, and a messy hairdo. Yes, you correctly read my size, it's a 16. I love photography, making costumes, retro hairstyles, and I have a penchant for most things from the 1950s.

Amazingly, being accountable to myself doesn't seem to be enough, thus the start of this blog. See, I'm going to give the URL to some people in my life that I respect greatly, some of which have properly amazing bodies. It shouldn't matter, but I'll admit it, I compare myself to others whom I feel are better than me, all the freaking time. It's so annoying, but I can't seem to stop.

Recently I went away to Vancouver to visit my Husband's family. During that trip I had a lot of time to think about my life and how much I've rolled over on my back and am just waiting to be eaten by wild dogs. A new and improved Allison hit the streets of Ontario when we got back. A woman who wasn't going to take shit anymore from anyone. No more intimidation. No more of so many things. And yeah, for the first week, I was golden! Man, so many people commented on this new Allison.

Now that we've been back for 3 weeks, I am crawling back into my 'let everyone walk all over me hole'. Eleanor Roosevelt once said: "In the long run, we shape our lives, and we shape ourselves. The process never ends until we die. And the choices we make are ultimately our own responsibility." More than ever those words are running around in my head.

This blog will document me shaping not only my mind, my soul, my self, but also my physical body. No longer will I be weak.

Straight shooting is what you'll read here. At times my words may seem harsh, self-defeating, crass, vulgar, honest, warm, and funny. I hope you'll tag along getting to know me, as I get to know myself. And no, there won't be any hippy-dippy shakra cleansing moments. When it comes down to brass tacks, I'm a feisty and funny gal. I'm not on a journey. I'm just really fucking tired of being fat and sad.

Word up, G's.

Be prepared, tomorrow is measurement and weight revealing day. The only way I can learn to be comfortable in my own skin is to let the world know the real me, not the one sucking in her stomach!

"Let's get physical!" - Olivia Newton John (hahahaha!)

Allison, A+