Shrinking Natalie

....go hiking with my handsome husband. Last weekend we completed Old Rag Mountain - a 9 mile hike, with a 2,500 foot elevation gain in the first 3 miles.

Now you fill in the blank. Make it something you have or want to accomplish - not just a number.

I am losing/lost weight s...

I made lifetime at my Weight Watchers meeting last night! I weighed in at 129.4 lbs and was able to add the little gold key charm to my Weight Watchers key chain.  And finally, the sun is shining in the DC area for the first time in a week - and its FRIDAY!! So, obviously I am in a good mood.

Awhile ago I promised to do a "looking back" entry about my weight loss journey. Today is the perfect day because at weigh-in tonight I should become a lifetime member of Weight Watchers (6 weeks on maintenance!).

So, if I had a Delorean that could hop through space & time, what five things would I tell myself on May 21st, 2008 - the day before I joined Weight Watchers:

When I married my husband on September 9th, 2006 I probably weighed close to 230 lbs (I am not really sure because I tended to avoid scales back then). When we bought our house and received the key on March 31st, 2007 I probably weighted close to 220 lbs.

Needless to say, I was never carried across the threshold.

I had a goal to run 8 miles (NO WALKING) by February 15th - this past Sunday. Well, I did it! I ran 8 miles in just over 1 hour and 28 minutes - or about an 11 minute per mile pace.

I felt good too, while completing the run. And with each longer run I do, I feel more confident that I will not make a fool of myself at the LAWS Run for the Shelter Half Marathon in April.

I recently picked up a copy of "Self" magazine, and read a section called "15 Minutes to Your Best Self." One of the exercises in this section was a reflection piece related to the new year, and I wanted to share it on here:

I'm proud of....(things in 2008)

• Deciding to get heatlhier, and following through with it.

I change my goals all the time. I am always setting new mini goals (both for weight and exercise). This helps keep me motivated.

But one goal I have not messed with is my ultimate goal of 140 lbs and a BMI of 24.  When I began at 216+ pounds, the number 140 seemed so unattainable. As I get closer...

• I am smaller (kind of obvious, but one of the best changes), particularly in my legs and tummy which I guess is from all the running. I have lost 2 pant sizes, 1 shirt size (darn boobies just won't shrink!), and 5 points on m...

• Reducing the symptoms of sleep apnea.
• Lowering your total cholesterol.
• Lowering your blood pressu...