What I wanted to be when I grew up

I actually completely love that I was asked to write about this. It's not something I would have ever thought of writing about on my own! What I wanted to be when I grew up is actually the one thing that remained relatively the same for the majority of my life, then changed twice before I am where I am today.

Since I was old enough to comprehend that I would be growing up into a somewhat mature adult, and that I had to actually choose what I wanted to be, I wanted to be an actress. I can't even remember what it was that I saw that made me decide that, but for as long as I could remember, I was going to become an actress when I grew up. My father did acting. He did quite a few voice overs and was an extra in quite a few productions. One of my cousins is an actor and has many jobs under his belt. I guarantee you, you've likely seen him or heard him in something.

I was well on my way to becoming an actress too. When I was twelve I was a part of an agency. I would join my dad when he'd go do extra work if my school allowed me to, or when he'd film commercials, and I did quite a few auditions of my own. I was taking classes in school and after school, and it was really something I was very passionate about.

I know you're probably wondering now what changed. Why did I have such a strong passion for acting and now I don't. Well, I still do have a passion for it, but it's just no longer the burning desire it once was. Of course there may be a day when I decide to audition for another agency and do some extra work, but for now, my passion remains in fitness. What actually made me give up my dreams to pursue it so hard, was meeting a man that is definitely my soulmate in every single way. I was all set to pack up everything and move across the country to Vancouver (which was where you wanted to be as a Canadian actor a few years ago), but when I met my current hubby all that changed. He couldn't join me. He wouldn't be able to come with me. He had a daughter here who was only four at the time, and he couldn't leave her. And in all honesty, would you want to be with a man who could just abandon his child? I think not.

So I put that dream on hold. And as the years went on, the passion for it faded some. I actually fell into a passion for animals, of all things! I ended up pursuing that one for a bit. I'm actually a certified Animal Health Worker. I ended up working in a pet store, then worked in an animal hospital and found myself not really enjoying it. I mean don't get me wrong, I loved the jobs, but the pet store went against everything I believe in morally. Puppies were most definitely supplied by puppy mills and we were encouraged to sell dogs to anyone who wanted one. It was so wrong on so many levels.

The animal hospital wasn't for me just for the sole reason that I didn't really enjoy the atmosphere. It just wasn't for me. It's hard to explain, but it's just what it is. I actually really enjoyed the brief volunteering I did at a shelter and realized that's probably where I belong. However most of them are volunteer based, and I just couldn't afford to volunteer at the time.

That passion faded some when I had kids. My kids became my main focus in life and being a mom, and motherhood was something I embraced. I had to overcome a lot of hurdles as a new mother and I realized I could maybe help other moms too!

Then I realized I needed to get healthy. I was tired of being overweight and having no energy, and not being able to properly play with my kids. I needed to get healthy for my family, and there I found the passion for fitness.

And let's not forget the passion for writing! Oh how I love writing. It's such a way to unwind for me and relax! Personally I write smutty supernatural type stories and hope to one day be published!

So what I wanted to be when I grew up, was actually very different from what I am. And I'm okay with that. I still occasionally have an itch for acting. One day, who knows, maybe you'll spot me in the background of a movie. Or see my name on the cover of a bestselling book!

I'm very, very happy to be where I am in life. I'm an extremely blessed woman. I have everything I need in life. A roof over my head, food on my plate, and amazing supportive husband and family, and three wonderful kids. I really couldn't want anything else.

Well except to maybe skip over this growing up part. It's hard. ;)

xox Rach P

About Me

This is the second time this week I've been asked to write an "About me" piece. I really suck at these. Like really. I'm not sure why, because writing about me should be easy, right? I really don't find it to be. I think because I just don't like talking about myself!

But, here goes anyways!

I'll start with the basics. I'm a 29 year old stay at home mother to two toddler boys. One is 3 years old and the other is a year an a half. My days are spent saying "NO" a lot and jumping up to stop one of said toddler from breaking something that my husband loves. I admittedly don't get much done during the day while my husband is at work. It's okay though since me personally, I prefer to spend the time with my boys than cleaning. Then again, I really despise cleaning.

I'm very passionate about fitness and motherhood. In fact if I could figure out a way to combine owning a gym with a natural parenting store inside, my life would be complete. That would just be amazing for me. I tend to rant a lot about fitness and motherhood. But good rant, or at least, I think it's good ranting. It's the two topics that I focus on in my blogging. To some people it's completely unrelated, and I could understand why one would think that, but for me, it's my life. It's two huge parts of my life, and since blogging is generally a personal thing for people (maybe I'm completely wrong, but I think it is), this is what I focus on.

I am currently studying to be a Personal Trainer. When I started my journey to fit nearly a year ago, I discovered just how badly I wanted to help people do the same. It was something within me that awoke and I couldn't get it off my mind. It just felt right. So I signed up for it, and now about 6 months later I'm finishing it off. I cannot wait until I'm certified and I can really help people get healthy. My main focus however will be empowerment. Showing women and men alike that they are good enough as they are and that they don't have to conform to anyone else's standards to be perfect. I believe steongly we need to fix what's inside before we can fix what's outside.

I thank you for taking time to read this blog, and I hope you find answers to any questions you may have. This is a judgement free zone, where everyone is good enough and everyone is welcome.

xox Rach P

Introductions

Hi everyone! I think it's about time you meet the girls you are supporting! We are so appreciative of your support! 

Firstly I'll introduce myself! I'm Rachel Pellatt aka Rach P. I am a 28 year old stay at home mother of two boys Will and Ben who are 2 1/2 years old and 9 months old. I live in the beautiful city of Montreal in Quebec! That's right, I'm a crazy Canadian!

For awhile all I was was a mum. That was my identity. Everything I did was for my kids. Really, it was all I wanted to do at the time. I love my boys more than my own life, even if I have days where I am tempted to sell them on Craig's List. ;-) They are my entire world. That changed though, I realized I'm more than just a mum, even if it's the best job and title ever.

WLR came at the perfect time in my life.  I had been lost for so many years. As you can imagine having two kids in under two years was a bit tough on my body. I was barely back to my pre-pregnancy size when I suddenly found myself pregnant again. But I can't blame it entirely on that.

I've always been a food hoarder. Maybe it's because all my life I always had to share with my oodles of siblings and my parents. Everything I bought myself with my allowance I had to share. I hated it. When I went through a bit of a rebellious stage and thought stealing was cool I stole junk food. That's right, I was the bad ass who stole ice cream from the convenience store and other candy, I loved junk food. I still love junk food. Who doesn't?

When I moved out of my parents house with my current love about 8 years ago I suddenly found myself in a great position! I didn't have to share my food! Everything I brought into my house was mine, all mine! My boyfriend didn't want the food so it really was all mine! Needless to say with eating like that and doing no exercise except for my work shifts where I was always on my feet, I put on A LOT of weight. Probably about 80lbs in total. I had always had bad eating habit. Binging when I'd skip my meals all day, but this was an all time low for me. I ate and ate and ate.

I ate when I was happy, sad, bored, during that special time of the month... Food was comfort for me. Even now when I feel anything particularly strong I want to eat. Sugar, chocolate anything really that is sweet. When I lost my step father last year all I wanted to do was turn to food and eat it. I are more junk than usual but because I was pregnant at the time I managed to not go as far as I normally would have in this.

My boyfriend loves me no matter what. Something I am grateful for. To this day we are still happily in love (not without many bumps and obstacles I will say) and I am happily starting to plan our wedding, okay not happily, I can't stand this sort of stuff, but one of us has to do it! *laughs*

Of course I had self confidence issues. This was nothing new to me. I always thought I was fat and I never loved myself the way I should have. I always hated myself really.

For a long time now I have been desperate to fix myself but never had the drive. It truly was something I HAD to be ready to do. I had gym memberships and bought all sorts of diet book and read up on all the fad diets. I did none of it. In fact I have a gym membership now that has still gone unused since I got it in December.

I stumbled across FitBitch's page one day and absolutely loved her. The straight up way to say things was a quality I could relate to and value in people. Of course the swearing as well is definitely something I can relate to. Her inspiring messages started changing something within me. I was still suffering from chronic laziness but there was now light at the end of the tunnel.

Then came Weight Loss Rebels, truly at the perfect time. I cancelled my useless Weight Watchers plan and joined it almost immediately, taking in the information and everything I could. I was a tad slow to start, not willing yet to change my eating habits. Of course I had to convince my man that it was in his best interest as well.

Then one day we bought groceries. Meats, veggies and other clean foods and we never looked back. We completely cut out the junk food. It was the easiest thing for us. I'll be clear, that is NOT the WLR way, small steps is the foundation of WLR but this was easiest for us. If its in the house I'll stuff my face with it.

Since cutting out the crap foods and anything processed I have already lost close to 20 lbs and I feel amazing, I have energy, my moods are better and I'm feeling better about myself.

I am now cutting out my excuses and beginning phase two of my journey, exercise. I signed up for my first 5k in August with fellow journey-er Anne and we have began training for that. I will do yoga and I have an appointment with my awesome cousin who is a personal trainer who is going to show me all about weight lifting. I want to be healthy and fit and for the first time in my life I see it as a possibility. I am doing this the WLR way :-)

Thanks for the support on the journey. If I can inspire one of you the way FitBitch (Meg) and WLR have inspired  me, then I'll feel accomplished. :-) ~ Rach P

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Hey!! Well my name is Anne, I am in my late twenties, I also live in Montreal and I have been fighting with my weight my entire life. I am married to an amazing man, he is truly my rock and my supporter in everything I do. Ever since I have been reading about weight loss rebels, listening to Rachel P go on and on about it, and have seen her results first hand, I have been inspired to continue on my journey with my personal battle in weight loss. I am not trying to become a super model.. I am just trying to have confidence in myself. I have never suceeded in this but I feel differently and I feel there may be hope with this lifestyle. I hated myself for a long time, then I found myself and the hate stopped. It become dislike because if He could love me as I am I couldn't be as hideous as I envisioned myself. I want to be proud of something I have been trying to do my whole life, this is my goal with following this lifestyle and I am determined to suceed with all the love and support coming from this page. Thank you for following us. ~ Anne

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You know I like my chicken fried
Cold beer on a Friday night
A pair of jeans that fit just right
And the radio on
I like to see the sun rise
See the love in my woman's eyes
Feel the touch of a precious child
And know a mother's love
Well I was raised up beneath the shade of a Georgia Pine
And that's home you know
Sweet tea, pecan pie, and homemade wine where the peaches grow
And my house it's not much to talk about
But it's filled with love that's grown in southern ground
And a little bit of chicken fried 
~Zac Brown Band, "Chicken Fried"

Hi, y'all! If you're wondering why in the world this crazy girl started off her bio with a country song featuring food in a starring role, well, let me start by saying I moved to the South--specifically a city directly south of Nashville, Tennessee--five years ago. And ever since I moved to the South, I discovered just why they're so renowned for their fried foods, delicious sweet tea, and don't even get me started on the desserts! But I"m not planning on moving out of the South any time soon, and there's so much else this beautiful area has to offer, including bike trails and swimming pools and sunshine year round.

My name is Rachel and I'm trading in my chicken fried and sweet tea for a healthier lifestyle.

I know this journey isn't going to be the easiest. I'm twenty-seven and single, I've been working a lot of long hours lately in my job as a mortgage underwriter, and I love going out on the weekends with my friends. Most days when I'm done with work, I just want to go home and crash and not think about exercising or running to the grocery store for ingredients to cook up a yummy and healthy meal. But for a while now I've felt like I should start treating my body better. Then my best friend, Rachel (Rach P), asked me if I would be up for sharing my journey with y'all. She knows I've been struggling for a while with wanting to take steps in the right direction. So, as scary as this might be, I'm putting myself out there and keeping myself accountable to y'all. I know there will be hard days, and days of celebration, and days I'll shake my head and go, "And why am I putting myself through this again?" But that's life, too--ups, downs, and in betweens.

Now that I've rambled on too long (did I mention I love writing in my spare time? ;)), here's a quick list of some of my starting goals. These are more short term at the moment; as I continue on, I'll be sharing more of my long term goals. For now, though, here they are:

1) Switch from eating whatever I want, to being conscientious about making healthy choices, particularly organic and natural where I can.

2) Work my way up to a ten mile bike ride, so I can join a local bike club and join in on their ride.

3) Prepare for a 5K I signed up to run with my friends on Labor Day (September 2)

4) Trade fat for muscles through biking, running, and swimming (because let's face it, it's hot in the South in the summer!)

5) Keep accountable and not give up!

I've always heard it's best to K.I.S.S. - keep it simple, stupid ;) - so while my short term goals might seem basic, I feel comfortable with being able to attain them. Not without some effort of course, but every great thing in life requires some effort on your part :)

Thank y'all for reading! I look forward to getting to know some of you over the coming weeks and months.Let's do this!

God bless,

Rach H :)