Post-wedding: Life is good. I'm freaking married to the love of my life! I get to kiss him whenever I want (if PDA was a disease, we were infected beyond recovery. Go ahead and gag.) and sleep in the same bed with him! Well, sleep is a strong word. More like toss and turn because there's a boy in my bed.

Hello, Hawaii honeymoon!

His grandparents own a condo on Maui, and they generously offered it to us for our honeymoon. It was a magical time. I felt/looked great, and had so much fun being in a bikini and not being ashamed of my body!


Leading up to our wedding, I had suspended work-outs due to time constraints. And of course I didn't work out on our honeymoon (unless you consider playing in the ocean a workout). Once we returned to "real life", it became obvious that I was in a no-work-out rut. As I had graduated from college, I could no longer use the Rec Center on campus. Fresno is HOT in the summer, usually hovering around 100 degrees. Taylor and I ran outside a few times in the "cool" of the evening (85 degrees does NOT feel cool when you are pounding the pavement) but it was hard to establish that habit.


A few weeks later, we moved to San Luis Obispo, CA for Joe's last year of college. I occupied myself with unpacking and crying over separation anxiety from my home. I did that for about four months. I gained all of my weight back, and then some I'm sure. I felt gross and lonely, but it was hard to feel motivated when I didn't have my cousin Taylor encouraging me.


In the fall, my dad and my sister ran a half-marathon in Fresno. I was so proud of them! I told myself I could never do that, though. 13 miles, you're crazy! Seeing them succeed inspired me, however, so I slowly started running again..