It's all in the hook....

When it comes to writing a blog post there is more to it than just slapping some words on a page. It's an art form. There are some things one has to be aware of when writing a blog post.

• First: Have a good title..... If your title is interesting people will want to keep reading.

• Second: HAVE A GOOD HOOK!! If you don't have something that keeps the reader engaged in your post than they will stop reading.....come on we all have done it.

• Third: Know your subject. I have a saying "don't preach what you can't teach".... Meaning post about the things you love, like, and are interested in.

You can find these and other tips here. 

I hope you have learned something, because I have, and I will try and keep my titles interesting, hooks engaging, and talk about what I know.

Lifestyle choice vs. Diet

Many people wonder what diet I went on to get the weight off. The truth is that I did not diet at all..... I know shocker right? It is the truth though. I honestly started making healthier food choices. I eat smarter. That's why I say I made a lifestyle choice, instead of going on a diet.

Here is the difference. On a diet you are only only able to eat certain things, and have restrictions on certain foods. I on the other hand try to eat in a range of calories and eat low carb, but guess what I don't always stick to that. Sometimes I go out to eat, but i just make smarter choices when I eat out. Also when I do have carbs they are whole grains, and other slow burning carbs.

Just by making these simple changes and others I have lost 85 pounds now! Oh, and I also exercise when I have time. If you are wanting to lose weight don't diet, because diets are short term, but lifestyle choices will stick with you!

My blog and the blogosphere

According to the state of the blogosphere people are posting less.  Out of the active blogs that are posting there are very few who do so on a weekly basis. This is one thing I think every blogger tries to avoid, which is losing the drive to post. I am posting though about something that is still a part of my life and will always been a part of my life, so I hope to break the trend with my blog. I want to still be giving tips and updates on my blog long after I have lost the weight, because as they say losing the weight is just half the battle. The other half is keeping it off. With this in mind I know I will still have stuff to blog about after I have won the first part of the battle.

My story.....

I have been over weight for most of my life. I have struggled, going up and down the scale in number.  My senior year, I was at a constant 270 to 275. It wasn't though until the end of my sophomore year of college that I got the wake up call. I went to the doctors, and I weighed a whopping 285. I remember going home and bawling my eyes out. I had never been that close to 300. Then and There i resolved to lose weight. I have since over the past months lost 80+ pounds! I have never felt better in my life. The more weight I lose the more confidence I gain. You see I have always been shy but thanks to speech in high school, and this weight loss I am becoming a new person, and I love it !

I am starting this blog, first because I am taking a blogging class, but second I am doing it to share my story and things I have learned. You see I know things like what is healthy for you and taste great, what to eat at restaurants, and other endless tips and advice. I feel like there are people out there that just don't know what to do, so hence my blog.

Here are some picture of me before and now. ( I say now, because I am not at my after yet).

Before:

Me and my cousin at graduation

Me at roast my senior year

 Me at state speech last year

Now:

Me towards the end of summer

Me at a speech tournament this fall

This fall at my brothers senior night

This December at the lake (I'm the one on the far left)