Monday, January 21, 2008

Big Loser 2008 (Lets Try this again)

So as I stated in my first blog. Last year I was in a big loser competition and I lost 40lbs. When I found out in June or July what my problems were with my back. My doctor told me I couldn't go back to they gym for a while...so I guess you know what that means. I gained some back. So 3 weeks ago my roommate Jodie and I decided we wanted to try to lose some weight. I started going back to the gym and I have a new personal trainer and he is awesome. He will kick my but into shape. Jodie also joined a Big Loser competition at the hospital so I am just doing it with her so she has support at work and at home. I have taken some before pictures and every now and then I will give updates and post some new pictures. So keep checking back and I will keep ya updated.

My first blog... a catch up of last years events!

2007 was an amazing year for me. I became a licensed Massage Therapist; I went to many concerts, met many new amazing friends made some major life changes... I will try to do this fast so it is painless.

I started the year out great by becoming a contestant on The Planet 94.3's Big Loser competition. It lasted for 3 months and I lost 40lbs. Not to shabby huh… I met some of the most amazing people in the competition. I have become really close to Chris and LaRae from the radio station and also with Melanie (she won the competition) and Trudy. I love them all so much. I even got kind of close the guys. We all worked really hard together.

In March I went to my 3rd NASCAR race in Vegas. And for the 3rd year in a row Jimmy Johnson won. We always have an amazing time when we go to the race. I also got to see Randy Travis in concert in March. LaRae took me to help here with her radio remote and I got to meet him. That was definitely one of the highlights of my year because some of you may not know but Randy Travis has been one of my absolute favorites since I was knee-high to a grasshopper.

In April I took mom and dad for their mothers day and fathers day presents to Trace Adkins in Mesquite. We had a blast. I also drove to Avondale (Phoenix) AZ to meet mom and dad at the Phoenix NASCAR race. It was my first race other than Vegas. We stayed in the motor home. While we were there they had a free concert and I had front row to Julie Roberts. It was a lot of fun. That is the race that Jeff Gordon won and tied Dale Sr’s winning record and there was the big stick because he ran around the track with a flag with #3 on it.

In May I got 2 new roommates. Jodie and Thomas. Things with Thomas didn’t really work. But I have become best friends with Jodie. You will read a lot more about her later on. I saw Sawyer Brown and Bucky Covington in May as well. I also go to meet all of them and I started to get autographs of people on my banjo. I also started working at Massage Envy 3 days a week.

In June I went to a lot of Baseballs games. With Jodie and Thomas. St. George had a pro team and we don’t have much of a life so we went to there games. I also went to Both Tuacahn Shows My Fair Lady and Cinderella, which were amazing.

July was one of the best months. Jodie and I drove to a small town called Pinetop AZ to see some of my friends The Ranchhands. We stayed in a little town called Show Low. We saw them play for 2 nights. We had so much fun we plan on doing it again this year. I also got to see SheDaisy in July. At the end of the month I drove to Jackson Hole to see The Ranchhands again. They played in Moose Wyoming. I picked up moms purple car in Preston and I got to have moms car for 4 days. I had sooo much fun. I got to spend a lot of time with my dad that week because mom was in Idaho. I also found out In July that I have a lot of back issues from budging disc’s to cracked vertebra’s

August was just a good ol boring month I had to work a lot. Jodie and I also got a new kitten named Gidgett. She was so tinny and full of love and loves to claw and bite me. I had my first Epidural hoping it would help with back pain which didn’t help any

September was a busy month full of a lot of fun and excitement. I saw 3 concerts and met 5 artists. September 8th I saw Jack Ingram and Steve Holy and had back stage passes thanks to Marty and LaRae at KONY, then 3 days later I saw Lee Brice and Gary Allan, I went to the radio station the day after Lee and Gary to give Marty and LaRae some cookies to thank them for the concerts and while I was there Lee Brice came into the station and I got to meet him. He is soo sweet and adorable. Then on the 29th I got to see The Belamy Brothers and I once again got backstage passes. September was also mom and dads 40th wedding anniversary and they went on an Eastern Caribbean cruise. I got to baby-sit moms dog SASSY for 3 weeks. I also had my 2nd Epidural which again didn’t help

In October I got to go to Ogden to see Hayden Amy’s boy get baptized and I took Sassy back to Mom and Dad. When I came home I got to drive moms purple car back down here to St. George because mom had some of the grandkids and wasn’t thinking when she took them home of how they would get there. So the next morning mom came down and then on the 16th I had another back dr. appointment. I had 6 nerves in my back cauterized and that seems to have helped a little.

November was pretty fun. I got to go home for thanksgiving. October was a crazy month at work. I only had 5 days off the entire month so I decided I would take my vacation days that needed to be used soon so I got to go home for 6 days. Mom and dad moved to the St. George area after thanksgiving. LaRae I also got to see The Oak Ridge Boys. For me it was my 10th time seeing them. Once again Marty from KONY was awesome and gave us backstage passes and I was able to get Joe’s autograph on my banjo.

December came and went so fast. At the Oaks concert Marty gave me 2 ~ 2 packs of tickets for Travis Tritt and a 2 night stay in Mesquite. On December 1st Jodie and I went to the concert and stayed at the Oasis. Mom was in Preston so Jodie and I went bowling with dad while we were there. It was a lot of fun. I had to work on Christmas until 11am so when I got off I drove to Mesquite and spent 2 days there with mom and dad. Friday after Christmas Kip, Monique, Amy, Blair, Hannah, Hayden and Sydney came to Mesquite to spend time with mom and dad so it was nice to see everyone and once again we went bowling. It was the first time I have ever seen mom or dad bowl.

So… that was 2007 in a nutshell. I hope everyone had an amazing 2007 and hope 2008 can be even better…

XOXO
Abbie