Launch Day: Welcome to the Site!

If you're coming from Cool Baby Kid, welcome. My favorite blog designer in the world, Gisele Jaquenod, finished the new design last week and From Potty Training to Weight Training is officially off and running. If you're new to blogging or just looking to spice up your site, Gisele offers free blog templates too. Having been to a Fitness competition years ago with my husband (boyfriend at the time), I thought it would be a neat challenge someday but was too young to realize I had actually had the potential to accomplish such as task. Fifteen years and two babies later, I decided it was time to get in the best shape of my life. I'd been running for a few years with some half-marathons and even one full marathon under my belt, but still couldn't shed those "last 15 pounds" from a baby that was now over a year old! Being goal-oriented, I knew just getting in shape wasn't enough...I needed a goal. Remembering the Fitness competition from years ago I wondered, "Could I do that?" I talked to friends and family, did a little research and knew it would be the challenge of a lifetime. Why?

Because I love to eat. I really, really love to eat.

I thought of a favorite quote by Eleanor Roosevelt, "You must do the thing you think you can not do" and knew for me it was giving up things like Edy's ice cream as a nightly snack. When I found a trainer who was willing to take me on (even after seeing some pretty scary "before" pics) we decided Figure was more appropriate since Fitness incorporates gymnastics, and gymnast I am not. Figure is basically a natural bodybuilding competition which emphasizes muscle tone over size...think Oxygen magazine.

I nearly quit the first weekend, then struggled through vacations and finally started to see results in that first month. I can't help complaining a lot about the lack of food since the diet (or lack of variety of any foods that actually taste good) is enemy #1 on this journey. But with a few inspirational quotes and the support of my family, friends, and the best trainer ever, I hope to make it to the Spring all in one piece. Thanks for joining me.

What blog launch would be complete without a giveaway? Enter to win a Fitness Prize Pack by leaving a comment on this post. Earn extra entries for tweeting the launch and include @coolbabykid. Expires 9/2/09.

The Fitness Prize Pack includes a Mom Works tee, one of my favorite companies that empowers women with cheeky sayings and pictures geared especially for moms (pictured). Also awarded to the winner will be a Victoria P. Zurcher Designs personalized aluminum water bottle, perfect for hitting the gym in style. They also carry neat gifts and other personalized products that we first fell in love with on Cool Baby Kid. Finally, to keep you motivated, Gisele is offering a "Hang in There" mug from her famous Birdie Says collection which also includes stationery, nursery and kids plus home decor and more...so cute!!