Me. Healthy. Happy. Fit.

My name is Tonya aka Mrs. Skinny Fat. I’m a 28-year-old wife, young marketing/pr professional, and mom to three furry four legged friends (1 kitty, Pinot, and 2 pups, Wyatt & Miles). I’ve been what I consider “Skinny-Fat” all of my life. In other words, look “skinny” with clothes on to the average person but...reality underneath it all was much different. For as long as I can remember I have lacked the self-confidence to peal off the layers…and if I was in a situation that forced me to get in a bikini – well, let's just say I considered it torture. I’ve been on a quest to be healthy, happy, and fit for years now – but it wasn’t until recently that I really connected what that meant. The “stars have aligned” so to speak…and I have discovered that sharing my journey with friends truly feels like I am sharing a gift...inspiration and hard lessons learned for their own quest!

Why the Mrs. in Mrs. Skinny Fat?
My husband is truly my partner in all of this – and with that my role as a wife plays such a big part in my quest to be healthy, happy, and fit. I think of all of the times throughout years that my husband has - unfortunately - had to hear me rant about my gut, or my thunder thighs…or how fat my arms look in photos. Over and over again, he’s watched me start a diet regimen – make a little progress – binge – and fall flat on my face. Lack of confidence is such a turn-off for me and yet I USE to put him through it everyday. While I’m blessed to have a partner who loves me just the way I am…I (all of us for that matter) need to LOVE who we are just as much. It's such a good feeling that I'm finally making great strides up this mountain!!

A Look Back
It's important to note that since my husband and I met in 2004 - I have already put him through quite the ringer in my due diligence to figure out just who I am. It was a constant...diet - binge - fail - diet - binge - fail...over and over again! In 2007, I was actually "saved" by an illness in which I was forced to turn to food (eating the right things) to feel better. My doctor was adamant on cleaning up my diet so my body could process what I was taking in and although I fought this idea for quite some time I finally caved and went fully vegan...(during this time Skinny Bitch was my Bible) Man, did my diet do a 180. This was really hard for my husband to accept but he said he would give me a six month trial to embrace the vegan lifestyle and if it truly made me feel better than he would accept it. Well, as you might expect...my health climbed and I felt amazing.

Today, I still practice many Skinny Bitch habits but more importantly I focus on eating clean (Thank you Tosca Reno and Oxygen Mag). Not only did my husband accept my new way of cooking - and eating - and my new found love for the health food store, he took part in it - eating for the most part as I do and just splurging on his own terms. Due to this major lifestyle change, we both reaped the benefits and physically changed immensely - both losing ~20 lbs since 2007. Disclaimer: we certainly aren't perfect...but it was an extreme change in behavior from the girl he met: a farmer's daughter who shared in his love of steaks and Mcdonalds - neither of which I have touched since July 2007. But here I am, yes certainly healthier and a whole lot smarter in terms of food choices…

Throughout this journey I have become extremely passionate about eating clean – and I seem to discover something new every day. I’m excited to finally have an outlet to share everything I have learned and all the new things that come my way. This blogs for anyone who’s looking to make some small changes in their life – ones that could - no will - lead to huge results – mentally, physically, and emotionally.

I hope that you will find this blog insightful and inspiring. Please join me down this path to being healthy, happy, and fit. In other words, let’s rid the fat and find the fit -for good.

Mr. & Mrs. when we first met in 2004.  I am 5'4 and in this pic weighed 145lbs -
My lifestyle consisted of dieting...binging...failing...repeating! 
I tried everything including South Beach, Atkins, Grapefruit, Cabbage Soup...everything!! 

Mr. & Mrs. in 2007 - about 6 months after adopting "Vegan" lifestyle. 
Weighed 120lbs -  did not work out (just walks here and there)... "Skinny Fat" at its best!

Mr. & Mrs. in May of 2011 - Weigh 125 -  Living a clean eating
lifestyle of the most part - giving into life's indulgences in moderation
slowly getting on a workout regimen... 

Mr. & Mrs. July 2011 - Eating Clean and working hard on the fitness...
Feeling so much stronger and starting to finally build muscle and rid the fat!