"Lifestyle Change" Feeling great :)

I have been battling with weight roller-coasters my whole life. Some of it physically and some of it mentally. I say that because when I was in high-school, I thought I was a fat cow ... now that I look back at pictures, I see that it was primarily in my head due to insecurities and low self esteem. Now I am 20+ years older and I am happier in my life that I have ever been! I have more confidence in myself. I am a better person for me, for my family, for my Dwayne, for my career, etc. It is so true that happiness comes from within, from there, I think its cakewalk. Who'd a thunk that with just happiness, everything else trickles down into a world of positive direction(s). So, with that said, as of today (8/14), I have been tracking my calories on this site since Monday 6/21 and have lost a total of 18.6lbs in seven weeks . No starving, no wishing I could eat something I can't, nothing. It has just been that easy. Why? Because of my mental mindframe. If I want pizza, I eat it, but I eat a salad before and take into consideration the amount of calories if I eat 3 slices versus 1.5. I have also trained myself to eat when I am hungry, not just because. I never (very rarely) have that "stuffed" feeling like I am going to explode. I love it! I hope all of you can get to that same place (if you aren't already). I wish everyone much success in feeling comfortable with themselves, their health, their size, their energy levels, etc. I have not started to work-out yet, but I plan to soon. Finally, it feels so much better losing weight than it does gaining it

I have tried just about every "diet" possible. None of them successful (longerterm). Tracking my calories (good or bad) has been the easiest "lifestyle change". I am not calling it a diet, I will continue to eat healthy and exercise even when I hit my goal weight (57-67 more lbs to go). I feel great, I feel comfortable again in my clothes and can't wait to fit into all of the cute clothes I still have but cannot fit into.

I plan to live at least to my eighties, preferably nineties and in order to do so, I need a lifestyle change. I figure I'm 39, and have lived 1/2 of my life unhealthy (for the most part), so I am ready to make changes to live the 2nd 1/2 of my life - a healthier person. I also plan to have children in the very near future, I want to live on this earth as long as possible to spend as much time as possible with my family!

Cheers to all and good luck with your journey
Kim