Letter to my fit self:

I wrote this at 225 lbs

Dear Fit Becky,

I'm proud of you for making changes in your life and I'm begging you, no matter what life throws at you, don't EVER go back to your old lifestyle again. You were miserable, exhausted and your joints constantly ached. You were always looking for excuses because you were to tired to participate. Every little thing drained you. You stopped entertaining because it was too exhausting, you couldn't sit on the floor and play with your kids. Turning over in bed was a chore, your legs hit your stomach every time you took a step and you could feel your butt moving around like jello when you walked. When you bend down or squat it litterally felt like the skin on your legs was going to burst, you couldn't even reach your arms back far enough to take your own jacket off. You had to push yourself to the edge of a chair and then launch your body to get up. You looked like crap and you felt like crap. Cleaning the house was such a chore and the thought of doing anything beyond that was overwhelming. You avoided people because you were embarassed and when you had to use a public bathroom you prayed a silent prayer that the stall would be wider than the usual ones. You looked away when you caught a glimpse of yourself in the mirror because you didn't recognise the person looking back at you and deep down, you knew it wasn't "you." You loved taking bubble baths but stopped, because the tub was too small. You loved to swim but stopped, because you wouldn't be caught dead in a swim suit. When you sat down to rest it felt like your heart was going to beat right out of your chest and you knew if you didn't make changes soon, major health problems would soon be at your doorstep. Don't ever forget where you were and don't EVER go back...PLEASE!

Yours truly, Overweight Becky

Currently I am 201 lbs and when I read those things, I can't BELIEVE I ever had those problems! NONE of them exist anymore. I can't believe I couldn't take my own jacket off!!!??!!! Now, I run a mile, 2 to 3 times a week, play with my kids, take them swimming, play catch football with my nephews......You name it. My dream is to get a kayak in the next year and to run a 5k. I remember sitting down one night, exhausted and aching and writing this letter about all the things that suck about being overweight and thinking what an idiot I was for letting myself get to that point. I remember thinking about people who are really sick and would give anything for their health and here I was MAKING myself sick. That was my turning point. The journey's not over but looking back, I've travelled a fair distance

I hope your journey is going well and don't forget to reflect on where you were when you started!
"Sucess isn't how far you've got, but the distane you travelled from where you started."