ONE YEAR AND 107 POUNDS GONE FOREVER

WOW! One year ago today I began my weight loss journey. I was sick and tired of being sick and tired. I could barely walk as my knee pain was so bad. And I KNEW that my knee pain was from carrying around the extra weight for so many years. I tried shots after shots after shots—to no avail. I thought I was hopeless. I was outgrowing my largest size clothes. All I could see in my future was more pain and less enjoyment. I have 2 young kids who were 10 and 13 at the time. They were busy kids and I would avoid doing things with them such as going on rides at the fair for fear I would not fit. I would avoid the waterslides every time we went to the waterpark. I could not take them shopping at the mall as it was just too painful. Going grocery shopping was painful as by the time I made it to the back of the store, I was leaning on the buggy in pain and very ready to leave! I would avoid many social gatherings.

I decided enough was enough, it was time to work on getting rid of some of this weight, but how? I had tried everything out there. I was even contemplating surgery, even though I knew it was the wrong thing to do. My mom introduded me to an amazing program that helped her lose a few pounds (her doctor recommended the program to her). What! A program I never tried before, much less never heard of before?? So I purchased my first month. Well, I began this new program thinking I was going to fail yet again, but was definitely intrigued by this program and had to try it just like I tried all the others. Wow! I have never looked back. I lost 19 pounds in the first 2 weeks! 40 pounds in 8 weeks, and to date 107 pounds gone forever! My size 22’s are now replaced by size 10. My knee pain is barely noticeable. I am walking 4-6 miles, going to the gym daily, pushing myself constantly to go harder. I even went on rides with my kids this summer (eagerly). And I went on a zipline as that was something I would have never been able to do this time last year. Never, ever in a million years did I think I would be this successful! (and loving it).

I give many thanks to this amazing program and the loving support of my husband and kids. They are the best. God bless my husband—he will eat anything I put in front of him J . It brings tears to my eyes when my youngest writes me “love letters” and expresses to me how proud she is of me. My husband has begun his own journey as well, and together we have achieved goals we thought we never could meet. It has brought us so much closer. My family supported me every step of the way (even my long distance, extended family). And in the process, my kids willingly made changes of their own. I used to feel guilty if I left my family to go exercise. Not anymore. Now they ask me “mom, what time are you working out today.” I love having that time to myself and most of the time I am thinking of me during my workout! That is definitely something different – LOL. I have learned healthy habits that will keep me (and my family) healthy forever. I have since become a health coach for the company and I have been helping other people pursue optimal health as well—incredibly rewarding J I am loving the new me, but I am not done yet, there is still work to be done.