My Life Style Change - One Year Down (With Pic)

You look great! So happy and healthy. I am going to ask a rude question. How old are you? My mother is probably older than you, but I would like to send along an inspiring story like this to her so she can be reminded that you don't have to be 20 to lose a significant amount of weight.

You are inspiring!

I don't think that's a rude question. I'm 45, will be 46 in August (go Leo's!). My highest weight recorded (I avoided scales) was 433 pounds in October 2008. It probably went higher. When I changed my life style last year, I weighed 399 pounds on day one. My current goal is 169 pounds. I may lower it as I get closer. I don't know what my body will be like at 169 as that is probably what I weighed when I started junior high school. I was up to about 250 when I graduated 28 years ago. At 241.2 now, I probably weigh a few pounds less than I did then.

Congratulations, you look wonderful. When you started exercising what did you start with?

When I joined the gym, my thought was treadmill and bike. They offered a free session with a personal trainer, so I scheduled that before I ever started. She was great and I signed up for a few sessions. She had me doing a little of everything, for which I was grateful as I learned to use some of the equipment I never would have attempted on my own. When I started on the treadmill I was at 2.5mph and was so impressed the first time I did 2 laps (.5 mile) without stopping. I can now comfortably do 3.2-3.4. With the weather improving I'd rather do my walking in the park, though. I loved the stability ball - it reminds me of a hoppity horse I had as a kid. I bought one and took to my office and swap it out with my desk chair every so often. I love to use the rowing machine - and the abdominal and leg press machines are favorites. I would love to try Zumba, but am not sure I have the stamina yet. I tend to get dizzy with a lot of movement, and my balance is not yet that great. And I can't wait to try Yoga!