Can I brag for a minute?

I'm sorry, but I just need to stop and brag for a minute. I've lost about 80 pounds in a year, and I think that's awesome! Diet and exercise, who knew? It's a huge feat and an incredible accomplishment. I'm thrilled.

And I'm not done. I still have a ways to go, probably another 80 pounds still to go before I'm at a healthy weight (maybe more, depends on how much muscle I build). But, being half way (or close to half way) to my goal is an awesome feeling.

It wasn't easy. There was NOTHING easy about this. I changed my lifestyle completely.

I changed my diet: No sugar or carbs. I lived on meat, veggies and milk, with Siggi's Yogurt as my one "treat" as long as it was part of a meal with meat. I gave up foods I loved, especially the sugar, man alive do I have a nasty sweet tooth! No birthday cake for me last year though, and that was a first. Slightly disappointing, but I'd rather be healthy than have a cake.

I exercised: Personal training, strength training, cardio. I dragged my butt out of bed at 4:30 in the morning so I could prop myself up on a treadmill or bike at the gym by 5 am. I logged hours at the gym, literally working my butt off. And, I started taking my dog for walks on the beach once the weather started to warm up. I even jogged/walked my first 5K in March 2012, and I wasn't the last one to cross the finish line! I'm moving and shaking.

I got hypnosis: I admitted that I couldn't do this alone and accepted help in many forms, one of which was hypnosis. It helped with willpower and provided clear objectives for accomplishing my goals.

I asked for help: I enlisted my friends and family by telling them what I could and could not eat, so temptations were minimal. And, in moments of weakness, they helped me stay on track. Especially my sister. I think she secretly took pleasure in scolding me when I was tempted to stray.

This has probably been the most challenging project of my life, working to essentially cut my body weight in half. As I type this, moving in my chair to stretch my sore muscles, I think about how far I've come and how proud I am of my accomplishments.

80 pounds gone from my life.