I just updated my story: Due to many years of physical and mental abuse, I had no self esteem. I did not care about myself and was badly depressed. I felt there was no way out. Food was my only comfort. Before I knew it, I was 300 lbs. Being that heavy and unhealthy only caused more physical and mental distress. I had trouble doing day to day activities. I couldnt do much without getting badly winded. I was even more depressed with my appearance. With a history of cancer, heart disease, and diabetes in my family, I was headed for a life with many more problems. At Christmas of 2009, after eating way too much once again at a family gathering, I was feeling miserable for doing so and decided things needed to change or I might not even be around the next Christmas. I was scared. I made a resolution to change my habits and lose 50 lbs. I was determined! I started out by changing my eating habits to healthier choices and smaller portions, and just getting outside for a 1-2 mile walk several times a week. I kept track of everything and planned out my day ahead of time, and stuck to that plan. In April, I joined Curves for a second time and was a very active member there. By June 2010, I had reached my goal of losing 50 lbs. and decided to double it. I was successful! So by the end of 2010, I lost 100 lbs! I did not take any magic pills or follow some crazy diet. I just made better and healthier choices with food and started exercising! In 2011, I felt amazing and continued with my new lifestyle without gaining any weight back and lost another 25 lbs. In November I joined another local gym, HG Fitness in Spring Hill, to add a little variety in my continuing fitness adventures. In December, I was chosen by the local Curves Gym to ride in the town Christmas parade for my weight loss success as their Ms. Curves 2011. I got to ride in the back of a brand new red Camaro, and even wore a tiara! I felt like a total Rock Star! :) 2012 was an amazing year for me! I was still going strong and lost 25 more lbs, for a total of 150 lbs! Thats half of my total weight when I started!! I was Ms. February 2012 at my local Curves for losing the most weight/inches. In April 2012, I participated in my first half marathon in Nashville, TN, and have done 6 more since along with several 5K & 10Ks. In July 2012, I was featured on the local news as a motivational story. I was also interviewed by Diane (Curves) magazine for their October issue. In October 2012, I was awarded the Lifestyle Change Award from the Nashville Chapter of the American Heart Association. I also won the Grand Prize in the Curves Not For Sissies contest, resulting in being featured, again, in the November issue of Diane magazine as well as spotlighted in a video that was shown at the 2012 Curves Convention in Las Vegas. I was awarded $1000 and bought a nice new road bike to further my fitness adventures. In November 2012, I was once again Ms. Curves with a 7lb/7in loss for the month. In December 2012 and January 2013 I was given High 5 spotlights in Diane magazine, making it 4 months in a row that I was featured or mentioned. Also in December 2012 I earned the Cleveland Clinic Certification to be a Curves Complete Coach. 2013 was a great year as well. I continued to maintain my weight loss and became more active in classes at HG Fitness resulting in making some amazing fit minded friends who support and encourage me daily. In April, I did the Country Music 1/2 marathon for the second year in a row along with several other 1/2s, 10k, and 5ks through out the year. I participated in my first bike tour in May (Tour de Cure ~ Nashville). On June 7, I had a lower body lift to remove the excess skin from losing major weight. The surgery lasted about 5 1/2 hours and went smoothly. The surgeon removed about 6 lbs of skin. Recovery went very well, but so VERY long! It was a little painful, but the whole taking it easy part was the hardest for me! The rest of the year was spent healing and working back up to where I was pre-surgery. In 2014 I challenged myself by signing up for a Tough Mudder event with other members at HG Fitness. I was scared out of my ever loving mind!! Thanks to the help and encouragement from Ken Hughes and the other HG members I trained with, I was able to complete the Tough Mudder standing (well, actually crawled thru mud) on my own two feet to the finish line! NEVER in my life would I have dreamed I would do something as challenging as a Tough Mudder, especially being a first timer at 42 years old, but the past few years have shown me that I can do anything I set my mind to! I also completed a few more 1/2 marathons and another bike tour. I remained a very active member at HG Fitness, especially enjoying the spin classes they offer. Through the years, I have motivated and inspired many people nationally and internationally by being recognized several times by Curves International, on my facebook page where I have connected with people from all over, and I am also featured along with many other amazing people on the wall at The Water Store in Spring Hill. I have gone from a very tight size 24 jeans to a comfortable size 8, and from a 3x shirt to a small. Day to day activities are no longer hard for me. I exercise at least 5 days a week at HG Fitness, and enjoy cycling and running (or at least trying to run..lol). The feeling after a good workout is very rewarding. My self esteem and confidence is improving day by day. I want to continue this road Im on and inspire others to start their own new healthy and fit lifestyle journey! A healthy way of life, is a happy way of life!!! 2015 is just beginning and I have renamed it 20-Fit-Teen! I plan on staying active by participating in more events and continuing as an active member at HG Fitness! . Heres a link to my story that was featured on the local news in Nashville: youtube/watch?v=St1c3GKRbbQ&list=FLjdknGApyp69w8UpauVXZ7g&index=7&feature=plpp_video . And a link to video of me receiving the Lifestyle Change Award: youtube/watch?v=_VoouG0jgxc
Posted on: Tue, 06 Jan 2015 17:49:42 +0000
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