78 pounds are gone...let's make it a life long change...

I have worked really hard at losing 78 pounds since February 2008. Thousands of lunges, squats, reps of curls, minutes of cardio...and so many times I wanted to quit.

In the beginning...I wanted to quit every time I went to the gym. It hurt soooo badly. My muscles screamed at me and at times would not carry me from point A to point B. I hated that I had let myself get to this point.

How in the world did I let myself become so overweight and unhealthy? To be brutally honest with myself...I was lazy and apathetic. I truly did not care that I could not keep up with my son or that my blood pressure was creeping higher with each pound.

What caused my change? I am not sure...I just woke up one morning and decided that I'd had enough of it. I knew that I could not be one of those people who made small changes here and there. I had to be all in or not at all. I joined the gym, got a trainer and changed my diet all in one day.

And then the pain begins...I look back now and wonder how I made it through. Sean knew that I could do it...he kept at it until I became stronger and faster and more fit with each week that passed. He never let me quit...even through a few cry sessions.

I eventually started running...ME! I have run three 5K's since December 2008 and I have decreased my time from 44 minutes to 32 minutes. If you had asked me 2 years ago if I would be running 5k races...I would have told you "hell no!"

This journey has been a positive one for me. Obviously, the weight loss has made me healthier and I am so grateful for that.

But...I learned a few things about myself along the way. I learned that I have determination and grit. That mentally- I am much tougher than I thought I was. I had to dig deep...very deep...on so many occasions just to get through a session with Sean. I learned that I CAN make better food choices and not cave in to the brownie urge. I learned that my body is an amazing thing that God created and that it carries me through my day. I have learned to appreciate my legs, my feet, my back and to take care of them so that they can take care of me.

And...I have learned that the greatest gift that I can give to myself and my family is my health and increased life longevity. I can set an example for others who want this amazing gift for themselves. If sharing my story helps just one person make a change then I will be happier for it.