Thankful each day for my new beginning!

I am in my third year now of living a healthy and fit lifestyle. I truly feel like there has been a rebirth for me. Everyday brings joy, excitement, fun, and adventure. Money is not what buys happiness.

Taking care of myself has made me realize how important health is. I stand strong, tall, proud, and can honestly say, I am living my purpose and making a difference in the world. God has truly opened my eyes and I know what joy is.

Who would have ever thought I would learn this by losing weight, exercising, and eating healthy? You learn a lot about yourself when you peel back the layers, live within your means, and use what God gives you. You will all learn some important things about yourselves if you do this.

I pray that my journey can help others so they too, can feel some of the joy that I now have! :)

Starting my 3rd year being a healthy and fit person!

As of January 19th - I have now started my 3rd year being healthy and fit! I look back at this incredible journey and life has truly become amazing! I feel like a new woman! Being happy, healthy, and fit - plus paying it forward has been such a blessing from God. I wake up every day knowing that I have choices in life and am not a prisoner to my old unhealthy habits.

Since the Family Circle Magazine story came out last month - not a day goes by that someone in the United States gets ahold of me and says that I have been an inspiration to them. Whenever I hear this - it only motivates me MORE to reach out and help others on their health and fitness journey!

I pray to continue being positive, healthy, happy, and motivating others! This is a REVOLUTION and we are making changes - one person at a time! :) Continue on your journeys everyone! I am truly here for you!

Family Circle Magazine - my weight loss story is in the February 2011 issue

So excited about my weight loss story being featured in the February 2011 issue of Family Circle Magazine - on page 120! I went out and bought 5 copies this weekend! I pray that I can motivate, inspire, pay it forward, and help others - even save some lives - by continuing to live a healthy and fit lifestyle.

It has been an incredible journey that started for me on January 19, 2011. I am approaching my 2 year anniversary of this awesome journey and am thankful for all support from everyone along this path. I couldn't have done this without you and God. You have made the journey easier. God's Grace has been incredible.

Please know that I am also here for you all - and want to share any advice I can to help you, your friends, family, neighbors, co-workers, or anyone in need of learning more about living a healthy and fit lifestyle. Have a blessed 2011. Continue on your journeys.

New Year 2011 - work on your goal setting

Happy New Year to you all! Today is a very good day - to pick up a pen and paper. Please do some serious soul searching. Work on your goals. Keep them realistic. Take baby steps. Focus on accomplishing one thing in the next 24 hours that is going to move you in the right direction. Monday is the beginning of our new year - a brand new week. Pack your gym bag TODAY. Get y our gym shoes out. Be proactive today. Pack your healthy lunch TODAY - for tomorrow. JUST GET UP OFF THE COUCH AND DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT - for yourself!! :)

Continuing my Health and Fitness Journey at the Springfield Family Y

As the weather begins to turn cold, I have moved my work out back inside again. I'm doing spinning classes regularly, along with zumba, fusion, boot camp, and other indoor work outs. I enjoy working out indoors during the fall & winter months.

I am officially the Corporate Membership Associate / Membership Director for our local Y and enjoy my job a great deal. I share my journey will people daily in my community and all the benefits of being a healthy and fit person. I have been able to maintain my healthy weight for over 7 months now. I have very healthy daily habits now and look forward to living a healthy lifestyle for many years to come.

Health and Fitness Journey

It will be 2 years on January 19th 2011 since I started my health and fitness journey. 85 pounds later, feeling like I'm 20 years younger, I truly feel that I am paying it forward by teaching a weekly Weight Watchers class and becoming the Corporate Membership Associate for the Springfield Family Y.

I am passionate about health and fitness, so God has truly blessed me to pay it forward by working for both of these wonderful organizations.

When you are passionate about what you do, you never have to work another day in your life! :)

Lots of walking has really been an excellent workout

My husband Chuck and I have been doing lots of walking the last few weeks. We feel it in our legs and core. Our walks have gotten longer. We actually have been walking up to 9 miles in one day. We average 4 - 5 miles daily though. For those of you that are seeking out a healthy exercise to do that doesn't take money - walking is it. Make sure you have a good pair of walking shoes and a water bottle is helpful too. We take our boxer Josie with us on our walks. She loves it. Josie is so calm too. She also gets plenty of exercise daily. We all are still on our health and fitness journey - for life! :) I hope and pray we can continue to motivate and inspire you along your journey too.