My Story...

Okay, so after some deep deliberation and some prodding by some friends I decided that I am going to open up my life to the world (or whoever reads my blog).

All growing up, I have had "a little bit of a weight problem. Yeah, I used to eat bear claws two at a time and they would get lodged..." well you get the idea. (That was from Tommy Boy if anyone wonders). In 2004, I heard an ad on the radio for a "Weight Loss Challenge". Well, I thought about it and decided that I should try out for it and if I didn't make it, it was not that big a deal. I was so nervous to turn my application in, that I had to make my friend go with me. I turned the application in and got a call the next couple of days for and interview. They had said that out of 120 applicants they had chosen 50 people to interview. From the 50 people, they chose 20 to be interviewed by the personal trainers. I was chosen by a personal trainer to be one of 8 contestants.

The challenge was this: I had 12 weeks to workout 5 days a week at the local gym and one day each week with my trainer. My trainer gave me a very strict diet to follow, however it wasn't that hard because it was normal food. It was just a certain amount each meal and my trainer had me eating like six times a day. I never went out to eat and never cheated. I was dropping between 5-7 lbs a week. It was amazing. I had never seen that much success in all the years that I had tried to lose weight. At the end of the challenge, I had lost a total of 45lbs. I lost another 5lbs after the challenge was over.

I won the competition! I lost the most percentage of body fat. It was amazing. I had become a runner. I was running between 4-6 miles a day and loved it. The above picture was taken on a cruise after the weight had come off. I learned that I could succeed and that I was beautiful and that I was always the athlete that I thought I was and was in great shape to prove it. I felt great. It was amazing! I can honestly say that it was the hardest thing I have ever done, but I did it.



It became a little more difficult because I was no longer was working with a trainer and was no longer held to the standard she set. I also was living with my parents and going to school and working and etc.... I was able to maintain my weight loss, but it was difficult to continue to lose (I still had 30lbs to go).

Well, I graduated from USU in the spring of '05 and moved to Arizona. It was a wonderful time, I had a cute boyfriend, a great job and wonderful friends. But, there are lots of great restaurants in Phoenix, so, low and behold I started to gain weight. I wasn't running as much anymore and I had started eating more. So it put on 10lbs.

Then, it seemed that I had hit a big bump in my road to success. I lost my job and boyfriend all in the same week and decided to move. I lost all drive to work out, get a great job and really be happy. Well, that lasted for 3 months. I moved home after that and started working out. I still only had a total weight gain of 15lbs.



After 5 months, I met my now husband Gary. He is wonderful and I was finally happy. I felt comfortable around him. He is an amazing cook and we ate out a lot. It was fun and fabulous. My workouts suffered a lot because I always wanted to be with him and so that weight that I worked so hard to lose started creeping back on.

I have gained back 40lbs of the 50 I originally lost. Its heart breaking. I told myself I would never let that happen. So the moral of that story kids is that you must be aware always of your physical, mental, and emotional status.

This story is not over though. I have since joined Weight Watchers. I am working out every day again. I am building up my running skills and am back on the road to success. Its still hard sometimes and I struggle just like everyone else, but the big secret is that I just take it day by day (sometimes minute by minute).



I am not sure what you might learn by this tale. I know that I have learned that it is easier to get up and go for a run when you are in shape than if you let your self get out of shape and then try to go for a run. I also know that my prayers were answered the first time around and I will not let those blessings that I have been given go to waste any longer.