You asked me to write about my weight loss.  Hopefully this can help others become advocates for their own health and take action. 
I have battled weight gain since I was 13 and it’s never been easy.  I was probably anorexic during my teen years, but it didn’t have a name then (unless it was the Twiggy influence).  I am definitely dating myself here.  I ate almost nothing and did normal activities and stayed very tiny.  I went to college and gained the usual 20 college pounds that turned into 50+, then losing (but not all). I got married, and began having children and the baby weight came!  It was at least 40 pounds with each one (4 babies), and losing afterward, but still not quite all the way back.  After my last baby at 35, I lost even less than I had before, and due to my increased responsibilities and absolutely no time for myself, I started gaining again. 

When I saw pictures of myself at my daughter’s high school graduation, I was disgusted and decided to join TOPS (Taking Off Pounds Sensibly) to help with encouragement and accountability.  By this time all my kids were in school so I had some time for myself.  They are a great bunch of ladies and I s-l-o-w-ly lost some weight again to get to my goal weight.  I maintained for almost two years, then started inching up yet again.  I found myself in January of 2006 in need of losing at least 28 pounds.   My doctor said I could even take it down another 5 after reaching my goal if I wanted to and still be in a safe range for my height and build.  I really didn’t think that I could lose the weight again.  I was losing heart.  But at the same time I was depressed about how I looked and did not have much energy.  I began seeing a naturopathic doctor/acupuncturist and she helped me regain health and balance in my body, but I was still having problems with the weight.  In all that time the only exercise I had done was walking. 

My son had been working as a personal trainer in Texas for a while and was trying to encourage me from afar.  I finally decided to make a commitment to do something 5 days a week and stick with it.  That was January.  Before that the most I had done may have been two days a week of walking and it was anything but consistent!  He told me to find a personal trainer that could work with me and gave me certain guidelines to help me find a good one.  It took a little while to get it set up, but I actually began with a trainer in March.  Initially it was twice a week, then once a week.  I was still working on my own besides that.  Jeremy again encouraged me to step up my work-out since I was not losing very quickly.  I began a cycling class two mornings a week.  This was completely outside my comfort zone!  It was very strenuous and very early in the morning.  I didn’t know there was a 5:00am!  (I was usually dead asleep at that hour).   I got up at 5, got dressed and ready, then head out the door at 5:25 for the 5:45 class.  That began in June.  I continued working with the trainer until September and I had lost over 12 pounds and a significant change in BMI by then, mostly because of the additional calorie burn of cycling and additional strength training.  My body was changing.  That September I still had at least 14 pounds yet to go.  Jeremy had moved back from Texas by then and showed me some more strength training exercises, emphasizing correct posture and stretching and I continued my 5 day/week regimen including my 2 days of cycling.  It was going a little quicker now.  The weight was coming off and I was getting more and more encouraged.  In the Spring, Jeremy added his nutrition program, and I was one of the first ones on.  It was great!  It helped me figure out a better food balance nutritionally (especially for someone my age – because I don’t need a lot of calories – I have to make sure they’re good healthy ones) and helped me not go over my calorie target each day.   I logged in e-v-erything and I lost the remaining weight in about 10-12 weeks so that I could go try on mother of the bride dresses.  I needed to order one THAT month (May) in order to have it in time for my daughter’s wedding!  I made it!  It is now September and I have lost a little more, and am still working out 5 days a week.  I do my two days of cycling still, 2 days are a combination of walking and strength training and one day is just walking.  I feel great, am healthy and I’m a size that I haven’t been since my early college days and I think I might even be stronger than I was then!  I made a decision, made a commitment to myself and with direction, encouragement and proper tools, was able to attain a goal that I did not really think was possible when I began.  Am I thrilled?  You bet I am!