Amy

Female

35

Longwood, Florida, United States

Homemaker,

Aug, 2005

FEAR!!! They say, “Feel the fear and do it anyway!” I remember the first morning I drove to the gym to exercise and meat with my Personal Trainer! I drove up turned off my car and sat there in the drivers seat feeling nervous as if it was my first day of grade school. That nervous feeling that hurt in the pit of my stomach! It took so much strength for me to make myself go inside! Little did I know that this was going to be one of the best choices I could ever make! And my Personal Trainer became a very dear friend and inspiration for me!!! I have Obesity on all sides of my family, heart problems, diabetes, stroke, and just a miserable life with aches and pains in joints, hips, back problems and no flexibility to look forward to. At least this is the life of my family members ahead of me. It looked really grim to me! I see my children’s Grandparents weighed down by these awful health elements that look awful.... certainly NOT what I want to be now or EVER!!! I guess I just decided life was worth living better than that, and the only person that could change that for MY future was ME! I have no one else to blame! I had to respect myself enough to make the change. Something inside me was crying and begging me to make this change. So I took the challenge and decided to follow that feeling inside. I’m so... glad I did!!!

It gives me the chance to focus on something that challenges me. We have so many demands on our lives, and yet most of those demands don't feel positive. But this is a challenge that helps me realize I can defy the obstacles and go the distance. I can do hard things, even by choice! I love to exert and push myself to new heights and challenges.

I stay motivated by how I feel after a workout. It's a natural high that should be illegal! I stay motivated by remembering how my old body used to feel. I used to have to push myself to the edge of the couch before I could stand up. My walk was more of a waddle. Now I decide to get something done, I just stand up easily and move freely and effortless. It's amazing to live in a healthy body!!!! How did I ever live any other way? The memories keep me motivated, excited and yet humble!!!

Though not pictured I have weighed 200 pounds! So I have lost 70 pounds sense then. But 40 sense I hit the gym 2 years ago. I have lost 16% BMI from a size 14 to 7! Not to mention what I have accomplished inside. My belief that I can climb mountains and reach the top to see the beauty beyond the horizon! It's an AMAZING journey and defiantly well worth every step!!!