"You can have excuses. You can have results. You can't have both."

That single quote changed my life. For more than a year, I had "tried" to lose weight but had no success. In early March 2012, I was looking on Facebook and noticed 970Muscle's photo with the quote "You can have excuses. You can have results. You can't have both." That hit me like a ton of bricks. Although I was trying to lose weight, I knew that I was the person that could make up any excuse NOT to go to the gym or eat healthy. I knew it had to change.

I emailed a friend (and amazing trainer) and asked if he'd be willing to help me - he said absolutely. Within a week, he had put together a complete program for me: lifting program, cardio schedule, nutrition plan. It was all there. If I followed it, he guaranteed I would see results at the end of 16 weeks but I had to commit and I had to make the change. I said "Deal! No excuses."

Walking into my first workout , I was beyond nervous. Here were all of these extremely fit people and then there is me: the before picture. All I could think is "what did I get myself into? I can't do this. I'll never look like them." I made it through my first workout, and my second, and each workout after that. Now it's my addiction. I have to workout.

I have changed everything about my lifestyle - I've become THAT girl. The gym is my stress relief and best friend. Excuses are a thing of the past. Healthy living is a habit.

It's my stress relief. It's MY time. I don't have to look perfect or compete with anyone, instead it's me against me. There's no better feeling than going "I couldn't have done that yesterday." I'm lucky, my trainer is an amazing friend, so it's time I get with him, doing what we love. Plus, seeing the results and changes are motivation to keep going.