Shortly after my 18th birthday, I was scheduled to go skydiving - it had always been a dream of mine. I weighed 210 lbs and was scheduled to go skydiving in October of 2010 - I knew I was heavy, but the cutoff weight limit was 220, so I figured I'd be able to go.

Wrong...

I called them to make reservations to go tandem and they said that females had to be 180 lbs or less. I was so disappointed! But I was determined to reach this life long goal.

So I made some changes when I went off to college that fall. I started eating healthier and exercising. It became a lifestyle change for me. I was feeling healthier and looking better, and by the end of december I was down to 180 lbs.

Well December was a little cold to be falling from 11,000 feet., so I kept up my good habits of eating right and exercising and in July of 2011, I went tandem skydiving at 170 pounds! I was so proud to have finally achieved my goal of skydiving, and at the same time, I had achieved my goal of losing weight and becoming more healthy!

Skydiving was what inspired me to lose weight, but actually becoming more healthy is what furthered my weight loss and health goals. Being healthy and strong is crucial to the active and adventurous lifestyle I want to live, and I think they go hand in hand. I am proud of the accomplishments I have already done, and look forward to completing more and continuing to lead a healthy life.