In summer of 2008 for some odd reason I gained weight (well, maybe I knew the fact that as you get older you tend to gain weight, especially if you're not in an exercise/workout plan or program, and then the drinking didn't help either!). I am 5'9" and was always at 135 lbs, which was comfortable to me, and my doctor told me once I had high cholesterol and was at risk of heart attack (due to my family history as well). Of course I went dancing almost every weekend, which it kept me in really good shape.

I met a guy and moved in so I guess I got way too comfortable and he didn't seem to mind it, so I let it be. When it came to weighting myself one day, I was at 160 and could not believe it! I had a gym membership I wasn't even using as I didn't want to work out alone, so I posted myself on a website looking for a gym partner in my area. Sure enough I found this awesome lady and we both had the same goals, so we started going on February 2, 2009. I lost some weight (I was at 158 at the time), but needed to work more on cardio, so as of April 21, 2009, on the days that we don't go, I did the elliptical I had at the time. I started doing 30 minutes to get used to the time, and progressed to almost an hr, which helped me lose the weight.

In 2010 I was at 140 and it was perfect, only 5 more to lose! I then move out (things just didn't work for us!) but kept my motivation going and got lean and I was happy! Then, a past BF I started seeing again decided he was getting too old chasing after women who didn't treat him right and realized I was the one all along, so we got together and he asked me to move in. I stopped going to the gym. I gained that weight back but kept it at 155. Again, decided enough was enough and I needed him to get motivated too, so since I was already eating clean I decided to coach him a little on it as well, along with having him get a gym membership. In no time he got used to eating well and healthy, and working out, so now there is no stopping us! We go at least 5 times a week; he works on his thing and I do mine! He has the goal of losing his "love handles" and me? Well, getting back the leanness I had in 2010. It won't be easy but the journey has been fun so far, and like I say, "couples that play and workout together, will definitely stay together!

I love working out because it gives me a sense of accomplishment! When I get on the scale and the end of the week (I don't do it everyday as it frustrates the heck out of me, lol!) and I see I have lost even 1 or 2 lbs, I jump, give myself a pat in the back and say "whatever I am doing it is right for me!". When I started following the bodybuilding routines I had the misconception I did not want to bulk up like a guy and I was afraid of even lifting heavy, or at least trying. So I schooled myself and started buying female bodybuilding magazines and I got so hooked, and the change of attitude started! I found my favorite female bodybuilders, started following some on Twitter and on Facebook, and getting in the habit of doing it, not just because I had to, BUT because I wanted to! My theory is, don't be afraid to go heavy on weights, as long as you do it right with no injury. Start small, get comfortable, increase weights, rewards are grand! "JUST DO IT!" ;-)