I am now 41. I had a birthday this past week, and while I had just an OK day due to personal things going on, I was able to enjoy my achievements that I have reached over the last year. My year of being 40 was wonderful, I did everything I set out to do. I reached my goal weight, and I have learned how to maintain that weight. ( Finally) I have reached fitness goals I honestly , never thought was possible for me to do. I can do pull ups, and just a few days before my birthday, I did 50 ( FIVE ZERO ) military style push ups. I held a plank for 4 mins, and only stopped cause it was 4 minutes . I was on the TODAY show, I was in New York City for 25 hours with my nearest and dearest friend Maegan, and we had a whirlwind time in the Big Apple, all because of my weight loss. I was on New Day Northwest, and shared that with two of my wonderful sons, Alec and Jake, and also my dear friend and workout buddy who keeps me honest, Angela. The NEW DAY show was almost better than the Today Show, cause I shared it with my sons, they made me very very proud and honored to say I am their Mother . I became an instructor at my gym and I now teach 3 classes a week .
But most of all , this past year I have been able to inspire others to start their weight loss journey, or I have been able to encourage them to continue on the journey they had already started. people that I will never meet, have been inspired by me sharing my struggles and my journey so open and publically. I am grateful that I have been able to do it, and happy to every single day. Cause if I can help one person who felt the way I USE to, feel the way I feel now, It makes it all worth it.
I leave you with a picture taken my Birthday weekend. Inner peace and happiness shows through in this picture, I think. 
Yes, Tami. I AM one of those whom you inspired and are continuing to do so through your excellent role modeling. Seeing your success, from day-to-day, is just one of the major factors that keeps me going. If God ever blesses me with the finances to buy another reliable car, I would love the opportunity to meet you for a lunch together sometime. Right now, I'm either on foot or, for the first time in 30 years, will be back to having to find my way around by BUS transit. Moving to Lynden next Saturday from my home to an apartment (another huge lifestyle change). Maybe you might like to bring your sweet family to the fair in Lynden this Summer :).
ReplyDeleteThanks to your example, I'm down by 21.3 lbs. and have 15 more to lose. The last ones are always the toughest to drop, for me, as well as the ones that take the very longest too. I feel so honored to have you as a friend.