I am really thinking about the 100 pound mark! I only have 5 pounds to go!! I want that milestone so bad! It is just amazing to me to think of how far I have come. I have been at this for a total of 88 weeks, which gives me an average of just over a pound a week, which is HEALTHY weight loss. I have definitely had my ups and downs along the way, weeks where I have gained and weeks where I have lost more than a pound, but I am pleased to know that I am losing at a healthy weight.

I have really learned the importance of good health. I have been a professional yo-yo dieter most of my teenage/adult life. I have lost weight successfully before, but without much exercise and by cutting carbs and other food groups. (Not counting the fact that I am now a vegetarian the majority of the time, but that was a healthy change based on lots of reading I did on the subject. I still make sure to get my proteins and healthy fats from other sources.) I wasn't healthy at the end of the fad diets. I obviously gained all of the weight back, plus some! I have learned what it means to live a healthy lifestyle that involves healthy portions that include foods that I love, as well as exercise. I feel better than I have ever felt in my life, and finally have the self confidence that I always wanted. I still intend to lose a little more than the 100 pounds to get to my ultimate goal, but this is still an important milestone for me, and I will definitely be celebrating! (I think with getting my hair colored and changed up!)

I know that everyone says this, but I am going to go ahead and say it too....If I can do this, anyone can. I know people get tired of hearing that, but it is SO true. I was the girl in high school was in size 20 pants (at my heaviest less than two years ago, I was in a 26!!), I would eat 3 McDonald's burgers when out with friends, and detested the thought of exercise. I even cried the whole time once when my Mom made me go on hike (at age 16!!..LAME!!). Now I flipped the switch in my brain, and I love to get out and hike. I run, do intense cardio videos, do strength training, play tennis...just whatever I can it into my schedule and enjoy. I change up what I do a lot to keep my body guessing, and that works well for me.

I hope that everyone (no matter how much you desire to lose) sets a goal for themselves and flips that same switch in their brain to accept the lifestyle changes to achieve it. Every single pound loss along the way means something. I remember what each and every one of these 95 pounds felt like on my body, how they made my clothes look and how they made me feel about myself. I am so glad that I made the change, and continue to make changes.

You are worth it!!