Hey everyone! :)

Things with me are going really great at the moment. I'm excited for Christmas and everything, and also all of the upcoming milestones in my weight-loss journey that I'm very much so looking forward to reaching. Let me first of all start off by saying, I had originally set my goal of being 100 lbs down by the end of 2012. I definitely think I could have done it if for the first month we've lived in our new place I didn't only lose a couple of pounds... Oh' well. I'm not focusing on that... Nope, not at all. I have lost 90 lbs in 8 months!!! And THAT is what I'm focusing on! My new goal is to be 100 lbs down by January (or in January)... I know I can reach that goal most definitely! I am now currently just a tiny ways away from being 91 lbs down and weighing in at 229! SUPER EXCITING! I'm just ready to be out of the 200's and I know that I'm getting close now!

I'm very proud/excited/happy that I haven't let the holidays put any weight on me. I knew I couldn't let that happen, and I didn't. I still have to get through Christmas, but that shouldn't be an issue whatsoever. I made it through Thanksgiving with no gain and even a small loss, so Christmas should be no problem! I just can't believe how far I have come... Last year at this time during the holidays I was so huge and out of shape and it was just getting worse... I just kept gaining and gaining... All of my clothes were too small, etc... etc... It was a nightmare! I didn't even realize just how bad it was until I decided to start this journey here on SparkPeople. I am so very thankful that I did take the step to lose this weight and get myself feeling healthy! It was not normal for a 21 year old to be having chest pains and high blood pressure, and it was ALL caused by weight. High Blood Pressure does NOT run on either side of my family... So it was ALL my doing... I take the full blame and responsibility for what I put my body through. My body isn't meant to be heavy, and no one is meant to weigh 320 lbs... EVER! I am only 5'4'' so very, VERY unhealthy. I'm now at 230 lbs and nearly to 229, I'm hoping by Friday at the latest that I will be there. It'll be great to be into the 220's and leave the 230's behind forever...

This whole journey has just been so incredibly rewarding to me in so many ways, and everyone here on Spark has just been great. I love being able to help some of you find new things to try and to give you all motivation. It's wonderful to hear that I have helped some of you! I've had great luck meeting awesome people on here and have only run across a very small number of rude people... So for that I am lucky! No one cares about the mean people anyway... Let's focus on those who are positive and bring smiles to our faces! Those are the ones who matter! Really though, you guys are great. I wish you all the very best in your journeys and hope you all find what works for you, if you already have... Great! Keep at it, and don't give up! I know that once I reach my ultimate goal weight it will be the greatest accomplishment ever, and I will feel so proud of myself! Yes, I was the one who let my weight get out of control... Yes, it could have been prevented... Yes, I did get lazy, and ate too much crappy food. Yes, I definitely am guilty of all of that... BUT, I did NOT let the weight ruin and control my life for all of my years to come, I am stopping this issue while I'm young and still have my whole life to live, and THAT my friends is what matters!!!

Take care, I love you all! xx :)