100+ pounds down! My Weight Loss Journey…So far!

Humbled. Proud. Amazed. Embarrassed even. When you say the words- I lost 100 pounds. Wow. Well, I’ve actually lost 101.7 pounds! But, you get what I’m saying.

A toilet weighs 100 pounds. The average dresser. A two month-old horse. I lost a baby horse!

I have always been up and down with my weight, but late last year I knew I was at my heaviest. I was uncomfortable, and you get to a point where you can’t keep buying bigger pants. It was time. I knew it was time, but getting your mind and body both on board is a very difficult thing. I will do it on Monday, I will start next Monday. I will wait until the New Year. I had all the excuses. I needed motivated and frankly, I needed accountability!

Enter- Amber. Sweet, thoughtful Amber! At the time, she worked at the radio station with me and she came up with idea for the Forever Fitness 24 Challenge and asked me and Ken Steel to be the team leaders. Starting in January of this year, for 8 weeks we would lead our ‘teams’ for a weight-loss challenge- like a Biggest Loser. Here was my accountability! This would be part of my job. Go work out at a local gym, Forever Fitness 24 in Akron and talk about it on the air, and in turn get my butt in gear!

When I stepped on that scale for the first time after the holidays and actually looked- I was in shock! I thought I had a ballpark of how bad I let my weight get, but I was wayyyyy off. It was then that I realized I could happily stand to lose 100 pounds. I kept asking myself, how did I get here? Then I remembered, pizza, tacos, peanut butter m&ms, beer and no cares for how much I ate..ever! Yes, it was time. I never looked at myself in the mirror or in pictures and thought I looked bad, but I came to realize I was kidding myself. It was time to go big!

I had to start doing the complete opposite of what I was doing. I decided to do low carb, high protein. No more Taco Bell, no more bread, no refined sugar, no pop, and for the first 2 months- no booze!

I started working out 6 times a week at Forever Fitness 24. The staff there embraced me and our team members with open arms. I combined weights with cardio and after 8 weeks, I was down almost 30 pounds. I was ecstatic! The challenge was over, but I was not finished. I figured, why stop now. I kept at it, bought a scale and moved the challenge into my home, if you will. I weighed my myself every Saturday morning. More accountability.

I still eat low carb, high protein…with some wiggle room. Everyone from my friends to listeners to family to co-workers ask me- what’s your secret? I don’t know! My best answer is whatever works for you. I found that sweet spot of getting my mind and body on board. As for the food, I am a creature of habit. I eat the same foods pretty much every week, but I mix up the order! Ha! I don’t like to say it is a diet or even a lifestyle change. It was just TIME! Will I eat pizza again on the regular, maybe, but my brain knows better now. I used to eat Taco Bell 3 to 5 times a week! So good, but so wrong! I can’t go back to being that girl. I know for the rest of my life, whenever I hit my goal weight, I will have to workout all the time to maintain my weight. It is just who I am. I feel amazing! I can climb the 3 flights of stairs at work without being so winded I can’t talk. The other day I crushed those stairs and I wasn’t even out of breathe and I got a little teary-eyed!

I still want to lose another 30 pounds- hopefully! Currently, I have never been this toned and healthy in my life. From the constant exercise to the healthy eating. I have never felt this good. With that being said, this almost 11 month journey wasn’t a lonely one. I must thank a few people:

The Warren- my sweet, charming, loving hubby. Not only did he put up with me through all of this, but this man can cook a medium rare steak like you wouldn’t believe! His support and love is my life line.

My Mama- she is my bestie and my guru for all things in life, but especially in all things food and diet! She knew what food to tell me to try, what shoes to get, what work out clothes to buy- she knows everything!

Amber and Brittney- my girls from Forever Fitness 24, you listen to my crazy stories, help me when I am convinced I am not losing weight and you are just good people!

Forever Fitness 24- this gym hands down changed my life! From the people: Amber, Brittney, James, Joey, Christy and the members to the amazing welcoming atmosphere. I am now one of those people who likes going to the gym! I never thought I would say that! Everyone is supportive of each other. I go, I lift my weights, I do my cardio while I watch The Price is Right and I see the same people everyday and everyone is soooo nice!! I have watched this gym improve with more machines and equipment over the past few months and I just love it there.

All of my friends and family- thank you for supporting me and putting up with me when you eat carbs and I ordered a salad or when I came over and you didn’t roll your eyes when I brought chicken. And, to all my morning show peeps for eating their donuts in another room- that gives me all the feels 😉

Throughout this whole journey people have tossed around the words like inspiration and inspiring and that makes me feel incredibly flattered. If my story can inspire anyone to get healthy, I say yay! I am still at a loss that I even got to point where I needed to lose 100 pounds. I knew I could get healthy and lose weight, but I am amazed that I lost this much. This is not an easy thing to do. There are hard days, but I knew I had to change my lifestyle and make a change. I am not done, I am keeping on, keeping on. So whatever you need to get motivated to move, to eat healthy, to do what works for you, do it, get a work out buddy, join a gym, work out at home, do it all, but it is never to late to get healthy- start now…you can do it! All it takes is one day, one mile, just get moving.