My journey

I can’t believe it has been eight weeks! I just wanted to say thanks to everyone who supported me during my journey! It is incredible to see how far I have come in the last eight weeks. Where I was then and now the person I have become. To me this challenge was more than just “losing weight.” It was a time to take a serious look at myself and who I had become and realize I had the power to change.

Honestly when I first started, I didn’t know if I could do it. I wanted to do it. I thought I could possibly do it, I just had failed so many times before, and I didn’t want to fail again. More than weight loss, I wanted to feel strong, happy, and confident in who I was. I wanted to like myself.

I took it one day at a time, one meal at a time, one workout at a time. I started to believe in myself. I started to feel strong and confident in what I was doing. I realized I had the power to change. Every day I was faced with a decision. I could work towards my goals or I could let life just happen and see where I ended up. Each day I CHOSE to become healthier. It was HARD! And at times I wanted to give up. Especially when I was SO exhausted and my kids were all fighting, whining, and crying, or when I was discouraged because my weight had not changed, or when our extended family went out to eat at my favorite restaurant and I got something healthy to eat! Each day was a battle, but now I can say I am SO GRATEFUL I stuck to my goals and kept with it.

It was AWESOME to lose the weight, but for me the journey was about so much more. It has shown me that I CAN accomplish the goals I put my mind to. I AM strong. I CAN choose to be healthy and happy. I CAN take the time to take care of myself. This challenge has been a great stepping stone in my life to help me start becoming the person I have always wanted to become.

One of my favorite quotes is “We BECOME what we want to BE by consistently BEING what we want to BECOME each day,” (Elder Richard G. Scott). This challenge has proven to me that anything is possible! We CAN become who we CHOOSE to become. We just have to consistently work towards our goals and remember the great woman we are inside!!!!

People ask me how I lost the weight and what tools I use to help me make this journey. The principles I used were from a book called “Transformation” by Bill Phillips. It is similar to the “Body for Life” principles (same author) but the 18 steps in “Transformation” have really made the difference. I am actually only ½ way through my 18 week transformation, but I have applied the principles and have seen results. For me, CONSISTENCY was the key. There is a website that has been awesome too. It is an online community where others are also trying to lead healthy lives. It has been a really helpful tool as well. If you want to join, it is free. Look it up and check it out. It is transformation.com. If anyone decides to join, look me up! My user name is “Huckleberryforest.”

Thanks again for joining me in this journey. I wish you all the best of luck in achieving your goals in the future.

Angela Ames