It's time

Now that I'm 100 lbs into my weight loss journey, I've decided it is finally time to blog about it! Yeah, should have started sooner, I know. But with the success I've had, so many people are asking me about it, so I figure it is better to put it out there for everyone, rather than answer the same questions over and over.

The first several posts will be filling you in on the journey thus far. I have to say, it has been AMAZING! And I have so many plans for the future ... moving to Hawaii, hitting my goal weight, being a personal trainer, leading boot camps on the beach ... it's going to be a BLAST!

I auditioned for season 10 of the Biggest Loser. I didn't get a call back and wouldn't have been eligible by the time they left for the Ranch anyways (had already lost too much weight at that point.) But I got to meet some of the former contestants and that was a huge inspiration for me. More about that later, I'm sure. But the other cool thing is that season 10 is about paying it forward. And even before I knew it was their focus this season, that was already my goal. More than anything, I want to help others on this crazy journey.

There have been a lot of things I haven't been able to do, because of finances. One of my major goals as a personal trainer is to have a scholarship program so that money doesn't have to be a road block. This is what I'll be doing for a living, so of course I have to make money. But there has to be a balance ... a way to help others who need it the most, regardless of their financial situation.

I also want to specialize in working with people who have 100 lbs or more to lose. I've been there and done that! There are certain things about being morbidly obese that other people just can't relate to and don't understand. I recently flew for the first time since I've lost a majority of the weight. As I was passing a guy sitting in first class, he was asking for a seat belt extender and my heart broke for him. That was me only two years ago! Okay, not the first class part. But I know what it is like to squeeze into a seat, suck it in as far as you can and still not be able to get the seat belt around your belly. Then I got back to my seat, easily fit in, hooked the seat belt and, for the first time ever, had to pull the strap to tighten it. Seriously, tears of gratitude filled my eyes. It is these small victories that make all the hard work worth it.