I was one of 5 women featured in the People Magazine "Half My Size Issue" in January 2012. I’d like to tell you a little about my journey. In 2001 my weight ballooned to 378 pounds, and needless to say, the scale was headed in the wrong direction. After collapsing while dancing at a family party from heat exhaustion and requiring an inhaler and if I would have allowed it, paramedics, I realized I needed to make a change. That changed just happened to save my life. Today, I am proud to report that I’ve lost half my body weight and have had my story appear in People Magazine. Since the magazine I have been seen on The NBC Today Show, Chicago Tribune, WGN, Windy City Live and NBC in Chicago. I’m also having a story featured in First Magazine due out July 22nd. My secret: I changed my diet and I joined a gym. The hardest part of my incredible journey had been that first step into the gym. The equipment, as well as the people inside who were working out, made it very intimidating. But I stepped onto a treadmill, started walking and haven’t looked back since. I’ve kept the weight off and continue to do so because exercise has become a way of life for me. I cannot go through a day without some sort of activity, with my daily routine now including cardio in the morning for 45-60 minutes (I love Zumba!) and weightlifting for 45 minutes in the afternoon. My best advice: “Don’t ever break that promise to yourself.” We make so many promises to everyone in our lives, but the most important one is to ourselves. The secret to my success was making an entire lifestyle change, not just going on yet another quick fad diet. Weight loss doesn’t stop with a magic number on the scale. It’s a daily struggle to keep your new lifestyle alive.
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