Light Bulb Moment

Every one's journey has a beginning. The light bulb turns on, and you get it. 

For me it took a long time to even realize and admit to myself that I had a problem, let alone have the guts to try to fix it. When I finally looked in the mirror (literally, I had avoided really looking at myself for probably 3 years) I could see I needed to change.

It took a total stranger. Didn't even know me. She changed my life, and I don't know who she is.

My mom had told me a story about someone she knew who was very overweight and got hypnotized and lost a ton of weight. At 191 pounds (5'3") laying in bed, I looked up the phone number and called the place to get some information. I didn't know what else to do. I didn't know where to begin. I spoke to the receptionist about the process, costs, appointments, etc. At the end of her conversation, I asked her if I would still feel like myself after being hypnotized. She said yes I know what you mean, we just teach you to eliminate your bad habits. That's all it took. I hung up the phone. It was my fault that I was extremely overweight. I could place blame, but it was MY fault. MY. BAD. HABITS.

It started right there. Just the realization that you control your own destiny. There are so so many factors that influence your life, but ultimately it's you. I had to stop blaming my body and thinking there was something wrong with me that I "couldn't" lose weight.

Looking back, I started small. Small changes to snowball into big results. I set a goal to lose 50 pounds to put me at a healthy BMI for my height.

• I did (do) not want to be a statistic.
• I did (do) not want people to look at me and think I was fat.
• I did (do) not want to be called fat by family or strangers anymore.

50 POUNDS. I did not think about achieving that goal or failing. I just set out to do it. I had to...