I finally did something I felt good about.

When I first started working out with TCF, I did it since I knew I needed to get in better shape.  I wanted to be stronger.  Being heavy my whole life, I don't think I was necessarily doing it to be thinner.  I didn't want to keep getting bigger, and I knew I would keep getting bigger if I didn't exercise.   I remember my first class and being asked how far I could jog.  I said 3 minutes.  The trainer said, "I didn't ask how long you could run, I asked how far, start jogging".  I will never forget that day.

I started jogging around the track and only went around the one edge of the track (the rounded part) and had to stop and catch my breath. I can remember in the first year, one of the gals coming up behind me telling me she was lapping me.  It didn't bother me, I just needed to stay up with the heaviest girl in the class. Then, one day, we had to sprint.  I hadn't sprinted in 33 years.  After 4 sprints, the girls in the class all looked at me and said almost in unison, "I can't believe how fast you can run". That was a turning point for me in my life! I could do this.  I finally did something I felt good about.  I knew I couldn't run for a long time but I knew with practice I could get better and I have.  My fastest one mile time is 9:54 minutes and I am very proud of it.

Now let's review my size and weight.  When I started with TCF in June, I was a big size 14.  Being heavy my whole life, now that I worked out, that meant, I could eat more and I did.  I didn't lose weight, but I felt a lot better. Everyone was telling me I looked so much better, and people were asking me how much weight I lost and I would say, none.  The scale didn't bother me since I knew I was stronger and I could walk through an airport and not be winded.  I could walk up a flight of stairs and not be winded.  Now 3 1/2 years later, I am glad to say I am now a "normal" size 12. I have lost 12 pounds in 3 1/2 years.  I have kept it off for 16 months.  For the first time in my life, I can say, I left the weight off.  I am the strongest I have been since high school.  I am stronger at 50 years old then I was at 40 or 30.

Now, my next goal, is to lose more weight.  This is the hardest part.  Anyone can make time to work out.  I work 80 hours a week. When people say they don't have time, I tell them, "that is an excuse".  It is easy to work out when you have someone holding you accountable. What you put in your mouth is the toughest.  When you eat poorly for 50 years, it's not easy to change.  But, it is important for my health to start paying more attention.  My goal is to be a size 10 before the spring.

I know it's hard for Traci and the TCF team to see how hard I work out and not see me get smaller, but it took me 50 years to get here and it will take me a few years to get where I want to be!  Both, thanks to the TCF team, I know I can do it!!  Thank you so much for your support!

*Note from TCF Team:  It is absolutely not hard for us to work with you in any way.  We are proud of you!  We believe you are perfect just the way you are and are delighted to stand next to you in your journey!