I started on a journey of getting healthy on January 3, 2006. I was tipping the scale at a very, very unhealthy 332lbs and size 32 pants. I had just found out I was diabetic and hypertensive and on my way to an early grave. I took out my South Beach books that had been gathering dust for two years and and then actually read them. I haven't looked back since! I reached my goal weight of 160 lbs (it actually came in at 157) on December 29, 2007. I am down to between 145-147lbs now which I have been maintaining through portion control, watching everything that I eat and exercise (mostly cardio with some strength training thrown in). I am now wearing between a 4-8 in pants.

It's been a great discovery for me...I have energy that I never had before...enough to keep up with my very active 5 and 2 y.o. grandchildren. I don't sit still anymore and I am constantly on the move. I sleep better, look better and feel so much better about myself.

The journey was really the easiest part for me...I can truthfully say that I never cheated during the entire time I was losing weight...never had a cheat day. I'm not as militant as I was because now I know I can eat a cookie or a piece of cake and not cave and eat the whole bag or the whole cake. The hardest part, I know from fact, will be keeping it off in the long-term...I am determined NEVER to be the morbidly obese person that I was!