I knew I had gained weight (when you do, you know!); but it wasn’t until I stepped (and restepped...several times, because I couldn't believe that number!) on the scale and was heavier than when I had been 8 months pregnant.... Yikes… that I got the determination to change!!!! I had hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid) and high cholesterol along with a terrible medical history and family medical history. So... if I was going to sweat and grunt, it was going to be for as many benefits in correcting as many problems as I could!

I started my "fitness quest" (my term), on Oct.1, 2000. My first picture shows me 'before' starting my quest. I was about 160 lbs., wearing a size 16, and all of that was NOT pretty on my 5'1", 45 year old frame...trust me!

I started doing weight training via Joyce Vedral's videos and books (www.joycevedral.com). I worked out 6 days a week. By the time Christmas rolled around, I was thrilled to find myself into a size 12. Well, I didn't want to go back to a larger size and I felt if I slacked off that's where I would find myself. Therefore, I kept going with changing out one of my workouts for another.

By mid January 2001, I was into a size 10 and actually was dropping sizes too quickly.... my $$$ supply couldn't afford to keep buying clothes, for I could no longer have size 16's altered to fit me! Honest, it happened! So, I lowered my intensity.... worked out 5 days a week and not quite as heavy of lifting.

Well, as you can see on my second picture (top middle), by the end of February (about 5 months after my start) I reached a size 8 and 135 lbs. I felt I had enough muscle mass at this point and switched gears to try to attain better overall proportion and definition. If I went down into another size fine, but I was ok with size 8.... thrilled to see a single digit size again!

I kept working out and upon getting a job that found me having to be there by 7:30am, that meant, for me, getting up by 4:45am so I could be working out by 5am, have time to eat, shower, dress, and see daughter off to school and make it to work on time. I managed to whittle off a few fractions of an inch here and there, attain some definition, and by my "anniversary date", one year since I started on my "fitness quest", I reached a size 6 and 130 lbs. (top right picture).

I have continued working out...it is the way I start and get energized for my day! I am still redefining workouts that I've designed to continue attaining better overall proportion and definition. I am now a size 4/6 (4's in most everything but jeans, thus the qualifying of the size) and am 128-130 lbs. I wear a smaller size than over 25 years ago when I got married and I only weighed 109 lbs!!!

So...you see, although muscle takes up a lot less room than fat, it is more dense and you'll weigh more but wear a smaller size...GREAT! So, let me ask you: “Does this stuff work?" I just turned 47 years old in May of 2002.... what do you think my answer is? Haha! You're right if you said, "YES!"

Now, I'm NOT perfect and I do NOT claim to be. I'm not a competitive bodybuilder. I'm a married woman with 2 adult daughters (ages 21 and 18, the younger daughter is physically handicapped), a husband, and the family's cat. I have had my own business, currently am employed for the local school district as a paraprofessional where I am assigned one on one with a physically handicapped student. I direct the youth bell choir, am a member of chancel & adult bell choirs, and serve as worship leader and pianist, as needed at our church.

So, yes I'm busy, but if you make exercise a part of your daily life...just like brushing your teeth, taking a bath, etc., and you stay consistent, forgive yourself when you go off the path (yes, it happens! I am human and so are you!) and quit the excuses! Just DO IT (to borrow Nike's slogan), because "doing" is always better than NOT doing anything. As I said, I'm NOT perfect...I still have "areas of discontent" (my term), but that's ok!

I no longer have any larger clothes available for my use than what size I currently wear. I'm NOT going back there! I've found my calling and WILL become a Motivational Speaker and Personal Trainer, because I KNOW what it's like and can relate to others facing where I was, where I am, and everywhere in between. I currently have 14-16 people I help, in just that fashion, via online! I guess there aren't too many others who take to age 47 to finally know what it is they're suppose/want to be doing when they grow up! Haha!