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DISPOSED of 40+ lbs, 20+ inches, and 4 dress sizes (from 18 to size 10).
You KNOW me, I would have never believed one of those weight-loss advertisement claims, except that THIS TIME IT WAS ME!!!!

In panic mode after the high blood pressure diagnosis, I gave exercise my all for two weeks, cut out all carbs and salts. The results: 5 lbs gone and blood pressure returned to normal. That didn’t seem too hard. I decided to set some goals

After the first two weeks and five pounds, my goal was simple: 5 lbs a month. My mile-markers: 1) to match the weight on my Hawaii Driver’s License; 2) to match the weight my husband guessed for my military ID; 3) If I can manage that, then who knows, I may get the lofty idea of making it to my wedding weight; 4) Then my B.C. weight (before Christ and all the church potlucks) 4) Do I dare go on to pre-grad school? 5) How about high school? Okay, maybe my goals are greater than I first thought. Here’s to testing the product!

After trying P90X and Insanity, I selected the ChaLEAN Extreme program. It kept me interested because every day was a different challenge, the workouts were about 40 minutes a day, and my progress was rapid. I stayed motivated by scheduling my workouts and tracking my progress at the Team Beachbody WOWY SuperGym, and inviting a bunch of friends over to work out with me.

I met my goal of losing 16 lbs using ChaLEAN Extreme, and finally my Hawaii Driver's License didn't lie (actually it's too heavy now). I love that I didn't have to load up the kids to go to the gym, or find a sitter, or look for parking, or volley for a good spot in the class. All I had to do was put in the scheduled DVD and hit "play". AND I didn't have to worry about what to wear or what anyone might think of me since I was in the privacy of my own home. I also love that it's a "program" and includes personalized meal plans and tons of motivational tools. My favorite...

Logging in to the WOWY Supergym to schedule my workouts, track my progress, and knowing that each day I logged in I was entered to win the daily prize...my son is praying I get the $1,000 prize :-)

NEXT...In June 2010, I got the hot, new TurboFire program, which is supposed to burn 9X more calories and fat. I worked the TurboFire/ChaLean Extreme Hybrid training program that runs for 20 weeks. I was AMAZED at my progress...I was doing things I never could do when I started...like push-ups, jumping jacks, CARDIO!

Twice a week I open my home so friends can join me in a workout. My girlfriends are ever grateful for the invitation, but I assure them my motives are quite selfish…I am motivated to go harder when someone else is in the room. LESSON LEARNED: Friends make it more fun, and more productive.

However, over the next few months, I struggled with the same 5 lbs. I was so disappointed that I didn’t track my progress until October when I decided to re-commit my efforts. Although my weight didn’t budge, I had lost 5 inches! That was enough to motivate me through the next 5 lbs. LESSON LEARNED: Track changes monthly, progress isn’t measured by the scale alone.

I thought I had gotten back on track and developed healthy habits that would protect me through the holidays. Wrong! Christmas brought unexpected (yet wonderful) house guests, immediately after the New Year I got hit with the flu so exercise went on the back burner, February brought travel plans and an Italian wedding (good eats). I realized I needed to do more than just choose healthier options. LESSON LEARNED: Exercise can only take me so far, I need to select a diet plan and track everything I eat if I want to continue to lose weight.

On April 1, 2011, I made the decision to commit to a balanced nutrition plan that will help me lose weight and provide the fuel I need for my workouts. I finally followed a Low-Carb plan, eating small meals every 2-3 hours as recommended to stabilize my energy level, and started keeping track of everything I ate. Doing this has helped me lose more than 15 lbs. LESSON LEARNED: The weight-loss nutrition plans actually work when you follow them as instructed!

In June, my husband and I had to travel to Chicago for a conference. I was reveling in the fact that I could keep up walking a mile and a half doing double time with a bunch of soldiers (to make it to the Sears Tower before it closed for the night), having a comprehensive conversation, and in heels no less! Although I HAD to have my first taste of real Chicago Deep Dish Pizza and a Chicago Hot Dog, I realized that a healthy lifestyle attitude had developed in me when my indulgence of choice was fresh fruit, yogurt, and granola, items that are limited until I reach my weight goal.

I am now less then 10 lbs from my initial goal…not quite at my wedding weight, but at the weight I was the month before we exchanged vows…and less than 20 lbs from a weight that puts me at a healthy BMI for my height. My current strategy is to stick to my nutrition plan and continue with a ChaLEAN Extreme/TurboFire hybrid. Shopping for clothes has been an adventure because my size keeps changing, and a joy because I can now fit in normal sizes. I’m actually hosting an Accessory & Clothing Swap party for my girlfriends in August, extra self-imposed motivation for meeting my weight loss goals so I can justify giving away the clothes I just purchased!

For updates, insights, and more lessons learned, please check out my blog. I would love to hear feedback on how my Transformation Story has encouraged you.