Transformation! Make it YOUR year!

I talked a little bit about my weight loss health journey {here} but I've gotten several emails asking about the program I followed so I thought I would kick off 2014 sharing a bit more about my progress. 

I lost 40 lbs. in 3 months, 3 days following the Take Shape for Life program and went from this to this!  Woo hoo!  It's still so hard to share that before pic.  I was very unhappy with my external appearance and I felt so sluggish.  But one of the things that motivated me in the beginning was seeing pictures of others who had succeeded in achieving their goals so if I can inspire someone else to take that first step, then it's more than worth it!
I'm still amazed at how fast the weight came off. But the TSFL program is no joke - you HAVE to be mentally ready to do it. It takes a lot of willpower at first, but once you start dropping pounds and feeling better, you are so motivated to KEEP GOING!  All in all, I lost 40 pounds and 4 dress sizes.  I lost 20 lbs. the first month and the other 20 over the second and third months.

I followed the 5 & 1 program religiously the first two months.  That's 5 Medifast meal replacements and 1 Lean & Green meal per day.  In the third month, I modified the program to 4 & 2  (4 meal replacements/2 lean + greens) because I was feeling hungrier and I was still able to lose weight, but probably at a slightly lower rate.  I like that there is a transition and a maintenance phase to the TSFL program. 

My goal was 40 pounds and I achieved that, but I still want to lose 10 more and tone up.  I'm working on those on my own, using the principles I learned on the TSFL program.  Clean eating...mostly.  The holidays have been tough, but today, I'm back on!

Just yesterday I was having a pity party over not having anything to wear {I need to go shopping!} so I kept digging and digging in my closet and found this pair of jeans from my freshman year of college.  That's 1995, y'all!  And guess what???  They FIT!!!  I promptly sent the hubby and my mom a pic - ha!

Funny thing is I remember wanting these jeans SO BAD.  They were very spendy and definitely not in my college freshman budget.  But for my birthday, my mom bought them for me.  She told me I better wear them every.single.day.  Well Noonie, here I am 18 years later STILL getting to wear them - ha!  See...they *were* an investment after all!    

So no matter what plan you decide to follow, visualize where you'll be and make the change for YOU!  Everyone else in your life will benefit too from your new, healthier, more energetic outlook.  If you decide you want to give Take Shape for Life a try, I have a fabulous health coach for you...my friend Eileen!  Here is her {page}.

And here are my favorite TSFL Medifast meals:

Do it for you.
Take that first step.
Make it count.
Be the best you...mind, body, and spirit.
Happy New Year!