Fifty seems to be a popular number lately. I’m fifty… that doesn’t really make me happy, but it doesn’t make me sad either. I’ve just finished reading Fifty Shades of Grey, Fifty Shades Darker and Fifty Shades Freed… yes, I did love those books, but they’re not the reason I’m happy today. This has to do with something I have been battling since I had the last of my three kids over twenty years  ago… my weight.

I have tried practically every diet out there. I’ve lost weight. Gained weight. Gained more. It’s a vicious, evil thing, but I think I’m finally starting to win the battle. I still want to lose more, but as of today I have lost 50 lbs and because of that, here are the reasons why I’m happy today…

1. Three years ago I was Pre-Diabetic. Today I am not.
2. Three years ago I was anemic, today I am not (If you are anemic, I highly recommend Flora Vital).
3. Three years ago my good cholesterol was low. Today it is normal.
4. I don’t get out of breath when I walk.
5. I bought a large instead of an extra-large when shopping the other day.
6. I can wear my wedding rings again.
7. I don’t have to add extenders to any of my necklaces.
8. I am starting to prefer tighter clothes.
9. I have 10x more energy.
10. I bought a bathing suit that I actually like. I wore it this weekend. My husband said I looked sexy, although I’m pretty sure he had ulterior motives, haha! For the first time in many years I was not ashamed to be in a swim suit.
11. I see the light at the end of the tunnel.
12. I ate out  and ordered a gyro. For the first time, I realized I would have rather had a soup and salad.
13. Several times over the past few months I’ve gained 4 lbs or so, but I didn’t freak out… I just promptly re- lost it each time. This gives me hope.
14. I am finding healthy recipes are really quite good.
15. I discovered the documentary Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead and now crave carrot and green juices - I am thankful for both
16. My feet aren’t stiff when I wake up. I can walk all day long and they still don’t hurt.
17. My knee doesn’t hurt. I used to wear a brace. Today I don’t even think about it.
18. My back doesn’t hurt. Well, today it does, but that’s only because over the weekend I lifted a heavy piece of furniture, so that’s my fault! Normally, it doesn’t hurt like it used to.
19. I am now buying a size nine shoe instead of a 9 1/2. Mostly because…
20. My feet don’t swell. Nor do my fingers, ankles, etc. I contribute this to the fact that I don’t drink anything carbonated anymore. No soda and it’s rare that I ever have a beer.
21. My kids are proud of me. Not that they didn’t love me fat, but they like me healthy.
22. As my face thins out, I am not getting more wrinkles. That really was a concern, haha! I know, I’m vain.
23. My husband and anyone I travel with loves this more than me, but I don’t snore anymore… or so they tell me.
24. When I travel, I have to pull the seat belt tight… by more than several inches. There was a time I worried about getting it buckled.
25. I don’t have the desire to read any self-help books anymore. I’m ready to live what I’ve read.
26. I am feeling creative again.
27. I rarely feel like I need an afternoon nap.
28. When standing up and looking down, I can see my toes.
29. I no longer look like I’m pregnant.
30. I realized the other week that I was crossing my legs while sitting. It dawned on me that I hadn’t done that in years.
31. I eat almost all fresh vegetables (versus from a can or frozen)  and find that not only are they easy to prepare, but I really do like them.
32. I can sleep at night without an arm going numb.
33. I find I like to go out…I am feeling more social.
34. Dressing fashionably seems possible again.
35. I am comfortable.
36. I am more confident.
37. I am less of an apple shape.
38. My BMI dropped significantly.
39. I have more balance. I can easily stand without holding on to anything and put my pants on one leg at a time.
40. I don’t dread getting on the scale, in fact I semi-look forward to it.
41. If I eat big one day or even over one weekend, it’s okay. I get back on track the next day.
42. I don’t feel I’m on a diet, but that I have adapted a new way of eating. Translation: This just might last.
43. There’s an extra giddy-up in my step that I didn’t know I missing until I got it back.
44. I don’t even think about looking at plus sizes when shopping.
45. I think I actually might someday soon get back into my original Calvin Kleins from back in the day. Fingers crossed!
46. When I go to the market, I find I’m now shopping the perimeter of the store and rarely go down the aisles. That translates into: I’m eating fresh food as opposed to processed foods.
47. I wore jeans for the first time in over 15 years.
48. Although I have always sweated a lot, ugh… I sweat much less than I did 50 lbs. ago.
49. I can wear 3″ heels again.
50. I find I am much more heat tolerant.
51. I am not taking any supplements (the benefit of which is now being debated) because I am getting all my nutrition from the food that I eat

Ooops. That’s fifty-one reasons. I could come up with forty-nine more, but I won’t do that to you…

So there you are. I am not at the end of my journey to getting slim and healthy, but I wanted to share this mile stone with you because it has been such a struggle for me over the years.  If you have the same struggle I want you to know that there is hope. You can do it. It starts with baby steps and it’s more about choosing to embrace a life style change than about starting a diet. For me, it was cutting out sugar, white flour and processed foods. It was adding juicing (fruit and vegetable juices), nuts, beans and vegetable soup. For you, “it” may be Weight Watchers or Counting Calories. Whatever “it” is, I will tell you… there are fifty reasons to say yes to “it”. Every single one is a life changer.

This is really about designing you so you can live it to the fullest. We don’t get any do-overs in life, but we it’s never too late to make changes! Change may seem impossible at times, yet truly it is not. If I can do it, so can you! xo Amy