Happy #transformationtuesday! 7.5 years and 50 pounds separate these two pictures, but the real difference is the mindset. I’ve said it before, but I’ll say it again… to make a lasting change, there has to be a lifestyle change. See the food that sits in front of me in the recent picture? It’s eggplant. The food in the other picture? It’s something fried.

Don’t think that I have it all figured out because I don’t. I still have my days (and weeks) where I struggle. I, in fact, have recently reached out to Christa of Sweating Awesome to be my accountability partner.  She has lost over 100 pounds and is now running 5ks!  She inspires me to move more and to make better food choices.

I will always have to carefully choose the foods I eat and as much as that sometimes really stinks, it’s okay. I refuse to diet. To me, the word “diet” is a four letter swear word.  When one of my students brings me a maple bar, I will allow myself to enjoy it. When my pants start to fit a little snug, I will exercise more. Life is about balance and living it to the fullest!

To read more about my lifelong struggle with food and how I changed my lifestyle, check out My Weight Loss Journey.  To read about how I went from a couch potato to a vegetarian marathoner, check out The Journey to Becoming a No-Meat Athlete.

Until next time,