The journey has begun and it's all I thought it would be plus more...

Have you reached a point in your life where you have to make a change?  I reached that point to over a year ago but it took until this spring to finally reach that true turning point and begin making changes. 

This past school year brought a big change at work - I started at yet another new school; however, this time I became the teacher in charge.  I was no longer working in a team - just me and my two instructional assistants.  It wasn't a bad year but it wasn't a good year either.  I spent the majority of the year feeling like I was playing catch-up, always a step behind where I needed to be and tired; very, very tired.  On top of it all my weight hadn't changed - in fact I reached my heaviest this year. 226 pounds and I was barely able to walk the dog without my feet hurting. My endometriosis wasn't improving, counseling was keeping me sane but barely; I was even beginning to think I needed to see about INCREASING my medication.


Spring Break came and boy was I ready.  It signals the down-hill run to the end of the school year and I was ready!  We moved into our newly purchased home in January and still had a lot of unpacking, painting, etc that needed to be worked on.  I spent the first few days doing nothing but sleeping and relaxing.  Krystal had been in WA since the previous week and called to let me know that she had decided to try the weight loss program my parents had started the year before.  I hung up the phone and immediately began to sob - I needed to do something too!  If my daughter had the courage to try something and really wanted to make the effort then I should too!  I sat with John and explained that I had to make changes - starting with trying out the Medifast products to see if I too could lose weight and begin to feel like a normal human being.
 
I ordered my food which arrived about ten days later.  I began the Take Shape For Life program on April 14 and have lost 48 pounds.  I weighed this morning and I weigh 178 pounds!!  Only 13 more pounds to my original goal weight and I feel great!  My endometriosis has improved tremendously, I have more energy than I could have imagined, my mental state has improved as well as my emotional.  This path is a new one and it hasn't been without it's bumps and potholes but I'm moving forward and I'm learning to live my life in a new way. 
 
Tomorrow I'll share some of the many things I've learned/discovered over the last few months of physical, mental and emotional change and self-discovery.  One big lesson I am learning quickly - it is critical to have people around you who are supportive of your efforts.  How do you go about ensuring you are surrounded by support?