Everyone has things they cannot live without. For some it is an item, or maybe a tv show, food and so on. Well sometimes those items can be toxic to our lives in many different ways. For me i had an addiction. This is something i was putting into my body 8 to 9 times a day. i couldn’t go without it and i wanted nothing else. My addiction was Mountain Dew.  I was drinking about eight 12oz cans per day. Insane right? Well at the time it wasn’t to me. I was living it up. I drank this amazing fizzy sugary drink everyday, all day for over 9 years or more. It was February 11, 2018 at a doctors appointment when i realized i had to do something and do it quick. I got on the scale and the nurse read my weight out loud. I think every part of me was embarrassed in that moment. Here i am 5″1 and the nurse just told me i weighed in at 180 pounds…………….

Wow! What a wake up call that was. I went home that day and said no more. I started by quitting mountain dew that very day. I was going to the gym 2 times per day, I started roller skating again after 4 years off. I found myself just thinking about what i was putting into my body and the fact that I am not 20 anymore and i am pushing 40!!! Another wake up call that hit hard. hahaha. I didn’t go on some crazy fad diet. I just started with smaller portions, less sugar, and no late night snacking. Oh and i ditched the 1700 calories a day from the 8 cans of mountain dew. So i went a full year with this new lifestyle change and for me it has been a very hard, rewarding, emotional, fun journey. My life has changed so much. I feel more energized and focused on living my life. I want to go out and be around people more. I feel better about myself and love that the most. My favorite thing was going shopping for smaller clothing, But im really looking forward to this summer and swimsuit shopping! I have not been in a swimsuit without a cover up on in front of people in probably 12 or more years.  I want to be able to enjoy all the great things life has to offer and feel comfortable in my own skin.  Now i can finally say i can do that. I have lost 48 pounds and still going strong. I feel happy, energetic, and I can honestly say I love myself again! My transformation was for me and that made it all worth it!

This picture is my favorite of all. I grew up with very bad teeth. I always hated my smile. Four years ago at the age of 33, I started the journey to fix my smile. It was so worth it. I had the Invisalign for 3 years, then metal braces for 4 weeks. It was a gift of a lifetime that Chris gave to me. I couldn’t think of something more giving then giving someone something they dreamed of their entire life. Well he did that for me. I now am feeling like a whole new person. New Smile, Better Health, Better Me!!!!!!