The real speech and a pebble passed.

Ok, so here is the real speech that I gave Last Monday at the Lifestyle Success night.


I am so excited to be here tonight. The Lifestyles Program has changed my life in a way I really didn’t know that I could. My incredible husband and I were talking the other night and he said “Do you remember when you once told me that you would never be skinny again because you just weren’t made that way?” Yes I did remember really believing that, and he looked at me and said with a wonderful smile “That was a lie”

Friends, it is a lie, nobody has to be obese.
I have lost 90 pounds in the last year and a half. (yes I deserve those applause)
I am great. I am wonderful. I am inspiring. BUT, so are you. (you deserve those applause) I am no greater than you I am no better than you, I am no more inspiring than you. I have hard stuff in my life and so do you. I am successful with this program and so you can be too.

Let me take you back too August 2009.

I get a phone call from the clinic saying there is an opening in the Lifestyles program, there is no excitement about this, maybe embarrassment, or nervousness but definitely no excitement.
I drag my 3 yr old and 1 yr old into Linda’s office at the clinic. They destroy her office literally, She says it’s ok we are working on moving down stairs. I ask her if this program is really possible to do while having small children at home she tells me about Patricia Beazer. I decide to have faith in Linda, and the program. I don’t think that Linda would lie to me. But there is a thought in the back of my head that says “ok lady I’ll do everything you want me to do and we will just see if it works.”

There have been times, I wanted to quit and I didn’t think I could do it. There have been times I thought I wasn’t going to lose anymore weight. But I just continued, journaling one meal after another, showing up for one appointment after another, attending one group therapy session after another, placing or sometimes even slapping one foot down on the pavement after another.

I wish it were different, I wish it was easier. But yet, then it wouldn’t feel so good. My new favorite saying is that “Nothing tastes as good as this feels.” And believe me, running that first mile didn’t feel very good, but crossing the finish of my first 1/2 marathon in September, felt like nothing I had accomplished before. Now running isn’t for everyone so you have got to find your thing. But you have got to start moving your body.

So why this program? There a million and one different weight loss programs out there, but I didn’t want to lose weight. I wanted to change weight. Lifestyles allowed me time to change weight, so I don’t lose a pound without being accountable to why I have lost it. And even sometimes it has helped me figure out why it was there in the first place. This is the success that I want to celebrate tonight with all of you. The reality that you and I can Change our Lifestyle permanently, and successfully. And with parties like these, have a little fun along the way.

Thank you.

It seemed to go over well. I felt good about it. Here are some pictures of what I wore.



And my friend Marilee was kind enough to take this picture of me while I was speaking.




There was also a mention in the paper about it! Overall a very positive night, I thought it was great.

Dr. Ali Zentnar was the keynote speaker she did a fabulous job. Click on her name to see more of her story. She is a very down to earth no nonsense person. While we were eating, I stopped by her table and said to her,"Look at the all the ripples from the pebble that you have cast." And tried to thank her. After I spoke she stood up again and told me that she was now passing the pebble to me to cast, so I can have my own ripples. This bothered me at first. I felt some kind of pressure, but it was only for a short time, when I then realized, that this is what I am doing with my blog.

Last week was very rushed, and wonderful, I was happy to maintain my 90 pounds, and know that as I stick to program, the weight will continue to come off. Although I did miss Friday and Saturday work outs, tomorrow is a new week and day, and I hope to get back on track.

Thanks again for all your supportive comments and now of course go make your own ripples.