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I have lost and gained weight my whole life. In fact my most recent "quest for fitness" is quite frankly a miracle.

Our family started doing it's own "Biggest Loser" contest 3 years ago (in the summer of 2007). We all lost weight, actually a lot of weight, but most of us ended up putting weight back on. Last summer (2009), my nephew proposed doing another "Biggest Loser" contest. Truth be told I was not really interested.

I had resolved, in my mind, that I am just destined to be obese and that every attempt I had ever made to change that fact had been futile. So, when my nephew proposed yet another weight loss event, I told him I was not interested. But he was persistent so I reluctantly consented to open up to be "willing to be willing".

Well looking back on that conversation, it turned out to be a miracle in my life. Because that little mustard seed of an idea grew into a lasting endeavor to get fit and stay fit. I did not want to put this much time and effort into losing weight only to go back to being obese again. I began, right from the beginning, to think of how to make this into a lifestyle change. I started to look for ways to change my life to eat healthier and to replace my sedentary life with more daily activity.

My weight loss success (70 pounds since May 28, 2009) has been due to changes in both diet and exercise. I have put in an extreme amount of effort and in the back of mind I disparately want to find a lifestyle that I will maintain because I love what I am doing and I love the way I feel.

One thing I am totally excited about is that we have taken up cycling. It is so much fun and it comes with many of it's own rewards. As I mentioned, it is very fun. Also, everyone we pass as we are peddling along waves and says hello. At times we stop and talk with other cyclists. Last weekend we talked with another couple for more than a hour. It is like being in a secret club of healthy people. Now the biggest benefit, the icing on this cake, is that this is great EXERCISE.

This one new addition to my lifestyle gives me tremendous hope that I will be able to maintain my new found fitness.

I can do this - YES I CAN!