I am amazed with my thought process on this makeover. I truly believe that is where it starts. You have to come to a point where you are ready to make a change and then come up with a plan and in the process, change your way of thinking. This is not easy but very doable. I want to thank Rosie Laughlin, my life coach in helping me in this area. Check out our picture…she met up with me during one of my more intense workouts with Amasa and this picture is of Amasa, Rosie and me. Rosie helps me to see things for what they are. For example, I went to St Louis this past weekend and spent the day at six flags with my son and his wife, my daughter and my niece, (check out our picture)…I didn’t do so great eating wise but when you are at a theme park, your choices are limited. I felt like I bombed, but when I relayed this to Rosie she was quick to point out that I didn’t bomb. Compared to the Jennifer a year ago, I actually did pretty well. I passed up the funnel cakes, the fried turkey legs, the snow cones, the dipping dots. I ate lunch there and that was it! Plus all the walking, Rosie made me see I did pretty well. I am very aware of the calories I eat and the exercises I do, even the little things like walking, taking the stairs or doing some exercises in the pool. I even went to the fitness center at the resort we stayed at and worked out! The old Jennifer would never have done that! Thank you Rosie for this very important part of my makeover!

I checked in with Dave my nutritionist on Wednesday and guess what? I have lost 50 lbs now! I was so shocked about that. Check out the picture of Dave and myself…keep in mind I just had an intense work out with Amasa when this picture was taken. :) I really appreciate Amasa and Dave at the Meyer Center for their help with my makeover. They keep me in line.

My July trip to the Tanger Outlet Mall (check out my picture in front of the Bass Store) was at the Bass store…guess what? I tried on a pair of pants that were a size 16! To me that is an awesome number. I am so pumped about this makeover and the way I am feeling. Thank you Tanger Mall for your part in my makeover…I am so excited about buying smaller size clothes!

Patti at The System, a Paul Mitchell Partner School, did my hair the last time I went. She did a super job and is such a sweet girl. Check out our picture! I would suggest you give these students a try sometime. They all do a super job! Thank you to the System for your part in my lifestyle makeover!

Thanks to KGBX and all my sponsors! It is amazing how great I am feeling! I truly couldn’t have done this without any of you!

I want to thank those of you that are following my makeover. I have met a couple of women that have been following my story and it is an honor to do so. I am really enjoying my makeover and all that it entails. Bottom line though, and this is what I tell people who ask, is you have to start somewhere! Start with your mindset and wanting to make a change. Next, come up with a plan, a diet and exercise plan and then get with it. If you mess up, and you will as we are all human :), don’t let that stop you from getting right back on it. That has been one of my biggest successes so far because like I have mentioned before, my mindset in the past was to just go all out if I messed up just once and then it took days, sometimes weeks and months to get back with it. Now, if I mess up, I immediately get right back on it. This will be an intentional mindset. Another thing to do is to keep the prize in mind. When I get stuck in a plateau, where I don’t lose any weight for a week or two, I always try to imagine my “prize”….to be in shape and healthy! That helps a lot!

I met with Amasa my trainer and we took my 3 month measurements…I have shed 18 inches in 3 months! I was so excited about that. Check out the picture of me in the same clothes I was wearing in my first picture….quite amazing! Sometimes I think I should be losing it quicker but the other day my son said “mom, you are a third of the way there”…that made me realize my success and yes, I am getting there! I have an awesome support system…my husband, who is doing this right along with me has lost 36 lbs! My mom and dad, my son and his wife, my boss , my sister (who is also my coworker), my friends Terri, Gerrie and Teresa, and some of you that have emailed me or let me know you are watching my success (Cynthia and Jessica to name a couple) , they have all been so supportive of me and very encouraging! Thank you!

Summer is still challenging me in the eating department, but I feel like I have a good grasp on being successful. I am very comfortable with facing these challenges and feel like I can make wise choices. Will I mess up? I’m sure! Will I get right back on it? You bet! I am in it to win it! I want that healthy body that is in shape and can climb a fight of stairs without being winded! That can bend down and tie my shoe laces without much of a problem! That can keep up with my 2 year old granddaughter who loves to “chase us”….whew! Check out her picture….I want to enjoy life and my family and friends. When I look back to 4 months ago, I am so amazed at the progress I have made so far! I have lost 43 lbs and 18 inches and have gone down about 3 sizes or so….I have a lot more energy and am able to do so much more! I would encourage anyone who wants to make a change to start now! The key is to start somewhere! You can do it!

I want to thank all my sponsors for their support during my makeover. To KGBX, Cox Health and the Meyer Center, The System, a Paul Mitchell Partner School, The Tanger Outlet Mall and to Rosie Laughlin and the The Fearless Living Institute. Because of you, I took my first step!

Ahhhh summertime….one of my favorite things in life. I love the warmer weather, the family get togethers, swimming (not in public! yet) and all the wonderful summertime foods, the smells, the tastes, the sights and sounds of summer. I have been trying to fit this new lifestyle of mine into my favorite season. Challenging, yes….impossible, no! Some of you have asked if I can give any specifics about what I’m doing. Well, here it goes:

I usually eat 3 meals a day with one afternoon snack. My nutritionist has helped me come up with a plan that fits me and my needs. I am on about a 1300-1400 calorie a day plan, which consists of 7 starches (a starch is roughly 80 calories of bread, pasta,etc., and some veggies are starches!), 6 ounces of meat a day. A good rule of thumb for a 3 ounce serving is the size of a deck of cards. For veggies I get 4 plus servings a day (25 calories each serving), 2 servings of fruit a day (60 calories a serving), 2 servings of dairy a day (90-120 calories a serving) and 3 fats a day (40 calories each). It is just eating good food in the right portions and I am never hungry. It is a very good plan for me and my nutritional needs, and as always, you should check with your doctor before starting any new diet or work out regimen. Probably one of the weirdest things I eat is spaghetti sauce and garlic toast for breakfast! I am a huge, huge garlic fan and I had to find some way for me to get my “fix”, and this does the trick! For afternoon snacks, I eat those 100 calorie packs…my favorite is the cheetos asteroids. Mmmmm. I eat a lot of chicken for supper or a subway sandwich if we are going to Springfield to work out. For lunch, I usually eat a turkey and ham sandwich, although I do love the sun dried tomato turkey too.

My workouts with Amasa, my trainer are also designed for me. I have a knee issue and she keeps that in mind while outlining a plan that is just for me. I work out at the Meyer Center 4 times a week and on the days I don’t work out there; I have an exercise bike that I ride at home. My workout consists of cardio and weights. I love the machines (when I first stared in March, I was only able to do 6 or 7 exercises, now I can do 11!) Not a big fan of cardio, but I do it! When I first started, I was only able to do a short amount of cardio, now I can do a full hour! The machines Amasa has me on work different areas of the body. I am lifting total body, lifting the larger muscles first; chest, back, legs, abs and low back, then finishing off with the smaller muscle groups, biceps, triceps and shoulders. Every few weeks Amasa will change it up a bit, as you can work different muscles using the same machine. It’s always a good idea to have a professional help you out at first to outline a plan for you so you can do it in the right reps, and weights etc. When my husband joined the club, one of the trainers (Mike) set him up on a schedule of workouts and he meets with Mike about every 4 weeks to keep things on track. It’s all part of a regular membership! So don’t think you have to have a personal trainer (though I wouldn’t part with mine) to get a great workout at a health club. I walk 2 miles on the track with each work out. Most people pass me on the track as I am not a fast walker, but I give it my all when I am there. After meeting with Amasa last Monday night, she suggested I add boxing to my workouts. What a workout!

I had my first massage at the Meyer Center on Saturday. Marti did a great job! She worked on my shoulders and feet (my request) and I had no idea I had some of the muscles I have in my shoulders…she is very professional and really knows what she is doing. I know what I am getting Alan for our anniversary. :)

Rosie keeps me on my toes and in line with my thought process during this makeover. It is a deliberate process for me, to intentionally love my body, no matter what. That does not come easy for me! I am reading the book “Do I Look Fat In This” by Rhonda Britten. I would very much recommend reading this book and seriously doing each exercise at the end of the chapters. So far, it is right on. I enjoy my weekly phone visits with Rosie and I always come away with a new thought on how to become emotionally healthy during this makeover. I am a work in progress!

I am loving buying smaller clothes from the Tanger Mall in Branson! I can actually buy regular sized clothes now. My June visit was to the VanHuesen store and I bought a cute outfit…check out my picture! They have wonderful clothes and accessories and friendly service.

I got my hair colored at the System…Christy did a wonderful job. I enjoy my visits to The System, a Paul Mitchell Partner School. They have a wide variety of services and the students do a terrific job.

Thank you to KGBX, Cox Health and the Meyer Center, Rosie Laughlin and The Fearless Living Institute, The System, a Paul Mitchell Partner School and the The Tanger Outlet Mall! I feel like a new women already!