Finding "Happy"

Not too long ago I remember looking into the mirror at myself and thinking, I guess I'll just have to settle for being "fat and happy"...minus the "happy." Seriously, this was a conversation I had with myself. Why? Well, because I had to keep living, if for no one else, my kids, who I knew needed me. But the kicker was, I was feeling anything but "happy." More like exhausted, frustrated, sad, depressed, trapped, hopeless, out-of-control (and did I mention exhausted?).

Now I'm no Einstein, but I do know that this is not a good place to be. Unfortunately, in many aspects of my life, change never occurs until I'm in a very dark and desperate place. "Rock bottom" is a common term I've heard used. During this time of my life I was more like buried under the rocks, with a layer of dirt on top.

I'm not the only person who has felt like this. Within the past 24 hours I've had a conversation with a twenty-something young man who stated that at his heaviest weight he "just wanted to die," as well as the concerned mom of a thirteen-year-old who is being bullied at school because of her weight issues.

I recently heard that 7 out of every 10 Americans are overweight. At the point in my life when I had this first driver's license picture taken, I was beyond overweight. I was in the category labeled obese. And in this deep, dark, lonely place called "obesity," I was one more thing--afraid.

It's been quite the journey to finally arrive where I am today (and I will forever be a work in progress). I lost 50 pounds on that unfortunate course in life too many of us experience called The Divorce Diet, only to "find" 20 of it back a few years later in my complacency.

I needed a plan, and six weeks ago started the Body-By-Vi 90-day weight loss/health challenge. So far I've lost 15 of those "found" pounds, and with only 15 more pounds to lose will be back at my high-school weight by summer. My husband, Paco has joined me on the challenge (everything is easier when you have someone by your side), and he's lost 18 pounds himself. Oh, and that twenty-something young man--he's lost 60 pounds on the challenge.

So if you're in that dark and lonely place--your buried-under-the-dirt, rock bottom--please know that you are not alone. If I can change my life by losing weight and improving my health, anyone can. Yes, it's hard, because it takes a daily, hourly, and in my case, sometimes a minute-by-minute commitment to change, but it's possible, and oh-so-worth it!

Find your "WHY?"--your motivation for change--and then go after this like your life depends on it. The health care professionals will tell you it does. I will tell you YOU'RE WORTH THE "HAPPY" THAT IT WILL BRING YOU!

I have to relate the experience of getting my "new" driver's license picture. The lady sitting behind the desk took my old license in her hand, stared at it, then looked up at me and stared some more, then looked back down at my old license, examining it even more. I was starting to feel nervous. Then she looked back up at me and said, "Girl, that it NOT you!" Then she smiled, ans told me to stand behind the line for my "New Me" picture. See that smile on my face? It lasted the remainder of the day.

For more information on the Body-by-Vi 90-day weight loss challenge go to www.tamitorero.myvi.net or email me at tamitorero@live.com .