Modern Flavor Magazine 1/2015 Modern Flavor Magazine 1/2015 | Page 19

work, volunteer, and social commitments for the coming week on
Sundays and plan my workout days and times. That almost always
means early morning workouts, but on occasion an evening workout
is my only option. The key is taking the time to sit down and create a
realistic plan. I’ve come to realize if you fail to plan, you consciously
or subconsciously plan to fail.

How long did your transformation take?
I love it when I am asked this question because it allows me to share
a reality of life: You don’t always get it right the first time. I weighed in
at 265 pounds in 2006 after trying unsuccessfully to lose weight for 6
years. I lost 40 pounds in 2006 but gained 10 lbs. of it back. I decided
that a size 18/20 was the smallest I could ever hope to be until that
fateful day in the doctor’s office. After losing nothing in my first month,
I lost 70 pounds in 10 months and have kept it off since.
The key for me was getting clear on my why. In the past, my
motivation to lose weight was superficial – I wanted to look good for a
wedding or fit back into a certain size. This time it was about
preserving my quality of life. My mom and her siblings were on blood