In January 2012 I had just turned 33, and my self-esteem was at rock bottom. I was about to go up another clothing size, and to make matters worse, I dreaded my once beloved hobby of clothes shopping. My husband requested my use of breathing strips to minimize my snoring. I had no energy. My cholesterol level was too high to get a health insurance discount through my employer. When someone took a picture of me, I thought, "This doesn't look like me!"

One day I happened upon an article in a fitness magazine. Normal people shared their success stories. Their messages were consistent: don't wait for a miracle solution. Commit to 21 days of building a new habit: exercise. This habit is pivotal, because it leads to healthier eating, better sleep, and more energy to do other things. I was inspired by the honesty in these testimonies and strategized with my doctors.

My success plan was to track my food and exercise activity every day using a phone app. I set a goal to exercise 60 minutes per day, five days a week. The workout time was scheduled on my calendar, so I would plan around it for all the other things that evening. I still enjoyed all the exciting life events along the way: birthdays, vacations, weddings, parties, comfort food nights.

After six month of doing cardio at the gym and walking our dog, I was ready to move to the next level by adding resistance training. My co-worker and I signed up with a personal trainer. We were nine years and eight clothing sizes apart, but our commitment level was the same. We tried different classes to supplement our trainer workouts. There are so many types and styles of exercise that I truly believe there is something for everyone, and also a trainer to fit every personality. Finding what worked for me was the key to my success.

The past two years have been an emotional journey for me. Until January 2012, I had fallen in the category of yo-yo dieter. I would try the latest fad diet, get results, and gain all the weight back as soon as I returned to my normal, unhealthy habits. A dietitian advised me to ask myself these two questions every time I was about to dive head-first into that carton of ice cream: "Why am I about to eat this? If I eat this, will it make me happy?" These binge eating habits had been formed when I was growing up in my parents' house. They were very restrictive; consequently, I felt I had to sneak the sweet treats when they were absent. This habit continued well after my 18 years under their roof. When I would implement a fad diet, my underlying motivation would be to make myself more attractive, thus gaining approval from my parents, single guys, and society in general. This time, it's different. I am doing this for my own well-being, not for the approval of others. It is the true key to my success.

When people ask me how I have achieved my goals, they are disappointed to hear I haven't discovered a fad diet or miracle pill. I tell them my boring old story of losing 80 pounds and going down four clothing sizes in 18 months. I don't snore. My cholesterol levels are healthy. I have energy and endurance. If I had done anything more extreme, I wouldn't be sticking with it almost two years later. I have a lot of pictures of myself in 2013. I found myself under all that fat and unused muscle, and have definitely "worked out" of my shell. If I can do it, anyone can. . . it's never too late!!