Less than a year ago I weighed 228 pounds (I am 4'11") and lived a very unhealthy lifestyle. One flight of stairs would completely wind me. I was told by my doctor that being morbidly obese (hated being called that) was going to kill me at a very young age. I was so ticked off when the doctor harped on me because he, himself was at least 50 pounds overweight. I don't know why, but for some reason what he said hit me hard. It wasn't like I wasn't aware of the health risks of being overweight, but a light went off in my head.

I made a decision on April 2nd that I would change my life forever. I decided to quit eating refined sugar and start exercising. The eating part is completely mental. Buy only what you are allowed to have and don't keep anything else in your house. I did this and my family hated me. They didn't want to cut out refined sugar, but they didn't have a choice because I was determined not to buy it ever again...and I haven't.

The hardest part for me was making the time for exercise. I started with just taking a walk around the block. That winded me. Each day I would try to beat my time to get back to the house a little faster. Then after I mastered that I added more streets to my route.

I needed to take off some of the weight before I could do anything more than walking. Once I lost about 20 pounds I was able to start doing other exercises. I purchased some light dumb bells and used them along with walking and sit ups.

Here I am almost a year later and I have shed 80 pounds and run 6 miles a day. More importantly though, I have added years to my life and the lives of my family members because I have changed our eating habits. I have 3 growing boys and a husband who is 6'4". Every one of them gave up refined sugar. I know this will make a huge difference for the future health of my family.

What really got me through was doing this for my family instead of myself. I honestly didn't love myself enough to do it for me. When I made it a goal to improve the lives of the people I love it gave me the will power to stick it through.

I won't lie and tell you it has been easy, but I will say it was much easier than I ever thought it would be. It isn't a diet though. I have to live this way for the rest of my life. There aren't any cheat meals or cheat days. It is a life without refined sugar...period.

Make a commitment and take the first step. You CAN do it!