The After Shot: Again chosen because I did not take this picture. That, and I still love my Voldemort loving Graphic designer witch look.

Last year I lost 65 pounds. I went from a size 16 to a size 4. During this time I graduated from college, got a job, learned to drive, and moved to a new city.

Loosing 65 lbs is no small task. It wasn’t easy. I had set backs. I had major chocolate cravings. I had stress. But I did it. And, I am proud of this fact.

My life has changed in many ways, all because of one promise I made to myself in January of 2010. At first I refused to call it a new year’s resolution. It seemed trite and overdone. So many woman say “this year I am going to loose all that weight!” They all mean it, there is a whole industry based around New Year’s and weight loss. But it was more than a resolution—it was a promise—a promise I had to keep.

Most of my family members are overweight. They all struggle with heath problems due to their weight. I didn’t, I don’t, want to be that way, stuck with little way out. I had to do something before it was too late. When it is still relatively “easy” to succeed.

It is true that the number one heath problem in the United States is obesity. It is so easy to be unhealthy. Mac and Cheese, burgers, French fries, and my personal downfall potato chips are so easy. They are quick, cheap, and readily available. Being healthy takes a lot more work. Sure there are programs like e-Diets and NutraSystem, where they do all the work for you. There are groups like Jenny Crag and Weight Watchers. And for many they do work—but I was still in college and dirt broke (I am still broke.) Like I had an extra $250 to devote to dieting each month. No, I needed to find a way to do it on my own, or mostly on my own.

heavy me at a bad angle. I chose this picture because i didn't take it. I had no control over what was seen. Too bad I cant unsee this.

I began my quest for a healthy weight with Alli. It was on sale at my local Wal-Mart and I figured I would give it a try. It worked. I lost weight. I followed the plans set forth in the little booklets that came with the starter pack. (I still use the calorie counter that came with the pack)

From the Alli pills I received punishment for eating the wrong foods. From the accompanying materials I learned.

I learned to pay attention to what I was putting in my mouth. I started to count all those calories. Everything was written down, added up, and analyzed. I discovered how to plan meals, so that I had the most food for the lowest calorie intake. I learned to pack a lot of food into a messily 1200 calories. (I started with 1600, and now aim for 1200.)

Over time these practices became habits. I dropped Alli, finding that I no longer needed the crutch. I had officially developed some healthy habits. The ability to pay attention to what I ate, and the ability to enjoy all the foods I love without overindulging in them.

I found my success story. Yes, some people may find that carrying a food diary around with me is a little obsessive. But, as someone who spent half of her life overweight, I find that it is what I need to do to keep myself in check.

I never want to regain that weight. It was debilitating to my life. As cliché as it is to say, I am enjoy life more now.

I don’t know what I would have done if I had not started with Alli. However, I don’t think Alli is for everyone. (In fact most of my Alli supply came from friends and family who had tried it and didn’t like it.) I think all people have different paths to healthy living.

Education is an incredibly important part of being healthy. Knowing what to do and how to do it is very important. Without that education, and even with all the determination in the world, I never would have succeeded.

To all those who make the resolution to loose weight know that it is possible. It takes effort, it takes determination, and it takes the willingness to learn. But it can be done. There is a path available to anyone who seeks it out. You may not succeed on the first try, or the 23, but you can do it. You just need to find your way.

My 2011 resolutions will be in part 2 (which will be posted later this week ☺)