Today I want you to focus on something that we desire for ourselves as well as the individuals that we love: living a long life. I can't speak for everyone, but I know that I hope to live a long life ... a long, healthy life. It's amusing to think back to when I was a teenager, a long life meant living to the ripe old age of 40! Boy, how our perspective changes once we get there!

If you talk to anyone who has successfully lost weight, they will most likely tell you that they hit a plateau ... a period of time when their weight remained the same even though they were faithfully following the same healthy lifestyle that caused weight loss prior to this plateau.

In yesterday's post I mentioned the beach and bathing suits ... things that truly are farthest from our minds right now. But remember, even though we are currently enduring temps in the single digits and only observe lawns of white ... the snow will eventually melt and spring will be here before you know it. And yes, summer will be here again too - sooner than you realize - in only 4 short months!

I want you to imagine something today: how you'll feel the day you have achieved your weight loss goal. Think about it for just a moment. Do you have a vision of what you will look like when you hit your target weight? Most importantly, can you imagine how great you will feel when that day does arrive?

Welcome back! I hope you had a pleasant weekend? Please tell me that you took a few moments to re-focus on your goal to become healthier in 2009 (your year, remember?) And I just realized that those '21 days' it takes to form a habit have now passed ... how is that going for you?

As I continue with the "ABC's towards a HEALTHIER LIFESTYLE," I want to remind you of the first few:

Today is a special day for me ... eight years ago, January 22nd, 2001 is the day I began my new healthy lifestyle. It was literally a day that changed my life - changing it in more ways than I can explain.

Today I would like to focus on EXERCISE! We all need exercise; yes, we realize that - but many individuals simply chose to avoid it. Again, I've been there and I know all about it!

Welcome back from a long, three-day weekend! It was actually more like a five-day weekend for me since the local schools were closed a couple days due to the frigid temperatures ... and my three teens had the chance to enjoy some time at home with their ole mom.

Now that you have decided to accept the fact that you need to make some healthy lifestyle changes and believe that you can make these changes, I want to help you focus on some specific changes that you can make!

My goal each day is to keep you motivated... motivated to continue focusing on becoming healthier! No, it does NOT mean you are dieting - and no, it does NOT mean that you have to be a nutrition or fitness guru.

In yesterday's blog, I mentioned arriving at the time when you are finally the person you've always longed to be after losing a significant amount of weight. Basically all individuals who are morbidly obese understand what I mean by this statement: you know that the "real you" is hidden away under those "layers" of excess weight... and often those "layers" cause you to act in ways that you don't always enjoy.

I had an interesting conversation the other day, which brought up many memories from my past. No, I wasn't the topic of the conversation; in fact, the person I was talking to didn't know anything about my past at all. But we both had something in common.

Welcome and HAPPY MONDAY to all of you! Oh, come on... it's not that bad now, is it? This is a brand new year and we have many things to look forward to! I'm especially referring to beginning to live a healthier lifestyle which will create a higher level of energy & self-esteem... both contributing to a more positive attitude in 2009! And don't forget that you can do this all for FREE!

So, have you been noticing a difference in the way you feel since you began focusing on your new, healthy lifestyle goals? Your new routine (which hopefully includes brisk, daily-physical activity) is becoming a little more enjoyable by the day isn't it? I thought so! And it will continue to get better and better... you'll see!

Now that you acknowledge WHY you set your new lifestyle goal for 2009, I will go over some of the amazing benefits that you will receive along the way - as you work towards your goal and once your goal is achieved. That is important to remember: that you will receive many benefits WHILE you are working towards your goal.

As you continue working on your new goal for 2009, please remind yourself WHY you are doing so - this will most likely help you stay focused. You set this goal for yourself because you realize that it's time for a healthy lifestyle change; and, even though you realize it won't be easy, it is worth pursuing. It is worth it, believe me - more than words can explain.

Today we are going to start working towards your goal! But first, I must mention that I really hope that you don't refer to this goal as a New Year's Resolution because as soon as you "break it," you'll feel as though you've failed. Some of you may even go to the extreme and put off your goal until the year 2010 arrives, when you can try again.

Welcome to the first Monday of 2009! This is going to be an amazing year; in fact, this is YOUR YEAR - a year that will bring positive changes! Its time to focus on YOU - on your body & your health. Remember how you've subconsciously told yourself time and time again that you'll make some lifestyle changes someday when...? It's been put off long enough, I'm declaring that your someday when is TODAY!