It's time to celebrate "NATIONAL WALK @ LUNCH DAY!" Today's the day for you to take part in an effort to emphasize the importance of focusing on your good health by taking the first step, literally, and WALK AT LUNCH! Please say you'll be joining us?

We are only ONE DAY away! One day until the Michigan Blues and I celebrate National Walk @ Lunch Day – tomorrow, Friday, April 30th – and I'm hoping that you will be joining us in taking a "walking lunch!" I will be heading to the S.E. Michigan area to participate in NW@LD and while I'm there, I'm hoping to tell my story to multiple media outlets! I will say that I'm extremely excited about an interview that will be taking place in the morning, an interview with an individual that Detroit area residents know and truly admire...

Happy Wednesday to you! I'm wondering how many of you brought your walking shoes to work, or at least put them in your car so you'll have them for Friday? If you haven't done so yet, today is just one more reminder for you to get it done SOON! Today I want to share with you a thought I had while I was communicating with a friend on Facebook the other day. We were going back and forth, commenting about a relative of hers that is overweight, a person that she loves very much, and how scared she is that he could die due to health issues caused by his excess weight.

I have a question for you: Do you find that it's difficult to find time to exercise on a daily basis? The only reason I ask you that question is that I realize that the majority of Americans are extremely busy. Between work, family, household tasks and chores, along with what feels like "hundreds" of other daily commitments, it seems impossible to find ANY time for exercise. Now a simple solution: begin a new "walking regimen" this week! This is a regimen that not only improves your health, but is also a fun and enjoyable way to incorporate daily, physical activity in your daily routine!

Welcome back to WalkyTalk! Please tell me that your weekend was fun yet productive, meaning: you had a great time while making sure to get your daily dose of exercise! Did you realize that next weekend kicks off the month of May already? Wow, summertime is getting closer and closer, and this gal isn't complaining about that one single bit... but there was a time in my life when I dreaded the thought of summer, immensely.

It's been great to see so many people walking their dogs lately... I not only like it, I LOVE IT! It isn't a surprise to anyone who knows me when I say that my dogs are my babies, they're part of my family. Yes, I actually "miss them" during those times when I'm away; not only because I wonder if they are okay, but also because I will be taking my daily walk without them – and I don't like that. So when I have the opportunity to meet another "dog walker" during my travels, I make sure to take it.

I'm learning something new about "better health" every single day, I swear! This is the latest news that I've picked up on: Did you know that the condiments you eat actually have hidden health benefits? It's true! Your diet may be healthier than you think. Why? Because those little extras you love – such as ketchup and hot sauce – have hidden health benefits. Here are the latest facts:

I think of April as a month that's dedicated to walking – probably because "National Walk at Lunch Day" is celebrated this month! Now since I lost all my excess weight (162 pounds, to be exact) from walking, I thought I'd share my personal list of "Walking Tips" with you – so you know exactly how I kept going every single day, SUCCESSFULLY!

I love to walk, there's absolutely no doubt about that! When people ask me how I lost all my weight, my answer is: "I walked every day!" Yes, walking was the key to my weight-loss success, but I also made changes to my eating habits since my old habits were not ones that would allow me to lose a significant amount of weight, that's for sure!

Happy Monday to you! I'm hoping that your weekend was full of fun activities that kept you away from those weekend "food traps." I realize that the temperatures were much lower than we may have expected, but at least the sunshine felt good! As I walked around my neighborhood, I noticed that several people took the opportunity to spend time outdoors in order to take care of some much needed spring yard-work... a great way to get a little exercise too! Yes, I know, I probably sound like a broken record at times – but I know how important daily exercise is... now, anyways!

Good morning! I can't believe that Friday is here already... this week went by too fast! But it wasn't like it went by without me taking any time to enjoy it I was literally outside every chance that I had! These are the days when I take more than one walk per day, and my dogs are loving it!

Welcome back to WalkyTalk! I hope you've had the opportunity to read my last few blog posts, all that focus on one thing: my obese past. Again, I stress that I don't enjoy "going back" to those days, but I also realize that there are millions of individuals out there who are currently just like I was... overweight and feeling hopeless. But I want to bring that hope back and allow you to realize that you can do what I have done! LOSE THE WEIGHT and not only that, but keep it off too!

Today I want to conclude my blog posts pertaining to my obese years...

There are some words that are spoken to you at certain times during your life that you simply can't forget... and those that came from the mouth of my oldest daughter are a few of them: "I still love you, Mommy, even though..." Even though? I know exactly what she meant by that heartfelt phrase: she loved me even though I was the fat mommy – she was willing to accept me as I was.

Wasn't yesterday just the "perfect spring day?" Yes, it was a Monday, I realize that... but it doesn't mean that it couldn't be enjoyed! There are some of you who may feel that you were too busy to even notice; well, if that's the case I want you to give yourself time each day so that you CAN notice!

Good morning and welcome back to my "favorite place on the net!" I hope you enjoyed your weekend and made time to enjoy a walk or two. It really is a fun, simple, and an inexpensive way to incorporate daily physical activity into your day!

In yesterday's post I stated that losing weight too quickly causes negative consequences, one of which was noticing more than normal hair loss because of my drastic change in eating habits – lovely. But the worst consequence of losing weight too fast is gaining the weight back even faster! Yes, I about "fell over" when I weighed myself after returning from our weeklong honeymoon – I gained 15 lbs. in seven days! Of course, my husband didn't gain any!

Welcome back to WalkyTalk and the continuation of the story of my younger years as the fat girl. Remember, the only reason I am sharing this part of my life is to allow you to realize that you are not alone and that I once felt hopeless too. But after 25 years, I learned to believe that I COULD change – that I MUST change – because I only have this one life, it isn't a "dress rehearsal"... there are no do-overs.

Today, I will be continuing with "The Pain of Being the Fat Kid." Please understand that if you have any questions or comments for me, simply submit them in the area provided below and I will personally answer them for you.

As the days pass by, I realize that many of you don't really know "where I come from" and may think that I simply enjoy walking because it is fun and good for your health. Those things are true, but walking also did something else for me: walking changed my life. This week's blog posts are going to allow you to know the real me, the Jodi who felt hopeless and hated herself. I am revisiting the time when I first encountered my weight issues, which will allow you to learn more about me: "where I've been," and "what I've gone through" during my 25 years of emotional pain. I don't enjoy these memories, but I want others out there to know that they are NOT ALONE; yes, I too know the pain.

Welcome back to WalkyTalk and a brand new week! I hope that each of you enjoyed the lovely Easter weekend? I am assuming that you may be still feeling a little "full" today after enjoying a nice Easter dinner followed by just a couple of those delicious Easter candies? Yes, I know... it is difficult to enjoy only a couple, but the holiday is over and now it's time to get back to the same ole routine. No, actually it's time to change that routine a little bit; hey, it's Spring, which means changes are taking place all around us you have noticed, haven't you?

Okay, what happened to March? I feel like we should still be in the second week of the month, and here it is the first of April already! Oh, and I guess that means that it's also "April Fools Day," which basically means it's a day when humor reigns and harmless pranks, practical jokes, and hoaxes are "allowed" to be played on friends, family, and coworkers... lovely. Luckily, I will be spending the day with my youngest daughter and she loves me too much to play any joke on Mom (just allow me to believe that, okay?)!