Ok, I must confess, I did this once before. I went from about 215 down to 185. I did one 4 weeker, a Jillian Michaels hosted Dietbet, and it got me started, and I decided to go for the Transformer and do the six-month thing. After I finished the four weeker and did well, I even had talked my mom into getting in on that Transformer with me. 

    As we began that journey, Mom suggested a fitness goal, run a half marathon. I always hated running. But, since she was in it with me, and my sister-in-law was a runner as well, I said ok. I never thought that you could train for and run a half marathon in just six months. Especially when you cannot remember ever running a whole mile in one stretch, ever, not even when you were a kid. 

     However, we just started, and kept going. I made strides on my treadmill. I would go a little slower for a litttle longer, and just keep pushing myself. Running my first mile was amazing. I kept at it. We ran sometimes together, sometimes apart, sometimes indoors, sometimes on the 'mill. At the time I was also waitressing as my source of income, so the pounds were melting off, and I didn't even need to really diet because all the exercise was pretty much taking care of it. I ate healthier because I needed to to fuel my body, but I did not feel that I needed to restrict my calories too much.

     In those six months I learned so much about myself, and became healthier faster and stronger than I had been in years. I loved how I felt when I finished my first half marathon in May at a time just over 2:24 (my goal had been 2:30). I was a new me. 

     BUT

     After the race, I didn't have anything to train for. I did not have that race date looming over my head. I was done with the dietbet, and still wanted to lose some more weight, but wanted to give myself a little break. 

    THEN, the summer was really hot. And, I prefer running outdoors. The hot weather, and being busy with the kids, and stressed about whether or not I would find a job for the Fall (I had just finished school to get my teaching credential, and had not job, and no clear plan as far as what would happen at the end of the summer.) I began to just "enjoy myself" too much. Even once I found my new job, I was stressed out about it. 

     I LET ALL OF THE EXCUSES PILE UP, AND GUESS WHAT, SO DID THE POUNDS!

     The pants that were too big, and in the give-away pile last May are out of the basement, and actually some of them are too tight. I am back up there, now 223. I am giving it another try, this time, I need to find a way to maintain or keep losing. Those of you in it right now, please if you are reading this, set yourself another goal, it does not have to be another dietbet. but don't let it go like I did.

    Here is to hitting the reset button. I will keep you posted on progress, and probably offer some more insights in posts about my experience in the past with dietbet.