My Tipping Point

Mary, over at A Merry Life, posted today about her Tipping Point for getting healthy. I commented that my Tipping Point occurred in 2002. During the fall of 2002, I was starting my first year of grad school at UGA. That part of GA is a bit hilly and my parking area was at the base of hill, and the building I needed to be in was at the top of that hill. It wasn't a big hill, but there was an incline. By the time I got to the top, I was winded. There was a red light and I was really glad when the light was red. It allowed me to catch my breath.

Taken in 2002

I didn't quite get it together that fall. Though I started to exercise, I didn't change my eating habits. I was of the mindset that if I'm exercising, I could still eat whatever. Well, this image from 2003 will tell you that not much changed:

Nor in 2004:

This image, from 2005, was the one that put me over the edge. It was taken on the beach in Hilton Head, SC. It was on that trip that I rode a bike for the first time in years. I really liked it, but again, it was hard! That was it. A change was needed.

Upon returning to Athens, I made a change. I really committed to working out and eating healthy. I worked with a personal trainer at the rec center on campus, I joined Weight Watchers, and I tracked everything I ate. It paid off! I lost 60 pounds and transformed myself!

Taken in 2006: