Tomorrow is week 12.  The true day of reckoning!  I hope that you will think back to the day you started this program... online losers included.  Think of the number you put on your form that you filled out durring the casting call for how much you wanted to lose in the 12 weeks.  Hopefully your goals were within reason and attaining those has been a challenge but do-able.  I hope that if you have not met your goal that your are close or have been able to re-evaluate to set a new goal for yourself. 

We have all said it, we all know it, but everyone that waited on line that day made commitments to themselves to change their lives.  It is all about the choices we make.  the conscious choice to not take the donut at the office,  the choice to say no to the margarita when you are eating out, the choice to move instead of sit, and the choice to park farther away from buildings to get an extra few steps on the go zone!

I believe that the most important part of this process is to be selfish.  Wanting to be healthier, and look better is great, but consider those selfish reasons that go beyond that to remind yourself of why you wanted the change in the first place. 

Statistically when you lose weight you will gain it back...plus more.  I know how true that is.  I spent a year of hard time in the gym and writing down everything i ate. Within a year and a half after i lost it i gained most of it back.  It is easy to get off track, and i hope you can all find the strength within yourselves to not give up when a few pounds start to creep back.  The scale is like your friend...most of the time it stands by your side and other times you get into fights and dont talk for a week or two.

I know it is easy to turn to those sweet and fatty treats when those fights with your friends and the scales come up, but a bump in the road does not mean defeat.  Remind yourself of your selfish reasons when you feel like you are slipping.  However you can do it.  Put pictures of someone doing something that you want to do or be with your head on it, all around your house, car and work. 

One fun foods meal turns into 2 and 2 turns into 6 and before you know it you are eating out more and more and sliding into old habits.  They are hard habits to break.  Now the spotlight and the pressure is on, so it is easier to stay away.  Dont rationalize poor decisions!  When that greasy burger looks at you and calls your name, kick it in the face and pick up the grilled chicken.

This journey has taught me so much!  I always thought that nuts were a trigger for me.  If i found my self eating nut or anything with peanut butter, i would call it a day..."oh well i ate nuts, so i need ice cream now."  Okay, maybe it wasnt rational, but that is how it seemed, and it always let to cheating.  When Heather told me it was psychological and that peanut butter was good for me, I sat down with the jar and told it that i was not a slave to it.  Maybe consider some of your own "triggers" and challenge yourself to find out why it is a trigger.  if you are letting it be a trigger than maybe you can find a way of overcoming it so that you can be satisfied without putting yourself in a position to eat yourself silly. 

Obviously we have issues, mostly that go way beyond loving food and hating exercise.  Try to think back to when you put on your weight in the first place.  If you can find out some of what caused you to give up, give in, or just eat more, perhaps you can battle those demons now so they dont rear their ugly head later when you reach your goal and concentrate less.

Live life to the fullest, dont just fill up on everything life has to offer!