January 1st - April 10th

Starting weight: 273lbs.

Current weight: 232.5lbs.

I asked my husband for an exercise bike for almost a year. At Christmas time, my request was granted and I received an exercise bike. I was so excited words could not describe the feeling I had.

I put the bike in my living room, right in front of the television. There were no more excuses for me. I could no longer hide from my weight.

On Jan 1, 2009, I started riding my new bike. I went for five minutes, became winded and stopped. On Jan 1, 2009, I also started the South Beach Diet. I didn't tell anyone in my family except for my husband and my daughter.

The one thing that is different now from all the other times I have tried to lose weight is the fact that I haven't given up...I won't give up. I get on that bike every day except Thursday (I have class that evening) and I ride it until I can't go any longer. I am now burning 200 calories and going about 30 - 40 minutes.

There are other factors to my weight loss that I don't want to mention in this post because it is personal and an inner battle that I struggle with but I am taking those struggles and those emotions and using them to push myself forward.