I have never been the one to be envied for my body. I had always been the one envying. Lately, I'm finding myself on the receiving end of hateful looks from people that have gotten heavier as I have gotten thinner. I am perplexed - mostly because I can remember those looks and how it feels. I know what you are thinking. You are thinking how disgusting you are for the body you have. That you have let yourself go and now look at you. I know because I was there.

The feelings it brings up in me are confusing. On one hand, I am flattered and proud. I have made amazing changes to my body and I am proud of the way I look. The other part of me is ashamed. Should I have stayed fat because you feel bad about yourself by looking at me?

Don't hate me. I am still the same person I have always been. I still have the same insecurities that you have. The only difference between you and me is that I have committed myself to getting and staying fit. I didn't want to be the Fat Mommy, sitting on the park bench watching my child play and not being able to go down the slide with him or climb up the stairs or carry him when he needed it.

I DECIDED for myself. In 2001, when I got married I weighed 237 lbs. Just this past week I watched a video from my honeymoon. At the time I didn't think I was that fat but I was fooling myself. I was F-A-T. No doubts.

I COMMITTED the time and energy to lose weight and get fit. I could NOT let myself get any fatter and it WOULD HAPPEN. With the way I was eating and not moving, I was driving myself to an early grave.

I am still SUCCEEDING. Every day I still fight the battle. I love ice cream, pizza, cookies, etc. and I struggle to overcome my addictions. And addictions are exactly what they are. I lose sometimes. Sometimes I win. I beat myself up about it sometimes still. I just keep trying.

So don't hate me because I lost weight. No one can make you run the journey and it is a JOURNEY. Getting fit and losing weight is a lifelong battle, especially for someone like me.

BUT IT CAN BE DONE!