Let's Help Brian Celebrate!

Brian told be he has a hard time "celebrating me," meaning himself of course. Please help me help Brian celebrate because the dude is not only cool but totally inspirational!!

How are you defining your success?

Better health, being around longer for the people that mean so much to me...my kids, my girlfriend and other members of my family.

Which of your personal goals have you achieved?

Wanted to improve my health, initial goal was to lose 100 lbs. I had hit a breaking point while doing my radio show from the Grammys last year and knew I had to do something!

How long did it take you?

My one year anniversary was Feb 21, 2009 and I have lost a total of 130 pounds and I am now at goal working on getting my lifetime at WW.

What new goals have you set for yourself?

• Learning maintenance right now.
• For the first 8 or 9 months I only did cardio and then I started weight training. I am seeing GREAT results with the WT and one of my many goals is to just keep getting in better shape and WT is a big part of that :-)
• To help as many people as i can realize their dreams of being healthy. A lot of trainers ignore those of us who are considered obese and I am living proof that it can be done and I want to help others who are in their minds... hopeless.

*I have many other goals but those are a few.

What has changed the most about you?

I could give you a VERY long list aside from the physical things...my mental attitude and edge is at an all time high now. I have always been a very positive person but I feel now nothing can get in my way.

What did you find hardest about reaching your goal? How did you overcome it?

Believe it or not "Toxic people" there were people in my life who either were unhappy with their own lives or did not want me to succeed and always were negative or telling me I was losing too much. I have moved on from the those people.

How has blogging helped you reach your goals?

It has been a VITAL part of my weight loss. I could and will (if you want) list so many things that have been a part but as far as blogging...When I first started ww people in the meetings told me about these weight loss blogs. I googled and found a few and then more and more and I freaked out...I LOVE THEM. They were so inspirational and informative. I have made friends through reading them, I have learned new things to eat, exercise ideas, how to power through tough times doing ww and a million other things. I honestly feel the blogging was a BIG part of what I have done so far. I started blogging early on and I am sure no one read them BUT I did them to keep my self accountable. I wished I could devote more time to them and I sometimes feel guilty about not responded as quickly as I would like...but I am a single parent that works in both radio and tv and lives a very hectic schedule but yet I am blessed beyond my wildest dreams. :-)

Any tips for those that share you goal?

• I just try to always stay positive
• I never totally deny myself, if I want something bad I have it and then get right back on the program.
• I love WW, I feel the meetings are so important.
• I never miss a weigh in. There have been times when I wanted to skip and I didn't ...keeps me honest.
• WATER lots of water.
• Activity when I started I really struggled but slow and steady effort has really paid off.
• The weeks where I put the most effort into it. I get the most (results) out of it
• I track everything as far as food goes. I buy those little 3 month journals.
• When I get in a challenging place or hit a wall, I reach out to other bloggers who have already maybe hit the same obstacles and I ask for help.
• Nothing ever tastes as good as losing weight feels
• I have treated myself with non food rewards at weight loss milestones along the way.
• I have learned to love myself and not be so hard on myself.
• I look for at least one new food a week, I have a habit of eating the same foods all the time so I challenged myself to expand my universe.
• If you don't own one yet get yourself an ipod or an mp3 player for when you exercise, music really helps me.

Brian - you ARE AWESOME and stop thanking me so much and give yourself a round of applause! ;~P