This summer I decided to change my lifestyle habits and work on living a healthier and more wholesome life. However, when I first decided this, I didn't initially make any goals. I was signed up for Planet Fitness already (I'd been going on and off for the past year) and decided that I would start to regularly attend the gym. My best friend and I decided to start this journey together and I seriously don't know what I'd do without her. She has been motivating me since day one.

Setting my first short-term goal was a monumental moment in this new lifestyle change.

On Saturday June 3rd, before my cousin's college graduation party, I went to one of my favorite stores. I love fashion and shopping is one of my favorite past-times. I decided to try on a few things. I tried on a dress in my current size and I loved it. It was actually a little too big on me, so I decided to try the same dress on in a couple of different sizes. I got down to a 14/16, which was pretty tight, when I realized that I wanted to comfortably wear this dress in the near future. I set a realistic short term goal to wear the dress by September 2nd, 2017- which is my University's first home football game. It's a beautiful white dress and it hangs visibly in my closet to remind me of my goal.

Having a physical reminder of what I'm doing is so wonderful. I recommend that everyone who is trying to lose weight or live a healthier lifestyle have something physical that they can visibly see that motivates them. I know that weight is just a number and that sizes are just a number, but watching the scale go down and seeing the size of my clothing go down motivates me in a positive way. I don't aspire to be a size 0, I just want to be happy and healthy. I refuse to starve myself or choose unhealthy ways to lose weight.

I refuse to say that I am "dieting", because those never seem to stick, and once one's weight-loss goal is attained, the healthy aspects of working out and eating right tend to disappear. I, instead, want to believe that I made a choice to live a healthier and better lifestyle. Even if I make my ultimate goal weight someday, I never want to give up the new lifestyle I have changed.

I'm not sure what sparked the change. I don't know what initially set me into action, but I'm thankful that it happened. I have honestly tried to change my lifestyle habits more than once before, but I think one of the greatest factors in motivating me was my pending graduation in the fall of 2018. There's also the fact that there is so much that I want to do and see in life. I have a purpose and I want to be healthy enough to figure out what it is.

Since the day I bought my dress, I have set so many goals for myself; both short-term and long term. I am putting dates on them, so that I can truly work towards them. For instance, I want to do the color run this coming spring and before I graduate next fall I want to run a 5k, maybe even a 10k. I am working on losing weight now and adjusting to a healthier lifestyle so that I can meet those goals.

In a way, the dress changed my life, and once I can wear it comfortably and happily I don't know if I'll be able to get out of it.

For anyone who's going through a similar journey, I encourage you to continue every day. Do your best and don't be afraid to push yourself and try new things. It will be so worth it.