Take this, take that, you won't have to move a muscle to lose those pounds. We have a problem with immediate gratification in the U.S. and we need to realize that if you want something to last, you have to work for it. Yes, those pills may work for a while, that diet may last a week (or a day) but it will be a temporary fix. I'm here to tell you from personal experience that being healthy and losing weight is hard work.

My whole life, I've been a little bigger than others. I'm curvy, and it took me awhile to appreciate that. But the truth of the matter is, I wasn't healthy. As I grew older I didn't move as much, I sat on the couch and while I wasn't an awful eater, I didn't pay attention to what I was putting in my body. I told myself I was fine, and in my head I couldn't accept the fact that I wasn't appreciating my body and giving it the attention and love it deserved. I finally came to a breaking point during my sophomore year of high school when I was looking through pictures of trips I had taken and it finally hit me and I realized that I wasn't happy with the way I looked because I wasn't doing anything about it.

I made a lifestyle change. I know that sounds really scary, but I definitely was changed for the better. I started slow, and it took me awhile. That summer, I cleaned up my diet. I ate healthy protein filled breakfasts, salads with chicken and feta to keep me fueled, and I would have one serving of whatever was for dinner. I lost 10 lbs, and I felt a whole lot better. You will have a love/hate relationship with healthy eating. You can't help but enjoy how good your feeling even though you can't have chocolate cake everyday.

Then during that school year, I started walking a mile everyday. It took me 22 minutes, but that was just my starting point. I started walking 2 miles, and then 3 miles. Then I started running 2 miles. I felt amazing! You won't believe how much energy you have and how you will enjoy a good and filling healthy meal. I lost a total of 35 lbs in 2 years, but that weight loss was due to the way I started to live my life.

Now don't get me wrong, I love ice cream, pizza, and a lot of other not so nutritious foods, but I eat them in proportion. I don't like to diet, I don't like weight loss pills, and I detest commercials who try to sell people the "easy" way to be thin. It's not easy, it's hard work! Anything worth something takes a lot of determination and commitment. You will have your own struggles, and your own methods, but I hope my story will encourage you and give you hope. I am curvy, I am happy, and I am healthy