Why do I stay active? I am now 35 years old. The older I get, the more I realize that being healthy is a must. It started with what I ate & changing my diet. I also make sure I get plenty of rest. I have been exercising consistently for years, but never incorporated those other areas that needed to be worked on. Finding balance & making time for yourself is a must as well.

I read a lot of good books, stay busy as a single mother, spend more time doing all the little things I love to do/hobbies & try to see the good in every situation. To sum it up, live life to the fullest. I enjoy taking my evening walks because not only does it tone my muscles, it is a good stress reliever too!

I'm so proud of myself for losing 30 pounds, finally. I started at about 250 pounds. And yes it has been a real struggle. Over the past few years, I gained so much weight. It wasn't until a year ago that I actually started taking my weight & health seriously. I am now down to 220 pounds, yay me!

I try to do at least 50-100 squats a day, I walk(around my block twice), I exercise at home & simply watch or cut back on what I eat. It was really hard to keep up the exercising but I stopped being lazy with it. Also I never eat past 10 Pm. Instead of using margarine when I cook, sometimes I use olive oil instead. I used to have to always cook with lots & lots of salt. That is no longer & I use my seasonings in proportion & also read up on /research their ingredients.

I cook fresh raw vegetables instead of canned or frozen. I love bread but I cut back on it too & am trying to eat more wheat bread. Most mornings I have a light breakfast like fresh fruit or oatmeal, which is good in fiber & helps to lower cholesterol. I try to pick up as many low fat & low sodium items as I can when I grocery shop. I eat lots of baked food instead of fried food, love seafood especially fish, no ground beef, no steak, & no pork. Lunch is usually light as well. For snacks I may eat peanuts, almonds, cashews, fruit or a small salad.

The key, for me, was to cut back on what I was eating & not just how many times I eat. I have replaced ground beef & ham all together. I have replaced it with turkey/ground turkey. And lastly, of course, plenty of bottled water. Sometimes I drop in a Crystal light packet & other times just drop in a few drops of lemon juice.

I haven't always been comfortable with telling other people about my journey or how much I weigh, as most people are. Of course I want to share my weight loss journey with others now because my tips could just help someone else. Our bodies are all made different so make sure you check with your primary or family physician before changing anything about your daily routine or diet. I would also like to share I lost those 30 pounds without any diet pills or supplements like shakes.

I do take multi vitamins which are an iron pill a day & B12 drops for an energy boost. I am now body conscious & am addicted to wearing workout/fitness gear. I have shopped for so much spandex, Nike & Addidas gear, & anything else with stretch in it! And can't wait to wear it this Summer! I struggled with finding clothes that fit me right when I gained all that weight. I'm so glad I changed my diet & am now eating healthier.

I've always said that "style has no rules." I feel those words are totally true. Season after season & year after year, we set new guidelines for what trends are in. And seems as if a lot of people start to follow them. Which is why I'm such a "vintage soul." I love vintage clothes & pieces, even furniture/home decor. It will always be classic & timeless. I'm more of an eclectic mixed with retro, most of the time. Truth is, what styles we wear now are only  being repeated. Denim in whatever shade or wash goes together if paired with confidence.  Whether dark on top & light on the bottom, or vice versa, it's all denim! Matter of fact, I own so many Jean jackets & tops. I love to mix & match my wardrobe. I didn't really like the "denim on denim" look at first, but it has really grown on me now. The outfit pictured here is a light denim top paired with a pair of dark faded jeans, both from JC Penney.