Okay ... so here it is ... the hard work and perseverance over not just the last push of 60 days, but of a transformation that started June 3, 2015 for my daughters wedding.

​I know this sounds cliché, but I really do feel as though there has been a complete shift for me. Not just in the way that I feel and in how I look, but the things that have come into my life because of the choice I made to make this change.

​In this journey, I learned a few things ...

​I have recognized my downfalls and my triggers, what challenges my willpower and I guess over all what I'm made of. Bottom line is this ... I'm made of more than I thought. It's not that I don't already put 200% into everything that I do, but I guess I realized that I could do that for myself as well. I always left my personal health and wellness to the very last because seemingly, I could justify that I had no time left in my day. As a mother, as a business owner, as a work fiend with 5 jobs ... I was in that mode that I could justify not spending the time or money on myself.

​I realized that if I'm not 100% healthy, and I don't have enough energy or brain power to function at all of those things then I'm not helping anyone. What I have done in the last 9 months is put a price tag not only on my health but on my piece of mind. Not sure why I wasn't doing this before. I guess, sometimes it just takes a smack in the head. And ... you have to really want to make a change.

​Truth is, I haven't found making this change all that hard, in fact it was easy ... the working out is a stretch for me, but now that I'm doing it, I love it. I think the even greater consequence of making this change in my own life, is the ripple effect that it has had on so many others. My entire family and extended family, my friends, old acquaintances and many new, have all enjoyed the same changes in their lives. THAT is what is the most gratifying for me. Changing and improving someone else's life in some way, shape or form.

​I have also realized on a coaching level, that people that are not ready to make a change, will find any reason not to. There is no amount of coaching that can help them along their own journey. I've realized that I although I can motivate and encourage, I cannot drag. What's that old saying? "You can lead a horse to water but you cannot make it drink." That sums it up. The will and the where-with-all has to come from within. I found mine. Others just need to find theirs. I really encourage all of you to dig deep and realize that you really can do this. And... if you want my help, I'm here.

​I think it was so important for me personally to have that whole accountability piece. I will say that over and over and over again. This M.O.B. Project has truly altered my life. Everyone that has ever watched, commented, encouraged and joined, has given me the stamina not to fail, it has kept me on the straight and narrow. That and goal setting.

​Oh ... and getting into a bikini.

​I think the interesting part is that there are many people that have been silently watching over the last 9 months, just to see if I could do it and if it was sustainable. Many people are conservative in their thoughts and want to make sure that before they stick their toe in the pot, they know what they are getting into. So ... here are the results. Nine months and still down 30 pounds, I've got muscle, energy and I feel like a fricking rock star. I think that is proof enough, well it is for me anyhow.

​Personally, I feel like I have a new lease on life. The opportunities that this project has brought on are many. The one that I have to say I feel the most fortunate about is my new and extended group of friends, many of which are now on the M.O.B. Project. Many of these people, I would never have had the opportunity to chat with, never mind encourage them daily in some of their struggles. It brings people together. Not only that, The group that I coach with, AMAZING! When I say, "surround yourself with those that raise you up a level", I mean it. In all levels of life. This gang is exactly that, positive, motivated, full of life and energy ... yup ... can't get enough of that. Not only that ... they WANT you to succeed. Imagine that? Both personally and in business they push me to be the best I can be and I push them right back. THAT is rare these days.

​The other parts of my business are now soaring, coaching is what I was meant to do ... CharisOnStyle is rocking it. I get so much gratification and pleasure out of what I do and in the end, that is about seeing a beaming smile on someone's face because they too feel like a million bucks.

​This picture is what I feel the result of all my hard work. I don't feel the need to do a before and after, because you've all seen the before, but many have not seen the after. This project has lead to yet another which I will be introducing shortly called the #brickwalls project. I think you will all enjoy what's going to be coming out in that piece. This picture, isn't for you, it's for me. It's a reminder that I DID IT! It's a reminder every single day that I don't want to go back to how I felt before, 50 has been a stellar year for me and I'm anticipating it's just going to get better.

Thanks to Ian McCausland for this photoshoot and these pictures that sealed the deal for me. They encourage me to keep going and they are a reminder every day of how great 50 is. This photoshoot, is what we do with all of our CharisOnStyle clients for this reason. First of all, it's a hell of a lot of fun, secondly, it truly is a celebration of who you are. If no one else ever looks at your pictures, it really doesn't matter. What matters is that you see them, you appreciate who you are, see the light that is beaming through ... it is a reminder to hold true to that.

​Truth is... I cried when I saw my pics.

​Not for the reasons you think, even though I knew how far I'd come, how hard I worked, I still don't think I SAW what I had become.

HAPPY.

​Then ... I thanked Ian.

"For what?" he said.

​My response ...

​"You made me feel beautiful."

Today is Day 1 of 67.

If you haven't read what The M.O.B. is up to... read the blog post, The M.O.B. hits MEXICO, it explains the next 67 days of my life and how I'm ramping up my goals and expectations. To hell with waiting for a New Years Resoultion... I'm doing it now. 

I don't understand the mentality of... "I'll wait until after Christmas ... to start eating bette, to get in shape"... it's just a free for all to be overindulgent over the holidays. I can dare to bet that I will have just as much fun over the holidays keeping to eating healthy... now working out ... as those who have given themselves a time out. In fact I will probably be happier because my energies levels are amazing and I know that I am staying true to my goals. I DON"T want to be overweight ANY MORE!

This is only about me. I'm not dreading the holidays for the weight I might put on because I won't put any on. I can maintain if nothing else and still enjoy Christmas cooking and a few wobbly pops. That doesn't mean that I'm going to be indulging in Christmas baking and copious amounts of booze, but it does mean I will be cooking and choosing healthy food. Healthy choices...  It's the first Christmas I'm going in stress free about what will happen. 

I don't think I've ever been so adamant about getting my shit together. ITS REALLY IMPORTANT to me. This being 50 has really opened my eyes. I DO want to age gracefully... I'm not going to let age get the best of me. I'm not one at the best of times to let anything get the best of me... this isn't any different. Bring it!

The thing that really inspires me is really the results I have seen from all ages ... men and women in the best shape of their lives. How can you not be motivated? Surround yourself with like-minded people that share the same goals. Surround yourself with those that you admire and look up to.. look to those that have achieved the same goals that you are trying to achieve. I've written a great blurb on just this in the blog post,Turkeys and Eagles, if you want some extra inspiration, take a read. If you want to achieve more...find those with that positive energy that cna drive you to your next level.

I've added this to my video channel on YouTube where every video will be posted. I can only hope that the raw footage doesn't scare you off. It is a roll out of bed real... I did put on mascara I must admit... didn't want you all running for the hills in fear. 

Let's face it... not all of us are gym rats. I don't pretend to be, I never will be ...not sure I want to be. I do realize though that I do want to be toned and get rid of these last 15 pounds. I DO want to get into a bikini at 50. And ... I want to ROCK it. Let's be real here... this isn't for how anyone else perceives how I look in a bathing suit but how I FEEL in a bathing suit...I don't need to compete with anyone... I know I'm 50... and damn proud of it. Now I just want people to go... man... she has aged well. 

AGED WELL. 

Why do we let ourselves go as we age? It's a great question. Is it because we have given up? Is it because our partners have given up? Is it because it just doesn't matter to some of us? I'm not sure what the answer is, I only know I'm not giving in to age. 

I will be posting my starting pictures and measurements, my workouts...my hurdles... trials and tribulations. In the first part of my journey, many of you joined me in the "get healthy" part of my weight loss journey... so proud of these team mates in making a decision to change their lives and do it along with me. SO PROUD of my team. Collectively... we have lost hundreds of pounds in the last 6 months. How can you not be proud? The things I have seen and been a part of have been remarkable... the best thing is ... being a part of their journey too. 

So ... PART DEUX. 

Sans mascara. 

Day 1  ... Treadmill. Thrilled I'm not dead... it's a great start. 

68 days.

In 68 days I will be sitting on the beach with the best of the best in a contest my company just ran.

Out of 2100 teams, 10 of those are will be heading to Mexico. I will be one of 60 people getting the privilege of gracing those white sand beaches. 

My team...awesome women that have worked our butts off to get there. Now, the challenge is out there... Get into a bikini. 

A BIKINI.

Bikini ... lately ... okay, in the last five years or maybe more... okay ten... bikini is not a word that is in my vocabulary. I guess it's back. I'm not kidding... we challenged ourselves to get to the next step, push harder, set the next goals. BIKINI it is. 

I decided that I'm going back to what got me to this point in the first place. YOU. My faithful followers in the M.O.B. Project. You watched me transform over several months so that I could look like a hot Mother of the Bride aka M.O.B. at my daughters wedding. I lost a total of 30 pounds and that was amazing. Truly changed my life. What helped me get there was the accountability I had to you in the Project... showing you that I was making progress... daily. YOU got me to where I am. Thank you. I know that some of you sit silently and just quietly pay attention and that's great too, I still know you're out there and you're still hedging bets on whether I can do it or not. The pressure was on then, it's back now. There were many that came out and said that they were waiting for me to pack it in, dump my goals or just not dump the weight .. I proved them wrong. Six months later I am still 30 pounds down and am the healthiest I have ever been. 

So ... Here I stand ... asking you to stand behind me once more. 

To me, this is even scarier than my last goal. Although that being said, I didn't think I could have lost 30 pounds either if you would have asked me at the beginning. Truthfully every pound that came off, I was grateful for. I didn't even have a destination weight to be honest. Losing weight to me was a necessity and I always have known that getting in shape was going to be the next step. I'e pushed myself this far, I can push myself the rest of the way. 

Into a bikini. 

The word seriously hurts my ears. 

68 days.

Starting today...I have NO CHOICE... but to get off my ass.  You see, I have been very lax over the last six months of my weight transformation ... my physical activity nearly non-existent. That is why ... although I now wear a size 8 jean, which I might add I haven't worn since 2007 but I am still FLABBY. 

Ugh. Another word I can't stand the sound of. FLABBY.... let's all say it together...FLABBY. I bet it makes you cringe as much as it does me. And trust me... it's gotta go. Mexico is the NO FLAB ZONE for this girl ... now known as the NFZ. I'm going to write it on my forehead so I am reminded constantly of my new goal.

I need to do this. For myself. To know that I can keep climbing. 

I guess the other part of this whole equation is that I hope it inspires my team and YOU... my accountability partners that if I can do this ... anyone can. Why... I actually hate working out. I think that there was only one time when I actually enjoyed it  and it was when my old boyfriend and I used to go to the gym together. His energy and perseverance helped me get there too, and we could do it together. I was in great shape and I was loving it. That's another story for the Humble Pie Chronicles I suppose. 

I have been so thrilled with the people that have come on board to help in the FLAB Fight over the last 6 months... their own successes have been amazing. I am so proud of all of my team. If they want to take the next step and join me on the next part of this journey then let's do it. I would rather have buddies with me, encouraging me to keep moving forward. 

68 days. 

The COUNTDOWN BIKINI is on! The M.O.B. is gonna 'HIT' Mexico and the NFZ with vigor. I will do the same thing that I did with my M.O.B. wedding countdown and keep everyone posted on my results. Feel free to drag me to the gym. Join me on the M.O.B. Project Facebook page as well for updates, 

68 Days to NFZ.