Top Ten Weekend Finally Here!

WOW, I was excited to see the "Ladies" again. In 2003 we each received a National award from American Business Women's Assocation, we're scattered from across the country and we get together for a weekend trip in January. We've been from Coast to Coast.

This year we were going to Calloway Gardens in Georga and had a villa rented. Only 6 of us were able to make it this year (it varies year to year). But had to run to the office, so no breakfast, did what I needed to do before heading to the airport at 11 am. Grabbed a burger at the airport, was proud of myself because I didn't get the fries.

Got on the plane, ate the munchies and craneberry juice. The word "Diet" did not seem to be on my mind . . . just seeing the rest of these wonderful ladies and having a relaxing weekend catching up on things.

Several of us met at the airport and drove to the Villa. . . what a wonderful time. . . catching up, laughing and just plain relaxing. No one commented on my weight gain so once again "diet" for the weekend did not crop into my mind.

We get to the Villa where two of the ladies arrived early and laid in the food and beverages for the weekend. I had a real shocker . . . .Darlene, one of the ladies was a NEW Woman . . . come to find out during our late night catch up talks that she had lost over 50 pounds since May.

That hit a button . . but not only for me but for one of the other ladies, while not my size, definately felt that she had some weight to loose too.

While our conversations were filled with wonderful things, diet and exercise kept cropping in. Before the weekend was over two of us had made a contest about who could loose 85 pounds first. So Pat and I were on and Darlene promised to be our moral support.

One of our ladies is always exercising, running marathons and so forth, asked a very HARD HITTING QUESTION: WHY DO YOU WANT TO DO THIS. I was taken aback, as everyone always said to do it, but no one every really asked me WHY I WANT TO DO THIS. I then realized that the answer was always there, that I just didn't admit to myself that I needed to do this, that I needed to Change my Life Style, not just a 4 week diet. That I wanted to be around for January's to come to enjoy these wonderful weekends.

This was the start of my change in thinking. I don't want a Diet, I want and need a Life Style Change.

Before leaving pictures were taken so that Pat and I had Before Lifestyle Change pictures