I was very thin in high school, and only started gaining weight during my senior year. Over the next ten years, I gained close to 80 pounds, and the image in the mirror is shocking. In my mind, I'm still the pretty, skinny girl, and it's tough to wrap my brain around the fact that I've gained so much weight. I started dieting the right way in October '10, lost 30 lbs, then went off the wagon in May '11 and gained 15 pounds back. I've started counting calories again, and it's much easier this time around, now that I know what I'm doing.

I know this is going to be a long road, but I want to instill good habits so that when I finally reach my goal weight, I can maintain it for life. For my looks, and for my health in the long term! My goal weight is not a number on the scale, but whatever feels comfortable and "right". When the mirror matches up with the girl I see myself as, I'll know I'm there.