I’ll never forget that day in 2012. I was sitting in a room full of successful people, listening to Jinny S. Ditzler talk about her book “Your Best Year Yet.” There I was, 24 years old, fresh out of college, and weighing 215 pounds. I felt uncomfortable in my body and completely out of place. Jinny asked us to do something that changed my life – write down our top 10 successes and disappointments from the year. As I looked at my blank paper, my heart sank. I couldn’t think of a single success, but I filled my page with 15 disappointments. Around me, everyone was sharing amazing stories about running marathons, getting promotions, and celebrating big life moments. I felt so small in that big room, wondering “What’s wrong with me?”

That night at home, I spread out my list of disappointments on my kitchen table. As I read each one, I realized something important – this wasn’t just about my weight. These disappointments showed how little I believed in myself, my deep insecurities, and how I wasn’t taking care of myself at all. I had two choices: I could keep living this way and accept these disappointments, or I could try something different. Because the truth is, whatever you’re not changing, you’re choosing. On September 28, 2012, I made myself a big promise. I looked in the mirror and said, “I will not quit on you this time.” I refused to wake up in my 40s, 50s, or 60s regretting missed opportunities or blaming being too busy, too tired, or too lazy.

This time was different from all my other tries at getting healthy. Instead of just saying I would do it, I actually did it. For the first time in my life, I was committed to following through on a promise I made to myself. When my bed felt too cozy for morning workouts, I got up anyway. When I wanted to grab fast food, I chose to cook instead. Every single day, I aligned my decisions with how I wanted to feel and the direction I wanted my life to take. Sure, I’d quit on myself plenty of times before – I had a long history of starting things and giving up when they got tough. But not this time. This time, I kept going even when things got hard.

Now, I get to help other women who feel just like I did. I understand the frustration of trying diet after diet, losing weight only to gain it all back. It feels like being stuck on a carousel you can’t get off. That’s why I teach women a different way – how to lose weight without strict dieting and counting calories. I show them how to make changes that last forever, because I’ve been there. I know exactly how it feels to yo-yo up and down, and I know there’s a better way. When you step into life with confidence and feel good in your own skin, everything changes. Doors open that you never even realized were there.

If you’re reading this and are ready to take the first step towards taking your life back, I encourage you to make today the day you choose differently. This is why I coach—because I know that one decision to change your life can transform your entire future.