I did a Grand Canyon Rim-to-Rim-to-Rim in May, 2010.

Today marks The End to something that has been very significant to me: My weight loss journey.

Just under two years ago, I weighed almost 160 pounds and was chubby and pretty lazy. Today, I am smaller than I’ve been since high school and yet stronger and more capable than ever. I weigh 129 and am not soft or lazy anymore.

My trainer and I recorded data during the journey. Here’s the proof in numbers:

Baring it all. (It took courage to reveal my numbers early on)

What a difference 22 months and a bunch of hard work, sacrifices and commitment make.

Near the end of March 2009 – 22 months ago – I found myself in the office of friend and personal trainer Steve Bechtel, at his Elemental Training Center, in my hometown of Lander, Wyoming.

I was at the end of my rope. In a health and fitness rut, I weighed almost 160 pounds and had just ordered a pair of size 12 pants from the Eddie Bauer catalog. The first time I ever did that.

Every night for about three years, I would retire to bed with this same, deep, nagging feeling – let’s call it what it was, REGRET – that didn’t just speak to me, it yelled, angrily at me: “Another day went by and you did nothing about it. You didn’t exercise. You didn’t eat the right things and you ate too much. You’re lazy. You feel like crap. You have young children. You’re operating a business and trying to expand it. You need more energy. You have to change things. As soon as possible. But another day went by and you, well, once again did nothing to change things.” Self-talk like this went on probably every night for three years. It was ugly.

In fairness, I should point out that I did have a lot going on in my life. My husband, Jerry, and I had two young sons at the time, and a third on the way, we owned a business, of which I was the CEO. The business was going great and I was busy innovating and capitalizing on what was abundant opportunity. I loved my work and was passionate about our business’ potential. At the same time, I was pursuing prospective partners to help put wheels on the company’s expansion plans. I was probably investing 75 hours a week toward work, plus trying to be a great mother and wife.

So if I needed excuses for my getting soft, chubby and lazy, I didn’t have to look very hard to find them. And they felt like plausible excuses, until each night when that nagging regret kicked in.

I should also point out that most of my life, up until the space between March 2006 and March 2009, I was probably in above-average health. I played basketball in college, and after that, got into mountain biking, snowboarding, snowshoeing, backpacking, trail running, distance day hiking and cross country skiing.

Hell fire, even while I weighed almost 160, I hiked the Shoshone Lake hike above Lander, which is a difficult, 21-mile hike. But I paid dearly for it for days following and certainly it was not the fantastic experience it is when I’m fit and have energy to spare and a “lighter load” to carry.

Skiing on February 23 of last year.

Outside of operating our business, I was no longer confident either. I was chubby and felt lazy, because, well, physically I was. My self-esteem tanked. We’d take family trips and I wouldn’t swim with Jerry and the boys at the hotel pool because I didn’t want to put a swimming suit on. I found myself turning down speaking invitations. I didn’t “go out” as much – meaning even to make simple trips to the grocery store, etc. I “hid” myself as much as possible while focusing on business and trying my best to be a good mom and wife.

So, in March 2009, shortly after I ordered the size 12 pants, and upon encouragement from my friend, Sharon, there I sat on Steve’s couch in his office at Elemental Training Center.

I won’t rehash everything here because I’ve covered my weight loss and fitness journey pretty thoroughly right here on this blog. (I’ve compiled a list containing all 33 posts with links to each here. Please check them out and feel free to share them if you think they’ll inspire others to get off the couch and add vitality and years to their lives.)

Family hiking photo at Blue Ridge Lookout, August 2010.

But let me say this. Basically I let three years, at least, slip by in my life that – from a vitality and health quality standpoint – were less than extraordinary. Frankly, from a health standpoint, those three years were, at best, mediocre, and it bothered me then, and now, that I can’t get that time back to do over in a more healthy body and mind.

So as I sat on the couch confronting my overweight and sloth-like status with Steve, I committed to losing weight and getting in excellent health.

Summiting the Grand Teton, August 2009.

One of the most important realizations I had early on that was probably more instrumental than any other thing in my weight loss journey’s success, is that there is a (huge) difference between deciding and committing.)

I have a poignant memory from that day that marked The Start of my weight loss journey: I was on my way home from my meeting with Steve and I was at a red light on Main Street waiting to turn left on S. 5^th Street to head home.  I thought first of the brevity of life. How short of time we have and all that’s important to me and how best can I live it to the fullest while honoring those I love so much and who love me. I realized at that time that the changes I was about to make were gigantic. They would be changes I would make for life. For eternity.

Sure, I would have to eat more vegetables. Drink more water. Eat less junk food. Exercise harder and on a regular basis. (I eventually made the decision, on my own, to give up all grains/complex carbohydrates, which for the first few weeks required monumental will power.) I would have to get up super early in the morning.

As I sat there at that red light thinking about all this, it may sound cheesy – and extreme – but I remember thinking: I am giving up frozen pizza not for a month or a year but probably for the rest of my life. The commitment was that big. I was signing up for changes that were to last a lifetime.

The change I was committing to meant more than taking a few difficult-but-temporary steps.

And, I was all in.

So, in a nutshell, yesterday, Jan. 31, 2011, The End of my weight loss journey was met. On March 20, I weighed 158 pounds and my body fat was about 27 percent. Today, I weigh 129 pounds and have 10.9% body fat.

More significantly, though, my life has gotten so much fuller and richer – on all fronts. I’m a better mother. I can not only play and romp with our three young sons, I have a fighting chance of keeping up with them on the slopes, in our wrestling matches and in foot races. I’m a better, happier, more loving wife. I am more confident in my work. I have enjoyed countless, awe-inspiring outdoor experiences during the last 22 months that I would have absolutely missed out on had I not embarked on my weight loss/fitness journey.

Family ski outing.

Among other things, I climbed the Grand Teton, completed a Grand Canyon Rim-to-Rim-to-Rim in a less than 24 hours, I placed third in my age group in the Rendezvous 25k Ski Race last year, I went on a dozen or more “epic” day hikes in my beloved Wind River Range that were 21-32 miles each.

I also learned a lot about fitness and training. Steve Bechtel is a brilliant trainer who knows his stuff. As many would agree, he could be “a trainer for the stars.” He set the bar high and drove me hard, both things I required in order to push myself. He introduced me to high intensity and metabolic training. He helped get me strong without “bulking up.” The latter is proven by the reality that while I’m significantly smaller than I’ve been since I was in high school, I’m stronger than ever. I did 21 consecutive pull-ups, 30 dips, bench-pressed 132 pounds five times, dead-lifted 135 pounds 39 times, did 26 back squats of 135 pounds, and did 16 front squats of 135 pounds.

Today, I often find myself close to (happy) tears when I think about how full and rich my life is. This is in very, very large part the result of my weight loss and fitness accomplishments.

My weight loss journey has ended, but my pursuit of staying in great fitness will never end. I have arrived at a particular weight but I know it’s an ongoing effort to stay healthy. I can say this: I’ve tasted the Koolaid and I’m never going back. I’m saying yes to vitality, great health and a full life. I’m saying no to mediocrity and to just getting by when it comes to my health. Life is too short. And I love it too much.

As some of you are aware, I am training to become a life and leadership coach, and was also recently certified by the American Fitness Professionals and Associates as a nutrition consultant. Many of my coaching clients have weight loss as a major goal in their life.

I, for one, don’t underestimate weight loss as being something that’s of significant importance in one’s life. It’s not something to toss aside as a vanity item – quite the contrary. Everything in my life is better as a result of weighing less and being more “able” to live my life to the fullest. Being the best person I can be for those who love me and for those I love is absolutely related to the condition of my health and well being. (And okay, sure, it’s also great to fit into my designer jeans.)

During the last 22 months I’ve often told people I was reinventing myself. But what happened during the last 22 months was a transformation.

My sincere thanks to my husband, Jerry, and our sons, Wolf, Hayden and Fin, who were especially important in this journey; to my parents and other family members, to my close friends, to Steve Bechtel and his team at Elemental Training Center, and to all of you who have read this blog and/or support me with your friendship and positivity. I don’t take any of it lightly, and I am grateful to all of you.

Thanks for following this journey. I will be happy to share any specifics about what I did during my weight loss journey with you, including tips and tricks. If you wish, I will also light a fire under you, if that’s what you’re needing.

My main team.

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Elemental Gym has a fantastic gym, some terrific programs and classes that will help you achieve better fitness. And, I might add, some great personal trainers: Steve Bechtel, Ellen Bechtel, Jagoe Reid, Sophie Mosemann and Lee Brown.

Thanks to all of you who have followed my journey. I love you for your support, readership and love!

Please see my more complete “end of weight loss journey” blog post just published. But in doing so, I first wanted to get this list of complete links up in one place so I can reference it from the aforementioned blog post.

MY WEIGHT LOSS/FITNESS JOURNEY BLOG POSTS

POST 1: A MID-LIFE TRAINING PROGRAM (May 9, 2009)

POST 2: MY FITNESS JOURNEY, SWITCHBACK #2 (June 10, 2009)

POST 3: HAVE WORKOUT, WILL TRAVEL (June 23, 2009)

POST 4: I’M HAVING MY CAKE & EATING IT TOO (June 29, 2009)

POST 5: COMMITMENT, THE DREADED THING (July 12, 2009)

POST 6: 4-MONTH FITNESS UPDATE: –18 POUNDS, –9.3% BODY FAT (July 28, 2009)

POST 7: MY FITNESS JOURNEY: WHAT’S NEXT (Aug. 17, 2009)

POST 8: SPOT REDUCTION: WE CAN STOP BELIEVING (Sept. 1, 2009)

POST 9: 6-MONTH UPDATE: –23 POUNDS, –12.4% BODY FAT (Sept. 15, 2009)

POST 10: THE DOWN-SIDE OF LOSING WEIGHT (Sept. 23, 2009)

POST 11: EXERCISING AT DARK-THIRTY A.M. (Oct. 2, 2009)

POST 12: GOT MOTIVATION? (Nov. 7, 2009)

POST 13: VIDEO BLOG: HOW I LOST 24 POUNDS & 12.5% BODY FAT (Nov. 14, 2009)

POST 14: WHY ACCOUNTABILITY IS MORE VALUABLE THAN SUPPORT (Nov. 24, 2009)

POST 15: I (MOSTLY) LIKE KATE MOSS’ QUOTE (Dec. 1, 2009)

POST 16: FITNESS JOURNEY: WHAT HIGH INTENSITY MEANS (Dec. 13, 2009)

POST 17: WHAT I ATE TO LOSE 26 POUNDS IN 8 MONTHS (Dec. 23, 2009)

POST 18: 2010 FITNESS GOALS VIDEO BLOG (Jan. 5, 2010)

POST 19: 10-MONTH FITNESS UPDATE — OR, DEBUNKING A MYTH: GIRLS CAN GET STRONGER AND SMALLER (Jan. 13, 2010)

POST 20: DECIDING AND COMMITTING ARE DIFFERENT THINGS (Jan. 30, 2010)

POST 21: COWGIRL TUFF JEANS OR A 1,200-FOOT PARASAIL? THAT IS THE QUESTION (Feb. 5, 2010)

POST 22: I DID 19 PULL-UPS — JUST 1 SHORT OF MY GOAL (Feb. 16, 2010)

POST 23: RENDEZVOUS 25K SKI RACE: A GREAT EXPERIENCE (March 10, 2010)

POST 24: ONE YEAR AGO, I WAS LAZY AND CHUBBY (April 1, 2010)

POST 25: NEXT UP: 50-K TRAIL RUN (May 3, 2010)

POST 26: MY PERSONAL TRAINER SHARES HIS KNOWLEDGE (May 12, 2010)

POST 27: SHELLI: 1; KRISPY KREMES: 0 (June 15, 2010)

POST 28: FITNESS JOURNEY BLOG POST, NO. 28 (July 12, 2010)

POST 29: DON’T EAT JUNK FOOD JUST BECAUSE YOU’VE EARNED IT (Aug. 23, 2010)

POST 30: MY UPCOMING FITNESS GOALS (Sept. 18, 2010)

POST 31: STRONGER, BUT SMALLER (Nov. 7, 2010)

POST 32: I’M CHASING 2 RABBITS. WISH ME LUCK? (Dec. 13, 2010)

POST 33: THE END — OF MY WEIGHT LOSS JOURNEY

A SAMPLING OF ADVENTURES ENJOYED ALONG THE WAY:

32-mile epic Wind River Day Hike

Another Best Wind River Hike, Ever

Hiking the Bears Ears Trail

Biking to Frye Lake

Rim-to-Rim-to-Rim of Grand Canyon: 46 miles, 23,000′ of gain/loss, 1 day

Snowshoeing above Lander, Wyoming

Trail running The Bus Trail above my town

Rendezvous 25-k Skate Ski Race

Skiing the Continental Divide/South Pass, Wyoming

Climbing the Grand Teton

Hiking Deep Creek & Ice Creek Lakes, Wind River Range

50-Mile Traverse (Day Hike) of Zion National Park

29.5-Mile Epic Wind River Day Hike

2-Week NOLS Brooks Range Hiking Course

HOW TO WAKE UP AT 4:30 AM TO WORK OUT

How to Wake Up Early in Morning to Go to Gym

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I am a life/leadership coach and consultant, and owner of Epic Life. I help others discover their life purpose and then help them route-find their way to it. If you’re interested in consulting or coaching, please email me. As an option to select clients, I also offer guided epic adventures.

Almost 3 months ago (on Sept. 17), I set some new training goals with my personal trainer and friend, Steve Bechtel. (A short video of our discussion, is here.)

With the end of the calendar year fast approaching, I’m chasing down my last two goals. I would like to get these goals checked off the list and behind me. I miss my endurance training, and I want to go full throttle into skate skiing.

In summary, I had 6 goals. The first 4 listed below have been accomplished – at least for the time being.

1. To set/establish a gym record in number of repetitions of front squat at body weight. I did 16 reps.

2. To set/establish a gym record in number of repetitions of back squat at body weight. I did 25 reps.

3. To set/establish a gym record for number of reps of bench press at body weight. I did 5 reps.

4. To set/establish a gym record for number of dips. I did 21.

5. To beat my pull-up record of 19. I’m still working toward this. This is hard work. I hope the end is in sight, but not sure. I managed 16 today. I really don’t want to be doing so many pull-ups in January. I’m getting tired of them.

6. To weigh 129 pounds. I’m still working toward this. I weigh 132 today, down from the 133.5 I weighed in September. This one is the hardest for me. I’m trying to believe it’s possible, but it very well may not be. It doesn’t feel super realistic right now, to be honest.

The problem is that the two remaining goals are at cross purposes. Or, as Steve would say, “If you’re chasing two rabbits, you’ll catch neither one.”

In fact, at the gym today, Steve looked me straight in the eyes and said “You can’t get both of these by the end of the year. You need to make a decision.”

Here’s his explanation:

Well. I like the “impossibility” factor of achieving both of these divergent goals at once.

But I do have some sense, and the risk of getting neither seems greater to me than is the chance of getting both. So for now, I choose pull-ups.

While it’s no fun being reasonable, this does mean I can eat the homemade pecan sandies and drink the egg nog over the holiday. Which is no small thing.

So, already, I feel better.

Elemental Gym has a fantastic gym, some terrific programs and classes that will help you achieve better fitness. And, I might add, some great personal trainers: Steve Bechtel, Ellen Bechtel, Jagoe Reid, Sophie Mosemann and Lee Brown.

For backstory — and links to all of my fitness-related blogging — see Post 1,
Post 2, Post 3, Post 4, Post 5, Post 6, Post 7,Post 8, Post 9, Post 10, Post 11, Post 12,Post 13,Post 14, Post 15, Post 16, Post 17,Post 18, Post 19,Post 20,Post 21, Post 22,Post 23, Post 24, Post 25, Post 26, Post 27,Post 28 Post 29, Post 30, and Post 31.

Here’s a short video blog I recorded after a recent epic hike:

Elemental Gym has a fantastic gym, some terrific programs and classes that will help you achieve better fitness. And, I might add, some great personal trainers: Steve Bechtel, Ellen Bechtel, Jagoe Reid, Sophie Mosemann and Lee Brown.

Fighting the temptation. It's hard!

First off, to those of you who regularly follow my fitness blogging, thank you for your support and readership! I appreciate it. You help me in my fitness journey.

I’ve lost 28 pounds and a quite a bit of fat in the last 14 months. I have never felt better than I do right now as a direct result of weighing less and being healthier.

I’ve tasted the Koolaid, so to speak, and I’m not going back. Or, model Kate Moss said (and was criticized for): “Nothing tastes as good as skinny feels.”

I’m not skinny, and not trying to be. I’d rather have muscles and be able wrestle our three sons and do “epic” adventures. These things require more than skin and bones; they require a strong frame.

Still, I think about what Kate Moss says a lot. Like, for example, recently, when there were two cartons of Krispy Kremes at our house. (We bought the donuts to support a local fundraiser).

The “filter” my coach and friend Steve Bechtel, of Elemental Training Center, instructs me to apply to such food decisions, is “Will eating this bring me closer to my goal or take me further from it?” Unless I’m training for a donut-eating contest or an episode of the yet-to-be-produced The Biggest Gainer, that usually does the trick for me. But if and when it doesn’t do the trick, I recall the quote by Kate Moss.

Donuts and similar foods are yummy — that’s why we fall off the wagon and consume them — but their benefits (of tasting so good) are pretty short-lived. In fact, most often, the enjoyment passes as soon I’ve snarfed the last crumb. You can only make a brownie last so long… And yet the negative impacts continue long after the snarfing is over. I often feel sluggish from the temporary sugar high, which quickly leads to a bit of a crash and energy suck, not to mention I am not happy with myself for eating something that I know has no nutritional value.

So, think about this the next time you reach for the chips at a barbecue. Maybe grab some baby carrots instead. Just sayin’.

Elemental Gym has a fantastic gym, some terrific programs and classes that will help you achieve better fitness. And, I might add, some great personal trainers: Steve Bechtel, Ellen Bechtel, Jagoe Reid, Sophie Mosemann and Lee Brown.

Hi.

It’s been just over a year since I walked into Elemental Training Center and hired personal trainer and coach, Steve Bechtel.

On March 23, I weighed almost 160 pounds and was getting chubby and felt sluggish and down. Most importantly, I was tired of the regret I felt each night after another day passed in what became a 4-year slump where I didn’t exercise regularly or eat very healthy.

Today, I weigh 131 pounds and am down to 11.3% body fat. I feel better in every way. I can’t remember the last time I weighed 131. I bet it’s been 25 years.

But that isn’t as big of a deal as all the new energy I have. I can wrestle and romp with our three young sons and for the first time in a long time can consider a variety of endurance events.

I should go on record and say, as my coach says, “Results may vary.” I not only work out very hard, regularly, I also have made drastic changes to my diet. The most significant change I made to the latter was I gave up pizza, most bread, potatoes, rice and other starchy carbohydrates. Regular, high intensity working out, itself, is really hard. Making drastic diet restrictions is difficult in its own right. I have done both. This is because I not only wanted results, I wanted them as soon as possible.

My stats today.

Also, as a result of my improved fitness and health, I:

• Hiked from the rim of the Grand Canyon to the bottom and back up in a day
• climbed the Grand Teton
• went on many 20+ mile day hikes in the Wind River Range
• competed in my first-ever skate skiing race
• did 19 continuous pull-ups (1 short of my goal of 20)
• deadlifted my bodyweight 39 times for a new gym record,
• am training for the Tahoe Rim 50-K trail run in July.
• am going to not feel as self-conscious wearing a swimming suit when our family vacations to Hawaii

My family is the #1 reason for taking care of myself.

The moral of this story is: If you’re not in good health, don’t wait another day to change that. I am so glad I didn’t hesitate another day. I can’t imagine having had one more year of mediocre health.

It’s hard. I know it is. I think probably the first two weeks are the hardest. Let’s say the first four weeks to be safe. I think if you can make it four weeks eating healthy and exercising regularly, it does get easier. I would imagine most people give up right as they’re approaching the end of the first four weeks, which could be right before the critical breakthrough when the good habits become formed.

For me, exercising and eating right is almost like sobriety. Every day that I’ve invested the work and good eating habits, is of great value to me. The longer I sustain this, the greater the accomplishment it is. If I turn my back on this, after one year of hard work, well, I will be disappointed in myself to say the least. As they say, I’ve tasted the Koolaid. I’m not going back.

I don’t want to sound preachy, braggy or like an expert. I’m anything but an expert. Heck, I’m just someone who got into shape during the last year. I’m not always strong. I can be weak like anyone else. None of this is easy and it’s seldom what I would call fun. But when I recall how I was feeling 13 months ago, and how I feel now, it’s crystal clear that the hard work and sacrifices, as difficult as they are, were overall easier on me than experiencing the regret that weighed on me for so many months for not taking the right actions to change my life for the better. Not taking action was harder on me than the actual actions. No matter how overweight or out of shape, for me, the physical work pales in comparison to the mental wrath of Shelli — the regret and beating up I can give myself for not taking care of myself.

I'm lifting way more weight than I could have ever imagined, but thankfully not bulking up. (Photo by Mei Ratz)

It’s possible some of you reading this may have decided, many times in fact, that you were going to get more healthy and fit. But for one reason or another you haven’t really committed. For what it’s worth, I think deciding and committing are not the same thing. I know I made the decision to get healthy and fit several times, but for a few years never stay committed to it.This video and post touches on that.

I also should say I wouldn’t be where I am today without my husband, Jerry, who’s a fit physical education teacher and my strongest supporter. My kids also have sacrificed lots of Texas toast and Happy Meals on my account. My parents, siblings and friends — and the community at the gym — have all played roles in my fitness journey.

I can’t recommend enough the hiring of a personal trainer, at least in the beginning. The guidance I’ve received, and continue to receive from Steve is invaluable and a major reason for my success. If you don’t opt for a trainer, consider starting with a gym membership and check out the many classes ETC offers. There is something for everyone.

There are so many others in my community who are also reaping the benefits of good health and fitness. Watch for yourself some of their stories:

Millie Abernathy
Misty Atnip
Joe Powell and Sharon Terhune
Ray Hanson
Nick Czarnecki
Debra East
Matt Sissman

(Gym photos of me were taken by Mei Ratz, who’s an exceptionally good photographer and artist.)

Elemental Gym has a fantastic gym, some terrific programs and classes that will help you achieve better fitness. And, I might add, some great personal trainers: Steve Bechtel, Ellen Bechtel, Jagoe Reid, Sophie Mosemann and Lee Brown.

Those of you who have been following my fitness blogging are aware that I’ve been working hard and have lost 26 pounds and a bunch of body fat during the last 10 months. I have been on this journey for several reasons, but mostly so I could have more energy to keep up with our three young sons and the demands of our adventurous lifestyle, and to be healthier and therefore, happier.

But I’ve discovered another benefit of my weight loss. Jeans. As in, now I can comfortably wear them. I don’t know if you’ve noticed but there are some really hip jeans out these days. I didn’t used to get excited about jeans. Well, recently, a colleague and friend of mine, Bill Garrels, group publisher of American Cowboy and National Parks Interactive, hooked me up with some Cowgirl Tuff Jeans.

This is not my butt, unfortunately. But these are pretty neato Tuff Girl jeans, no?

Parasailing 1,200 feet over the ocean near Big Island, Hawaii. Flickr photo by rjones0856.

Hence my dilemma. But I’m not complaining. I never thought I’d not be heavy enough for something, or that I’d consider wearing designer jeans. Thankfully, my very smart coach and trainer, Steve Bechtel, at Elemental Gym says no problem. Just schedule the parasail at the end of the (leisure) vacation. Smart coach, that guy is.

Obviously, though, the best yet would be for our 7-year-old and 9-year-old to go with me as a triple tandemand for me to be able to wear my Tuff Girl jeans. (No, not during the parasail, silly.) Wish me luck on making this happen. : >

(I should state that my husband, Jerry, would normally be on the parasail adventure, but given his spine operation rehab, he’ll be building sandcastles with our 2-year-old while me, and hopefully our two older sons, will be 1,200 feet above them.)

Elemental Gym has a fantastic gym, some terrific programs and classes that will help you achieve better fitness. And, I might add, some great personal trainers: Steve Bechtel, Ellen Bechtel, Jagoe Reid, Sophie Mosemann and Lee Brown.

For more than three years, I decided — every single night — that the next day I was going to get out of the rut I was in and start exercising regularly and eating and living a much healthier life. But I never kept it up. It never lasted.

Here is a video blog where I discuss what I think finally made me keep it up.

Thanks to my family, friends and trainer for all of the wonderful support, love and guidance. It would be a lot more difficult to remain committed without all of you.

Thanks, also, to friend and fellow Elemental Gym athlete, Sharon Terhune, for conducting this interview. : >

Elemental Gym has a fantastic gym, some terrific programs and classes that will help you achieve better fitness. And, I might add, some great personal trainers: Steve Bechtel, Ellen Bechtel, Jagoe Reid, Sophie Mosemann and Lee Brown.

Here is a video of my conversation with personal trainer Steve Bechtel, of Elemental Gym, about my recent progress and my goals for 2010.

Elemental Gym has a fantastic gym, some terrific programs and classes that will help you achieve better fitness. And, I might add, some great personal trainers: Steve Bechtel, Ellen Bechtel, Jagoe Reid, and Sophie Mosemann.

The changes I made to my diet have been a significant factor in my loss of 26 pounds and 13.5% body fat in the last eight and a half months. It was probably the hardest part of my fitness and weight loss program, and yet the one that really helped me get fat and weight off quickly.

Here is a video blog that takes you into my home and kitchen and shows you what foods I eat in a typical day, the amounts and when I eat them. (Be warned, this could be called the “Un Rachel Ray Show” or the “Non Martha Stewart Show.” LOL)

What I Ate for 8 months to lose 26 pounds from Shelli Johnson on Vimeo.

Elemental Gym has a fantastic gym, some terrific programs and classes that will help you achieve better fitness. And, I might add, some great personal trainers: Steve Bechtel, Ellen Bechtel, Jagoe Reid, and Sophie Mosemann.