Have you ever undergone (by your choice or by fate) a significant life transformation for the good?

@noelleptc and what do you do to keep yourself going during the hard days?

Yes. I’ve lost over 60 pounds so far and I am still doing it.

The catalyst was a knee injury that had to be repaired with surgery, plus high blood pressure. I’ve changed the way I eat and I get lots of exercise- primarily bike riding. I look at this as something I must do for life- not a “diet” or a temporary change.

The change manifested very quickly- my blood pressure and blood sugar levels started to drop, I felt better and more energized. My knee no longer hurts, my plantar fasciitis disappeared, my back doesn’t hurt, etc.

I keep myself going by looking how far I have come and seeing how much I enjoy myself now. I can get on my bike, ride 25 miles, and not be exhausted. And I feel so much better. As I mentioned, I also remind myself that I am in it for the long haul, and temporary setbacks are to be expected and are not the end of the world.

@crisw Thanks for that response! I had an ankle injury and it is limiting my exercise, so this is helpful to read!

I had someone, that I considered and idiot, tell me that I didn’t have the willpower to quit smoking.

I haven’t had a cigarette for four years now.

Divorcing my asshat ex husband 8 years ago.

I absolutely LOVE my life, my cool little home, my peace, and my own company and doing whatever the hell I want!

The ‘high’ has still not worn off! lol

Best thing I ever did.

Moved to China and lost about 60 pounds, have kept most of it off, and learned Chinese.

@jlelandg

Yes, easy to lose weight in Asia…rice, dumplings and soup, thats about it! lol

July 31 2000, 6:69 PM I stopped using all mind altering substances. I did it because I didn’t like the person I became when I used. It seemed like a coward’s way out, that is numbing myself to the feelings instead of dealing with the causes. I do it one day at a time, sometimes still, although not very often anymore, one minute or hour at a time. I kept myself going with meetings, meetings and more meetings. It is a much better way to live and I save a ton of money!!!

Let’s see, becoming a dad changed me for the good more than anything. Also, the decision to go back to school, even if it beats me down every once in a while, has made me into a better person.

I quit smoking about 2 and a half years ago, the catalysts being two: I heard Joni Mitchell sing on a show. I knew that at her age, she wouldn’t have the collatura soprano of her youth, but she’s damn near bass now, and that’s from having smoked almost 3 packs a day for 40 years. How she’s not dead I can’t reckon. Well, I still have my four octave range, thanks. Plus, shortly before I quit, I had walked up 7 flights of some stairs and was completely out of breath and that frightened me.

It made it easier for me to quit by equating smoking with the abuse foisted on me as a kid. And I remembered how as a kid I’d tell myself that my abusers were being mean. Why would I want to be mean to myself? Why was I trying to kill myself? My life was worth more than slowly committing suicide.

In august of 08 my husband was in the hospital for 16 weeks with flesh eating virus, my father got diagnosed at the same time with stage 4 stomach cancer and 1 month and 2 weeks after my husband was admitted my father went to the same hospital for his cancer treatment. When my father was diagnosed he just kept asking me “when you gonna quit? I don’t want you to get this”.
On November 8, 2008 I fulfilled one of my fathers last wishes…
I quit smoking cold turkey at the most stressful time in my life, my two favorite guys were deathly ill, and not only had they made me happy, they made me healthy, they both died happier knowing I was healthier. I haven’t touched a cigarette since 