I was thinking about December 2007 going for my first “jog” with my then boyfriend (now husband). I was excited to start to run yet was worried about how I would do. I was 30 pounds heavier at the time and had only really been doing “speed” walking until this point. I only focused on weight loss as “getting skinny” and looking good. I would jump from one starvation diet to the next. I was tired, Emotionally, physically and mentally.

I was always hungry.

I had mood swings like it was my job. I never felt happy with myself. I was in the middle of a starvation diet at this point and was gaining weight. I was at the end of my rope so I decided that jogging would be the answer to all my problems. We started out and I made it from one lamp pole to another. That was it. I was wheezing, tired, in pain and just started to cry. Tears were just pouring out.

I thought “How am I this out of shape that I can’t even jog two light poles?”

I was ashamed and defeated.

I caused a fight so we could go home. It was my attempt to try to make this embarrassing moment go away. But it wouldn’t go away. Once you know better, you do better. There was no denying at this point that I was way out of shape. It was right there in my face and wasn’t going anywhere. My starvation diets, diet pills and other forms of self abuse had caught up to me. They were taking me out in every way and my body was fighting back.

Until this point I could shove it down and not face how bad things had become. I was in love, just made a huge leap of selling my home, leaving my business, going back to school, moving away from my friends and family while my father was facing the fight of his life with cancer….

It was time to face it all and instead of running away from it or shoving it down, I faced it.

It all started with changing my thoughts towards my body. Instead of hating it, I became grateful for what I had. The gratitude taught me how to respect my body which then gave me motivation to make healthy changes to improve it.

As I sit here today, healthy, happy, fit and full of joy I, from the bottom of my heart, am so grateful that I faced this when I did. Weight loss is so much more than just about the excess weight. I was in a cycle of self abuse, self loathing and denial. It is a dark and lonely place to be. You can’t run from it and you can not shove it down, you have to work through it. It is not always going to be easy, but it is always worth it. If you have ever felt hopeless in anyway and have then created hope for yourself….. there is no better feeling.

Today I am so grateful for my health – physically, mentally, and spiritually. I know that it is the main piler to a happy life. It is the back bone to everything. I learned that how you treat yourself will show others how to treat you. You are worth it. No one can do it for you. Be your own best friend. Be grateful for health and start today. The wonderful thing about the body is, it is forgiving.

Start today by being grateful for your health and work towards improving it for tomorrow.

It all started for me with great pain, that then turned into great work and now is such love that continues to unfold. From really, loving myself and letting myself be healthy in every way I created the best relationship I could ever dream of, a healthy/fit body, self love, great energy, a positive attitude and my dream career that continues to just unfold helping other women fall in love with themselves. It is a gift to myself that just keeps giving.

The American Thanksgiving is always what I feel is the kick off to the Holidays. I want to take this time to thank all of our readers here at DAMY Health. You inspire me and allow me to share wonderful things.

*The biggest thank you goes to our DAMY Health Online Members. Thank you all for letting me do what I love every single day.

Thank you for letting me into your lives. Thank your for letting me assist you in reaching your dreams. I think about you ladies from the moment I wake up until the moment I go to bed. My heart wells up every time one of you reaches a goal.

I am so grateful and proud of each of you. I love you all and hope each of you has a wonderful Holiday Season.

Let’s continue being grateful, dreaming, reaching and achieving.

Thank you!

Amy Layne is a Personal Trainer, Holistic Nutritionist and Lifestyle Expert at DAMY Health. She is the creator of the popular DAMY Method Program and world famous Bikini Body Program. To see Amy’s Before and After Photos and DAMY Member Success Stories Click Here.

Connect with Amy on Twitter @damyhealth and on Facebook.