I'm not sure where to start.  In November, 2008, I set a writing goal with my life coach.  We decided I'd write 5 poems per week for as long as I could.  Six months later, I had a collection of approximately 130 poems and spoken word pieces.  These pieces are intended to become videos posted on YouTube, facebook, and at our home page, www.thesacredbean.com. 

 

Then came the next step in this long battle to leave my mark on YouTube.  It's not that I didn't love myself.  It was just that, at 220 pounds, I had let my personal power wither.  So I decided to make a change.  On June 6, 2009, I started a food journal that chronicled everything I ate.  To this day, I write down everything I eat and I find it an amazing way to encourage weight loss.  Since I started food journaling, I lost 10 pounds each month.  I literally watched the numbers on the scale drop, as I weighed myself every morning. 

 

I love being healthier.  I weigh 142 pounds now, and I'm the right weight for my height.  I plan to take the last 7 pounds off through lap swimming.  When I reach my goal weight, and film my spoken word and poetry videos, I'll be interested to see people's reactions.  I know that not all comments are positive, but I wish every viewer could know how much careful planning and daily toil it took to get there.  You might see me performing along the East Coast, maybe even Harvard Square, Boston.  I am actively seeking investors and sponsors for the poetry van.

 

You accept a change, and you do it for yourself.  Empowerment is whatever it means to you.  For me, it's a commitment to living healthy lifestyles.  It's writing every week, no matter what.  It's setting a goal and sticking to it.  It's also about something that's become very important to me: following through.

 

SO HERE ARE SOME AFTER PICTURES: