WHY PARTICIPATE IN THE CHALLENGE? Dieting is an enormous challenge and the more fun and support available to me the more likely I am to succeed. The Eagle Challenge offers both.

YOUR #1 GOAL:

My goal is to increase my energy level and make healthy choices a habit. We are planning a group vacation to Disney World and I want to have the stamina to keep up with my family, enjoy the activities, and come home with a camera full of pictures that I can proudly share.

WHAT’S THE BIGGEST OBSTACLE TO ACHIEVING YOUR GOAL?

I’ve heard it said that you can’t change your weight until you change your mind. My mind has had a significant number of years to get comfortable with some bad habits – I BELIEVE I’M IN FOR A REAL BATTLE OF WILLS.

WHO/WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST MOTIVATOR TOWARD SUCCESS?

Both my brother and I are people of substance and fall into the medical category of being “Severely Obese.” I’m not sure who came up with this awful term, probably a pencil thin introvert, but it is both devastating and embarrassing. Anyway, my brother and I are working together to change that diagnosis to “pleasantly plump” and who knows we might surpass our wildest expectations and be categorized as “Hotties”.

YOUR #1 STRATEGY:

Take it one day at a time and learn that a nibble is just as tasty as a gulp and, with the right frame of mind, can even be savored and enjoyed more.

WHAT WILL KEEP YOU FOCUSED?

When you’re out of shape, nature has a cruel sense of humor and I’m looking forward to seeing my clothes do some sagging and not just my body. I eagerly anticipate the day I can shop in the regular size departments and leave the “Women’s Department” behind. The sound of a non-plus size pair of jeans zipping up will be music to my ears.

NAME YOUR SECRET FOOD CRAVING:

Sharing this information is like providing the other teams a blueprint for sabotage. I personally don’t suffer from cravings – I simply like food in general. I enjoy trying new recipes, old standbys, and wonderfully decadent deserts. So I hope we can all ignore the competitive nature of “The Challenge” and share up any great tasting diet recipes we come across.

NAME THE EXERCISE YOU LOVE TO HATE:

One of the reasons I find myself so out of shape is that I have a strong aversion to exercise in general. The one activity I have found myself to be outstanding in is floating, but I have yet to see it posted as a competitive sport. So, if I am forced to pick something I MIGHT enjoy – I believe with a controlled, all level or gentle downhill sloped terrain, accompanied with seat modifications, like a custom made padded tractor seat, I could enjoy biking.

GOOD LUCK TO MY TEAM AS WELL AS ALL OTHER PARTICIPANTS!