I'm always being asked how or what I did to get to where I am now. I'm always happy to answer any questions anyone brings to me, because I completely understand. I mean, I've been through it - the ups, the downs, the in-betweens... and I had even considered writing up a huge novel-like post to spell it all out.

But life got in the way, and here I am today.

Time got away from me and my project fell off the map. That's okay because I think that made the picture in my mind that I was trying to canvass a lot more clear. I'm seeing the forest for the trees now - and I have to tell you, the secret of my success is far more simple than I ever thought.

Finally early this morning as I was getting ready for work I started to simplify all the things I did that worked for me, and here is what I came up with:

• The 5 P's to my success: Positivity. Patience. Persistence. Push Fluids. Protein First.
  

• Minding my Q's: Quit the Salt. Quit the Sugar. Quit the Excuses. Quit the Denial.
  

• Avoiding the C's: Candy, Crackers, Cakes, chocolate, Cookies, chips, popCorn, iceCream.
  

When it comes down to it, these are the things that got me to where I am today. Seriously, nothing more and nothing less. I mean sure, I worked out and a lot - but I've got that covered with Persistence AND Quit the Excuses...

Blessings to you all. You'll get there, just keep doing all the right things!! I know, I say that all the time, and you ask - "well, what's that"?? Now, I've got "All the right things" written out on your screen.

THE KEYS OF SUCCESS.doc

I've been working out practically my whole life.

hi Stronger_Diva

What i never understood about "people like you" i get that you use to eat a lot (didn't we all) but excersizing all your life, shouldn't that have helped you maintain a better shape/figure and all around appearance?

never excercised before, therefore my weight just "sat" there, but since you worked out too, it must have helped how you look, good, and how you felt.

i also always wondered how a person with a higher weight can excercise. At 235, well, i could do some machines and stuff, but never stuff like you probably did. I just felt too big.

kathy

Lil Miss Diva,

Your posts are always so motivational,and positive. Reading them are always a joy, always like getting a pep talk lol. Thank you for your always wise words.

Oh LilMissDiva..Stronger Diva...Diva with a Rockin Bod

WE are NOT WORTHY! Seriously! You and Lilliana Arleen are my sleeve idols LOL. Well God first, then you guys of course hehe.

I just downloaded your doc and I'm going to look at it when I'm feeling unmotivated or down. I have been doing Turbo Jam and Taebo since surgery and there are some days where I just don't wanna do it! Just want to lay around on the couch and say to myself "Oh I can barely eat enough calories, how in the world am i going to have enough energy to work out?"

Well screw that! On those days I'm just going to look at this word doc and remember that dedication and "P's and Q's" are going to get me there! And as for the C's, I'll avoid them as best I can! We all have bad days. We just gotta get up, scrape ourselves off, and move on!

Thank you for being such a DIVA!!!

hi Stronger_Diva

What i never understood about "people like you" i get that you use to eat a lot (didn't we all) but excersizing all your life, shouldn't that have helped you maintain a better shape/figure and all around appearance?

never excercised before, therefore my weight just "sat" there, but since you worked out too, it must have helped how you look, good, and how you felt.

i also always wondered how a person with a higher weight can excercise. At 235, well, i could do some machines and stuff, but never stuff like you probably did. I just felt too big.

kathy

Kathy... no. That is a huge misconception people have, I worked out to the best of my ability, but no that did not keep me from gaining all that weight. Eating too much and way too high calorie foods did. So you see, now that I have my food issues under control I am now at goal, fitter than I ever have been... and happier too. Good luck with your journey.

Lil Miss Diva,

Your posts are always so motivational,and positive. Reading them are always a joy, always like getting a pep talk lol. Thank you for your always wise words.

Thank you my dear! I enjoy spreading it, I have so much!

Oh LilMissDiva..Stronger Diva...Diva with a Rockin Bod

WE are NOT WORTHY! Seriously! You and Lilliana Arleen are my sleeve idols LOL. Well God first, then you guys of course hehe.

I just downloaded your doc and I'm going to look at it when I'm feeling unmotivated or down. I have been doing Turbo Jam and Taebo since surgery and there are some days where I just don't wanna do it! Just want to lay around on the couch and say to myself "Oh I can barely eat enough calories, how in the world am i going to have enough energy to work out?"

Well screw that! On those days I'm just going to look at this word doc and remember that dedication and "P's and Q's" are going to get me there! And as for the C's, I'll avoid them as best I can! We all have bad days. We just gotta get up, scrape ourselves off, and move on!

Thank you for being such a DIVA!!!

Hi there S&H! Listen you ARE worthy! Okay? I think perhaps we all have spent way too much of ourselves thinking that is true. So there, you ARE!! Keep pushing no matter what. If you fall, just get back up. Like when we were kids learning to ride a bike. Something in us kept making us want to keep trying... well that's us as adults now. Except now we are trying to save our lives. It's a lot of work! I won't lie - I didn't get these results by doing nothing. I work out and I work out hard. You probably already know that, I gather... lol

Are you on MFP? Sometimes its hard for me to distinguish the user names here and there.

Keep working hard! You've definitely got it in you, I can tell.