Big, sweeping life changes really boil down to small, everyday decisions.

Resistance is never the agent of change. You have to embrace the actions that are going to get you closer to your goal.

Getting enough sleep can be just as important as working out.

When you have the courage to tell the truth about what you're really afraid of, fear doesn't have control over your life.

When weight loss becomes a goal in your life, eating right and exercising are just two pieces of the puzzle. Figuring out why you've put on the extra weight is the hardest part.

When I was overweight and unhappy, I thought about being smaller, I thought about fitting into different clothes and feeling comfortable in any environment or social situation. But I didn't do anything about it. I was letting myself fall victim to not planning, not clarifying steps to reach my goals. Don't go on just wanting something. Start consciously planning where you want to be.

Behind weight gain are the larger hurts and questions that have to be explored, probed, and understood before weight loss and maintenance is a possibility. It's a bigger issue than just calories in, calories out.