I have steadily been putting on extra weight over the last few years but this past September I was diagnosed with Breast Cancer which resulted in my quitting smoking and several surgeries which really reduced my activity level. I went to the doctor for a routine follow-up on Monday and found that I now weighed 217 pounds - that's pretty overweight for a 4' 11" shorty like me! Well, with this past Wednesday being my 45th birthday, I realized this was not the time to become complacent and I needed to regain control over my health. My weight loss goals are not just based in a desire to look good or even just feel good. The cancer I was diagnosed with is called triple-neg and is more aggressive than the other types - it also has a much higher recurrence rate in the first five years. I've read several studies that have said that being overweight contributes to these factors so - I have got to lose weight to reduce my odds! The good news is that if I make it to five years without a recurrence, I will be considered cancer free and the odds of any recurrence are extremely low. So I figure I have to give myself the best odds of getting there - and here I am.