Welcome to this very special , and (I do mean special) edition of Carol's Corner. Before we get started I am trying out a larger font in hopes that it will be bigger when I publish the blog. Hope this helps the people who are having trouble reading it. Today was my 42nd wedding anniversary and this is the dress I wore out to dinner. So without further adeau, let's get this party started. You are going to be amazed and inspired when you read and see the fabulous pictures of the weight loss journey of Lori Marshall Olsen. I am beyond excited that she has agreed to share her story in Carol's Corner. Hearing her story will give hope to anyone out there who is struggling. She has lots of pictures to share. I'll start with a few and try to intersperse them as she tells her story. So get comfy out there because you won't want to miss a single thing.

I think we'll lead with this. Is this amazing or what? What an incredible transformation! We'll do one more set of picture's and then you will start to hear Lori's story in her own words.

Lori and her story:

I can't share my story without including my husband, because it it wasn't for him and the changes he made, I don't think I ever would have been able to do it on my own.

We were watching Bill Maher one night and listened to an interview with Dr. David Kessler,who was promoting his book,”The End of Overeating”. Ed thought it sounded interesting and ordered it. The book addresses our addiction to salt, sugar and fat and explains why we overeat and how we can make healthy changes in our lives. After reading the book, my husband started making small changes each day. He began walking for exercise, paying attention to his portions, and watching the kinds of foods he was eating. He began losing weight and had more energy. At first I was angry…not at my husband, but at myself. I felt that losing weight was hopeless and that I would never be able to lose 100 plus pounds. It was so overwhelming and discouraging. Finally I confided in Ed about my fears and he told me he would support me in my efforts and that we could do it together. The first couple of months were very difficult, but I took it one day at a time. About this time,our son Kyle decided to make some healthy changes as well. I joined the gym that Kyle belonged to and started walking on the treadmill, four days a week for 15 minutes each time. I had not exercised in years and it was so hard to make myself get on that treadmill, but seeing my son walk by and give me a thumbs up, was motivation to keep going. I slowly got stronger and the weight steadily came off.

I decided to try some different forms of exercise and found Leslie Sansone on Exercise TV. It was so fun to find a workout that I could do at home that included strength training. It took me two years to lose 150 pounds and I have maintained my weight loss for three years. Kyle lost 90 pounds and is now a competitive body builder! Ed lost 140 pounds in about 18 months and he has maintained as well.

Ed and I follow a plant based way of eating; lots of fresh veggies, fruit, whole grains, beans, nuts, and seeds. In the beginning we ate lean animal protein, but lost our taste for meat and replaced animal products with tofu, soy/wheat protein products and almond/ soy milk. I trade off between walking outside and working out with Leslie, 6 days a week. I was very fortunate to meet Leslie and was included as her special guest in the cool down portion of the Five Mega Miles DVD. I also filmed my story in NYC, along with 25 other amazing people, a year ago for Leslie's infomercial that should be coming out in the very near future. We have had some amazing opportunities come our way with sharing our weight loss story, the most recent having been on the Dr. Oz show. We love sharing our story and inspiring others.

I've had people tell me that they wish they could lose weight, but it's too hard. I look at it like this: being unhealthy and not being able to walk up my stairs without stopping to catch my breath was hard, having borderline high blood pressure and facing the fact that I would need medication to control it in the near future, was hard, not being able to find clothes to fit me was hard, not fitting in booths or chairs at restaurants and movie theaters was hard, etc. The list goes on and on . Change is possible and each of us are so much stronger than we think we are, both mentally and physically.

It takes hard work to lose weight and lead a healthy lifestyle, but the rewards are truly amazing!

And Lori you are amazing and I thank you from the bottom of my heart for sharing your story here in Carol's Corner. I am truly honored that you allowed me to use my blog as a platform to share with my readers you and your family's journey of weight loss and living the healthy lifestyle you now engage in.

Enjoy these pictures of Lori and her spunky hairdo that I love as I know many others do also. I think I would be right in saying that kind of is her trademark now.

Lori it just wouldn't be you with out this awesome spunky hairdo.

Girl, love that statement piece. It's a winner as are you.

Well people, hope this inspires and motivates all of you out there that are in the midst of, the beginning of, or just maintaining where you are in this journey, the one we all are on in the quest for a healthy weight and a fit mind and body. To be able to share this story on my blog is truly a humbling and somehow an emotional experience for me, as once again the happy tears are starting to flow. I still feel God's Hand guiding and leading me to be able to continue what I feel is the reason I was put on this earth to begin with. And even though I have found my calling in what some would say are my golden years, I will continue to try to inspire, motivate, and educate when possible everyone I am able, to navigate this crazy journey we all are on. I consider this my ministry for all the days I still am blessed to live. Till next time, God Bless.

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