How to do it....

So you know all those things that you read that say that you only have to exercise 20 minutes a day three times a week to get into shape? It is a lie...
In January 2012 I decided to recreate myself. I was 55 years old, 5 feet 4 inches tall, and weighed 167 pounds. I walked and waterskied year round and was in decent cardio shape as I have exercised in some capacity all of my life. I had put on and taken off the same 5 pounds for about 2 years, but I had gotten down to 132 pounds with Weight Watchers in the early 2000's but once I stopped weighing in, managed to put all the weight I had lost plus about another 10 on.
Starting in January, I joined a gym across the street and started doing Zumba for an hour a day three times a week. When I did not see any progress after about two months, I increased the Zumba to 5 times a week. Sometime after that, I started adding a step class, a cardio mix class, yoga and a body sculpting class. I was now working out about 10 hours a week. I was still only 5 pounds down.
At the end of May I had had enough and started back to Weight Watcher's online. A friend who was moving in for the summer decided to do Weight Watcher's, too. We planned our menus and ate as the plan allowed. Eating the same things, she lost 15 -20 pounds in 6 weeks - I only lost 5 more. I was soooooo irritated as the friend did absolutely no working out.
I talked to my doctor who said that I was doing absolutely everything right. She said that she would let me do the HCG diet. If you do not know anything about it, it is shots or drops for 26 days (ish) and 500 calories a day which are very set. You can only eat certain proteins (meat, fish, poultry), fruits and veggies. Since I had already been tracking what I ate (writing every bite down), and I paid $650 or so for the diet plan (someone weighed me weekly and measured me to show my progress), I stuck to the diet like glue. I continued to work out during the diet so I was actually able to eat a bit more than the plan allowed. There are three weeks of maintenance after you complete the 500 calorie a day part of the diet. I had no trouble with that, either. At the end of those 6 weeks, I was down another 9 pounds.
By September I was down to 151 pounds and was in a size 6/8 down from 12/14. I got a doctor's note saying that I was healthy weight for my age and fitness level. Weight Watcher's wanted me to be 144 or less - which is what the top end of the BMI chart says for my height. With the note, they let me be at Lifetime status which means no more paying weekly to weigh in.
I decided that I would try to get down to 144, so I continued to eat according to WW points and not eat any bonus points or exercise points. (In the almost year that I have been doing WW, I have NEVER eaten my exercise points) I added more muscle building classes and started doing a women's watered down version of cross fit on Fridays. I was working out with women half my age. By this time I would exercise around 12 hours a week.
By the end of November I was down to 144. I was finally to the point that I loved being just a little sore in my muscles and missed my workouts if something got in the way. I was spending so much time at the gym that I decided that I would get trained to be a yoga instructor. I went to the class and got my credentials and continued to work out with a vengeance.
Now that I had so much lean muscle, weight continued to come off. I reset my weight goal to 139 and was there by mid January.
Three months later I continue to be very comfortable at 139ish. I am now in a size 4. All of my old clothes are gone but a few expensive tops, which are huge on me. I wear very fitted yoga clothes to work out in. I have two new bathing suits. It has been fun to go shopping - because although I weighed 30 pounds more, my mental picture of me was closer to what I am now. I couldn't believe that I just couldn't find clothes that fit me or looked good on me.
I still count every point. I exercise 4 hours on Mondays. I take a Cardio-mix class and Zumba in the morning and Thighs, Abs and Gluts class and Yoga in the evening. Tuesdays and Thursdays I do two classes - Body Sculpt and Zumba and Wednesdays I do Cardio-Mix in the morning and I teach yoga in the evening. I try to waterski on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Most days I also try to find 10 to 20 minutes to walk the dogs.
I find that I do use my bonus points to try to maintain my weight. It allows me to feel like I am splurging. I have an occasional piece of cake, brownie, margarita, or hamburger, but try to space them out.

If I were to sum up the life changing diets tips that have worked the most for me
1) Reduce the processed carbs - in a big way
2) Journal every bite that you put in your mouth and weigh your food (cheese, meat, potatoes)
3) Find ways to reduce calories in the recipes that you love
4) Increase your protein
5) Find a support group - eat with friends who are watching their weight

If I were to sum up the life changing exercise tips that have worked the most for me
1) Start working out
2) Find friends that are also working out and who will miss you if you do not show up
3) Once you are somewhat fit, start building muscle, (for our age - more reps, light weights, keep your stomach pulled in and tighten your gluts while doing biceps curls for instance)
4) Forearm planks are great core strengtheners - start there if your back is weak

I am sorry that I did not start blogging from the beginning. I could not have known that I would finally have a break through.