Some of us get our inspiration from family members who have battled the bulge and won! Some of us watch celebrities fight to lose it, and win! Some of us found inspiration from a story or a book or a person we met that helped us to improve our own lives. Who inspired you to live your best life?

What is your story?

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Come Black Friday and Cyber Monday Shopping With Me In ONLINE BARGAINS

This might sound shallow but it's true.

The people on the Biggest Loser show have inspired me the most. Here they take months out of their families and their lives, they show up overweight and out of breath climbing a flight of stairs and they give it everything sweating, puking, confessing, jiggling all over the world to change their lives forever.

I watched two seasons 2006 & 2007 and by Dec 2007, I knew if they could do it, I could do it. And I did.

Now I'm looking forward to Biggest Loser 2008.

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Mom to dd (age 9) and ds (age 11)
blogging daily about purpose and personal identity

I like watching the Biggest Loser, too. My dh doesn't like it and thinks I'm weird for watching it. I think he is weird for watching the Military channel all the time.
Back on subject...

My biggest inspiration has come from my FIL. He had a major stroke that he was not supposed to survive. Not only is he speaking, living a normal life (except for driving).. he started walking 4 months after the stroke. He is now back to working part time at Target. He likes the social interaction and being useful.

He is my inspiration because whenever I feel like I'm having a hard day I think about how hard he works.

Oh, mine too! He just doesn't get it.

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Mom to dd (age 9) and ds (age 11)
blogging daily about purpose and personal identity

I don't think this is shallow. These people are real people and they ARE setting an awesome example! Each time I tune in I applaud them for being so vulnerable and for sharing their stories with the entire nation. I don't think I could ever do that, and here they are, literally, on a stage for the world to see every success and failure! That is inspiring.

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Come Black Friday and Cyber Monday Shopping With Me In ONLINE BARGAINS

I take bits of inspiration from nearly everyone I meet. As a child, I was in awe of the ladies (including my mother & grandmother) of our little church. They are the source of my inspiration in my family and Christian life. There hard-work, cheerful attitudes, giving hearts and dedication to God and family will stick with me forever.

Most recently I have taken much inspiration from my dad. Four years ago he was diagnosed with colorectal cancer. After a lengthy surgery and cancer therapies, he lives an active cancer-free life with a colostomy today. During his illness, I never once remember him saying a negative word. He exuded faith and trust in all matters. He only missed one Sunday of church the entire time. Ive looked to his example this year as I face health concerns.

I've always loved the book of Esther in the Old Testament as well. I really like Charles Swindoll's book on Esther. She is a shining example of a strong woman in time of adversity.

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Homeschooling Mom to Daniel (13 Years), Andrew (10 Years), Stephen (8 Years) and Emily (4 Years)

For weight loss...It can be anyone or anything...Debi has me HOOKED on Sparkpeople and there are some AMAZING people there. (I Love the Biggest Loser too ).

For Life in general it is my mom...In 2003 She got really sick and after being in the hospital for 4 days while Dr's tried to figure out what was wrong, her belly swelled up and she looked 9 months pregnant. Her Dr finally said he was just going to open her up and see what was going on. Thank God that was the path he took (although in hind sight we sure wish he'd done it earlier). I won't go into detail but she wound up losing all but just under 1 foot of her small intestine, was in a coma in ICU for 5 weeks and wasn't supposed to live, according to a team of Drs. After she woke up, she stayed in the hospital for another few weeks went on to a Nursing home for rehab and was allowed to come home. Now she is on a lifetime of medications and has an ileostomy that can never be reversed (not enough intestine), But you know what? Against all the odds she had stacked up against her, she is here. She deals with everything this deficiency( Protein C or S; I can never remember which one) has thrown at her ...and for the most part, does it without complaint b/c she is still here and thankful for it.

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