This was me prior to starting any form of exercise at 180lbs

Throughout my whole life, I had never been heavier than 140lbs until after I hit 30. I didn't drink any alcohol before then or snack much.

I met my husband when I was 29 and we began snacking in the evenings as we watched movies. My job got pretty stressful and I started having a few drinks on a Friday night after work.

Within several months I started gaining weight . I had to keep buying bigger clothes but this didn't deter me from snacking or drinking.

When I was pregnant with my 1 year old, I was probably eating the healthiest I had eaten in a very long time. I craved salad, fruit and fish. During the first few months of the pregnancy, I lost 14lbs and I only ever gaining those 14lbs back throughout the whole pregnancy. Not bad going! I was hoping to continue eating healthy, which I did for a while but once I moved to the US and was lonely at home with the baby, I began snacking on cookies and donuts during the day and ice-cream during the evenings. I could slowly feel myself getting heavier and tired.

I was laying in bed hoping for some inspiration and low and behold the very next day the commercial for Turbo Jam came on the TV. I don't think I've ever moved so fast as I did to run for my credit card. I quickly ordered everything that was on offer.

The DVD's and equipment arrived within the week but I didn't start straight away. There was a holiday weekend coming up so I thought I'd wait until after then. The night before I started the '10 Day Kick Start' I consumed a pint of Dove ice-cream....a whopping 1200 calories! I felt sick to my stomach.

The next day I got started. I was hoping the motto would be true....10lbs and 10 inches in 10 days. I followed the diet plan to the letter but I didn't follow the workouts in the same way. There was no way I could manage a 45-50 minute workout so I substituted some of the 20 minute workouts and some long walks instead.

Day 10 came very quickly. I had noticed a little change but seeing myself every day, I suppose it wasn't too noticeable to me. I stepped on the scales and got out the tape measure. To my amazement I'd lost 10lb and 10.5 inches in the 10 days.

During the next 3 months I worked very hard to stick to the diet and exercise plan. I only had one day off most weeks. I alternated my workouts so I was doing cardio one day and sculpting the next. I had a birthday during this time which meant a few (okay maybe 5) margaritas and cake but for the most part I was very good.

After 3 months of hard work I had lost 38lbs and dropped down from a size 18 to size 10. My current weight is 142lbs.

After the initial 3 months my eating habits during the week were still pretty good but during the weekend, I began eating the odd cookie or a little ice-cream. I was still working out between 5 and 6 times per week. I didn't weigh myself for a few weeks.

I stepped on the scales last week for the first time in a few weeks and was still 142lbs. Yay!

I knew I needed something else to push me further and so I ordered P90X and the equipment needed to get started.

It's taken several weeks of planning and ordering but I got there in the end. Today (Oct, 20th 2008) was day 1 of P90X Classic.