The start of a new year often draws people to resolve to make changes in their lives, only to watch those resolutions disappointingly fade away.

Oh, the New Year’s Days that came and went in my life when I, like many, WISHED I could say “no” to the “comfort” of the refrigerator and say “yes” to a healthy lifestyle. Oh, the mornings I would wake throughout the year and PROMISE myself I’d “try harder” to make myself not turn to food as a solace that in the end left me more disappointed than the issues from which I was hoping to “hide” in the treats I’d feed myself.

No, I didn’t have an eating disorder. I was as “normal” as many females: eating three good meals per day, and then by 3PM sneaking a snack here and there…and possibly repeating the process at 5PM and at 8PM. It wasn’t healthy. I had seemingly no control over the weight I was gaining.

I’d work to lose weight, and I did “work out” for years, but the work outs were “fluff”. They were mostly a time to chat with my friends (which is fine, but I wasn’t making any progress because the chatting was more the focus than the exercise…which had become repetitive, dull, and extremely unchallenged).

I’d do well, eating as I should for…a week…and then fall off.

What seemed to awaken me from this stupor was the knowledge that I was helpless in this journey. I had tried to make changes in my life under my own power, which simply did not work.

So my “new year’s day” came in September. I called a friend for help. She had lost over 100 pounds by changing her lifestyle. She certainly isn’t a work-out maniac, but she had been able to use portion control to lose weight as she had changed her attitude about her health.

I wanted to have a genuine change in my attitude toward health.

My husband showed me the Downtown Athletic Club of Bend. He wasn’t a member, nor had he ever used their services, but he had done some calling around and he thought the DAC sounded good. I liked what I saw, and I especially liked that the DAC could accommodate my early-morning schedule. I signed up to try it for 30 days.

I came to the DAC the first morning thinking that others must be wondering about this new “fat lady”. I bravely stepped on an elliptical machine (not knowing until 3 months later the proper name of the equipment), and gave it a try. I moved on to using some of the weight-lifting equipment. The staff was so kind, seeking me out as I seemed ready, providing me with hints, training and motivation, as I needed it. I wasn’t alone. I wasn’t the odd person. People were “normal” and the facilities were nice, clean and comfortable.

Shortly after starting at the DAC, I cared enough for my health that I started to control the portions I was eating. I found a new energy. And only with the help of God was I able to make progress toward healthful living.

Thankfully, at this point, I have lost 29 pounds. I’m nearly the weight I consider to be my goal weight. But WAY MORE important than what I weigh is how much better I feel. The swelling in my legs has subsided, the water retention has gone away, my unattractive interest in snack eating has gone. I am stronger, so much healthier, and FREE from the bondage I used to face each morning.

The DAC has played an important role in this journey so far. I thank them for being accommodating, supportive, professional, and available.

I also thank my friend, Lauri, for her support. She knows what it is like to go through such healing, and she is an inspiration to me.

I thank my husband, son and sister for not undermining what I’ve been working on, and rather being that daily support which makes such a difference.

Most of all, I thank God for His abundant grace to me.

Barbara Klett