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MARQUETTE -- It's been 12 weeks since I started my 'Toned for the Holidays' routine.  I've been working with a personal trainer to get fit, tone, and learn healthy habits.

As I finish my weight loss program, I'm taking a look back at my journey.  It's hard to believe that it's been three months since I worked out with Jenna for the first time.  And I've changed my lifestyle, allowing me to become stronger and healthier.

My body mass index is 24.9 percent, putting me at a healthy weight for women.  My lean weight is now 130 pounds, meaning I gained seven pounds of muscle from when I first started.  My fat weight is down to 43 pounds from 59 pounds back in November.

"For somebody your size, you've gained what, seven pounds of muscle now?  We didn't just want you to lose weight, we don't want it to just come off, we don't want to scrape for the weight, we want to make you healthier and stronger, so that was the biggest improvement is seeing that you know you can gain muscle and lose weight at the same time and feel better and feel stronger," said Jenna Robinson, my personal trainer at Ringside Fitness.

All of my measurements came down again.  My chest measures at 37, down a total of two inches; my waist is 30.5, down 2.5; my hips are now 39.5, down 3.5; my thighs measure at 19.5, down a total of 2; my calves are now 12.75, down 1.25; and my arms are 10.25, down 2.75.

I lost a total of 14 inches all over my body.

Robinson said, "Throughout our journey, you have learned that it's not all about the numbers, it's not about the weight loss, but it's more about just being healthy.  It's about learning to maybe just getting a little bit tighter or just feeling better about yourself, or finding those challenges, those obstacles that get in the way of you living a healthy lifestyle."

Trainer or not, working out is hard.  But I plan to keep at it and stay in shape. 

I feel better, and my friends tell me, I look better, too.