The road to a healthier life is often riddled with potholes, detours and seemingly insurmountable obstacles. But I will not be deterred. I’m on my way to a healthier me and there’s no going back.

Hi. My name is Kristi. Six months ago, I looked like this.

Photo credit: Marc Orbito, Hungry Eye Photography

According to the Body Mass Index chart at my doctor’s office, I was obese.

Obese. Fat. Chunky. Call it what you want.

I wasn’t always obese. In fact up until three years ago I maintained a healthy weight. But during those three unhealthy years, I had been living in a deep state of denial; pretending that the weight I’d put on following the birth of my fourth child was inconsequential, no big deal. I avoided mirrors, lived in maternity jeans and hid behind my camera. I lived a sedentary lifestyle and ate everything under the sun.

It showed.

But all of that changed six months ago when a couple of in-your-face-this-is-what-you-really-look-like photos revealed the ugly truth.

I had put on a considerable amount of weight.

Once the shock and horror of discovering and accepting what I had done to my body subsided, once I’d wiped away the tears of shame, embarrassment and disappointment, I decided to make some serious changes.

These days, I’m making better choices when it comes to what I put into my body. I’ve quit drinking sodas. I eat more fruits and vegetables. I take vitamins and I keep my body in an alkaline state.

But most importantly, I’m active. I run. I lift weights. And I’m kicking obesity’s butt once and for all.

I want to live a longer, healthier, active life and joining the Quaker Heart Health Challenge is just what I need to stay on track.

I’m committing to staying active by doing at least 15 heart pumping activities over the next 30 days and I’d love for you to join me. Let’s run, bike, hike, box, lift weights. Whatever.

Let’s get fit!

Join me in the Quaker Heart Health Challenge and follow my Health and Fitness Pinterest board for a little bit of get-fit inspiration. In a few weeks, I’ll report back and share how much weight I’ve lost (it’s a considerable amount!) and will post an updated photo as well.

It took an in-your-face photo to get me back on track and there’s no going back.

Joining the Quaker Heart Health Challenge is my first step towards becoming a healthier me. Now I’m curious to know, what motivates you to stay healthy?

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This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Quaker Oats Company. The opinions and text are all mine. Official Sweepstakes Rules.