Q and A

John Lesko asks:
As a BFL Champion, Michelle, what do you think of the rights, honors, and responsibilities you have to the community? I'm curious to learn of your thoughts on this topic ...

Dear John,
You always ask the hard questions! This is all pretty new to me but I will try to give you some answers. First let me say I take each... very seriously and my self-promise is to continue my transformation. As you know, BFL is much more than a 12 week program. It is a lifestyle program for life. As a result I continue to set goals and work toward achieving them.

• rights earned: Well I know its "right" that I keep following the roadmap laid out by the BFL program. It would be wrong for me to do anything else. As the consequences wouldn't be pretty. While I have established a new lifestyle I know that old habits are waiting in the wings to reclaim the ground they lost. I know that any "rights" I have earned as a 2004 BFL Champion must be earned every day for the rest of my life.

• Honors: They have been pretty amazing. The Champions Jacket, The Watch, The Check....not to mention the National recognition. Then there are the compliments from family and friends. The honor of gaining new friends via the BFL program. The honor of hearing my Doctor say "Job well done." Again--these honors are earned. They like any other honor can be lost a lot easier than they are won!

• Responsibilities: First to myself. I must continue to honor my self-promises and work my program everyday for the rest of my life. I must continue to thank my family for allowing me the time to work my program. I must continue to help others in any way I can....so that they too can adopt and maintain a healthy lifestyle. I must also tread lightly in the methods I use to inspire others. Each of us must hit bottom before we can truely begin to make changes in our lives. As crazy as I am about the value of this program and its successes ...I'm finding it best to be a good role model and help those who reach out for help. It's pointless to pound people over the head...and expect them to grow physically, mentally and spiritually.

So John, I am sorry that I rambled tonight...I hope some of this makes sense. Thank you for your support over the past year. I consider you one of the pillars in my BFL support system.

Your bfl bud,

Michelle