Besides gaining an appreciation for the value of community, there are many other life lessons that this journey has revealed:

1. If you deny yourself food, you’ll eventually overeat.

2. When it comes to healthy eating and healthy living, there are no shortcuts.

3. When intentions become actions, success follows.

4. Be mindful of what you eat, but also be mindful while you eat.

5. Some of the best workouts happen when you don’t feel like exercising.

6. If you don’t stick with the journey, you’ll never reach the destination.

7. The word “recreation” has “eat” in the middle of it. (Have you ever looked around at other people at a ballgame or in the movie theater? When did mindless eating become normal behavior?)

8. Exercise doesn’t take time, exercise makes time. (Not only will you live longer, but you’ll have more energy!)

9. Healthy doesn’t just happen. You have to make it a priority.