At the tail-end of November, a few days after I turned thirty-one, I had an awakening. I remember looking in the mirror, sternly telling myself, “Look, Elana, this is your life. You get what you put into it. Excuses get you nowhere, so continue to focus on the future and connect the nuts and bolts that will help you get to where you want to be.”

Thing is, though, I was feeling emotionally and mentally stronger than I had in about years. Hanging out at bars was taking a back seat to my nights in reading Suze Orman’s 2007 Women & Money book, and spending money on treats for myself at the mall every Friday became infrequent as I became more appreciative of all the “treats” I had already purchased (which began overflowing in my closet and drawers). In 2011, I walked away from unhealthy friendships while re-igniting the fire to old ones and welcoming new relationships.  I began to spend tons more quality time with my family (picking up my five-year-old niece from ballet rocks!), and strengthened my communication skills and confidence in business. But I was still suffering from insecurity and self-consciousness. Yes, emotionally and mentally, I felt like a shining star, but physically, I wasn’t matching up with how I was feeling.

I definitely do share the belief with many others:  when you feel good, you look good. And it was time I took the necessary steps to appear as beautiful as I felt on the inside. To me, this meant shedding the empty caloric pounds I put on in the last five years. Now, don’t get me wrong, I never left the house looking disheveled as I always explored color, prints, and different textures as best as I could. But even with the compliments from friends, family, strangers at Starbucks, and contacts at events, regarding my ensembles, deep inside I knew that I was in a sense, settling for certain styles. And as I look back at pictures, many of the looks that I thought camouflaged my hips or arms or butt really didn’t. It was simply extra fabric that did nothing for my shape.

So I approached my goal as a lifestyle change, not a diet. In doing so, I stopped consuming things that provided my body with no health benefits. Since the end of November, I have given up such things as soda, fast food, fried food, cheese (now being substituted with soy cheese), and “bad carbs.” I now cook 100 percent of my meals, which are full of veggies, proteins, and the “good carbs.” I have yet to hit the gym hard, but I do make sure that I exercise three to four times a week while giving in to my guilty pleasure:  watching bad “reality” television. And most importantly, I have re-educated myself regarding nutrition and exercise. Health magazines and books are my new bubble bath material, and regular consulting phone calls with my vegetarian mother are keeping me on track. Currently, I am 10 pounds down since my big awakening, and feeling optimistic and excited about my current and future well-being.

Now, please don’t get me wrong, I am not saying that thin is better or that you have to be a size 2 in order to “make it in the fashion industry.” I have several plus-size friends and colleagues who wear styles extraordinarily well and are making a name for themselves in the public eye. But we are all different. I want to look in the mirror and know that I am not just a better version of myself—I want to be the best version of Elana Brin Pruitt. I want to be able to try out any trend and wear the styles that communicate my fun-loving, funky style, without my weight being an issue in the process. Truthfully, this is especially important to me considering my work as a fashion columnist, blogger, and personal shopper. I want to practice always what I preach and be an example for others, rather than the exception. Fashion is the major fuel behind my transformation.

This column is dedicated to my dad, who not only inspired me to lose weight after showing me it was possible through his own physical transformation, he has always ingrained a “You Can Do It” mentality in me since a very young age. In fact, he is the one who encouraged me to touch upon this topic. (“You know, Honey, I think you should write about this weight loss journey of yours. It may inspire others.”) So thanks, and cheers to you, Pop!

. . . And with this new year, and the many years thereafter, may you reach your fullest potential and know your worth. You can do it, too!