A teeny tiny person who now likes to lift heavy things - a story in progress pics.

dnamouse

Progress Pics.

Looking back, I probably should have taken more photos, but I preferred to be the one behind the camera.

Keep in mind, I am 4'9 (145cm) tall - or short I guess, so weight distributes differently, particularly with my very short legs.

The first pic, from June 2012 isn't me at my heaviest. But it's the only photo I've got. And that day I felt horrid. It was my youngest SIL's wedding day. I was surrounded by tall & skinny late-teens/early-20s girls who had never had kids. I know logically that I would be different particularly as I was at least 10-15 years older, but it still didn't feel good.

I decided to start 5:2 in March/April 2013. After trying multiple things. And them not working. Stopping and starting, feeling like a failure. Getting sicker each week - non-stop migraines, UTI's, sicknesses, aches, pains, everything. I figured why not try something a little different, it couldn't hurt. And I guess it all sort of started clicking together.

I started walking with friends for exercise, and learning about the food I ate and how much I actually needed. I found MFP and learned more. I read and read more and listening even more and tried new things. That led to learning to run again and Jillian Michael's 30 Day Shred followed by Ripped in 30.

And that's where I re-discovered my love of strength training.
I'd be very into gymnastics at school. I couldn't do it properly because we couldn't afford it, but I had a very kind PE teacher who would show me some things, I vividly remember being able to do chin-ups when no-one else could. I wanted that back.

The second picture is November 2013. I'd been maintaining for about a month. I had just started playing around with New Rules of Lifting for Women. I didn't have all the equipment, but I was giving it a red-hot go with what I had.

Jan-March 2014. I'd bought a proper bar and weights with some Christmas vouchers and I knuckled down and got stuck in to some serious weight lifting. I kept learning about food and nutrition. Less isn't always best. Food is fuel.

Oh, and yeah, in the March photo I'm standing on a chair in my bathroom. I really am that freaking short

I had up days and down days and weeks where I didn't know whether anything would ever change. But it did. Slowly, but surely. Even when there were some weeks were I didn't exercise at all, and my eating habits left an awful lot to be desired.

I wanted to get stronger. I wanted to be healthy. And it was happening.

I got up the courage to start participating in one group in particular here on MFP - the girls in the NROL4W group are some of the best women I have ever had the pleasure to get to 'know'. They are encouraging, they'll pull you up if need be and they are always there for each other. And they are all freaking awesome.

September 2014. You better believe I can do handstands. I can even do handstand pushups (and have the video to prove it).

October 2014. I got my husband to take that photo yesterday. I finished the New Rules of Lifting for Women program last week, and today I started NROL Supercharged. I'm stronger, I'm fit, I'm fast and most importantly I'm HEALTHY.

Oh and chin-ups? They are totally mine. Pull-ups too.

These days, I still fast once or twice a week, depending on how I feel. I dabbled in other forms of IF for a while, but I've come back to what I know and what makes me feel good. Calories don't bother me so much as what I am eating these days - and I eat for fuel and for health. My tastes have changed. Yes, I can still devour an entire brownie batch in one sitting, but that's okay - I try not to put myself in that situation too often (I make freaking awesome brownies though ).

Do you want to know the best bit?

At my lowest ever adult weight (at a much, much younger age lol), I was NEVER THIS SMALL.

I weigh at least 3kg heavier than that weight, and yet I am about 2-3 sizes smaller.

Right now I'm headed out the door to help a friend to start running. I kind of like being the encourager now - I'm giving back some of the help I got.

I'm still a work in progress. I will never, ever be 'done'. This is me for life. And I kinda like that.

LabAgility

You are amazing!!!!!

saraghali

Waw amazing...congrats!

Pmagnanifit

Wow great pics great story and amazing body.!
You are so strong and fit.

dnamouse

Pmagnanifit wrote: »

Wow great pics great story and amazing body.!
You are so strong and fit.

You're one pretty awesome lady yourself

Anniebotnen

Awesome!!!

in_the_stars

Well done! You look fantastic, I'm sure you feel it too.

refuseresist

As a 4'11" NROL'er - "like"!

RachyD21

Thanks for sharing, and a huge 'well done' for completing NROLFW! I bought the book but haven't dabbled yet, your story makes me want to though I love to see how training makes everyone look and FEEL amazing. I still can't figure out why people are so reluctant to start (including me at one time!). If only they knew.....

Ciler_mcj

wow you are awesome women.
am 4.9 to i never ever been this heavy till I stared having kids lol but its all good I love my kids and I don't want to go back to my old weight anyways (85-90 lbs) I always looked like sick lol but now I would like be around 110 or 115 lbs not looking sick but health,fit,strong and sexy of course.wish me luck I still have 30 lbs to go thank you for sharing your story it really helps.

Monnik73

This is great! Very inspirational.

girlviernes

Very inspirational and fun post!

karenj_m

You are a DYNA-MIGHTY-MOUSE!!! Amazing results! Great work and dedication

dnamouse

Thanks all It's been a long time and a lot of hard work, but it's an amazing learning experience and I'm enjoying the ride.

slimbettie

wow wow wow!!!!! thanks so much for sharing. you are da bomb!

Titanuim

Great story. Thanks for sharing. I am in awe of your hand stand pressups, that is so hardcore.

mymodernbabylon

I love the fact that your story isn't a quick one. You didn't get to where you are in 6 months. It took a while, you educated yourself and you did it the healthy way. You aren't stopping from eating brownies and yet make healthy choices more often than not. Go you!

wateryphoenix

Love this!

MandyGraham73

Amazing result's

JustFindingMe

Go Girl! Yay!

loconnor466

you so rock! congrats on your success! just finishing stage 3 and can honestly say NROL4W has changed my life! The group here on MFP and on FB are an awesomw bunch of women!

WillLift4Tats

Dnamouse, you are simply amazing!! I'm in awe of your fantastic progress and results!!

I miss everyone in the NROL4W group! You are right, ya'll are fantastic peoples I really need to stop in there again and get my motivation up to start the program again. You and everyone in there is proof of how much good lifting can do for your body.

You are one hell of an inspiration! Great job, so happy for your success story girl. You have totally earned it!

Bulbmore4

outstanding!! keep it up and inspire us.

NextPage

Enjoyed reading your post and totally agree with you about lifting heavier weights. You look great - mighty mouse indeed!

stevesilk

Freaking awesome!

dnamouse

mymodernbabylon wrote: »

I love the fact that your story isn't a quick one. You didn't get to where you are in 6 months. It took a while, you educated yourself and you did it the healthy way. You aren't stopping from eating brownies and yet make healthy choices more often than not. Go you!

Never, ever stop eating brownies. Although the brownies I make now might be slightly healthier than the ones I used to make, say about 10 years ago LOL My kids love my cooking - we experiment every Saturday with new idea for their school lunchboxes in the coming week

WillLift4Tats wrote: »

Dnamouse, you are simply amazing!! I'm in awe of your fantastic progress and results!!

I miss everyone in the NROL4W group! You are right, ya'll are fantastic peoples I really need to stop in there again and get my motivation up to start the program again. You and everyone in there is proof of how much good lifting can do for your body.

You are one hell of an inspiration! Great job, so happy for your success story girl. You have totally earned it!

Come back! We miss you!