Partial success and a minor setback

PhoenixEve

Okay, so here's the story. I struggled a lot with my mom's terminal cancer diagnosis, and because of depression and poor eating habits/choices my weight dropped down to my lowest - a very unhealthy 126 when i was barely eating anything (very little muscle mass and still a lot of body fat) and then ballooned up to the highest it has ever been... 168 lbs when i started eating junk again (ie. lots of chocolate bars!) and was on anti-anxiety/anti-depressant meds.

After i got off the meds and was feeling more stable again emotionally after my mom passed away in 2011, i started eating healthier and organic again, cut out the processed foods, and mild/moderate exercise (xbox kinect your shape etc.) I was able to get down to 142 lbs and maintain it for a while.

But then i got pregnant in sept 2012, and it ended up being ectopic and i was rushed to the ER because it had ruptured and i lost my left tube and the baby. Grief stricken, and eating poorly and not exercising, my weight has risen over the past several months of not eating well... back up to 158 lbs.

Until recently! I've finally started taking care of myself again. Going to Curves 3 times a week and trying to hit my macros on myfitnesspal.com (which i just joined a week ago). I weighed in at 147.4 this morning so i'm almost back to my pre-pregnancy weight... and hoping i'm building some muscle in the process of shedding this unwanted bodyfat.

I also suffer with hypothyroidism, fibroid tumors and related iron deficiency anemia... which make exercise and losing weight quite challenging. But i'm not giving up. I can do this!

My old before/after photos are in my profile (168 lbs and 142 lbs)... i'm not sure how to post them in here, but if someone could do that, that would be great, thanks.

I will take new after photos when i get to my new goal of around 20% bodyfat.

PhoenixEve

I hope this works, these are my before & afters from 2012 before i had the ectopic pregnancy. 168lbs and 142lbs.
(i'm 5'8" 33 years old... and small frame - 6 inch wrist)

PhoenixEve

Progress... this is at 147 lbs this week. Getting there. Still lots of work to do.

Mom2my3girls

First of all, so sorry for both of your losses. That had to be tough! But, Congratulations on making the decision to control your weight. You can totally do this again. I am in awe of your strength! Keep up the good work!

IrritatedDoro

Congrats on overcoming all the emotional challenges of loss to get where you now are.

PhoenixEve

Thanks for the support. Progress is slow, but i'm seeing results from avoiding gluten (as it may have been contributing to my thyroid problems), and eating within an 8 hr window. My sleep has improved greatly and energy levels are getting better. Being able to wake up before my alarm goes off is a small miracle for me... as i have struggled with a sleep disorder (delayed sleep phase syndrome) for longer than i can remember. Open to suggestions from anyone who is dealing with/has dealt with similar health issues.

PhoenixEve

Just a quick update. I weighed in at 141 lbs today! That's one pound less than my 'after' photos from 2012 that i posted earlier here. So i'm well on my way. Feeling very happy and much more comfortable in my skin now. Just a little bit more toning up and muscle building to do... and a little bit more fat to drop. Currently around 24% bodyfat so getting close to my 20% goal.

Thanks for the support and encouragement. It really helps reading other people's stories here.

DUCKIEGYRL

Nice