220 lbs to 134 lbs - 5 Year Journey, 1 Baby, 2 Transformations (lots of pics)
Sho_Rowell
Posts: 104 Member
Greetings, beasts!!! My name is Shoshana, I've been on MFP for 5 years, and I just want to share my story with you all in hopes of inspiring someone. When I first got on MFP, I was always in this thread looking at before and afters... They really kept me going. I pray that my story will keep someone going.
Just a little background: I was an athlete in high school playing softball, cheerleading, and dance. I was still thick, but had an athletic build. In high school I was about 150 lbs. I went to college in 2004 and quit softball after the first semester. Being that I was an athlete, I could always eat what I wanted without gaining weight... I didn't realize after I quit playing that I couldn't continue to eat the way I had. By the time I graduated college in 2008, I had reached 204 lbs. Fast forward just a bit, I got married, bought a home, and began teaching middle school. Before I knew it, I weighed 221 lbs.
How the journey began:
On Valentine's Day 2011, my husband took some V-Day pics of me. When I saw the pics yall, I almost cried - I felt so bad about the way I looked. From that moment on, my life would never be the same. I started counting calories using
Myfitnesspal and working out 5-6 days a week. Over the next year, I dropped 60 lbs! Here are pics
of my first transformation!
I absolutely loved the way I felt! I loved Myfitnesspal! I even became a fitness instructor and taught nutrition classes at my church. I continued using MFP to maintain my weight loss. I kept it off for a little over a year, and then guess what happened! You guessed it! Got preggo! My pregnancy was amazing. I gained 44 lbs.... I went from 160 to 204 lbs.
After I had my sweet love, I went from 204 lbs to 184 pretty quickly, then I was stuck! Over the next 1.5 years of being a new mother, I just could not find the time or energy to make eating right and working out a priority. I tried to re-commit to MFP over and over and over again! I guess since I stopped logging during my pregnancy and life was totally different now, I just couldn't get back into the swing of it. I spent all of 2014 and half of 2015 at 184 lbs.
In June of 2015,I finally got tired of my own *kitten*. My son was 1.5 and things had gotten a little easier being a new mom. Over the next year, I pretty much killed myself trying to work out 5-6 days a week and count calories. Things just weren't nearly as easy for me as it was the first time. Nonetheless, I cried, I had temper tantrums, my husband didn't always like me, but I did it and lost about 30 lbs in a year.
I was very happy to be down to 155 lbs, but not very happy when I got stuck and stayed there for 5 WHOLE months!!! I was so frustrated with the process. I was eating clean and training mean, and still NOTHING! I was soooooo tired of the journey. I got so fed up that out of complete desperation, I reached out to a friend of a friend who was an Herbalife coach. Before this moment, I had NEVER been interested in any weight loss supplements/companies and definitely not shakes! I had lost weight 2 times on my own... I never felt like I needed "help." But this time was different... I knew something had to give or I was going to have a breakdown. I felt like I was missing so much time with my family always cooking or working out that it stressed me out!
Fast forward to now, I have been using Herbalife for 6 months, I am down to my goal weight of 134, smaller than I was in high school, leaner than I've ever been, have energy for dayyyyyyssssss, workout only 3-4 days a week, and I'm sooooo present these days with my toddler and husband. I am just in awe at how all of this has turned out. I am so grateful and humble for this entire journey, and it all started 5 years ago, right here on MyFitnessPal. I am forever grateful for this website/app and this community! I will always be present here!
I hope that you are encouraged to NEVER give up on yourself. ALWAYS have a vision of your best self and always work towards that! From 220 lbs to 134 lbs... 5 years, 1 baby, 2 transformations. If I can do this, so can YOU! Believe in yourSELF!
[Thread edited by MFP moderator]
Just a little background: I was an athlete in high school playing softball, cheerleading, and dance. I was still thick, but had an athletic build. In high school I was about 150 lbs. I went to college in 2004 and quit softball after the first semester. Being that I was an athlete, I could always eat what I wanted without gaining weight... I didn't realize after I quit playing that I couldn't continue to eat the way I had. By the time I graduated college in 2008, I had reached 204 lbs. Fast forward just a bit, I got married, bought a home, and began teaching middle school. Before I knew it, I weighed 221 lbs.
How the journey began:
On Valentine's Day 2011, my husband took some V-Day pics of me. When I saw the pics yall, I almost cried - I felt so bad about the way I looked. From that moment on, my life would never be the same. I started counting calories using
Myfitnesspal and working out 5-6 days a week. Over the next year, I dropped 60 lbs! Here are pics
of my first transformation!
I absolutely loved the way I felt! I loved Myfitnesspal! I even became a fitness instructor and taught nutrition classes at my church. I continued using MFP to maintain my weight loss. I kept it off for a little over a year, and then guess what happened! You guessed it! Got preggo! My pregnancy was amazing. I gained 44 lbs.... I went from 160 to 204 lbs.
After I had my sweet love, I went from 204 lbs to 184 pretty quickly, then I was stuck! Over the next 1.5 years of being a new mother, I just could not find the time or energy to make eating right and working out a priority. I tried to re-commit to MFP over and over and over again! I guess since I stopped logging during my pregnancy and life was totally different now, I just couldn't get back into the swing of it. I spent all of 2014 and half of 2015 at 184 lbs.
In June of 2015,I finally got tired of my own *kitten*. My son was 1.5 and things had gotten a little easier being a new mom. Over the next year, I pretty much killed myself trying to work out 5-6 days a week and count calories. Things just weren't nearly as easy for me as it was the first time. Nonetheless, I cried, I had temper tantrums, my husband didn't always like me, but I did it and lost about 30 lbs in a year.
I was very happy to be down to 155 lbs, but not very happy when I got stuck and stayed there for 5 WHOLE months!!! I was so frustrated with the process. I was eating clean and training mean, and still NOTHING! I was soooooo tired of the journey. I got so fed up that out of complete desperation, I reached out to a friend of a friend who was an Herbalife coach. Before this moment, I had NEVER been interested in any weight loss supplements/companies and definitely not shakes! I had lost weight 2 times on my own... I never felt like I needed "help." But this time was different... I knew something had to give or I was going to have a breakdown. I felt like I was missing so much time with my family always cooking or working out that it stressed me out!
Fast forward to now, I have been using Herbalife for 6 months, I am down to my goal weight of 134, smaller than I was in high school, leaner than I've ever been, have energy for dayyyyyyssssss, workout only 3-4 days a week, and I'm sooooo present these days with my toddler and husband. I am just in awe at how all of this has turned out. I am so grateful and humble for this entire journey, and it all started 5 years ago, right here on MyFitnessPal. I am forever grateful for this website/app and this community! I will always be present here!
I hope that you are encouraged to NEVER give up on yourself. ALWAYS have a vision of your best self and always work towards that! From 220 lbs to 134 lbs... 5 years, 1 baby, 2 transformations. If I can do this, so can YOU! Believe in yourSELF!
[Thread edited by MFP moderator]
117
Replies
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How did Herbalife help you lose wait1
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You are beautiful, congratulations on your hard work! Your family is absolutely stunning as well, what an adorable little boy!!3
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How tall are you0
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0
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You look amazing! You should be so proud of yourself, and what an amazing example for your son! He has a very strong woman looking after him!0
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P.s. you are STUNNING!2
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Congrats on getting back for another round and totally rocking it! You inspire and motivate me, so you already reached that goal
Thanks for sharing your story! 0 -
Congratulations!0
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emilycollins85 wrote: »How did Herbalife help you lose wait
2 shakes a day, 2 mini meals, 1 colorful dinner. So convenient and soooooo yummy!1 -
Watch_Me_Rise wrote: »You are beautiful, congratulations on your hard work! Your family is absolutely stunning as well, what an adorable little boy!!
Thank you so much!
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Diaryofafitwoman wrote: »How tall are you
Only 5'10 -
ThatLadyFromMN wrote: »
LOL! Yes it does pair well! I workout 3-4 days a week... I run and lift or resistance train. Live by the motto: 80% nutrition, 20% fitness, 100% mindset.7 -
cfritch2171 wrote: »You look amazing! You should be so proud of yourself, and what an amazing example for your son! He has a very strong woman looking after him!
Awwww, thank you so much for such sweet words!0 -
ThatLadyFromMN wrote: »P.s. you are STUNNING!
Thank youuuuuuuu!0 -
naomillion wrote: »Congrats on getting back for another round and totally rocking it! You inspire and motivate me, so you already reached that goal Thanks for sharing your story!
Thank you so much! Whatever your goals are...YOU CAN REACH THEM!1 -
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Congratulations beautiful. You look fantastic. Well done!0
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Amazing transformation, well done!0
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You look great and beautiful pictures ....nice written story too!2
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FemmeFireRL wrote: »Congratulations beautiful. You look fantastic. Well done!
Thank you gorgeous!0 -
IdLikeToLoseItLoseIt wrote: »Amazing transformation, well done!
Thank you sooooo much!1 -
RonFrances8 wrote: »You look great and beautiful pictures ....nice written story too!
Aw, thank youuuuuuuuuuu!!!0 -
You are such an inspiration! I started at 215 and I'm down to 170.8, can't wait to see 134. I've never been that small since like middle school.0
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Congratulations you're an inspiration! Thanks for sharing your story. Your a beautiful lady!0
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Amazing job0
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Stunning progress. Gorgeous couple. Beautiful kid!1
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Great story, so well written, this is sure to give hope and inspiration to many.0
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Fantastic job! You rock! A beautiful family! Wonderful to see a healthy happy family.0
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@Sho_Rowell, your little one is soooo cute!!
Congratulations on your weight loss and becoming healthier, but....
You lost weight because you ate less calories than you burned overall. The only thing Herbalife had to do with your weight loss is that you were taking it while losing weight, and it somehow helped you to create that calorie deficit.
I don't want to offend, but there is no magic in Herbalife, the magic is in your hard work and dedication.
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