Before and During- 116 lbs difference. (pic heavy?)

brookielaw

I've been meaning to upload these but I just didn't have the nerve. IAnyway, here's me at my heaviest:


You want a full body pic? Yeah. I don't have ANY that I'm aware of. There's a reason for that. I was SUPER. MORBIDLY. OBESE. It did not come with a cape and action figure, because I didn't do much. Everything hurt.

I made slow changes, better food choices, smaller portions, and eventually started swimming, because that was all that my body could handle. I worked my way up to a mile and a quarter, 3 times a week. I added a personal trainer once a week and made a conscious effort to move more. Things began hurting less. I could bend my right knee again.

When I lost 100 lbs, I bought a bike as a reward. I finally started taking full body pics.


I signed up for a charity ride less than a month after getting my bike. It came with jerseys. I wore it like everyone else, and was very self-conscious.


So self-conscious in fact, that I posted a pic for my family with a caption about having no business wearing that shirt. My cousin posted a side-by-side. I can finally see it:


The moral of the story is that you should never give up. I know how it feels to be SUPER morbidly obese. I know how it hurts to move and breathe and just exist. I did a happy dance when I graduated to just morbidly obese, and I've got MOVES now. I'll continue doing happy dances, and eating right, and enjoying all life has to offer.

Oh yeah, and I went from THAT to training for my first sprint triathlon on 5/10/14. If I can do this, so can you. Wish me luck.

leapsonbounds

Amazing! Good luck to you on your continued journey. I'm really proud of you and I don't even know you!

LaurenMcculloch90

Wow! what a difference, well done you! I bet you feel so much healthier now! totally inspiring as I have well over 100lbs to go :-)

KimINfortheWin

Wonderful!! You have obviously worked very hard. Very inspiring. Keep up the great work!

artelyn

You are gorgeous!!! and you are my hero!! xoxo

jbastone

Amazing job my friend. You have become stronger thoughout this difficult journey, not only physically but mentally and emotionally. I am so happy to call you a friend and you have been instrumental in helping me to stay on my own journey. Thank you for your support and inspiration.


You will do and succeed at whatever you set your mind to...that I am sure of.

You are looking fantastic!

Julie:flowerforyou:

Clemsonmom

Great job! Thanks for sharing your story and your success. I know it will help others that are struggling and haven't found what will work for them. Proud of YOU!!!!!!!!

investit

Your my hero! Good luck in your achievements

roxanethree

Congrats! You look amazing! Keep up the great work!

Happyme2009

Amazing! Good for you, never let go again!

jennz81

Wow, that is a huge difference! You are doing incredibly well!

JDHINAZ

Oh my stars, you are fabulous!

LesaDave

Isn't it funny how others can see our progress more than we can? We just get used to seeing the same face day-after-day, so it is harder for us to actually SEE the changes.

Glad she did the side-by-sides for you...and CONGRATS on what you have done so far. Inspiring.

sun_fish

I read a lot of success stories on here but for some reason yours brought tears to my eyes. What an amazing transformation - you are inspiring :flowerforyou:

slim4health56

Awesome job! What a difference! You are an inspiration to others and congratulations to you again and again!

EricJonrosh

You are an utter Rockstar!

kacarlton1

Love this! I have to do the same thing. I can't tell the difference in the mirror, but I can with pictures side by side. ;-)

PB91765

Congratulations...so inspiring. Am so very happy for you. You go girl!

WenHurley

That's awesome! :bigsmile:

newmanel

Congratulations so much on reclaiming your life from pain! You look great!

ItsNever2L8

You are such an inspiration!! Be proud of yourself and "keep on dancing" all the way to that finish line

FixIngMe13

Wow! I am super proud of you!!! I was the same way... I'd never want anyone to take pictures of me from the head down. I would get MAD everytime my sister did it to me....then post it on facebook! Grrrr.... but now I can look back and thank her for that...that was the motivation I needed to push me out of that gray area of my life!

WTG and keep pushing! You look great!

MrsFowler1069

This is wonderful! Thank you for sharing!

IrishChick71

You, my friend, are a true inspiration!!

Be proud of what you have accomplished cuz girl you can do anything!!

Imcharmed

Way to go. Your doing brill. Good luck for your next bike ride

75in2013

Congrats!

ButterflyDame

You go girl, your awesome and you look amazing! Amazing!!!!!

MyJourney1960

you are very inspiring and thank you for posting. you did an amazing job so far, and i know you will continue.

Melmade

Wow! Way to go! I can already tell you feel soo much better! You look great! :flowerforyou: :flowerforyou: :flowerforyou:

jazzy227

You look fabulous!! Congratulations :bigsmile: :bigsmile:

brookielaw

Thanks so much y'all, I really appreciate it. I don't think I mentioned that when I bought the bike I couldn't get my feet around the pedals twice before it hurt too much. Now I've done stretches of 9 miles of packed dirt trails, 10-12 of concrete trails and a 7 mile stretch of street riding in the hill country, a whole month later. When I quit smoking I was more stubborn than the cigarette. Now I"m more stubborn than the old, sedentary me. You just can't EVER give up!!!!!!!!!!