It might be a long road, but it's so worth the journey!

shannonsnail

Really enjoyed reading this. I am also 5'3" and similar in weight to where you started so it's very encouraging to see you in your current photos. My baby is turning 1 and I actually weigh the same as when I gave birth!! :-( I want to have a 2nd but really would like to do that at a healthier weight. I had a good pregnancy but was very uncomfortable from the beginning.

txjulie

Love your story & that you got there by making small choices so it is a lifestyle & not a diet. !!!!! You look fantastic.

Papillon22

Wow! you're an inspiration!

chris6515

I want to thank all of you folks who share your pictures and stories. It is inspiring and motivating to all of us traveling this same road to good health. You look amazing, congrats on your great success!

melindalamb

Great job! You look so beautiful!

katapple

Thank you everyone!!

silvergurl518

you look fabulous! i bet you feel even more fantastic! thanks for being an inspiration to us

katapple

Thanks!!

Rainbow_Brite86

You have done so amazing. I am so proud of you!!

katapple

You have done so amazing. I am so proud of you!!

Thanks girl!!

emptysh0ebox

wow, that's amazing! ya look good

katapple

thanks!:happy:

Killeen7

You look amazing and are a true inspiration for me!:happy:

lez2688

You are an inspiration! It was pregnancy that I gained a fair bit of weight with so I am trying to lose it now. You look fab!

getfitnfab

Congrats on your new healthy lifestyle

Mimi151

CONGRATULATIONS!!! You look beautiful!! An inspiration for me!!!

tosh1969

Absolutely FABULOUS - and really really nice pins (hope mine look like your when i'm done) x

katapple

Thanks!


Just looked and I posted this 1 year ago!! Since the first post I've lost another 5-10lbs maintaining between 135-137. I have gone from a 10 to a 6. I'm still active and healthy. I ran another half marathon and a full marathon. I have an indoor triathlon in a few weeks, and another marathon possibly in 10 weeks.

I've made the change and I'm never going back

finishing the marathon:


135lbs




and just so you don't have to look back at comparison:

jkuhn71

It has been a long long journey, but I think I have finally figured it out. This is a complete lifestyle change. I get the grumps if I don't get my daily exercise in. I make better choices, but I also allow myself to live a little.

Well done! I just wanted to tell you that I've really enjoyed having you as one of my MFP friends because we have a lot in common (with the exception of the distance runs...you ROCK those and I don't do them! HAHA!). Anyway, just wanted to say that you're so inspiring and motivating and I thoroughly admire you for changing your LIFESTYLE. The quote I pulled from your original post sums it up for me, too - just one of the many, many reasons I got nothin' but for ya! You're the bomb, Katie!!! :happy: I look forward to continuing our MFP friendship and seeing where the future takes us! :flowerforyou:

katapple

It has been a long long journey, but I think I have finally figured it out. This is a complete lifestyle change. I get the grumps if I don't get my daily exercise in. I make better choices, but I also allow myself to live a little.

Well done! I just wanted to tell you that I've really enjoyed having you as one of my MFP friends because we have a lot in common (with the exception of the distance runs...you ROCK those and I don't do them! HAHA!). Anyway, just wanted to say that you're so inspiring and motivating and I thoroughly admire you for changing your LIFESTYLE. The quote I pulled from your original post sums it up for me, too - just one of the many, many reasons I got nothin' but for ya! You're the bomb, Katie!!! :happy: I look forward to continuing our MFP friendship and seeing where the future takes us! :flowerforyou:

You are awesome! Thanks for the kind words, I love having you as a friend my dear!

picassoadagio

inspiring. congrats on your success.

katapple

thanks!

katapple

I started my struggle with weight after I got married in 2002. We moved to a new state and I didn't work right away. I sat on the couch, played video games, ate whatever I wanted, and drank a LOT of beer. Next thing I knew, I weighed 170lbs. I wasn't happy with my body, but I wasn't about to do anything about it.


I got pregnant and had a miscarriage in 2005, which brought my weight up to 180. I never lost that weight before getting pregnant again, and gained 40lbs with that pregnancy. Finally after weighing in at a whopping 220lbs on my small 5'3" frame,


I decided enough was enough! I was determined to lose weight before the next baby. And I did it! I used Weight Watchers and breastfeeding, and got down to 150...30lbs below pre-pregnancy weight! I got pregnant with my second child in 2007 and quit weight watchers and breastfeeding. Bad idea, gained 60lbs with that one!


I got back on track again, and breastfeeding got me back down to the 170s.

I started 2009 at 171, I started 2010 at 161, and I started 2011 at 145. It has been a long long journey, but I think I have finally figured it out. This is a complete lifestyle change. I get the grumps if I don't get my daily exercise in. I make better choices, but I also allow myself to live a little. I'm still trying to go down one size, but I am finally happy with my health and mostly happy with my body (2 c-sections are not good for the belly!). Best thing is I have the energy to keep up with my kids and I am a happier person.

Here I am today, hover between 140-145, and I've been the same weight since April of last year! This year my goal is to get toned and strong, and maybe go down one more pant size. I would also like to run at least 2 half marathons. I went from a tight 16 to a comfy 10, my dress size is either a 6 or 8!

just finished my first half marathon:

Here's an update:

I posted this 18 months ago. Since then, I have run 2 more half marathons, a marathon, and completed my first Sprint Triathlon. I'm only 5lbs less than I was 18 months ago, but I'm now a size 6 (sometimes 4). I'm in so much better shape than I could have ever imagined!

Never give up. When you reach your goal, just keep going. Strive to get stronger, faster, healthier...always

dmzf

Thx for your story you make me feel like I can do it too. It is so hard to be a mom and take care of yourself. Lov the pics too!