Maintained for 8 months! Thank you!

lisawest

I am a mere 3 pounds from my goal if you look at my ticker. However that ticker does not tell the whole story. When I started this journey 18 months ago, all I wanted to do was get back to my high school weight, even though that was still considered "overweight" for my height. I attained that goal last winter and decided to aim for "normal." I achieved that goal last May. At that point I decided to go for 5 more pounds, just to give me a little cushion or "breathing room." Little did I know then that these last 5 would fight me so hard! I have fluctuated between 160 (my current goal) and 167 over the last 8 months. However, I have maintained an average weight of 165 for 8 months now! How's that for success?! I've fought with myself and with my eating habits over those 8 months. I've lost focus (thus the 167), but in all I've stuck with it.

I don't know much, but I do know one thing, I never could have done it without MFP and all the knowledge and support I've gotten here. I never would have found this site without the encouragement and great example of my aunt, msh0530. She's been an inspiration and a great support through out my journey. Another great support and help has been my husband, iplayoutside19. We've worked together to revamp our eating habits, and the climate around our house. Our 6yo daughter now likes to "workout" so she can be healthy. (Of course the "workouts" are not what you and I would call workouts! Playing on the jungle gym and chasing her brother are her two favorite "workouts.":happy: ) My only regret is that my mother is not here to see the changes and successes I've had. I know she's watching from Heaven and smiling down on me, though.

There are MANY others that I've never met IRL that I stalk on the boards because I know their posts will contain either inspiration or knowledge that I may need some day. Keep the great information coming!

For any of you who think this will be an easy process, or that it will happen overnight, I'm sorry to be your buzz kill, but it isn't and it won't. It took me 10 months to lose 40 pounds, which is about 1 pound a week (the RECOMMENDED loss to KEEP the weight off!).

I've decided that it's finally time to get serious about exercising. Yes, that means that I've lost 40 pounds with minimal exercising. I added walking to my weekly routine in the beginnig, but that's pretty much the extent of my "workouts." Last winter I added Wii Fit, but that doesn't happen with any kind or regularity. (I've heard from a lot of people that weight loss is 80% nutrition and 20% working out, and I am living proof!) Now that I've fought with these "last" 5 pounds for 8 months, I've decided to step up the work outs. I've wanted to try Zumba for awhile, so the family joined the YMCA last weekend. Now I can do Zumba, DH can use their track, weight equipment and pool. The kids get to play in the Kidzone for an hour or so, and then go swimming. They also get swim lessons starting next weekend.

Hopefully this new era in my weight loss will lead to the disappearance of the last few pounds. But even if it doesn't, I've accomplished something I never would have thought possible when I weighed 205 lbs a year and a half ago.

Keep putting one foot in front of the other. Measure everything you eat, log it all, and keep doing it. It may get discouraging at times, but in the end it is worth it! And remember that you are NOT alone!

rockonerin

congratulations!!

soccermum75

Very inspiring story. Thank you for posting. I love zumba. Does not feel like exercise even though your sweating. Hope you love it too.

dracobaby82

This is such an awesome story, thanks for sharing with us about your journey! I would love if you would post before and after pics, I bet you look amazing! Great job getting healthy, and in shape... as well as including your entire family into this change!

lisawest

This is such an awesome story, thanks for sharing with us about your journey! I would love if you would post before and after pics, I bet you look amazing! Great job getting healthy, and in shape... as well as including your entire family into this change!

There are a couple pictures from vacation last summer that would be as close to "after" pics as I have right now. For a "before" pic, the one with me standing on a trail with my two kids was taken during the vacation that my aunt told us about MFP. The day after we got home from that vacation is when we joined!

I'm not sure how to post pics in here. (I knew once, I just have to go figure it out again!:laugh: ) Once I figure it out, I'll post a couple for you!

iplayoutside19

Love ya!

lisawest

Ok, I'm gonna try some pics. We'll see if it works!

This is when my daughter was 18 months (5 years ago):


This is when my son was a year old (2 1/2 years ago):


This is me with my nephew this past summer (same nephew pictured in the first pic):


This is DH and I this past summer:

dracobaby82

Thanks for posting those pics You look really good!

msh0530

Love you, sweetie!