My One Year Progress With Before and After Pictures -- 86 lb
Mawskittykat
Posts: 241 Member
I have been overweight since I was in my early twenties. I had pretty much resigned myself to the fact that I would always be heavy. I was having a few health problems, but nothing too serious. The thing that bothered me was that every time I went to the doctor, it seemed I had something else wrong or I needed a different type of medication. I had tried dieting before but every time I would reach a plateau, I would get discouraged and “fall off the wagon”.
One day while visiting my Mom and Dad, Daddy said he was really worried about me because of my weight. I knew I didn’t want to worry them or my husband and that I needed to do something, but quite frankly I didn’t know what to do. I wanted to be healthier so that I could be around for my family and be able to play with my precious grand children. I told them that I didn’t want them to worry but I just needed to be “psyched up” and ready mentally to go on a diet, and change my lifestyle. I knew if I wasn’t ready I would only fail again, and I didn’t want that to happen. I have read before that losing weight is 100% mental and the physical part is just an added benefit. I needed the strength and I felt like I just didn’t have it. In fact, I didn’t have the strength to do anything and that included walking from the house to the car without “huffing and puffing”.
My husband and parents at that point were the only “encouragers” I had. I began searching the web for weight loss tips, advice, and ideas to keep motivated. I ran across a link to MFP and clicked on it. I read several testimonials of how tracking calories and the exercise calories burned helped keep people motivated. I also read that you can makes friends with others who have some of the same problems, and are facing the same battle. I decided to give it a try! I thought this might be what it would take to keep me motivated and looking forward not back. After all, it seemed in the past the reason I got discouraged and quit was the lack of motivation or encouragement.
God gives me strength every day to fight this battle. I know that even though my family loves me, God loves me more. He doesn’t want me to be sick and unhealthy. I should do my part and that includes making my health a priority. I need to stop putting myself on the back burner and doing other things instead. I know that our bodies are the temple of God, and we should not destroy them.
I made a promise to myself that I will do this and I will do it in a healthy way. I started eating healthy and exercising every day. There are no fad diets or quick fixes to lose the kind of weight that I need to lose. I have realized that even if it takes me three years to lose this weight, I took me 22 years to put it on. So, I will keep pressing on.
I have been on my fitness journey for 12 months and have lost 86 pounds and 58 inches. I have had many rewards so far from the weight I have lost. The first and greatest reward was my last doctor visit when he took me off of my blood pressure/ fluid medication and anti – inflammatory for arthritis and bone spurs. Second, would be that I can walk 4 or 5 miles at a time and not be struggling to breathe. Third would be shopping in regular stores again, and not having to go to the big women clothing stores. Another is seeing the look on people faces when they ask how much I have lost and I tell them. I say this because I know there are many who doubted my ability to do this and I am sure many still doubt that I can keep the weight off. But what they don’t understand is that I am focused on my goal and my stubbornness is helping me to continue on. I will continue to lose this weight by proper diet and exercise, and then maintain it in the same way. I still have 65 pounds to lose, but I will make it because I am now more motivated than ever. I still have my husband, and parents as my “encouragers”. Plus, I have my walking partner and Friend Lynn who keeps me laughing when I want to cry. I also have a very supportive and wonderful church family, and some great MFP’s on this site.
My advice to others would be to surround yourself with people who love you and want what is best for you. Find people who have the same goals and are fighting a weight loss battle also. But don’t let anyone (including yourself) sabotage your weight loss efforts. Don’t tell yourself that you cannot do this. If you need a friend, feel free to send a friend request and I will try to help you all I can.
I have included some before and after pictures. I hope you will be inspired and understand that if I can do this, you can too. Best wishes on your journey…
One day while visiting my Mom and Dad, Daddy said he was really worried about me because of my weight. I knew I didn’t want to worry them or my husband and that I needed to do something, but quite frankly I didn’t know what to do. I wanted to be healthier so that I could be around for my family and be able to play with my precious grand children. I told them that I didn’t want them to worry but I just needed to be “psyched up” and ready mentally to go on a diet, and change my lifestyle. I knew if I wasn’t ready I would only fail again, and I didn’t want that to happen. I have read before that losing weight is 100% mental and the physical part is just an added benefit. I needed the strength and I felt like I just didn’t have it. In fact, I didn’t have the strength to do anything and that included walking from the house to the car without “huffing and puffing”.
My husband and parents at that point were the only “encouragers” I had. I began searching the web for weight loss tips, advice, and ideas to keep motivated. I ran across a link to MFP and clicked on it. I read several testimonials of how tracking calories and the exercise calories burned helped keep people motivated. I also read that you can makes friends with others who have some of the same problems, and are facing the same battle. I decided to give it a try! I thought this might be what it would take to keep me motivated and looking forward not back. After all, it seemed in the past the reason I got discouraged and quit was the lack of motivation or encouragement.
God gives me strength every day to fight this battle. I know that even though my family loves me, God loves me more. He doesn’t want me to be sick and unhealthy. I should do my part and that includes making my health a priority. I need to stop putting myself on the back burner and doing other things instead. I know that our bodies are the temple of God, and we should not destroy them.
I made a promise to myself that I will do this and I will do it in a healthy way. I started eating healthy and exercising every day. There are no fad diets or quick fixes to lose the kind of weight that I need to lose. I have realized that even if it takes me three years to lose this weight, I took me 22 years to put it on. So, I will keep pressing on.
I have been on my fitness journey for 12 months and have lost 86 pounds and 58 inches. I have had many rewards so far from the weight I have lost. The first and greatest reward was my last doctor visit when he took me off of my blood pressure/ fluid medication and anti – inflammatory for arthritis and bone spurs. Second, would be that I can walk 4 or 5 miles at a time and not be struggling to breathe. Third would be shopping in regular stores again, and not having to go to the big women clothing stores. Another is seeing the look on people faces when they ask how much I have lost and I tell them. I say this because I know there are many who doubted my ability to do this and I am sure many still doubt that I can keep the weight off. But what they don’t understand is that I am focused on my goal and my stubbornness is helping me to continue on. I will continue to lose this weight by proper diet and exercise, and then maintain it in the same way. I still have 65 pounds to lose, but I will make it because I am now more motivated than ever. I still have my husband, and parents as my “encouragers”. Plus, I have my walking partner and Friend Lynn who keeps me laughing when I want to cry. I also have a very supportive and wonderful church family, and some great MFP’s on this site.
My advice to others would be to surround yourself with people who love you and want what is best for you. Find people who have the same goals and are fighting a weight loss battle also. But don’t let anyone (including yourself) sabotage your weight loss efforts. Don’t tell yourself that you cannot do this. If you need a friend, feel free to send a friend request and I will try to help you all I can.
I have included some before and after pictures. I hope you will be inspired and understand that if I can do this, you can too. Best wishes on your journey…
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Replies
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great job!!0
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Way to go, you look incredible!!0
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I couldn't see your pictures, but your story is very similar to mine and I love it! Keep up the great work...you will get there!0
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That is awesome. Keep up the hard work and dedication to your journey!!!!0
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Congrats!0
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Good for you! I have no doubt that you will reach your goal!0
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you look great! keep it up!0
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YOU ARE A TRUE INSPIRATION...CONGRATULATIONS ON A JOB WELL DONE!0
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Great job!! 86 pounds in a year is awesome!0
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WOW!! Congratulations! :flowerforyou:0
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I like your story. God Bless!!!0
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Great job!!! Keep it up!0
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O... M... G...
You have to be so proud of yourself.
You have done an amazing job with your weight loss. Congratulations.
You are very inspirational.
May the Lord continue to bless you in this journey and always.
Great job!0 -
You look so much happier and younger!0
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WTG! You are an inspiration.
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Great job! And God bless on even greater accomplishments in reclaiming your temple for God!
And as an aside, I saw Collins, MS on your profile...I lived not far from there on the Jones County side of Hwy 588 during my first year of college at JCJC!0 -
Good for you!0
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That is fantastic, well done!
I've been on MFP for a while now but only really buckled down and have been using it properly for a month now and the weight is coming off :-D. I love MFP and the fact that I can also use the app on my iPhone.
You should be really proud of yourself :-)0 -
Great job! I like how the before pics are real small and the afters are much bigger and in your face! Congrats to you and keep doing what you are doing!0
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CONGRATS!! You look FANTASTIC!! I hope to lose the rest of my weight after my baby is born. I have about 55 pounds or more to go yet.0
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You look GREAT!!! Thank you for the inspiration....0
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I think I have all the pictures fixed now so that you can see them. Thanks for everything, you all are great.0
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Love your story! You look so much younger and I'm so glad you feel better too! Great job!0
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Amazing jog. Your story is such an inspiration to me! Sometimes I just want to give up and feel like I just have too much to lose, but then I see people with the same story as me and it is really inspiring. Thanks so much for sharing your story! I had a total of 110 lbs to lose and and I still have 75lbs to go and it seems impossible sometimes, but I just keep on trucking! Keep up the great work!0
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Oh you look fantastic! Good Job
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Very inspiring!! It's amazing the changes you've made in the past year. Congrats to you and thanks for sharing your story.0
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Extremely inspiring!! You are amazing!0
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way to go!!0
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You look amazing!! You also look younger. Way to go!0
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You look so much younger now!0
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