Goal Met & EXCEEDED! 37lbs lost w/ pics!
jkuhn71
Posts: 199
Hi Everyone!
I finally tracked down some 'before' pics. I was always the one TAKING the pictures because I never wanted to have my picture taken! So tracking down pictures that I was in turned out to be quite an adventure!
My story...
If my memory serves me correctly (I AM 40 now, so the mind's slipping a little!), I've been struggling with my weight since I was about 12 years old. I think I hit my all time (non-pregnancy) high weight during the months following the birth of my 2nd daughter (close to 10 years ago). I was about 195 lbs at 5'4" tall - NOT a pretty sight! This isn't the best picture - but this was me when my 2nd daughter was a few months old:
I honestly don't think I weighed much less in this picture, which was a few months before I got pregnant with her:
I've lost weight off and on over the last 10 years, the most significant being back in 2004 when I went from 195 to 143:
I maintained that for a couple of years, but then I let myself get wrapped up in a bunch of other 'life' things, quit the gym, and slipped back into old, bad habits! Over the next several years, I slowly gained back over 30 of those 50+ pounds I'd worked so hard to lose!
Back at the beginning of March, I had the slap in the face revelation that I was going to be 40 in August and I did NOT want to continue down this path that I was on! I decided it was time to make a major change in my life. I needed to change the bad habits that continually got me in trouble. I needed to make a lifestyle change in how I ate. And I needed to find exercise that I enjoyed and WANTED to do! To get myself back on track, I joined the gym I belonged to years ago and started a nutrition/exercise program with a coach there. I WILL NEVER LOOK BACK! I've become a gym rat! I don't think that's something I EVER thought would be possible! But I absolutely, positively LOVE going to the gym. I've developed a passionate relationship with weight lifting (shhh - don't tell my husband!)! I look forward to classes like BodyCombat & BodyStep, and gasp....I enjoy RUNNING! I was in track in HS, but I was a sprinter - if I had to run more than 200m, I was NOT a happy camper. Now I run 3 - 3.5 miles at a time, 2-3 days a week, and I LIKE IT! I found MFP in May and I can't say enough great things about it! The fact that it's a FREE tool is amazing to me! It's so easy to use and I LOVE that I have access to everything on my phone, too! In addition to having somewhere to log my food/water/exercise, having these message boards to get a 'pick me up' if I need one, learn something new, and/or have a laugh has been awesome - and I know staying active here will help me to continue with this healthy lifestyle! Thanks MFP and MFPers!
I started out in March at 174 lbs and 34.7% body fat (obese - ick!). I'm now 137 pounds and between 20 & 21% body fat! If I don't lose more weight I'm fine with that because I've actually exceeded the goals I've set for myself and gone farther than I thought was possible. But at this point, I'm just going to continue to do what I'm doing and see what happens. I'm honestly THRILLED with where I am today. I feel strong, healthy, and HAPPY! I have so much more energy and I've become a positive role model for my family and friends! My husband actually joined me on this journey - he's lost about 35 pounds AND he logs his food/water/exercise here on MFP, too! This healthy eating and physically active lifestyle has become a FAMILY affair...and that is the greatest accomplishment of all to me!!!
So - here's me last summer vs this summer:
And here's me celebrating my 40th b-day in NYC with my best friend, who just happens to be my husband!
If you're still here - thanks for reading my novel! :flowerforyou:
Jess
I finally tracked down some 'before' pics. I was always the one TAKING the pictures because I never wanted to have my picture taken! So tracking down pictures that I was in turned out to be quite an adventure!
My story...
If my memory serves me correctly (I AM 40 now, so the mind's slipping a little!), I've been struggling with my weight since I was about 12 years old. I think I hit my all time (non-pregnancy) high weight during the months following the birth of my 2nd daughter (close to 10 years ago). I was about 195 lbs at 5'4" tall - NOT a pretty sight! This isn't the best picture - but this was me when my 2nd daughter was a few months old:
I honestly don't think I weighed much less in this picture, which was a few months before I got pregnant with her:
I've lost weight off and on over the last 10 years, the most significant being back in 2004 when I went from 195 to 143:
I maintained that for a couple of years, but then I let myself get wrapped up in a bunch of other 'life' things, quit the gym, and slipped back into old, bad habits! Over the next several years, I slowly gained back over 30 of those 50+ pounds I'd worked so hard to lose!
Back at the beginning of March, I had the slap in the face revelation that I was going to be 40 in August and I did NOT want to continue down this path that I was on! I decided it was time to make a major change in my life. I needed to change the bad habits that continually got me in trouble. I needed to make a lifestyle change in how I ate. And I needed to find exercise that I enjoyed and WANTED to do! To get myself back on track, I joined the gym I belonged to years ago and started a nutrition/exercise program with a coach there. I WILL NEVER LOOK BACK! I've become a gym rat! I don't think that's something I EVER thought would be possible! But I absolutely, positively LOVE going to the gym. I've developed a passionate relationship with weight lifting (shhh - don't tell my husband!)! I look forward to classes like BodyCombat & BodyStep, and gasp....I enjoy RUNNING! I was in track in HS, but I was a sprinter - if I had to run more than 200m, I was NOT a happy camper. Now I run 3 - 3.5 miles at a time, 2-3 days a week, and I LIKE IT! I found MFP in May and I can't say enough great things about it! The fact that it's a FREE tool is amazing to me! It's so easy to use and I LOVE that I have access to everything on my phone, too! In addition to having somewhere to log my food/water/exercise, having these message boards to get a 'pick me up' if I need one, learn something new, and/or have a laugh has been awesome - and I know staying active here will help me to continue with this healthy lifestyle! Thanks MFP and MFPers!
I started out in March at 174 lbs and 34.7% body fat (obese - ick!). I'm now 137 pounds and between 20 & 21% body fat! If I don't lose more weight I'm fine with that because I've actually exceeded the goals I've set for myself and gone farther than I thought was possible. But at this point, I'm just going to continue to do what I'm doing and see what happens. I'm honestly THRILLED with where I am today. I feel strong, healthy, and HAPPY! I have so much more energy and I've become a positive role model for my family and friends! My husband actually joined me on this journey - he's lost about 35 pounds AND he logs his food/water/exercise here on MFP, too! This healthy eating and physically active lifestyle has become a FAMILY affair...and that is the greatest accomplishment of all to me!!!
So - here's me last summer vs this summer:
And here's me celebrating my 40th b-day in NYC with my best friend, who just happens to be my husband!
If you're still here - thanks for reading my novel! :flowerforyou:
Jess
0
Replies
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You look FANTASTIC!!!!0
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You are beautiful! Wow, look at how healthy and happy you look! Just congratulations all around and be SO proud of yourself!! An inspiration. 0
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You look GREAT!!!!!!!!!! You are very pretty BTW!0
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Amazing success. Congratulations!0
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You look positively radiant! Congratulations!!0
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Excellent and inspiring!!! Way to go!!! :drinker: You look amazing!:flowerforyou:0
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congrats u look fantastic!!!!!!!!!!!!!! thankz for sharing
Created by MyFitnessPal.com - Free Calorie Counter0 -
Wow, congratulations to you and your husband too! You both look great and so happy! And happy and healthy birthday to you! I hope to be where you are next summer! Thanks for the inspiration. 0
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You look terrific!! Thanks for sharing your info! You really are an inspiration!! Congrats on a job well done! :flowerforyou:0
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Well done - you are an inspiration! I'm new to using this fantastic app - and I'm loving it!!! You look fabulous and I hope to lose the same amount! This will be a great app to keep the healthy lifestyle for life too!0
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Congrats to you both!:drinker:0
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big time CONGRATS!!!!0
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Wow, congratulations to you and your husband too! You both look great and so happy! And happy and healthy birthday to you! I hope to be where you are next summer! Thanks for the inspiration.
Your story is great, hits right in my backyard, I too hope to be where you are next summer!!! Come on Jenna we can do it!!!
Congratulations and happy 40th!0 -
You've done such an amazing job! You look so beautiful and so happy! Congrats on hitting your goal
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well done you look amazing!0
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What a success! Super job!0
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You look awesome and so HEALTHY.
Way to go!!!!!!!!!!!0 -
WTG!!!!! You look amazing, girl!0
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You look incredible!! Congrats!! 0
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You look great! Congratulations!0
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WOW You look and are AMAZING! Congrats:flowerforyou: 0
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Sooo Cute!!!! Congrats big time...you did a wonderful job!!!0
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40?? Reallly??? You look way younger than 40 lady!! Congratulations! You did it & guess what.. YOU are an Inspiration to thousands of people on MFP!! WTG!0
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You look fantastic! Great job!0
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Amen and pass the protein powder! hahaha
I'll be 40 in March (2012), and I'm well on my way to being able to put up an identical post! Congrats and keep up the good work! :happy:0 -
You look gorgeous. Congrats!!!! Very inspirational0
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Congrats!!! You look amazing! :flowerforyou:0
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Congrats on an amazing success story! You look fabulous!!! 0
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Amazing story! Congratulations on meeting your goal! Good for you. Very inspiring!
and you look GREAT!0 -
Wow Jess that is great!! I am so Proud of you for doing this for your self! Hope you have a long happy healthy Life now!! :flowerforyou: :drinker:0
This discussion has been closed.
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