Love was my motivation...

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moonhowler15
moonhowler15 Posts: 36 Member
in Success Stories
Well...it's about 24 hours away from my 31st birthday and I have been contemplating a lot about how far I have come in the last 10 or so years. Back in 2002-2003 I was at my heaviest...weighing in at approx. 320lbs. I was obese...unhappy....lethargic and just living for the selfish reason of excess and self gratification. I was a party animal. I drank a lot, smoked about a pack a day, and was a MAJOR pothead...I thought that life was great though. You asked me and I was always ready to socialize and have a good time, when deep inside I hated myself. I had the worst self esteem possible and I just thought that hey....that's how I am going to be for the rest of my days....

[img]http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b247/joejoevasquez/Weight Journey/Mar2003.jpg[/img]

[img]http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b247/joejoevasquez/Weight Journey/fatjoe.jpg[/img]

[img]http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b247/joejoevasquez/Weight Journey/Apr20032.jpg[/img]

[img]http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b247/joejoevasquez/Weight Journey/MeLinda.jpg[/img]

....In May of 2004 I became a father. I was in a relationship and started to get comfortable and proceeded to gain more weight and found it harder to go about my day to day activities.....

[img]http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b247/joejoevasquez/Weight Journey/June2004.jpg[/img]

[img]http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b247/joejoevasquez/Weight Journey/Feb2004.jpg[/img]

[img]http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b247/joejoevasquez/Weight Journey/May20032.jpg[/img]

[img]http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b247/joejoevasquez/Weight Journey/May2004.jpg[/img]

...unfortunately the relationship ended and I hit bottom...I began to fill my broken heart with drugs and alcohol and partying....I was a mess....I would wish that some days I wouldn't wake up...that I would just fall of the face of the earth and that all my problems would just disappear...

[img]http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b247/joejoevasquez/Weight Journey/Nov2002.jpg[/img]

[img]http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b247/joejoevasquez/Weight Journey/Mar2005.jpg[/img]

[img]http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b247/joejoevasquez/Weight Journey/Oct2004.jpg[/img]

[img]http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b247/joejoevasquez/Weight Journey/Apr2006.jpg[/img]

...but this story had a happy ending....in Nov of 2010 I met a very wonderful woman...someone whom I had been looking for my whole life. She helped me find that inner passion for myself that I had never had before. In her I found the greatest love of all....the love and respect for myself.

[img]http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b247/joejoevasquez/Weight Journey/kristen.jpg[/img]

[img]http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b247/joejoevasquez/Weight Journey/01222011649.jpg[/img]

[img]http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b247/joejoevasquez/Weight Journey/02202011817.jpg[/img]

....and eventually I asked her to be my wife...we were married on Aug 20th, 2011.....

[img]http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b247/joejoevasquez/Weight Journey/312674_2154143827629_1667439801_2173722_3571237_n.jpg[/img]

[img]http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b247/joejoevasquez/Weight Journey/104_0624.jpg[/img]

[img]http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b247/joejoevasquez/Weight Journey/P1030329.jpg[/img]

[img]http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b247/joejoevasquez/Weight Journey/P1030410.jpg[/img]

....now I am the happiest I have ever been in a LONG time. During this time I have seen that my life is going by fast...and I want to spend it as long as I can with her. And in order to do that I am going to need to make some changes in it. So as of OCT of 2011 I joined MFP. I started working out and eating completely different that what I used to. She was my biggest inspiration due in part that she was obese growing up as well...here I met this beautiful woman who gave me the time of day and wanted to spend time with me and it turned out we had A LOT more in common than I had originally thought. She looked amazing and I wanted to be equally amazing. Now my journey isn't near complete (nor do I think it ever will be) but rather I wanted to maintain my body in order to be healthy for her, for my kids but most important....for myself...

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....thank you so much for all the support and inspiration you give me babe. I love you with every ounce of my being.
And thank you MFP for giving me the tools and motivation to keep going and achieve that healthy lifestyle I have always been striving for!
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Replies

  • moonhowler15
    moonhowler15 Posts: 36 Member
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    Bump for my baby to see when she wakes up.
  • kikkipoo
    kikkipoo Posts: 292 Member
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    Baby you amaze and inspire me every day. I wouldn't be where I am without you. <3
  • silvergurl518
    silvergurl518 Posts: 4,123 Member
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    awwww. i'm intruding on your love thread but that was beautiful and inspiring. thank you so much for sharing xoxoxo.
  • mznisaelaine
    mznisaelaine Posts: 2,262 Member
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    This is so inspiring!!!! I love this story!! You two are are a beautiful coouple and I am glad you are on your way to a better healthy life :) Congrats!!
  • silvergurl518
    silvergurl518 Posts: 4,123 Member
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    awwww. i'm intruding on your love thread but that was beautiful and inspiring. thank you so much for sharing xoxoxo.
  • 1WorkoutAtATime
    1WorkoutAtATime Posts: 719
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    amazing story!!
  • writtenINthestars
    writtenINthestars Posts: 1,933 Member
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    What a great story...congrats to you BOTH on your WL! :flowerforyou:
  • lisaelainee
    lisaelainee Posts: 248 Member
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    Yep, I admit I cried a little.
  • mrsfortune
    mrsfortune Posts: 82 Member
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    This was beautiful! Congratulations on your success in both weight loss and love!!! I am fortunate enough to have that in my life so I know how important it is to have it. Wishing you many more years of happiness in both!
  • mrsfortune
    mrsfortune Posts: 82 Member
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    Yep, I admit I cried a little.

    So did I!
  • mleoni092708
    mleoni092708 Posts: 629 Member
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    Awww! Sniff, so beautiful.
  • kducky22
    kducky22 Posts: 276 Member
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    Amazing! Congrats both of you for not only finding an amazing partner to spend the rest of your life with, but for completely supporting each other non stop! :smooched: I wish you the best of luck in both your journeys!!
  • ShandiH
    ShandiH Posts: 232 Member
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    What a wonderful way to start this Wednesday . . . I wanted to cry; warm fuzzies all over! Thank you for the inspirational story of love and health.
  • candicejn
    candicejn Posts: 458 Member
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    Yep, I admit I cried a little.

    Me too. So sweet!
  • _xoxok
    _xoxok Posts: 152 Member
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    Such a great story! Keep up the good work.. You deserve it!!
  • moonhowler15
    moonhowler15 Posts: 36 Member
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    Thanks so much for all the great replies everyone. I hope the best in your endeavors to get that healthy lifestyle you want...dream it, live it...make it happen!
  • AlicjaWaw
    AlicjaWaw Posts: 86
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    Its really amazing love story :D
  • jazminjes
    jazminjes Posts: 12
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    ohhh that is such a beatiful story!! LOVE IT..... both of you are doing greaT!! GOD bless you both!
  • joybell32
    joybell32 Posts: 252 Member
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    Love it! Congrats to both of you!! You were beautiful on your wedding day!
  • coyoteo
    coyoteo Posts: 532 Member
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    Awwwwwwwww....

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