Love was my motivation...

moonhowler15
moonhowler15 Posts: 36 Member
edited October 13 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
    Bump for my baby to see when she wakes up.
  • kikkipoo
    kikkipoo Posts: 292 Member
    Baby you amaze and inspire me every day. I wouldn't be where I am without you. <3
  • silvergurl518
    silvergurl518 Posts: 4,123 Member
    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
    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
    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
    amazing story!!
  • writtenINthestars
    writtenINthestars Posts: 1,933 Member
    What a great story...congrats to you BOTH on your WL! :flowerforyou:
  • lisaelainee
    lisaelainee Posts: 248 Member
    Yep, I admit I cried a little.
  • mrsfortune
    mrsfortune Posts: 82 Member
    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
    Yep, I admit I cried a little.

    So did I!
  • mleoni092708
    mleoni092708 Posts: 629 Member
    Awww! Sniff, so beautiful.
  • kducky22
    kducky22 Posts: 276 Member
    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
    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
    Yep, I admit I cried a little.

    Me too. So sweet!
  • _xoxok
    _xoxok Posts: 152 Member
    Such a great story! Keep up the good work.. You deserve it!!
  • moonhowler15
    moonhowler15 Posts: 36 Member
    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
    Its really amazing love story :D
  • jazminjes
    jazminjes Posts: 12
    ohhh that is such a beatiful story!! LOVE IT..... both of you are doing greaT!! GOD bless you both!
  • joybell32
    joybell32 Posts: 252 Member
    Love it! Congrats to both of you!! You were beautiful on your wedding day!
  • coyoteo
    coyoteo Posts: 532 Member
    Awwwwwwwww....
  • tdaddybarlow
    tdaddybarlow Posts: 673 Member
    Dude, thanks for that amazing story of woes and love conquering all! As long as you're living for one another you will get through anything! Thanks for the inspiration, Killer! Beast mode ON!!!
  • kikkipoo
    kikkipoo Posts: 292 Member
    Dude, thanks for that amazing story of woes and love conquering all! As long as you're living for one another you will get through anything! Thanks for the inspiration, Killer! Beast mode ON!!!

    That's exactly how I feel waking up next to him every morning. I can't believe how my life ended up here in "Happily Ever After" land, but every day is a battle to assure it never fades and that today will be better than the last. Beast mode is definitely ON!
  • Fat_Bottomed_Girl
    Fat_Bottomed_Girl Posts: 355 Member
    You guys bring tears to my eyes...

    *sniff*
  • slimmingdownsteph
    slimmingdownsteph Posts: 201 Member
    awww this is sooooo sweet!
    you both have such inspirational stories!

    i wish you a lifetime of happiness together! ♥
  • Lainn
    Lainn Posts: 281 Member
    Awesome story :smile:

    As I was looking at your pics I was like "hey...I recognize that lady..." cause I had just seen her success post lol. You both look amazing and are doing an awesome job! Keep up the hard work.

    Btw...love the ticker. My hubby is a hardcore Star Wars fan. I would venture to say the biggest...but I haven't met everyone in the world lol :wink:
  • directorj
    directorj Posts: 537 Member
    Great job & inspiring....but how about them raiders tho! :laugh: niners!!
  • Crystal817
    Crystal817 Posts: 2,021 Member
    Beautiful story. You both look great! :smile:
  • trlyblssd79
    trlyblssd79 Posts: 101 Member
    definitely love happy endings! congratulations on the marriage AND the weight loss :)
  • vee785
    vee785 Posts: 8 Member
    i love this story!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!<3<3<3<3 wish you two nothing but the best and congrats on your weight loss!!!
  • yusineddy
    yusineddy Posts: 457 Member
    Your story is so beautiful, and you are both awesome, Congratulaitons!!! I wish you both all the best in this world..
This discussion has been closed.

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