Not just losing weight but finding myself :) (-125lbs)
JenniCH
Posts: 74
I should have done this last summer when I hit my goal weight (May 2011) but better late than never.
I started out at 275 (and even at 5'7" it wasn't a weight I could "pull-off", ugh!) I hadn't been overweight all my life or even struggled with weight problems until I turned 18 and was diagnosed with hypothyroidism (I finally went to the Dr. when I realized that even though I'd hadn't changed my eating/exercise habits I gained 50lbs in 3 months!) -- even after that diagnosis I went on to gain another 75lbs... so I went from 150 @ age 18 to 250-276 all in one year... yikes. I then spent the next 4 years struggling with depression, anger, and self-loathing which when I look back on it now was all directly related to the weight gain (and several other things going on with family) but couldn't make the connection then.
I started dating my now husband, a few months before I started gaining the weight and I thank God for him every day because he stuck by my side and loved me just the same (how he managed that is beyond me sometimes - I was an emotional and physical wreck 90% of the time!) no matter what.
After we got engaged on May 17, 2010 (I was at my very heaviest) I decided that I needed and wanted to change my life for myself and for him -- I realized that I had so much to live for, so much to love, so much to be thankful for and I was throwing my life away - and for what? An extra few slices of pizza and cake? So that I could sit alone, in my bedroom and wolf down as much food as possible in order to numb my emotions? I was throwing away my future completely.
So on June 27, 2010 something just "clicked" and I changed my life FOREVER. I started eating healthy, spent hours and hours researching nutrition (unfortunately didn't find MFP until the following January I believe) and started to exercise.
I cut down my portions, starting throwing in healthy nutritious foods and joined my local gym where I started swimming several times a week and doing the elliptical several times a week. By May 2011 I was at 155lbs (5lbs away from my original goal!) and our wedding was June 11, 2011 - I was so overjoyed that I got to spend that day (and every day after) feeling beautiful and loved - and wasn't constantly worried about how I looked because I KNEW I looked good! ;-) As well, I can proudly display our wedding pictures around our home and on FB.
I look back now and mourn for the years that I spent being obese, the years I spent being angry, the years that were wasted... but that fat girl is still inside of me... still part of me... she just knows that she's never allowed to come back because she's not healthy - but she played an important role - she showed me what I never wanted to be again and what I would never do to myself again. She showed me a very dark side to life and now allows me to empathize with people who are struggling the way I did.
Currently I am at 175 because I decided to enjoy the holidays and I indulged... I didn't necessarily eat bad foods, I just didn't control my portions - 15 of the 20lbs that I gained back over the last 7 months were in December alone (we went on a cruise for our Honeymoon and I didn't even try to resist the food!!). I knew I'd gain and I also knew that I'd be able to lose it again but I decided that in the end... indulging wasn't really worth it. It wasn't worth the strain that it puts on my body (to gain and lose weight back and forth) even though it was such a small amount compared to what I'd previously gained/lost.
So I'm currently in the midst of losing the 20lbs that I gained through portion control and light exercise (I'm not a believer in being a slave to the gym... my goal is to exercise naturally by walking around and moving as much as possible while throwing in some light jogging at the gym and weight lifting at home throughout the week).
I do know that there will be times where I do choose cake over salad or pizza over skinless chicken but I will choose one slice of cake or one slice of pizza... it truly is about moderation... my goal is to eat healthy 90% of the time and to just let loose and be a bit care free the other 10% of the time. There will be times where I pass through the kitchen after dinner and eat a cookie... I just won't eat 5...or 10 of them.
I trust that my body where get where it needs to be and that I will love it and be thankful for all that it has been through.
3 biggest lessons I've learned:
1. Moderation TRULY is KEY
2. Eating clean makes a BIG difference (not just in weight but how you feel overall)
3. Exercise is important but it's more important to just keep moving throughout your day and be active naturally then to slave away at the gym for hours.
Stats:
Height: 5'7"
Starting Weight: 276
Ending Weight: 155
Current (Temporary) Weight: 175
Starting size: 18/20
Ending size: 6/8
Current (Temporary) Size: 10/12
Below is my official before/after photos taken at my Dr's office and some wedding pictures (taken in June 2011 - despite the extra 20lbs I don't really look all that different currently)
I started out at 275 (and even at 5'7" it wasn't a weight I could "pull-off", ugh!) I hadn't been overweight all my life or even struggled with weight problems until I turned 18 and was diagnosed with hypothyroidism (I finally went to the Dr. when I realized that even though I'd hadn't changed my eating/exercise habits I gained 50lbs in 3 months!) -- even after that diagnosis I went on to gain another 75lbs... so I went from 150 @ age 18 to 250-276 all in one year... yikes. I then spent the next 4 years struggling with depression, anger, and self-loathing which when I look back on it now was all directly related to the weight gain (and several other things going on with family) but couldn't make the connection then.
I started dating my now husband, a few months before I started gaining the weight and I thank God for him every day because he stuck by my side and loved me just the same (how he managed that is beyond me sometimes - I was an emotional and physical wreck 90% of the time!) no matter what.
After we got engaged on May 17, 2010 (I was at my very heaviest) I decided that I needed and wanted to change my life for myself and for him -- I realized that I had so much to live for, so much to love, so much to be thankful for and I was throwing my life away - and for what? An extra few slices of pizza and cake? So that I could sit alone, in my bedroom and wolf down as much food as possible in order to numb my emotions? I was throwing away my future completely.
So on June 27, 2010 something just "clicked" and I changed my life FOREVER. I started eating healthy, spent hours and hours researching nutrition (unfortunately didn't find MFP until the following January I believe) and started to exercise.
I cut down my portions, starting throwing in healthy nutritious foods and joined my local gym where I started swimming several times a week and doing the elliptical several times a week. By May 2011 I was at 155lbs (5lbs away from my original goal!) and our wedding was June 11, 2011 - I was so overjoyed that I got to spend that day (and every day after) feeling beautiful and loved - and wasn't constantly worried about how I looked because I KNEW I looked good! ;-) As well, I can proudly display our wedding pictures around our home and on FB.
I look back now and mourn for the years that I spent being obese, the years I spent being angry, the years that were wasted... but that fat girl is still inside of me... still part of me... she just knows that she's never allowed to come back because she's not healthy - but she played an important role - she showed me what I never wanted to be again and what I would never do to myself again. She showed me a very dark side to life and now allows me to empathize with people who are struggling the way I did.
Currently I am at 175 because I decided to enjoy the holidays and I indulged... I didn't necessarily eat bad foods, I just didn't control my portions - 15 of the 20lbs that I gained back over the last 7 months were in December alone (we went on a cruise for our Honeymoon and I didn't even try to resist the food!!). I knew I'd gain and I also knew that I'd be able to lose it again but I decided that in the end... indulging wasn't really worth it. It wasn't worth the strain that it puts on my body (to gain and lose weight back and forth) even though it was such a small amount compared to what I'd previously gained/lost.
So I'm currently in the midst of losing the 20lbs that I gained through portion control and light exercise (I'm not a believer in being a slave to the gym... my goal is to exercise naturally by walking around and moving as much as possible while throwing in some light jogging at the gym and weight lifting at home throughout the week).
I do know that there will be times where I do choose cake over salad or pizza over skinless chicken but I will choose one slice of cake or one slice of pizza... it truly is about moderation... my goal is to eat healthy 90% of the time and to just let loose and be a bit care free the other 10% of the time. There will be times where I pass through the kitchen after dinner and eat a cookie... I just won't eat 5...or 10 of them.
I trust that my body where get where it needs to be and that I will love it and be thankful for all that it has been through.
3 biggest lessons I've learned:
1. Moderation TRULY is KEY
2. Eating clean makes a BIG difference (not just in weight but how you feel overall)
3. Exercise is important but it's more important to just keep moving throughout your day and be active naturally then to slave away at the gym for hours.
Stats:
Height: 5'7"
Starting Weight: 276
Ending Weight: 155
Current (Temporary) Weight: 175
Starting size: 18/20
Ending size: 6/8
Current (Temporary) Size: 10/12
Below is my official before/after photos taken at my Dr's office and some wedding pictures (taken in June 2011 - despite the extra 20lbs I don't really look all that different currently)
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Replies
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wow you look amazing. Thank you for the inspiration!0
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you look really great. Do you have any tips for plateaus, changing up workouts, etc?0
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One thing that really seemed to work for me regarding plateaus were calorie cycling (google this and you'll find LOTS of info).
It's something I'll go back to when I'm done losing.... I'd have a range of 1,400 - 2,000 calories
e.g.
Mon - 1,400
Tues - 1,700
Wed - 1,500
Thurs - 1,800
Fri - 2,000
Sat - 1,400
Sun - 1,600
As well... with plateaus - just have patience and LOTS of it... don't over exercise or under-eat (but don't over-eat either). Just trust that as long as you are truthfully eating healthy and being as active as you are comfortable with that you will get where you need to be.
One blog that I found truly amazing and helpful was
www.CanYouComeForDinner?.com
As well I find that weight-lifting (I use ChaLEAN Extreme) helped immensely with trimming off the last few lbs as well as toning everything up.0 -
you look so amazing!!!!0
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FABULOUS FABULOUS FABULOUS!!!!! Great work!0
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You are such an inspiration. Congrats on your wedding and being the beautiful bried!0
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Looking gorgeous girl!
Thankyou for your inspirational story & sorry you had to go to those dark places to find yourself (I can sympathise having been there myself but for different reasons)...am sure that many people out there will find the strength to carry on having read your post!
Be happy. xxx0 -
Thanks for sharing! You look gorgeous! I love the wedding photos
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You are amazing and your story is a totally wonderful inspiration...Well done beautiful lady!!!
WOW!0 -
Awesome! Well done!0
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that's fantastic! Well done!0
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Thank you for sharing your experience & photos. An amazing change. x0
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Beautiful story! Beautiful you! Thanks for sharing and pics!0
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This is such an inspiration. Thankyou. I am single and desperitely wanting that special someone in my life. Even though I am losing weight for myself, I want to look as beautiful as you do on my own wedding day when it happens. You are just stunning and one of the most solid pieces of inspiration I have found to date. Thankyou so much for your patience andd persistence to get where you are. By doing it, you have inspired so many other people. xoxo0
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What a beautiful story! You look great!0
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You look fabulous, and so inspiring!!!0
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Thank you for sharing your story. It was just what I needed. I have 26 lbs to lose before I hit my goal and am having a hard time staying motivated. Your story shows it can be done, without going hog wild in eating and exercising. You look beautiful.0
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Amazing! Congrats!0
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thank you for the inspiration! congratulations to you
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I feel like you've written about me! Same story, same height (almost), exact same starting weight... I so hope that in a year I'm down 125 pounds. Great job! You are beautiful!0
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What a proud moment for you. Congratulations!0
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How beautiful. What a great job!0
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u look AWESOME!! u shud b very proud of yourself dear 0
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Awesome! What an amazing change. Good for you!0
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my wedding was June 11,2011 too 0
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Wonderful job!!! You look amazing!!!0
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Thank you so much for sharing your story = ) Quite an inspiration. You look amazing! Love the wedding photos.0
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Great story and an amazing transformation.0
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You look amazing!!!! Thank you so much for sharing!!!0
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u look beautiful...congrats!!0
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