A success story of strength!! (pics)

half_moon

Hey, guys!

So I'm relatively new to MFP, but I have been working out/dieting for almost 2 months (still new... I know). I'm 5'4", weigh 165 (just weighed myself today! I've lost 13 pounds thus far and am SO EXCITED)-- and my goal is a size 8. I just wanted to show you guys something I never thought, before working out, was important: my strength.

Weight aside, it feels *good* to be strong. I feel myself getting stronger and faster and things that were hard before are so easy, now. When I first stepped onto the elliptical machine, I did ten minutes (jogging/walking) and had to melt off and curl up in a corner to hyperventilate. I couldn't do any more! Then, after I started being proud of my results, I started taking pictures as inspiration. I'm glad I did, because now I can show you my results!

Note: From left to right, the elliptical machine reads the time I've spent on the machine, the distance I have gone in miles, my RPM (speed), and then on the far right is the calorie counter. The first picture was showing how many calories I would be burning an hour (not how many calories I actually burned), and in the second picture it is showing how many calories I actually burned (the numbers rotate, and I never paid much attention to calories burned in the beginning).

1 month ago (I was so excited, my comment on the picture was "personal best!!"):



Today!:



For an idea of my body shape, here are some before and after pictures, though I haven't changed much physically.

On mother's day (I'm the one on the far right):



Recent (sorry it's not the best; I tend to run away screaming from most cameras):




So I am very excited! I am getting stronger!! Hopefully that size 8 will be just around the corner!! Thank you to all of you who have been so encouraging this past week and have opened up to me. I love everybody I've met here so far!

sleepytexan

congrats to you!

philippians4and13

Great job! You look great!

vklebanova

great job! power through!!!!!! you go girl!

kcoyle220

Way to go! That's great!

megmay2591

That's awesome! Great work on the running, and I can definitely see a weight loss. Great work!

cali8_love

Wow that is awesome. Congrats (:

LastMinuteMama

Getting stronger is awesome!!!! And I can definitely see a difference in those pictures, keep it up!!!

KaleidoscopeEyes1056

I know what you mean! I used to not be able to pick up my own trash bags without complaining that they were heavy, but today, I lifted it up like it was nothing (even with my food being sprained and all the pain associated with that). It's great to feel stronger!

Good work getting the time up on the Elliptical! I can't go on the elliptical for more than 45 minutes without getting bored, so I envy you!

lauragoat

Way to keep a great thing going!!! Is that a mouse on your foot? TOO CUTE!!

gurjaks

You are looking in good shape dear. Hope to see my wife in the same position.

hailzp

Well done I think you have actually changed a lot physically.

half_moon

Thanks for all of the supportive comments, guys! I've noticed a change in my legs. Sometimes I'll be bathing and look down and say, "wow, are those mine!?" I just can't wait until it shows in the tummmeeeeeeh

Thank you for all of your support! I can't wait to be more active in the community and get to know more of you.