My Success SO Far with Pics! Thanks MFP!!!!!!!

CRichards22

Hi MFP peeps! So, I’m feeling accomplished today for a few reasons. I’m not at my ultimate goal yet and still have a long road to get there but I have come a long way! I figured if I share I might help someone who needs encouragement today while at the same time feel more accountable to reach my ultimate goal since I’ve put my story out there!
A little background; I’m 26 years old and I come from a family who enjoys our food and fun times and I’ve always struggled with my weight. Around 180 pounds and jeans 10/12 was my average size in high school. I met the love of my life at 15, we got married when I was 20 and we’re happily married now 6 years later. We have a 3 year old and an 8 month old, both beautiful little girls. They are the reason I’ve made the decision to get healthy!
Here’s my weight loss story to date; after getting married I slowly let my weight creep higher and higher. I then gained 35 pounds during my first pregnancy. Afterward I lost some of the weight but not nearly all. In 2011 I got pregnant again and let myself get to my highest weight ever, I was 269 pounds the week I delivered.
At that most miserable weight EVER I decided I had to make a change. There was no way I wanted to try to keep up with a toddler and a newborn and feel as terrible as I did. I had to make a change! In November 2011 I had our daughter and it was a quick, natural delivery (didn’t have time for my epidural). After that I gave myself the full 6 weeks to recover and continue wearing maternity clothes. But I made a promise to myself that when the 6 weeks were up regular clothes were going on my body! So I started changing my diet to incorporate healthier eating. In Dec, once the dr gave the ok, the maternity clothes went away and fitness started. I could only wear two pairs of regular pants that I owned (size 18/20) to they were rotated daily until I started shedding inch for inch and pound for pound and getting back into pre- pregnancy clothes. On January 1, 2012 I had worked myself down to 245 pounds and got measured. I also took a tip from my sister in law who is a beach body coach and joined MyFitnessPal with her. I absolutely love the site and have logged in everyday consecutively on my phone and computer since joining!
I started getting up between 4:30-5:30 almost every day to do TurboFire videos or walked and I logged every bite/drink that went in my mouth and maintained a 12-1600 calorie diet depending on how much exercise I had each day. I made it a point to drink no less than 8 ounces of water every day. I set small goals for each month to not focus on the more than 100 pounds I wanted to lose and every 2 weeks I measured my body again. Of course I would have days where I’d mess up and skip my exercise or go over my calorie limit. But the difference this time was the next day I started fresh and didn’t let it ruin my journey. As of today, I am proud to say that I’m down to 182 pounds. Just counting from Jan 1 of this year I’ve shed 63 pounds and 86 ¾ inches! Since my highest weight ever in November 2011 I’ve shed 87 pounds (only 7 of which were baby!). It can be done!
My ultimate goal is to be 140 pounds and have a ‘healthy’ BMI. As I said, I’ve never been small. But I can fit into the smallest jeans I own from high school this week so it’s onto unfamiliar territory now. I want to weigh less and be healthier than I’ve ever been! I think with the wonderful people around me, my MFP pals and my determination /new healthy lifestyle I will get there! But I just wanted to share and say don’t think that you can’t lose your weight and get your body back with a healthy diet and exercise! It just takes will power, patience, and if you’re like me some helpful tools to get there!!
Hopefully by or before Dec 31 of this year I will be able to post my final picture of me at my ultimate goal 140 with a smile on my face. For now, here is a little before and after. The picture on the right is actually 8 pounds heavier than I am now and 14+ inches larger….but it will do! Thanks for reading my story and good luck on your fitness journey!! The top pic has my 3 year old and the bottom my 8 month old too they are my motivation to be my best!

:http://muzy.com/#lightbox_post_67117436:


Smaller Mommy and bigger baby!

CRichards22

Well How do I get pics on there??

vaneguz87

I love it! You've done amazin!! :drinker: Today I was feeling a little low in motivation and this is perfect. Dedication and consistency like yours will take me to my goal! :glasses:

CRichards22

Thanks! Wish my pics were on there. But the story will do!

rfarinha

Good for you! I can't tell you how many times I have thought during this journey of mine, "I wish I did this 20 years ago!"

You look Beautiful! :flowerforyou:

CRichards22

Good for you! I can't tell you how many times I have thought during this journey of mine, "I wish I did this 20 years ago!"

You look Beautiful! :flowerforyou:

Thanks so much!!

mommadonna19

You are an inspiration. My starting weight is about the same as yours...so I really can do it. Thanks for sharing!