500 Days on MFP - 86 pounds lost - pic heavy!

Dawners98

Today I celebrate my 500th day anniversary of joining MFP. In retrospect, this journey has been much easier than I thought. I was not overweight my whole life. After high school, I let myself go, and although I thought I was happy even though I was fat - that's possible, you know! - I know now that I never really was. Having spent the past nearly 14 years being overweight, and the last 5 or 6 creeping slowly into the morbidly obese BMI range, I started to yearn for my carefree (and thin!) adolescent years. Last year in May, just after my 31st birthday, I saw my doctor, and after feeling like I may have lost a little weight, I found out I had actually gained another 10 - in just over 2 months! I came home, sat on my couch, and told my husband I was fat. I was so defeated. I had been in denial for so long, that I didn't even notice how far I had let myself go.

I am 5'4" and weighed 243 pounds. I now weigh 157 pounds.

Even now, people ask me how I feel, and I tell them I feel the same. I never felt like a fat version of myself, and I don't feel like a skinny version now. I feel like the same person I always have been. Although that's not entirely true, because I'm more energetic, I am more open and honest with people, and I don't hide behind my obesity as much. I make eye contact more often and am not afraid to be heard because I no longer fear what others might think of me. I enjoy life more now and do not tire as quickly.

I am more proud of my weight loss than anything else I have accomplished in my life, and I am happy that I have served as an inspiration to my friends, my family, and my mfp family. For those reasons, I am different. I just hope I stay different for the rest of my life.

Drumroll, please.......the pics....


This is a pic from my honeymoon in May 2010. I think I was about 215 pounds then:




This is from February 2011:



March 2011:



And the best of the best, Me in June 2011 (actually about a month after starting MFP, and I had lost 10 pounds already!). I weighed approximately 235 pounds or so. Also, sorry about the creepy picture, I tried to take my husband out, but it replaced his head with part of the cart we were in, apparently!:



And here's some progress pics....

These both are from a couple of weeks ago:



And this is from today: 157 pounds and shrinking...(No politics, please, that's not what I'm here for...I was just too lazy to change my shirt!)





Wow, when you look at it all like that, 16 1/2 months doesn't seem like a very long time at all! I could not be happier for deciding to stick to my plan to lose weight, and I am so grateful my fitness pal exists. I don't know if I could have done it without the apps, and the online support offered by this site.

We are all fabulous people, worthy of respect and praise for making the choice to change our lives. I wish you all the success I have had. I know you can do it because I did.

--Dawn

mlcharb

Good for you! You look great. Definitely an inspiration!

NCchar130

Wow!! Fantastic results, congratulations! :flowerforyou:

DaBigChief

Well said. Congrats on your loss!

marvelmo

Remarkable! take a bow! you look fabulous & happy
thank you for sharing your journey
thanks for inspiring:flowerforyou:

Gerald_King

That's awesome way to go

pickle_button

wow!! what an amazing acomplishment! congrats- you look beautiful

vmekash

Congrats! You look amazing, and your story and pics are so inspiring.
Thanks for sharing.

watercolormama

Thanks for expressing your journey so clearly.......these stories always touch my heart and your story is no exception You're a beautiful woman!

LadyBeryl

YOU LOOK FABULOUS! Congrats!!!!!!!!!

(You already had a lovely smile but now your dimples are more pronounced.)

paxetamore

YOU lady are an inspiration! Exactly what I needed after being on MFP for almost 15 months and feeling a bit discouraged.

You look FAB!

Thanks for sharing, and reminding me it is about the JOURNEY, however long it takes, it can be DONE!

You are AWESOME!

Dawners98

Thank you all so much! You're just too sweet!

Megabot

Congratulations!!

I'm a few pounds down from my heaviest, and this year I've re-started my MPF journey. 16 months DOES seem like a long time now, but I'm hoping I can get through it, and it'll be easier when I'm there.

Also your ticker image is hilarous. Seriously.

Dwamma

Amazing! I am so proud of you! You have done wonderful! Keep up the amazing work! You rock!

veggiehottie

Beautiful! Awesome job.

AmberFaith90

You look phenomenal!

RunsOnEspresso

Congrats on your weight loss. You look fantastic


Ok, I have to ask... where did you get that party like a barack star tshirt? I didn't know I needed it until I saw yours. LOL

HeavyLiftGirl

Absolutely phenomenal....you look beautiful!

kimad

You look absolutely fantastic, and I enjoyed reading your story. We have alot of similiar thoughts - our journies are also comparable. I started at 245 lbs in April 2011, and I now weight 158lbs.

you rawk girl, if you need any new MFP friends add me

kel665

Wow, how good do you look?!! Thanks so much for sharing, it's these inspirational stories that are really keeping me motivated and making me feel that I can do it too!

neverturningbacknow

You look amazing, great job:)

AnnACnd

You look SO fantastic!!

mizzjessie

Congrats!! You look amazing and are a true inspiration! Your story is so similar to mine. I hope I can have the success that you did.

cloud2011

Thank you for sharing. You look fantastic, but most important, you're proof that sticking with it works in the end! Great job!

ktdid626

That's a win! Great job girlie!!!!

madamecj82

Simply fantabulous! Congratulations!

lumyrainstar

congrats on your success and I love the picture in your ticker. :P

webarr2003

Thank you Dawn, you are truely inspiring. You look amazing as you are.

texjenn

You look great, awesome, and all those other words! You have done good! Good job and taking it slow!

horn2horn

Much Congrats to you! You are an Inspiration!! Seeing your results helps me to also stay the course.

rsellersCST

The timing of it all! It's as if this was meant for me today... I'm one inch shorter and started one pound lighter... VERY inspiring and you look FANTASTIC!!!!

Thank you Thank you THANK YOU for sharing! Just the inspiration I needed!