365 days and counting...

amdahwd

Today marked my 365 days on MFP. It has been such a great year with so many changes in my life! I have lost weight, gained my health back, and started enjoying physical activities - something I have never done before.

Last year at this time, I applied for a spot in an extreme makeover contest that a local gym was sponsoring. I was not on medication, but my blood pressure had begun creeping up, I was waking up every night with acid reflux and feeling like I was having a heart attack, and getting up every morning with a sore throat from the acid erosion. I had trouble putting on my clothes and tying my shoes without getting out of breath. I was not chosen for the contest but thankfully my cousin was and they were told to log their food here so it could be monitored and she passed on the information to me. I have never looked back! I am so thankful for her - she has been my rock this year (she ended up losing 138 pounds this year herself)!

I started out just walking on the treadmill at 2.5 MPH and feeling good at the end of 30 minutes that I had been able to go that long. Now I can run at 6 MPH for a few minutes and can sustain 5 MPH for at least 10 minutes. Then I picked up classes in the gym - kettlebells or weights. Then went on to do Insanity at the gym. I moved to a new town and at the new gym did the BodyPump classes. I did my first 5K in March and then got away from the running for awhile, but ended up doing another one in November and December. I finished the first one in 44:13 and my time for the last one in December at 38:13.

I have a ways to go, but plan on finishing up in the next few months with my weight loss and plan to never finish accomplishing new goals with my activities. My diet has not always been great and is far from what people call "clean", but it is working for me.

Comparison picture: Same shirt!!!




December 2012:

amdahwd

Sorry - I changed the img to small letters in each picture - do not know why they are so big!

laurenmgrasso

Great job! you look amazing!

Shange_Gully

great work, u look like u become younger

ncmom78

That is awesome!!! You look great!!!!

nurselisamarie

Congrats!!! you look great. thats a lot of working out, you must feel great, thanks for inspiring me!!!!

mclandry89

that's great!! congratulations on losing so much weight, but also those non scale victories!!!!!! super job! keep it up!

tbresina

So thankful you are one of my friends, we have both come a long way together and I have been fortunate to see you from the beginning, through the ups and downs and then the ups, up, ups! Looking forward to the future with my motivational friend!

nowine4me

Nice work. You look awesome!

Phoenixchichima

you look fabulous..
poke poke. you FEEL fabulous!

pkdarlin

You look great.

SuzieQ724

You look 10 years younger! Congratulations!
(great hair style!!)

amdahwd

Thanks everybody! It has been a great year. I love the "looks younger" comments! I turned 43 in August and I feel better than I did when I was much younger!

Guamybear

You look fantastic..have a great new year!!

parrothead60

You have been such a great inspiration to me!! Wish you were closer so you could kick my butt in person!! Just want you to know I'm so proud of you and so thankful we started this journey together......You look great!!!

ambsnic17

Amanda- I didn't realize how far you have come. You truly look AMAZING!!! Super glad you are one of my friends! Keep it up girl. I hope I can look as good as you when I'm 40+

amdahwd

Thanks everybody!

fitnessGETZeasy

You look amazing and I'm sure you feel fantastic! Good for you. What an inspiration.

joannalt

You look awesome young lady! You inspire me to get it together! Keep up the great job

SexyLovinmeCook

Congrats on your 1yr...and really love your results....

bugaha1

Amazing job and story