Then and now (hopefully with pics!) - Size 20 to Size 6!!!

shadowkitty22

That is just amazing and ridiculously inspiring as I started this journey as a 24 and hope to be down to an 8-10 by the time I'm done. I'm already halfway through my weight loss and am currently a 16 (which I last wore about 40 lbs lighter than I am currently) so I know there is hope for me yet.

emstethem

WOW! Amazing! How did you do it? I love reading the success stories...but rarely am I told HOW it was done Please do tell! Good for you! So motivating!

sbb7249

Wow! Amazing results! That is quite an accomplishment. Congrats!!

marialourdesb

So motivating! Thanks!

mchery29

That is amazing...I am working so hard at getting there as well.

Miss_Mabee

Amazing job! Starting out as a size 20 and currently in a baggy 14, size 6 seems so out of reach. Glad to see your success.

Isnt it awesome to shop in the regular section now instead of the plus size stores?!? Congrats! Thats a big accomplishment!!

zombilishious

Look at how great you look!!!!! Amazing and inspirational!!!!

JackiePenner

Good for you! I love that you are able to do things you never dreamed of !!! The kids are really going to love all the new experiences with you too!

olores

Amazing! SKI ON!!!!!

amydriesbaugh

what a great accomplishment!!! Way to go!!

joannemeister

You look awesome...there hope for me yet....

Nat0226

No way!!! I can't even recognize you!!!! Incredible!!!

Letters24You

Absolutely inspiring! Great job!

rjh1975

Thank you everyone. I can't tell you how overwhelmed I have been by your responses. I've had a few people ask again about how I did it and how long it took, so I thought I would share this from my profile:

About Me
I am a stay-at-home mom of three kids and, for eight years, I completely ignored my health. With the birth of each child, I gained weight and I never really realized how big I'd gotten until I stepped on the scale four months after having my youngest and saw the number 251.9 staring back at me. I was horrified and decided that I needed a change. Over the next 6 months I exercised sporadically and tried to be a little more careful about what I ate. I lost 30 pounds but then I sat at that weight for a very long time.

Fast forward to January 2012. A friend of mine, who had been bugging me for years to join her boot camp, finally convinced me to try a semi-private training session with her. At the same time, my sister-in-law (who is ten years my junior) asked me to stand up with her when she married my brother. I was determined not to be the old, fat one in the wedding party! I had my first training session at the end of February and I haven't looked back.

Today I weigh 115 lbs less than I did on the day I stepped on that scale. I am happy with my weight and I'm determined not to fall out of shape again. I plan to continue tracking my calories for maintenance while shifting my focus from weight loss to strength building. I still workout with my trainer twice a week and I also run/cycle for cardio. I can do a pull-up. I can run over 10K. I can do push-ups from my toes. And, I will continue to get stronger and faster because, I'm not going back!!!


I hope that helps answer some questions. My trainer was here yesterday (he comes to me - which has been a big part of my success - much easier with three young children to factor into my schedule) and he was also asking me what I felt had been the biggest factor in my success. He told me he had a few clients struggling with their last 10-15 lbs and he wanted advice. From me lol. I really wasn't prepared for that and, like all your amazing responses and questions, it overwhelmed me a bit.

I sat down with my husband last night and we really talked about my journey. I told him that I feel like people are looking to me with such hope and I feel like I'm letting them down because I don't have any magic answers. This process has been so much trial and error for me and the things that worked for me might not work for someone else. I lost weight quickly at the start just by adding exercise into my routine (2 training sessions/week and running approx 5 days/week). I have a bit of an addictive personality so, once I made the commitment to get fit, there was no looking back. When I stalled out around 185 lbs, my trainer suggested MFP and that's when I started logging. The weight started coming off again. Despite the flack that I took from some people (and still take), I logged everything. I logged gum. I measured out a level tablespoon of peanut butter before spreading it on anything. I weigh fruit. And, I continue to work out pretty strenuously. I have hit mini plateaus (nothing major but enough to make me wonder what I was doing wrong when I thought I was doing everything right). Fortunately for me, no plateau lasted long enough to leave me super discouraged (and, I couldn't even be sure what it was that made the scale start moving again).

What was the reason for my success? I wish I knew. I don't snack at night anymore, I drink green tea instead. I've cut most processed food/junk out of my diet (though, I don't deprive myself of anything and I'll have the occasional glass of wine and I eat a small amount of dark chocolate almost every day). I have an incredibly supportive husband. When I started this process, we made the commitment to put my exercise needs first. If one of us was going to have time to get a run in, it was going to be me. I couldn't have done any of this without him. I keep setting new goals for myself so that I stay motivated - first it was to do real push-ups, then pull-ups. Now that I can do those, I've signed myself up for several races (including a half marathon) so that I always have something to be looking forward to and training for. I think the thing that helped the most was that, as the weight came off, I started to feel so good. I never realized how amazing it would feel to be in shape. I've always been a "numbers" person so I expected the scale to be my biggest reward, but it wasn't. What I love is that I'm no longer intimidated by physical activity and I am completely amazed and thrilled at the things my body is now capable of doing.

Sorry if that was a bit rambly - but I wanted to try to share as much of my journey as I could just in case there is something in there that might be helpful to someone else. I wish anyone struggling with their fitness, strength on their journey. If I can do this, anybody can!

eys81

You look amazing!!! I love the picture of you conquering your fear of skiing - what an inspiration!!!

Ginger_Gal

Fantastic!

yorkieII

thank you for sharing..your post and pictures are very motivating!!

vivianlove16

wooow!!, you look great, you even look younger, im really inspired by your succes, im currently a size 20 to, just starting, i would really like to know how you loose the pounds tips, how much time and trouble you face, to follow your steps and acomplish my goal too : )

Behavior_Modification

Congratulations! Very inspiring! :flowerforyou:

ChristinaR720

Amazing transformation!