Work in progress... down 32lbs from picture to picture.

kuderstadt

I joined mfp after having my 4th son, I was 184 at delivery, and 158 when first logged on. I only lost 4 lbs in the beginning and then gained one back. I got discouraged and quit. About 8 months passed and I was still maintaining 155. Then one day I got on the scale and I was back up to 158... mini panic, but it's ok, it'll come off, just a fluctuation I told myself. The next time I got on the scale I was 161. Full on panic time. My son was nearly a year old, I'm done having kids and I just can't spend the rest of my life at 160+ pounds.
I jumped back on mfp and committed to getting this weight off. I felt better almost immediately, by the time the first 10 lbs came off, I was feeling a million times better. It hasn't been easy, I have weeks where I lose a pound, gain a pound, lose a pound in what seems like a torturous cycle, but it eventually breaks and the weight loss continues. I'm currently 4 lbs from goal weight and 14 from ultimate goal weight.
I was pretty upset last week from a comment made by my mother-in-law, and started searching for a before picture, which I found on my son's iPod, (since I'd never let anyone actually take a picture!!!), it was taken just about the time I decided enough was enough, the 161 lb mark. I took a quick after picture and was pretty proud to see that you can definitely see some decent progress!
I thought I'd try posting pics here ~ I love looking at the Success Stories and get tonnes of inspiration from them, hoping to inspire some others to just keep at it. I'm currently 129 lbs, 5' 4-1/2".

AwesomelyAmber

Great work!!!

Megz2006

Whoa! Awesome transformation. Way to go!!

leanbody4life

Wow nice Job you look Great !!

Happyme2009

You look so fit! Good for you!

Tootce01

You've done fantastic! Good work!

kuderstadt

Thanks!!! I feel amazing... that's really the best reward!!!

autopilot_on

I totally hear you on the "feeling better" part. It happens almost immediately and then just keeps getting better. I also troll the Success Stories posts to help keep me motivated. Congratulations on your loss, you're looking great! (does anyone else think it's weird to say congratulations on your "loss"?)

Crazy4Healthy

32 lbs made an amazing difference, you look wonderful. Congrats!!

Davina_JH

What did your mother-in-law say? Just curious:flowerforyou: MILs do have a way about them, don't they :bigsmile:

And most importantly, you look AMAZING. :drinker:

ambrec

Great job you look wonderful

ACrowsDay

Can't imagine what she said...you look great!!

diggswood

My goodness!! You look so fit and trim. Congrats - you really look wonderful.

amnaimon

you look awesome. Wat did you do in terms of diet and exercise. Im exactly the same height, with same start and goal weight. And how long did it take for you to loose all that weight. Thanks for your inspirational post.

angelataylorneal

You look amazing! I'm in the exact same boat and weight so you are truly inspiring for me!

Mrs_Padgett

You look great! I can't imagine any negative comment being able to be made about your body, you look amazing!

BvilleLove

that's incredible...keep up the good work!

rwhyte12

Hey, that's what mother-in-laws are for. It took mine a mere thirteen years to accept that I wasn't like her. It took me thirteen years to feel the love back but I do love and appreciate her for everything she does for us and the children. Long story short, the road can be rocky. Take heart. You look wonderful.

Tiffers1759

WOW!! You look excellent! Don't ya just love mother-in-laws??!!

rasp35

Well done! An amazing transformation :-)

jlmed

Wow, amazing! No way I can tell you had 4 kids, you look great!

wmorgan73

You look wonderful! What a great example of health you are showing your children. Great job!

chipmunck76

great Job!!! look fit!

mumreeder

You look amazing - thanks for inspiring me today. We are the same height and I too am getting fed up with how long it seems to get this weight off. I know it didn't go on overnight but I have days where I wanna give up. Reading your story and seeing your pics gives me the motivation to carry on. Thanks for sharing.

Trilby16

WOW! Good work! You look terrific.

Laura013009

You look amazing! Thank you for posting, i too read the success stories to keep me on my toes, and remind myself that i am not the only one out there struggling. Even more than that, that all of these struggles will pay off! Great Job again you look amazing :happy:

kuderstadt

What did your mother-in-law say? Just curious:flowerforyou: MILs do have a way about them, don't they :bigsmile:

And most importantly, you look AMAZING. :drinker:

Thank you!
Yes, MIL's are great, and she is... she just hadn't seen me in ...months... I didn't go at Christmas because one of my kids was puking, so hubby took the other kids and so she literally saw me go from huge to not-so-huge, and she had no idea I was even dieting, so I think it was just a shock to her... Her comment (that bothered me) was about me "starving myself". I'm definitely counting calories, but I'm eating a lot of (healthier) food. I am not starving, and then I thought I must look awful, because of course I internalize everything... and then I looked at the pictures side by side and saw that yes, it is a dramatic difference, but I really don't look emaciated... I'm exercising (a lot!) and it shows. But it took me looking at pictures to see it.... so self-conscious!!!

kuderstadt

you look awesome. Wat did you do in terms of diet and exercise. Im exactly the same height, with same start and goal weight. And how long did it take for you to loose all that weight. Thanks for your inspirational post.

Thanks so much!
I'm just logging everything I eat. Everything. Even if I'm not proud of it, I log it anyways!!! I journal on my 'food notes' daily so I keep track of cravings and moods. I did find that I have to keep my sugars really low or I just want to eat everything in sight!!!
I exercise all the time... not at a gym or anything, but while i'm doing everything! I jog on the spot while I wait for the kids bus to come, I do lunges around the house, I do squats while picking up the laundry or the kids toys, I'm trying to actively participate in life! Going snowshoeing and tobogganing with the kids and having fun sure burns a lot of calories! I plan to start running again when the weather's better and am planning a couple 5k's for this summer. I think it's just being conscious of getting lots of movement in.... dancing in the kitchen with the kids... so fun and I really feel my legs working and my heart going!
It probably took about 4-1/2 - 5 months from the time I lost patience with my scale till now. ;-)