89lbs down & going! With PICS

mrs_joshica

I'm so excited for what this journey has brought me. I've lost a lot of weight, and I have a lot more to go. Those of you who are like me, in the 100+lb to lose club, be excited, this journey is worth it. Although I've lost a lot of weight, I've gained a lot of confidence, strength, love of myself (not selfish love, but love for me) as well as a lot more belief in the fact that I can do this!!

I started my journey at about 385lbs! I wouldn't tell anyone that, in fact, I avoided the scale like it was the plague, and didn't know how big I had gotten for a long long time! I would not take full body pics, at that time, because I was so self conscious of my body and body image! But here is one of my heavier pics I'd like to share w/ you at about 385lbs in a size 30/32. Don't be deceived, I'm 5' 11" and I hide my weight very well, notice I am behind my daughter, which is the only way I'd have remotely taken this picture LOL



I was trying desperately to find things that made me happy. Even my deep love of God could not cover the fact that I was very unhappy with my body and health.

I can't lie and say this is when I decided to get up and do something about my health, because this is NOT. When. I moved from the city I lived in & obtained a different position is where it REALLY started happening. Due to this position, hours, and location it caused me to lose weight. Seemingly within the year I wasn't trying to, I lost over 45 lbs. It was this incident that caused me to realize, "HEY, I'm losing weight, and I like it!" For the first time in a very long time I was losing weight and not failing at it! And what is more strange, I wasn't even trying. So I hopped on a scale, got my official weigh-in @ 340 and began to set sail on this weight loss journey.

At the time I was around 340lbs, and I was serious about helping this weight loss along. I found myfitnesspal, a great group of people who were also losing or had lost weight, and a new found encouragement to see this thing through.




Although I have not met my ultimate goals yet, I am almost 90lbs lighter, healthier, happier, and loving the skin I'm in. Sometimes it gets tough when you have more than 100lbs to lose b/c great milestones like a 10lb loss don't seem to affect you the way they affect those who don't have as much as you have to lose. You can lose 50 lbs and you wake up realize, "hey, I'm still big", lol. These are the things that can sting sometimes when you've got a lot to lose. Let me encourage you, that all of those baby steps; every single one of those .2 lbs, 2lbs, etc., all add up. Whenever you feel like giving up, look how far you've come, and think of how much you've accomplished, even if it doesn't seem like a lot, isn't it enough that you don't want to do it twice?

To those who have more than 100lbs to lose and are skeptical of even starting this journey because you feel that it will take too long, let me encourage you, time goes so fast! Even if it takes you 2 years do this, you can chose either in two years to be done, or to still have only a desire to want to do this with no progress. So with that said, here are some of my before/after pics. The final one being the most recent. Too all my MFP pals who stuck around when even I had given up, thanks!

I guess I should add, I do VLOG, you are welcome to watch, I decided to VLOG b/c I wanted to watch the miraculous changes of my losses in a video the way I had seen so many others do it. I probably VLOG about 1x a week, and I'm just candid, honest, and if I gained, I say so, If I've not, I say that too. https://www.youtube.com/user/mrsjoshica?feature=mhee

My first picture I could see my face getting smaller


Me at about my first "size-down"


Latest picture

jon_brady

awesome success keep it up

tatd_820

Thanks for sharing! You are doing so good. Keep it up. Loved reading your story! True inspiration You've got this and I'm sure you are encouraging many others by sharing!

bassls

congrats keep up the good work!!!!high five

halips

Fantastic job! Keep up the hard work!

LeanerBeef

Very nice! Congrats!

StephanitelyD

So excited for you! I've got more than 100 to go as well. I'll be watching your progress and cheering you on. Hope you will do the same for me!

Congrats!

Steph

aprilkats

You look so beautiful!
Congrats on your hard work and dedication! You keep it going!

jamieeas

Thank you for sharing. It's so inspirational. I topped out at 314 myself. I'm down 60 and still have over 100 to lose and sometimes I get frustrated. I still have a whole person to lose...but I still eat right, work out, and don't lose focus. Your story helps. Thank you!

seedawg23

Great job girl!!! You are doing your thing. Keep shooting for your goal.

lorihalsted

Keep going!!!! You are doing great and doing it the right way for the right reasons.

Marefr

Congratulations! Keep us up to date with photos as the months go on!

Cherp18

Wow! Impressive changes! Great changes, you look wonderful :flowerforyou:

Keep up the good work!

mindygeske

You look amazing! Good job!

mrs_joshica

Thank you for sharing. It's so inspirational. I topped out at 314 myself. I'm down 60 and still have over 100 to lose and sometimes I get frustrated. I still have a whole person to lose...but I still eat right, work out, and don't lose focus. Your story helps. Thank you!

I so feel your pain! LOL Like I said, if you have 100+ to lose you can lost 50 and realize how much you have to go, but what I've learned to do is focus in the "now accomplishments". Although my major goal is to be 150, I celebrate every single milestone I hit as though it was the main goal, b/c if not, you can easily become discouraged and overwhelmed at how much you've got left, versus how far you come. 60lbs!! WD SISTER, and keep up the great work!

DistantJ

GREAT JOB! Wow what a difference! :drinker:

robot_potato

You are beautiful. You look so joyful and happy regardless of size. Congratulations on your success, I hope you reach your goal.

mrs_joshica

So excited for you! I've got more than 100 to go as well. I'll be watching your progress and cheering you on. Hope you will do the same for me!

Congrats!

Steph

I most certainly will, feel free to add me, and I also keep a Vlog of my progress on https://www.youtube.com/user/mrsjoshica?feature=mhee I'm quite candid about loss, gain, and just my feelings. Looking forward to adding you Steph!

hdkerr

It means a lot that you want to encourage other people with your fantastic success. I completely agree--time goes by whether you are accomplishing your dreams or not. Why not take advantage of that time?

You are awesome. Keep it up!

MarshaMole

Awesome Job!

codapea

Way to go! Your success is so inspiring. I love what you wrote, your honesty and positive attitude have really touched me. You are definitely encouraging anyone who reads your story, me included!

Hearts_2015

Super job!! You've come so far:flowerforyou:

rossmy1

You look mahhh-velous!! I love the natrual hair-doo. Congratulations on the weight loss and reaching your goals!! :happy:

pe4sandra

Congrats! Your words and your actions will be in my mind when I get those moments of weakness. It's about moving forward - one step at a time.

funsmile1234

Congratulations! What you said was so beautiful and so true. It does feel good when you've made huge strides and when you have a lot of weight to lose it does take time but I love how you spoke about it because change is really up to you and time does go by fast. I started off at around your weight and have been at the plan for a little over a year and I'm about halfway there. I believe that with God's help and a drive and determination to make lasting change, anything in your life is possible. And your pics are great! I can tell you're a beautiful woman inside and out!

mrs_joshica

TY All Please feel free to add me, I do log in MFP daily, and some days w/ a tight work schedule and a serious need to get these work-outs in no matter what I may or may not talk, but I do try to get on and comment on my friends losses, and work-outs, and hopefully this keeps them encouraged. Would love to see new faces added to my "List of the Triumphant"!

mrs_joshica

Congratulations! What you said was so beautiful and so true. It does feel good when you've made huge strides and when you have a lot of weight to lose it does take time but I love how you spoke about it because change is really up to you and time does go by fast. I started off at around your weight and have been at the plan for a little over a year and I'm about halfway there. I believe that with God's help and a drive and determination to make lasting change, anything in your life is possible. And your pics are great! I can tell you're a beautiful woman inside and out!

You hit the nail on the head there. God is the drive in everything I do! Trust me, He salvaged me from a bitter wasteland called "self"

nel0311

nice work!! keep at it!

lovinmyselfagain

Congrats! You are doing fabulous!

CathyMW813

You can lose 50 lbs and you wake up realize, "hey, I'm still big", lol. These are the things that can sting sometimes when you've got a lot to lose. Let me encourage you, that all of those baby steps; every single one of those .2 lbs, 2lbs, etc., all add up. Whenever you feel like giving up, look how far you've come, and think of how much you've accomplished, even if it doesn't seem like a lot, isn't it enough that you don't want to do it twice?

Even if it takes you 2 years do this, you can chose either in two years to be done, or to still have only a desire to want to do this with no progress.

I feel like I am slowing down in my weight loss--and still have so far to go. What you have to say is very encouraging! Thanks for the inspiration! And congrats on what you have accomplished.

mrs_joshica

I feel like I am slowing down in my weight loss--and still have so far to go. What you have to say is very encouraging! Thanks for the inspiration! And congrats on what you have accomplished.
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TY & Keep pushing Cathy! We all hit those stall-out moments, and as much as they suck, its the very time we need to reflect on what we are doing, analyze our situations, and regroup. Too often do we use "the stall" as a means to give up, rather than continue on, so I applaud your efforts for continuing past your stall/crawl. What has helped me, b/c I've hit 3 plateaus now, and BOY do they SUCK, LOL. 1) make sure your diet is on point. 2) Make sure that you are changing up your routine, sometimes your body is bored, and believe it or not, has become accustomed to your routine, and can get through it easily without expending the calories that it used to before. 3) Pace yourself, because in weight loss, slow and steady really does win the race, b/c in the end, if you did something you couldn't live w/ to lose it, you won't keep it off. You may just be at a point where you are actually dropping inches, look at the fit of your clothes, feel out how much energy you have. Gauge more than the scale

I'm proud of you, and I know you can do this!