365 Days...and still going**with pics

Sarahsmiles0875

Do you remember in school, when you knew that you did a crappy job on a project or a paper, but were still hoping for a more optimistic grade, only to have the glaring red marker/pen highlight the mistakes and oversights you had made on said project or paper? Do you have that vision? My doctor’s approach had a similar affect on me. On April 19th, 2012 I went into my doctor’s office and she circled my age and my weight- in red no less. I knew I had not been taking care of myself, and yet was hopeful that it wouldn’t be as bad as it actually looked when it was noted on paper. She talked to me about having a surgical procedure so that I could begin to lose weight. This was the moment. You know those moments in your life where one has to decide to either *kitten* or get off the pot. I got off the pot.

My initial motivation was to set a good example for my child, improve my relationship with my partner, and to buy clothing in any store that I wanted. I have achieved all of the above; in addition, the most important achievement has been my overall health enhancement. In order to come even close, I had to say good-bye to many of my bad habits. I began by simply following the calorie counter on MFP. Then I slowly began to incorporate minimal exercise into my daily activities. The weight just started to come off.

When I started this process I weighed in at 253 lbs with a BMI of 43.4
One Year Later and my weigh in is 174 with a BMI of 30.7

While I do have a ways to go, I am still proud of the success of the past year on my health and of the health in our home. We have learned how to prepare better meals for our family, incorporate daily activities into our already busy schedules, and hit the gym! We have also signed up to participate in two 5K’s this Spring and Summer which is very exciting for our family. I have discovered that a snack is NOT a bag of chips and dip and that elevenses, luncheon, afternoon tea, dinner, & supper is a consumption schedule left best to the Hobbits and not my metabolic system

These last few months have also rocked our family with a close family member’s diagnosis of a terminal illness. While the stress and sadness of this has not altered the course of my progression during my own health improvement journey, it has awakened yet another dynamic in the importance of taking care of one’s own health. This is our ONLY LIFE! We get one shot at it. Take care my friends, my family, my comrades, and yes- some days are harder than others, and there are some weeks where all you want to do is chuck that scale out the door-hold on, persevere through it..don’t give up, and just keep swimming, just keep swimming, just keep swimming!

THEN!!




NOW!!!!

Chyll88

Congrats!!!! You look fabulous!

akrnrunner

Awesome job!!! Well done!

Seaglass1123

Congrats my friend! You look fantastic and should be very proud! Woot woot! :flowerforyou:

cathyfowler662

Wow! Unbelievable difference! You look AWESOME! What a great inspiration.

Elleinnz

Awesome job - you look great

JacquiMayCrook

You look fabulous! Well done :flowerforyou:

Darknightswifey

YOU LOOK GREAT!!! Awesome job!

finnvalley

You look fabulous and have such a pretty face! Well, well done

ScottishMrs

Marvelous work! You look beautiful and I love your movie references

leonaedithlewis

Holy moley! You look great.

dancinmama

So So So FABULOUS!

lajoyaria

I'm so glad you took pictures! Look at the progress you made, amazing results! You do look fabulous and I'm sure you feel it too!

CharMaroc

wow!

croooz

Great work! Nice ink!

mjpbgtd

Wonderful post - thank you!
- A fellow "swimmer"

sun_fish

Fantastic job, congratulations!

MRSHHJONES

Thanks for sharing your inspirational story, Sarah!

Sarahsmiles0875

Got one planned for the end number too. Thanks to everyone for the support and encouragement.

XXbrendaXX

Congrats! You look great! I am sure with your focus and determination you will definitely make your goal weight! Yay you!! :happy:

ktsmom430

Congratulations! You look fantastic!
Continued success to you.

b3kah5

Oh my gosh!! You look great!!! I love your reference to the Hobbits!!! You are a great inspiration!!!

dona000

Amazing job! Very inspiring. I think we have similar weights and goals, though I'm a little bigger. May I ask how tall you are?

Sarahsmiles0875

Amazing job! Very inspiring. I think we have similar weights and goals, though I'm a little bigger. May I ask how tall you are?

I am 5'4 and with a nice pair of shoes 5'5:)

Sarahsmiles0875

Oh my gosh!! You look great!!! I love your reference to the Hobbits!!! You are a great inspiration!!!

I feel that was a good reference to my life before I started this process...loved all of my "snack" times!

LJSmith1989

Nice work, you look amazing!

bkesecker

Nothing short of amazing. Great work.

nancyalexand

Congratulations on your success. My story is almost like yours only mine was a series of things that made me give up on life.First one was after 2 neck surgeries my doctor said I could no longer work I was diagnosed with degenrative disk disease.Then I had wreck broke back and crushed both feet..That was in 2009.My family started babying me and telling me and others what I couldn't do and I hurt so I sit down.my weight got to 225 then 2 of my best buddies started losing weight so I joined a gym didn't know just what I could do.Then a friend on facebook posted about MFP and she had lost 34 lbs although the gym had help me lose to 204 after joining mfp I am now down to 189 and going.I now feel like there is nothing God and I can't achieve .I am having fun and enjoying life .I want to live.

Ashwee87

WOW!! Amazing transformation!!

Gerald_King

Fantastic well done

Mamabrandyk

Great transformation both in mind and your figure! I love your attitude, you got this!