1 year ago today

I started with MFP and boy am I ever glad that I did. At the time that I started I was at my heaviest weight ever and was in a spiral toward some severe medical problems. I had been told I had high blood pressure for the first time in my life and I was dealing with what I would call depression about my situation. I decided that it was time to take control of my life and decided to give this site a shot at helping me. I was always skeptical about counting calories because I didn't know where to find out the calories for things like potatoes, green beans, carrots, etc... You know, foods that don't normally have a label attached to them when in their natural state. I grow a lot of my vegetables and we eat meats that we harvest ourselves so I thought I would never be able to figure those out. Little did I know that all of you here would help me with it. I'm so thankful for all the posts with words of advice and encouragement. They help me everyday. I have had many days where I think I can't possibly do this but I soon realize that there are others that have felt the same way and it's not unusual and I can work through it. You all have been tremendously instrumental in my success so far. I have a long way to go still so keep it all coming. I read it, analyze it and pass it on to my family who have also shown success. My father has lost 60+ pounds and is now in a much healthier state. My mom has lost over 30 and looks marvelous. My sister and her boyfriend have joined in now too and hopefully will show progress too. It's a family event for us. It's great.

I've had people ask about what I've done to get this far. Here it is in a nutshell. I've tracked my calories and attempted to stay at the suggested guidelines. Hasn't happened all the time but at least I tried. I weighed my meats, I measured my portions, I stayed in control. It's the days that I felt out of control that I went WAY overboard but I never let it beat me down like I had in the past. One day eating junk in the past would've blown my "diet" away. I wouldn't have tried anymore. This time it's not a diet. It's a lifestyle change. Do I eat just "diet" foods? No, I don't. I am in an area that doesn't offer organic foods and I can only grow fresh stuff in the summer. Do I never eat junk? No, I have my days that I have to have a little something. If I don't then I'm going to end up in one of those out of control states. Not good. I personally think that if you stand accountable for yourself and to yourself you'll have success. I don't do this for anybody but me. Yes, my family will reap benefits too. I cook better now than I did before. I make more vegetables and I'm teaching my sons about portion control. My Dad believed that he would starve if he did what I was doing. After a few weeks of getting used to the new portion sizes he finally admitted that what he was getting was enough. It wasn't the massive amounts that he was used to eating but it was enough. If I have only benefited him and myself in this journey it will be enough for me. I think that others will benefit from it to though. Anybody that asks I tell them what I've done. I don't pressure anybody. It's something you have to do on your own because in the end you are the only person that can control what goes in your mouth.

Here is a picture of me 2 months before I started. I believe this is my highest weight ever and I remember when this picture was taken. I tried to avoid it like crazy because I was so embarrassed by my size. I'm glad I have it now so I can look back and say "NEVER AGAIN!"



This is me in July of last year.


Here I am as of this morning. 96 pounds lighter and feeling MUCH better. I tried to stand the same way so you could see the difference.



Thanks for looking