47 pounds gone and never coming back! (PICS!)

At the encouragement of a coworker, I am posting my final success story.

This was me:








About 212 pounds. Loving beer, food, and everything tasty a college graduate with a good job can afford to eat. I stop here to tell you that I was never unhappy. I have an amazing life, and I was always happy with that. But life (and my clothes) were becoming uncomfortable. I saw a picture of some friends from college, and they looked great. And finally, I decided I was going to look great too. If I couldn't be skinny at 24, when was I going to be skinny?

First, I learned what a portion was. And I was HUNGRY. I was probably eating 3500 calories a day before. My stomach was grossly stretched. I had to get it back down to size. Hence, HUNGRY. But after 2 weeks, this stopped.

Second, I started replacing things. High test with light or fat free, but also replaced chips with carrots, or ice cream with yogurt. I started having a protein shake for breakfast every morning. I probably cut at least 400 calories a day in breakfast alone by doing this.

That got me here:


This is the morning I started 30DS. I'm not a graduate, but I was doing it. And in the 15 days I did it, I lost an inch around my waist! It works! Do it! Anyways, moving on. Now I was challenging my muscles and my body to do things it didn't do before. I was noticing my heart rate didn't increase going up stairs. All my pants were too big. I was stronger. And I liked it!

Then I stopped losing weight. The scale won't move when I exercise. And my mind was not in a good enough place to be ok with that. So I stopped working out every day, and worked on what I knew- how to control my intake. Then came the "I just don't give a flying fruit loop" phase. So a friend recommended I eat at maintenance. And I did. For a month. Didn't log food. And I didn't gain weight. During this month, I learned to love my body. As my friends and I termed it "The skinny girl and fat girl were having a fight outside the bar at 3 am", and I had to give that skinny girl all the weapons I could.

At our engagement party during this phase:



In the past 3 weeks or so, I have been logging and losing. Sunday after thanksgiving, I had my first wedding dress fitting. I'll let the picture explain the rest:



I'm so damn proud of myself. Look at that! I was sample size. I bought the dress right off the rack and it fits me like a glove. No back fat, no wing boobs, no arm jiggles. I DID THAT! (PS- I did that still having beer and onion rings and buffalo chicken. Just not every night and in moderation)

I am 5'11 1/2". I started om April 24, 2012 around 212.2. It could have been higher before that, though. I didn't own a scale. I also didn't take beginning measurements. My one regret. I was a size 16 dress pant, XL/14 shirt.

I am now 165.6. Wearing 10/12 dress pants, Medium/10 dresses and shirts. 23.9% body fat. My insides feel so much better. I know that sounds silly, but it's the best way I can say it.

My point is that YOU CAN DO IT! Everyone says that, I know, but you can seriously do this. BUT- you can only do this when you do it for you alone. You can't want to lose 50 pounds so your husband will be happier, or to impress your girlfriends. You have to do it so YOU will be happier, or to impress YOURSELF! The second you overcome this hurtle and actually get it, the rest is so simple.

My final piece of advice: MODERATION! Don't have cheat days. Don't let yourself binge. Have a serving. ONE SERVING. And be done. If you want a cookie every day- have one. You have a budget. Whether you spend it on a dessert or 3 pounds of veggies, it is your choice. But if you spend it on cookies- I warn you, you WILL be hungry.

Much love to all of you. Keep up your amazing work. Don't be afraid to turn for help to this amazing community of people. Be kind to one another

Love, Brianna