Dropped 140 lbs in 5 years

haha yes... she and I have done Facetime/Skype conversations and what not but she's gonna flip when she is able to SEE and FEEL how tiny my waist is (i'm at 32'' now!! down from 44'').... we were talking the other day and I had to thank her... in 2007 I won a trip to France through my college. Everything was taken care of except the plane ticket. She sat me down (and i know it was the hardest thing for her to do... because we cried through it all) and said flat out that if I didn't lose the weight, she worried we'd have to buy 2 plane tickets to accommodate me... THAT was the wake-up call. That's what ignited the spark in me.

She dragged me to my first Weight Watchers meeting, a program I FULLY throw support behind, especially for beginners, as it helped me to completely see food in a different way. Just on the restructuring of my diet, I went from 315 to 270 before the trip to France. But I think the greatest thing for me was in the move to LA, where I currently reside now. The plethora of fresh fruits & vegetables, the focus on lighter fare in even restaurant dishes it really helped me get out of the glut of fats, butters, oils that seem to be in every dish in the Coal Regions of PA. Now don't get me wrong... I LOVE my pierogies, halushki, pizzas, etc but even now as I gear up for going home... I know if I don't pay attention, the re-introduction of all those added fats will leave me doubled over with one hell of a stomach-ache. It also helps that I LOVE salad. Like, I do a full meal salad usually for lunch or dinner every day.

Also, and I hate to say it (because I'm doing this for ME, first and foremost), but the climate of body image here in LA is a great motivator. There are so many pecs and abs and biceps everywhere you look, which lead to the introduction to the one place i avoided for years-- the gym. Over the last 2 years, I hit cardio hard in addition to some moderate weight lifting. But now that I'm close to my goal weight, I'm scaling back on the cardio and 2013 will be about heavy lifting. Having lost all that weight, there is definitely areas of now excess skin that need to be "filled out" in the right ways.

Do I think I'll need a bit of reconstructive cosmetic surgery in the future? Yes, and I'm saving up for it & not ashamed of it because I caused it. BUT!!! I want to give it another solid 2 years of doing what I can in the gym to see if I could correct most of it! That way it's more of a nip/tuck rather than a full lift. I looked at myself in the mirror the other day, and I won't lie... it's a bit painful to look at... but... I had to drop the weight... but I also knew it was only half my struggle. I can't wait for the day when I can wear my UnderArmour shirt and that's IT in the gym...haha... not just hidden underneath all my clothes to keep everything in place.

Finally, it look me 5 years because I knew, for me, I had to make it a lifestyle, not a diet. I never avoided McDonald's or Taco Bell (and I never will...haha), and, like all of us, I had my moments of backpedaling with plateaus, hectic work schedules, holidays, and just the occasional lack of motivation. For me... I was happy it was a slower process. I think if I lost it all quick I woulda put it back on quick. The goal is maintenance, which I know will be a lifelong struggle. I've adjusted, I'm ready, and I know I can succeed.

For the next week, I'm re-calculating MFP to just go into maintenance mode instead of a weight loss mode... I also tried to lose as much as I could this week, so when I do put on the few holiday pounds, it's less of a big deal. After the crazy of Xmas, I'll go back to losing a 1lb a week and I think stay at that for the next year or so. I guess we shall see.

EVERYONE-- Enjoy your holidays!! Have safe, healthy and prosperous new years! And best of luck in your own journeys to achieving your weight loss goals!! ... and enjoy those extra helpings now because you better believe we're gonna burn em off in 2013!!!