10 months, 120 pounds gone!

The before picture is in December of 2011. I was 285 pounds, pre-hypertensive, and very unhappy. I was starting to develop pains in my right knee from carrying all the weight that I was carrying. I was afraid that, if I continued down the same path, I would need knee replacement surgery by age 35. So, in February 2012, I decided to take my life back. I started working out, first by walking, then by running and strength training. I was also very faithful in counting calories. I never had to starve to lose my weight either (no 1200 calorie days for me!)

Now, I'm 165 pounds, I have completed two 5K's, a 10K, a half-marathon, and I am running another half-marathon this coming Sunday. I love my new lifestyle, and I will never go back to where I was! Hopefully this will serve to encourage someone else.