Kind of embarrassing but here goes - before and after!

Please excuse the fact that I missed the memo about smiling in the AFTER photo and looking miserable in the BEFORE picture. I'm rocking the deer-in-headlights look but that's ok. Also excuse the massive pile of laundry on the couch - at least my boyfriend was considerate enough to dump it there instead of on the bed like normal!







Eight months after first logging onto MFP (with over 250 straight days of logging), I have reached my goal weight! Now that the weight is off, I want to turn my efforts to getting in better shape.

I'd say 75% of my success has come purely from logging my foods, which has helped me incorporate portion control and balance into my diet and to make healthier food choices.

In January, I decided to get back into running (I did a few 5k's a couple years ago and hadn't run much since). I did a 10k in April, had my best 5k time a few weeks later, and am currently up to 9 miles in my training for a HALF MARATHON on my 29th birthday (next month)!!!! After that, I want to give Insanity a try though I want to continue running.

I won't say it was *easy* to lose this weight but what I will say is that (because I don't have any other health/metabolism issues to make things more complicated), the basic formula works. I was pretty darn good about logging all my foods, stayed pretty close to my calorie goals, and lost weight fairly consistently at the pace I expected based on my goals and calories. I had a couple of "plateaus" and then adjusted calories or went over for a couple days and then got back to normal, and that seemed to get things moving again.

Some stats:

Age: 28
Height: 5'7"

SW: 175
CW: 145

Starting waist: 34
Current waist: 29

Starting hips: 44
Current hips: 39

Starting thigh: 26
Current thigh: 23

Starting pant size: 12
Current pant size: 6

Even more importantly, I had my annual physical and labs and went from having slightly elevated blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol to being in the "perfect" range for blood pressure and blood sugar and the "best cholesterol I've ever seen" category (according to my doctor who literally yelled out loud when she saw my results). She said I have added years to my life by making these changes!

Looking at these comparison photos was the first time that I really saw how dramatic the change has been. I am so proud of myself for doing this and determined to keep this weight off. I have truly approached this as a lifestyle change and I do plan to continue logging indefinitely so that things don't get out of hand.

I hope this is helpful to someone!