Post Cancer 100lb loss, pregnancy, now losing again.

I don't know how to get the photo to show up here.
I've entered a contest for a free makeover and pin-up photo shoot. I appreciate you taking the time to read my story.

I edited it and re pasted the link. It works for me. Did it fix it for you? It may have something to do with a privacy setting the page I entered the contest in on facebook is using.

larlo74, thanks so much for the image help. I was going to have to make my poor tech-savvy husband fix it :ohwell:

Here's a current photo, since I haven't figured out how to make the whole collage show up.
5/22/2013
Almost back to pre-pregnancy

I'm sorry everyone. I just saw in the guidelines that I shouldn't ask for votes for anything. I hope I didn't offend anyone. I just thought it was a easy way to share my pictures and journey that I recently posted elsewhere.
I still think myfitnesspal is awesome! I use it every day to keep me on track.

Here's my full story, for those who'd still like to look, but don't want to follow an outside link. I couldn't go back and take the facebook link off.

I've known my husband practically my whole life. Our parents like to say that we met in T-Ball. Just when our friendship was developing into something deeper, I was in a life changing wreck. On July 12th, 2000 I was stopped at a construction zone and rear ended by a semi, going 65+mph. I’m lucky to be alive. We started dating, making a life together, and waited and waited, but I didn't get better, and the pain never went away. The diagnosis: fibromyalgia. I tried every treatment you can imagine, but the only thing that's helped is a special diet that avoids inflammatory foods. We both feel better eating this way and it has become our way of life. Years went by, we bought a house, and in 2008 decided to start a family. A year goes by with no baby on the way. I went to the doctor to try to find out why and my life changed again, forever.

The doctor found a lump on my thyroid that turned out to be cancer. Cancer?! At 29?! Two surgeries later, one completely removing my thyroid, and then it was time for radioactive iodine treatment to remove all traces of thyroid tissue. I had to stop my thyroid medication. My body swelled. I gained weight very quickly. My muscles cramped and I couldn't bear to walk. Those few weeks seemed like an eternity. I would look at my body and sob because my belly was growing and I was getting stretch marks, but not from the baby I so badly wanted. I got every possible side effect from cancer treatment. Some temporary, and some permanent.

I was told in one year that they would do a body scan and make sure the cancer was gone. Don't try for a baby now. Wait, they said, they can't scan if I’m pregnant. We waited. I focused on getting stronger and healthier. Having no thyroid means my whole metabolism is controlled by a pill. It wasn't long before I realized that it was much harder for me to lose weight than when I had a thyroid, so I just had to work harder. One year passed and I had my scan. Diagnosis: remission!!!

You have to wait six months after the body scan to conceive, because of the radiation. I continued to work hard, eventually losing 100 pounds, and I was in the best shape of my life. We both started fertility tests and treatments, so that we could be ready.

Diagnosis: severe male infertility. Not good news, but I found minor comfort in the fact that I didn't have to feel betrayed by my body yet again. The only way for us to have a baby was via IVF. That means I had to take the hormones and go through egg retrieval surgery, while he just had to make a "deposit". My husband felt guilty that he was the one with the problem, but I had to go through the ringer. I didn't hesitate, he’d do the same for me.

We did IVF in October of 2011 and were successful! The only complication during my pregnancy was managing my thyroid levels and the side effects that had on my body. Our baby was always perfectly healthy. On June 27th 2012, I gave birth to the most perfect beautiful daughter we could ever imagine, Nora.

I love being a mother, I feel like this is what I was made to do. I’ve found a balance between meeting all of Nora's needs and making time to take care of myself. By making exercise and healthy eating a priority in my life, I’m setting an example for our daughter that will help her lead a healthy life.

One of the side effects of my thyroid being so out of control during and after pregnancy was extra weight gain and even more difficulty losing it. I’m working hard and will reach my goal. I’ve learned that I can overcome anything, but I'd be happy if life never tests that again.

I have truly transformed my life for the better, against all odds, again and again. I am the girl of my dreams.

Thank you. I'll tell him, he's very much looking forwards to Father's Day. We love our Nora so much