A Year and a Half Later..... (pics)

I've been updating my old thread, but though that it might be a little easier to just start a new one, as the old one has gotten kind of long in the tooth.

It was January of 2011 when I noticed weight starting to fall away without any major changes on my part that snagged my attention, and sent me looking for an app or program to keep track of calories just so I could try to figure out what was wrong. It wasn't until December of 2012 that I actually took control of the weight loss/ health issues that were happening. Since then, it has been a roller coaster ride for me - sometimes better, some times worse - that has brought me to this point. When I started actually trying to take control of the monster that had erupted into my life, I figured I probably should have progress pics to go along with me, and help to keep me focused on what I was doing.

I have been through many, many different weight loss yo-yo's over the years, having been a rather stout child. However, family genetics have played a tremendous role in my ability to let things get out of hand without realizing just EXACTLY how out of control they were. So, when I realized that things were worse than over-the-top, I felt like the rug had been jerked out from under me, and I was standing on oil slicked ice. No matter where I tried to step, I was going to fall.

Many threads talk about an "ah HAH!" moment that turned things around for different people. I didn't get that luxury. I went from blissfully ignorant to panicked over night. The family tree has a nasty medical history on both sides. And in almost every case, it is an event of "everything is fine" one day to "you have XYZ" the next. No warning signs, no early warning symptoms, just healthy to sick.

Because I have written about where I came from here:

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/945297-not-done-but-over-half-way-there

I won't re-cover the same ground. (Though, you may have to dig a little to find the April Update)

I admit, when I posted my first "Before and during" profile pic, it was more in desperation than any real though of motivation. But, once the first one went up, and I had won past the hurdle of feeling like I was over exposed, it was easier and more natural to post the follow up collages. However! With that said, when the sweats were causing problems not just to the heat starting to set in, but also were actually falling off no matter how tight I cinched down the draw string, I had to face the same hurdle again. I faced it, and over came it with the collage showing the first swim suit.

No, don't go looking for the bikini shots - they are not there. I have worn a bikini a total of ONE summer, and never out past the front yard. (It was the year those frilly hot pant type short bottoms paired with a sports bra type top was the fashion) I could probably find a bikini style that I like, and would proudly wear it, but because I swim (a lot of laps) and do not like having to worry about bottoms coming off, I stick to one pieces. Even THOSE are getting hard to find, because it seems that one piece suits are either for the very young, or the very body shy. (And a WHOLE different kettle of complaints from me there!)

So, onto the fun part: These are the last 3 comparison collages







Though things have slowed down for the weight loss a little bit, I am not at all disappointed. It took over 30 years to get here, and the fact that I'll be back down to a goal weight in by the time Christmas rolls around again is phenomenal for me.

For many of the common questions I have seen on the forums, I will see if I can answer them ahead of time:

How have you made it this far?

Because of the medical condition, I have had to make a radical alteration of my menu. I have had to radically cut back on my carb and sugar intake. This caused a large, short-term drop in weight as the body adjusted to the new menu, then the weight loss settled back down to a slow, steady rate. Since I love the foods I CAN have, I happily follow one of the many lessons I learned along the way from the yo-yo state diets I tried in the past - do not make any food taboo. The only taboo foods I have are due to medical considerations, not by choice.

How do you keep your motivation?

I have an edge with this - if I "fall off the wagon" then I get hit with medical complications I cannot afford financially, nor could I afford them scholastically. However, there are still days that I don't want to go out and exercise, or I don't want to do something I know I must/should. The thing I do to get those activities done is to just grit my teeth and get started. Remembering a quote from Sharon Lee and Steve Miller's Liaden Universe "The fastest way to done is through begun". If there is something I REALLY don't want to do, usually school related, not health, I break it up into tiny pieces and just keep nibbling at it. 5 minutes here, 10 minutes there. Before you know it, it's done.

As I stated in the first post, I hope that what I have accomplished helps others to get to their goals. The road along your personal journey may not be easy, it may not be fun, but it is definitely worth it. Why? Because YOU ARE WORTH IT!