100lbs gone forever!! (pic heavy)

Today marks a pretty big milestone for me, as I have officially lost 100lbs! I still have to lose another 60lbs to get to my ultimate goal but 60 sounds a lot more doable than 160, right?

I'll still never forget the day I got on the scale on February 4th. I was seeing a metabolic doctor that I work with to see about starting me on some sort of medication to help me lose weight. I have lost weight before, though never in the most healthy way (just cutting calories to 1200 but never really exercising). When I saw that I weighed 296lbs, at 5' 2.5", I wanted to cry. HOW did I let myself get to this point?? I knew it was bad, at 30 years old I was having a really hard time walking, and I couldn't do simple things like tie my shoe laces. Playing with my kids was not something I was really able to do at all. I came home from work most days and just dozed off on the couch. That was my life.

When I saw that I was 4lbs away from hitting 300lbs I KNEW I had to do something. However, I decided I didn't want to do pills, rather I wanted to try it on my own, the healthy way. I gave myself a month to make lifestyle changes before I would even fill the prescription. In that first month, I lost 16lbs and I knew I could do it.

The missing piece was always exercise. I admit I'm still not the best at getting it in all the time, but I started doing Jillian Michael's 30 Day Shred (at my own pace) and fell in love with moving my body. When I completed that, I joined a gym and started the Couch-to-5-K program on the treadmill, as I had signed up for a 5K in April, to complete this September. It took me a while but I went from barely being able to walk, to running 30 minutes straight. On September 29th, I did the Rescue Run, my first ever 5K. It was one of the greatest feelins of my life, crossing that finish line. I may not run fast, but I run!

I have two seven year-olds and they are one of the two reasons I decided to change my life. The other reason is I am fearful of the health problems that plague my family (which are nearly ALL due to poor lifestyle choices). I decided to break the cycle, no matter what. These 100lbs gone represent something powerful for me. Like I said before, 60lbs isn't much compared to where I started from. I've dropped several clothing sizes, over 41 inches, and my blood pressure has gone from high to excellent. My resting heart rate went from 90s-100s to 60s. I feel better than I ever have before.

I'll share with you now a few pictures. Feel free to add me here or follow my Facebook page - http://www.facebook.com/ginasroadtohealth

Before:









Progress:

















Today:



100lbs GONE FOREVER!