58 pounds gone with pics

I don't really have much of a story to tell. I've been overweight all of my life. As a kid, I was one of only 3 overweight kids in my elementary school so I was made fun of quite a bit. I hated it. Last year I was turning 50 and decided it was time to make some changes. I tried to do it on my own and lost 30 pounds from April to November, then gained about 10 or so back over the holidays. I was feeling pretty discouraged until a friend introduced me to MFP in February. Since then I've made several new friends, learned a lot about myself and my habits, and I've lost another 38 pounds, bringing me to a total loss of 58 pounds! I'm smaller than I ever was, even in high school.

The secret to my success? I stopped making excuses for myself. I started running in April and have participated in 3 5K's to date. I exercise 5-6 days a week for 30-45 minutes and I eat about 1800 calories a day. I'd like to start lifting heavier in order to lean out just a little more.

For those of you who have tried and failed, or are afraid to try - don't quit! Do something every day to improve your lifestyle. You don't have to sacrifice good food. I eat everything I've ever eaten, just in smaller quantities and I exercise to burn some of it off. It's a simple formula.

Here are my before and afters: