40lbs GONE FOREVER!

Hi everyone! I have been feeling really unmotivated and terrible about my weight loss journey and although my journey is not yet complete, I have really come a long way. June 2012 I was at my highest weight EVER of between 196-198lbs. I ate anything and everything I wanted I NEVER exercised and just walking up a flight of stairs had me exhausted and panting. I had planned a trip to Williamsburg, VA with my current boyfriend. I had always wanted to visit historical Williamsburg ( and being a history buff I couldn't wait to see all the historical sites and photo-document our trip). Our last stop on our first day was the Governor's Palace, where my fiancé proposed to me! I almost fainted from the shock and the heat! I was so excited and a nice passerby offered to take our picture!



Hopefully the picture works and you can see how heavy I was. Looking at the picture now I am disgusted with myself for letting myself get to that point. I knew I was heavy but I never realized how terrible I looked and it saddens me to think that there were so many important milestones of my life that I find difficult to look at and remember because of how heavy I was.

A few days after we returned from our vacation we attended my little brother's graduation from high school.



After seeing these pictures I knew something had to change. I did not want to look at my wedding photos and be disappointed because I was so unhappy with my body. My best friend had gotten engaged at christmas time and was already working on losing weight for her wedding. She turned me onto this site and we went to the gym and supported each other.

I stopped eating potato chips and dip, I was counting calories, I was exercising, and I was enjoying it! I liked to go to the gym, I liked working out, and most of all I liked seeing the change in my body. I started to feel beautiful and feel good about myself and my body. I've had a few set backs and in 525 days I have managed to get to my lowest weight of 143lbs (back in mid-Oct). But with my birthday, my mini-vacation birthday celebration weekend with my best friend, and our fiancés, not logging, not watching what I am eating, two packages of oreos, and getting lazy, I have managed to gain almost 10lbs back and I am at the same weight I was this time last year. I can acknowledge that yes, I did "maintain" my weight over the course of a year, but I am NOT where I wanted to be. I am kicking myself back into gear and hopefully by posting this mid-journey success I can get my stubborn head to realize that I have come ALONG way! I wanted to share my pictures with people who are just starting out, to show them that IT IS POSSIBLE! But I also wanted to share to hear from others, how they did it, what advice you all may have and to hear words of encouragement or criticism.

I didn't deprive myself of anything I wanted, but I ate in moderation, I don't work out every day, but when I do, I do things that I enjoy. I know that I will have more struggles and as I lose weight it gets harder and harder but if I dedicate myself I can hit my goal!

Now, assuming these pictures work… here are lots of pictures from the past 500+ days!

June 2010 - Myrtle Beach - 1st Vacation with my fiancé about 160-170lbs



May 2011 - My Bestie & I graduate COLLEGE! 175lbs


June 2011 - Parrots in the Park, Beacon, NY


Aug 2011 - Niagara Falls Vacation - Theodore Roosevelt House


Dec 24, 2011 - Christmas Eve dinner with my family


April 2012 - visiting relatives in NYC around


June 2012 - Little Bro's Prom


June 2012 - Moments after getting ENGAGED!


June 2012 - Brother's Graduation (196-198lbs)


7/12/12 - I weighed in on my first day of MFP weighing 190lbs

Aug. 2012 - Cousin's bridal shower 174lbs


Sep 2012 - Just after I purchased the dress for my cousins wedding 170lbs


Sept 2012 - Ultimate Bridal Expo - Poughkeepsie NY 169lbs


Oct. 7, 2012 - Cousins wedding 165lbs


Nov. 20, 2012 - Engagement photoshoot - 153.8lbs


Jan. 2013 149lbs


Feb 2013 - Valentine's Ball, Villa Borghese, Wappingers Falls, NY 145lbs


March 2013 - St. Pat's Parade 146lbs



June 2013 - Annual Vacation - 147.6lbs


Sep 2013 - My SKINNY photoshoot! Between 143~149lbs





Oct. 2013 - Bestie's Surprise bridal shower 143lbs


Nov. 2013 - Birthday Mini-vaca 148lbs



Hope you like all these pics and can take something away from my journey. Putting this together has been good for me and I am so thankful that I have someplace to share my story. Thank you to all of my MFP friends who have supported me! I will reach my goal!