Getting out of my comfort zone (pics)

grillnchill · January 2014

Absolutely wonderful! You should be very proud of yourself.

Years ago a friend of mine told me if I wanted to succeed at my goals I had better step out of my comfort zone. Her words still resonate with me. Kudos for "stepping out"

WeaponOfMassInstruction · January 2014

COngratulions! You look great and HAPPY!!!! I have lost almost 170 lbs since April of last year and cannot extol the benefits of losing enough! No more medications (I was on blood pressure pills, Metformin, and Simvastatin), less stress on the joints, better sex life, more energy... the hits keep on coming. Don't give up as you can clearly see a difference!!!

stat1124 · January 2014

Your well on your way!! Great progress so far. It shines and radiates all over your face! In no time you will be snapping pics like a 16 yr old! HAHA!

SheaBdoll · January 2014

Great job pushing yourself! Inspirational!!

HeatherBrookmyer · January 2014

Congratulations!!! You should feel so proud of yourself, 60lbs is a huge accomplishment, like others above me have said just think where you'll be in two more years. I wish you much success on your continued journey!!!

MissSarahAllison315 · January 2014

I can definitely see a difference (your face looks a lot thinner!)! As others have said...just imagine where you'll be in another two years! AMAZING!!!!

mboromom · January 2014

Amazing transformation Honey!!! Keep up the great work!!!!

SapiensPisces · January 2014

Dropping my A1c from 14.0 at diagnosis in 2010 to 6.3 at last check in November

WOW, that is an amazing change just by itself.

Congratulations!

ribbismom · January 2014

Thanks for the visual comparisons thing... so helpful!

Sweetestthing87 · January 2014

We are all glad you shared your success! You are on your way to a healthier YOU! That is amazing. I am sure a lot of us (myself included) still fight with ourselves. One step at a time. You are doing GREAT!

Greywalk · January 2014

Thanks for sharing, and good work. Also think of the lessons your son is learning watching you do this...big benefit...unintentional but truly a big side benefit.

kvan64 · January 2014

Amazing. Thank you for sharing your story. You look healthier and happier. Keep the commitment to yourself going. You will reach your goal.

mchixenbaugh · January 2014

Congratulations on your success! I see a huge difference.

faely · January 2014

Wow! Thanks everyone, your words of encouragement and support are a tremendous help!

@ phyl303 - thank you so much for the visual comparisons. It's funny to imagine myself carrying around a basset hound :laugh:

@ Greywalk - it was actually very intentional to be an example and lesson to my son. My grandfather had diabetes, my dad has diabetes, and I have it...that puts my son in a very high-risk category to get it. I do not want to continue that family legacy if I can help it, so when I was diagnosed with it I knew I had to change or I would be helping send my son to that terrible place. What mother could consciously do that? He is my whole world, and while I am doing this for my own health, I am also doing this for him.

A bit of my "story" - I lost the weight pretty much entirely by eating less. I lost 30 lbs in 3 months, then stalled for over a year and a half. I was lost as to why. I had NO IDEA how much (calories) I was actually eating. Plus I sit on my *kitten* all day at work and rarely move any other time because I'm just so worn out hauling all this weight around. I found the group Eat, Train, Progress. Sara and SideSteel (and loads of other people in that group) have a very logical approach to health and fitness that is based on study and actual science, not the fad of the day. I poured over all the information they have to share and discovered the food scale. Once i started weighing my food I realized how completely off I was at estimating and I had no clue what a real portion was supposed to look like. A portion to a fat person is NOT the same as a portion to a thin person.

I started integrating all the new information and started losing again...another 30 lbs. Through ETP I learned that all cardio isn't going to do anything for my strength, and I am sooooo weak! You would think I would be stronger considering how much weight I have to carry around, but I am not. I am still struggling with this part, but I know now that I need to do weight training. I cannot afford to go to the gym anymore, but while I was there for a few short weeks, the one good thing my trainer taught me was bodyweight exercises. In 6 weeks of doing them 2-3 times a week, I lost 8 inches (that I'd measured) - 6 from my tummy and 2 from my hips. I am still working on incorporating that more into my daily activity.

I never thought I would be an inspiration to anyone. Thank you everyone for applauding my successes and sharing in my journey. It really means a lot.

:flowerforyou: