26 months after joining MFP in pictures

This was my original success story post when I made it to my goal, before gaining back any weight:

"I have had a history of binge eating and bulimia since High School and I finally figured out why I was doing it after a few years of therapy. Soooooo I had already been eating a little better and working out a little and that was just the push I needed to keep me going in the right direction and to do it the healthiest way I could. I thought it would take longer than a year and a half but here I am.

I think the biggest thing was using this site and the app on my phone at first to keep track of what I ate. I had no idea I was actually eating 5,000+ calories every day. No wonder I was pushing 300lbs (308 at one point). Once I got used to what I was supposed to be eating, it was pretty easy for me to just stick to that and just eat when I was hungry. I also hardly craved the same junk I ate before. It helped me learn how to cook for myself and my tastes just changed.

The last few months though haven't been all will power though. I started having seizures on New Years Eve and we still haven't figured out exactly why. My anti-epileptic medications have been making me feel like crap on and off so my diet has been sort of hit or miss. All I know is that I haven't gained anything back and I haven't binged or purged in well over a year. It feels awesome.

I just watched a video I made 11 weeks into my weight loss journey that was made as a message to my future self for when I hit my goal weight. It could have been watched over the weekend but I wasn't reminded of it until tonight. I cried when I made the video and I cried when I watched it. I can't believe I've lost over 1/2 my body weight since December 2011 . . . I really can't. From 298 to 146. A size 22-26/4X (I think) to a 6-8/S now.

Thank you to everyone that has been here for me this entire time. You've been more help this last year and a half than you may realize.

[. . .]

To add:

Do I have extra skin?
Hell to the **** yes, I do. It's tightening up slowly though. I guess that's a perk to being 26 and well hydrated?

What did I eat?
Whatever the **** I wanted. Just smaller amounts. Once my tastes changed, a lot of the junk made it's way out on it's own.

What exercises did I do?
I used to run. A lot. I also used to use a book called Convict Conditioning. Now I mainly just walk to and from work and then walk on my breaks. I also go to the amusement park in town and run around like an idiot on weekends.

What advice can I give?
Don't give up on yourself. Ever. Just don't. Trust me. I ****ed up a lot and I still do. It's normal. Just bounce back from it and don't let it be the end of you. Find yourself a support system. Post about it all over your facebook if you want . . . that's what I did. The more you put yourself out there: the more likely you are to keep up with it rather than slip back or become a recluse. Also, make a video to your future self. I cried watching it tonight and even just seeing the file on my desktop every now and then knowing I couldn't let myself watch it until I hit my goal would push me sometimes."

---

The status update from yesterday when i came back.

"I've been gone for too long. I thought I could just keep things up on my own but I've gained about 40 pounds back. I'll find out the exact amount here in a few minutes since I'm at the doctor. Either way, I need to come back for support, accountability and also to make sure that I do not go back to my eating disorder... Which I'm afraid has already begun. Sooooo... I'm here hoping to nip it in the butt before it gets out of control again."

---

Here is my updated 26 month story: (I'll be making a separate thread for this elsewhere since I know a lot of people may miss this post.

So since May, I stopped really using MFP, thinking that I could do it all on my own. I gained 42lbs back but...
1. I'm back before my last pair of small jeans stopped fitting.
2. I'm not giving up on myself because I screwed up.
3. I'm going to stay on this time, lose those 42lbs again and hopefully continue to help others along the way.

I revamped my style yesterday to bring back more of myself and, on top of keeping up with my physical health, I'm going to keep up with my emotional self confidence by prettying myself up (for me) daily. Walking around in the same sweatpants for days surely didn't help the last few months.

I really want to remind people that this is sort of like drug abuse or smoking. If you **** up and have an *kitten* ton of cake, a pack of cigarettes or a dose of heroine, you do not need to continue to do it just because you fell back into it for a short while. We have the power and control our actions daily. Treat it as a daily thing.

Just for today, I will not be a heifer... lol

Here is the last 2 years in pictures. (Well, more than that since the first one in the bikini I was 18 years old in the pictures to the right)

Highest weight on the right was 308. The one on the left was a few months into my weight loss.


December 11, 2011 - 298lbs - First day on MFP


Workin' it.


The first time I noticed my running clothes were too big.


After my first walk for charity.


Size 16 skinny jeans! I was so stoked.


New years eve 2011


New years eve 2012


New years eve 2011


New years eve 2012


Wanted to look like a princess - turns out the dress was a size 8!


Just because I felt good



Wearing my size 26 jeans standing in one leg



First day on mfp to the day I hit my mfp goal



When I started to get a little too thin...



Shows a little of the extra skin (and an *kitten* ton of confidence)


Tired...


Just because I felt pretty but right when I started putting weight back on


Just because I was happy - my phone also went flying off the top of that roller coaster after this was taken. Only scratches on it and I still have it.


Working the door at our friend's father's birthday party


After having to move back in with my parents and realizing that my life and health had sort of turned back to crap. I may be smiling but I feel like my eyes look dead.


My cat...


In the hospital last week after being admitted for seizures... Don't those EEG caps just look hella sexy?


Over the weekend when i first started to really want to get back to losing weight


Today... after making the choice to come back and being on day 2 of being happy again and getting back on track. 187lbs now but the changing my hair and prettifying myself makes me truly happy.