Goal? sorry no pictures.

I know that people come here for the pictures (I do) but I'm not together enough for that. I did hit my goal this morning, I've lost 56 pounds since March and now I weigh 150. Started at 206. I am a 5 foot 7 inch tall woman. I was too fat, now I am not. I still have some work to do but I'm happy. I can fit into a size 8 pants from a tight 16. This is huge (lol).

I believe strongly that maintaining my new weight successfully involves understanding why I was fat in the first place. How I got fat, why I let myself. I was a normal, active child who evolved into a reckless, thrill seeking teenager. Long story. I self medicated my depression (genetic, strong family history) with stimulants and weighed 105 lbs at 20 years old. I was a mess, and way too many life experiences were crammed into those years. When I met my husband I stopped the drugs fast... he wasn't into it and I was into him. But my head was never right, so I drank. I ate whatever, not for comfort just because I was too lazy to be mindful of what I was using to fuel my body. Then I had kids and after each one I never lost what I gained. Then life slapped me around a bit, and amongst other things I lost my father suddenly and unexpectedly and I spent a year drinking myself to sleep and isolating, while going about the motions of being a functional human being, business owner, wife and mother. If it was not for my husband and two kids I would not have been able to drag my sorry butt out of bed each day... but as little as I took care of myself I am a natural nurturer, I existed by taking care of them.

What changed for me? My oldest son grew older and I saw myself in him so much that I resolved to be the best version of myself that I could possibly be. I may be a mess, I've been called eccentric, intense, hard to handle, but I am awesome! I have been dealt some bad cards but I was also gifted with incredible talents, I'm smart, I'm able. Im really good at my job, I strive for self improvement and perfection. Hey guess what? So are you. You are awesome, don't you dare forget it.

So I stopped drinking. And sleeping too much. That was the first thing. More time active, less calories from booze. Alcohol is a depressant. I tell myself this on a daily basis...it won't make you feel better. I started taking my kids hiking... first small hikes, then bigger and steeper. Now My seven year old can walk ten miles on rough trails without complaining. I started lifting my husband's weights, and doing regular cardio... this gave me more energy than sleeping too much ever did. I started enjoying my body and treating it like it is something special, rather than just a vehicle to drive my soul around in. I resolved to be the very best version of myself that I could possibly be.

Is it simple math? Calories in, calories out? To some extent yes, absolutely. But that formula is meaningless unless you know why you are the way you are. Is this an overshare.... maybe (lol), but this is how I did it and I want to share that. It's a simple formula with multi faceted underlying causes, and we each have our own. Find yours, and don't be afraid to really examine yourself, your motivations, your priorities, your reason for existing. Be the best version of yourself. Be mindful, be strong, be present.