1 year later...

Well, this is really kind of difficult for me to do. I've never liked sharing photos of myself but, I really want to let people out there know that it can be done. You just have to do it. I started exactly a year ago today. I had just turned 37 and my brother (11 years older than I and in seemingly much better shape) had a heart attack and almost died. I wasn't well. As you can see from my before picture, I was obese at 5'3" and 225 lbs. After the birth of my now 5 year old, I was diagnosed hypothyroid. Combine that with a baby who never slept more than a couple hours and it wasn't a good recipe. I was exhausted all the time and I ate terribly. I also have 3 other kids, so I was stretched a little thin and for about 4 years, I just let go of myself. It took my brother's heart attack to wake me up. I joined weight watchers and started exercising. I added the exercise slowly because I had been having other medical issues. I started dropping the weight almost, 40 lbs, but felt like I was starving and weight watchers was confusing with the Activity points. I felt it would just be easier for me to count calories and log what I was eating so I found MFP. I don't remember even exactly when I joined, but I've lost another 34. My total for the year 71.4 lbs!

before-The only picture I could find. I hid from the camera. This was at my daughter's play last year and right after I had gotten the worst haircut ever.


A few months ago, at my daughter's play this year.


today!


one more!


I hope the pictures work. Some stats, I went from 225ibs to 153.6lbs. I was a size 20 in bottoms and a 1X in tops. I now wear a 9/10 in bottoms and a M in tops. I hope to lose a little more and then work on the muscles. I just turned 38 last week and I feel absolutely fabulous!