My progress so far; 42 lbs (with a pic)

So, I began my weight loss journey on the first of this year. About a year or two before that I had discovered keto and had lost 30 lbs, but I messed up and couldn't get back into the swing of things. But around the first of the year I decided that this is going to be the perfect time for my new beginning, and I set a goal to become stronger so that I could accomplish things I couldn't do and lose 100 lbs before the same time next year.

So I snapped the picture on the left, and I started eating keto. (That's low carb high fat moderate protein for those of you wondering. It works for me and my medical background because of my PCOS and insulin resistance.) Then, after I lost about 20 lbs I began to walk. Not much. 10 minutes a day. Then the next week 15. And the next week 20, up until I was walking 30 minutes a day. Then I began to work on speed. Then after about two months I fell out of the habit of walking and well.. I'm going to start it back up tomorrow but that's not the point. I also lifted weights for the two months I walked and saw a great improvement in my strength!

Now the things I used to dread, like standing at the stove to cook a meal without sitting down, I do effortlessly. Walking around Sam's club after church on Sunday used to be horrible on me, I would have to stop at the chairs and recover. Then I didn't need to do it anymore, without even noticing. I walk upstairs without pausing to catch my breath. I walk long distances for events (like walking from where we parked our car forever away from where we were going to watch the fireworks.) I can carry the vacuum and laundry up and down stairs because my back doesn't hurt anymore. And I posted earlier how I was able to walk around the zoo for 5 hours with only 2 or 3 short breaks. It is fantastic!

My biggest suggestion for people looking to get started who aren't sure if they can do it, or even how to begin, is this: Just start small. Watch your calories. As that begins to help you lose weight, start moving. Ten minutes at a time, add 5 each week until you can do it for longer and longer periods of time. I know what it's like to want to just jump in and how starting so small makes you feel so silly and it doesn't feel like you're accomplishing anything, but you are. You just have to keep going, grow your strength and everything else will follow.

I have 160 more pounds to lose. I am not giving up until the job is done!



**PS I know the clothes I picked for my progress photos could have been better, but I literally took the picture last minute before I went to bed so I was stuck in my pjs. Lol! The pants are my painting pants.