My 6-month-50-lbs.-loss Journey!! With progress pictures!

I wish I could start this by telling you my weight-loss journey has been easy - but it hasn't. But it's worth it!!

I have lost 51lbs in 6 months! I'm not doing this to be thin...I'm doing this to be HEALTHY! (Although buying new clothes is nice!)

On Jan. 4 of this year, I saw a picture of myself and could not believe how much weight I had allowed myself to gain (I'm wearing a black dress - see pictures below). But it took me almost two months before I decided to get serious about losing weight.

So my journey began on March 1, 2015. I just woke up and got on my elliptical machine and went 20 minutes and thought I was going to die. I am now up to about 75 minutes!!! Exercise is a NECESSARY part of weight loss. I've added lots of walking and RUNNING?!?! As a matter of fact, I'm training for my FIRST 5K!!!

I LOVE the MFP app! I log everything I eat (at least I try). I can see what's working for me and what's not. That being said...I eat a little bit of everything. I stay within my suggested calorie-count. I'VE CUT ALL SODA DRINKING and DRINK A LOT OF WATER!

So, there you go. I'm not a "registered- or trained-anything": I just eat healthier and clean, and exercise 5-7 times per week. I've started to add strength training, as well.

Some tips: Keep your exercise routine fun! Change it up. Have fun cooking! Try new flavors. Get an exercise buddy! It makes it so much more fun. And: TAKE PICTURES! It's really motivating (at least for me) to see my progress! I love it!

MOST importantly, DON'T GIVE UP and don't be too hard on yourself! Enjoy life! That's why we're doing this! Let's empower ourselves to do better!

❤️ Erica

P.S. New friends always welcome!

I'm 5'7
SW: 265 lbs (Size 22) on March 1, 2015
CW: 214 lbs (Size 16) on Sept. 1, 2015
1st GW: 199 lbs
GW: 160 lbs