I Lost 275 Pounds!

buttersbunch wrote: »

Not sure where my original post went, but I wanted to say I have lost 275 pounds (410 lbs. to 135 lbs.) for a nearly 70% loss from my starting weight! ☺️

If I can figure out HOW to post my before & after photos, I will! ☺️

Wishing everyone the BEST of success for this new year, and continued joys and blessings as you reach towards healthier living! ❤️

_dracarys_ wrote: »

buttersbunch wrote: »

My journey to lose 275 pounds began on December 26, 2009 with Weight Watchers (meetings) as my choice of plan to follow, and a starting weight of 410 pounds. (I am 5'5")

My health was at an all time low... diagnosed with extreme morbid obesity, high blood sugar, low functioning thyroid, fatty liver, bad knees, bad back, asthma related breathing problems due to my excessive weight, PCOD, fibromyalgia, and many other issues... not to mention a HUGE weight of emotional baggage from grief, disappointments, regret,
shame over my weight, etc... etc...

I honestly had no idea how far I would go with my weight loss when I began- I just knew the pain and fear of staying the same had grown BIGGER than the pain and fear of changing! And really, I began with that first weak step of faith to save my life!!

I should add that as you can see by my 'before' photos- (when I can post them- haven't figured that out YET!!) my family and I were also members of a very restrictive, very conservative Mennonite group... which had added to my 'emotional baggage' through the years- always trying to 'fit in' the group by obeying the rules, fearing man over God if we didn't.

Sadly, our thinking was being molded into a wrong belief that if we were 'plain enough' and separated away from 'the world' enough- it was MORE pleasing to God, even though in the process- we had lost our own identities and feared losing our precious relationship with God as well.

In fact, attending a meeting at Weight Watchers was a risky step for me to take as a member of our particular Mennonite group. Why? They believe being a 'member' of a "worldly" group, organization, business partnership, etc... is being 'unequally yoked' with sinners and is a sin. But knowing Weight Watchers to be a safe, healthy and balanced weight loss plan that also offered the accountability I felt I needed to STAY on a weight loss plan, I decided to secretly join. No one outside our immediate family knew, and I had to trust God *would* bless my decision and if it *was* a sin, forgive me.

To keep a very long story condensed- here it is... nearly 6 years later and I have been maintaining a healthy weight for about a year and a half, after losing that 275 pounds, and going from 410 pounds to 135 pounds! I lost the first 100 pounds in the first 7 months, and the next 175 pounds over the following 2 + years.

And, as you can see in my 'current' photos- (when I can post them!) my family and I eventually left the Mennonite group we were members of (about two and a half years ago), which brought ANOTHER big transformation to my life- talk about challenging changes!!

So... there it is in nutshell. Of course there is SO much more, but too
much to share here now!

I was on the Today Show the end of November, with Kathie Lee & Hoda, sharing my story- and my story has also appeared in numerous magazines.

Stop doubting what God can do for you, believe it- YOU can achieve it too!!!

You'll share all that but you won't open your diary. Got it.

buttersbunch wrote: »

No exercise till after I lost the first 100 pounds (which I still lost in 7 months!), and even after that I have *never* had a gym membership... just walking, a recumbent bike and regular bike, etc... no routine workout things, Zumba, etc