Minus 118lbs and 3 Medications (pics)

I’ve been lurking for over a year and have been so inspired and motivated and now I’m finally ready to share my story. Like many of you I have been on many different diets. Lost weight and gained it all back. Through this I realized what really needed to be done and knew that I know how to do it. The problem was getting my mind set. It’s a lifestyle change I needed not a diet. At times in the back of my mind I always contemplated surgery because I didn’t think I could do it on my own. But I could never quite bring myself to discuss surgery with the doctor.

Fast forward to April of 2015 I see a picture of me that was taken at an event and I was devastated and disgusted. Add that to seeing my doctor and her telling me that my A1C had gone up from 7 to 10 in just 3 months and she was increasing my diabetic medication. That was even more devastating. So I left the doctor’s office with a plan to try this weight loss thing one more time and this time do it the right way. Exercise and eat right at the same time and drink plenty of water and if I get results in a month then I will keep at it and I won’t think about surgery again. Deep in my heart I knew I could do it as I had already quit smoking (2years prior) and I had already drastically cut down on sodas and fried foods. I knew I had no choice but to do it as I had other health issues and things were only going to get worst and I was too young to die. And even though they are adults, I know my children still need me.

So I weighed myself and started tracking all my calories in MFP and synced it with my FitBit. My next doctor’s visit was in July 2015 and I was down 30lbs. The doctor decreased my diabetic medication and in September of 2015 my hypertension and cholesterol medication was decreased and my weight was down over 50lbs in just 5 months and I ended 2015 being 81lbs down in just a little over 8 months.

Saw my doctor in January of this year and was taken off all medication!

I’m so mad at myself for neglecting my health and my body for so long. I’m also very proud of myself for finally getting things under control. I feel better than I have in 20 years. When I started this journey I couldn’t walk up the stairs in my house without being out of breath and pain in my knees and stiffness in my back and other parts of my body no doubt undiagnosed arthritis. Now I’m running 5ks a couple times a week. My initial goal was to be 175lbs in a year. Well it took me an extra three weeks but I made it. I have set a new goal of 145lbs or maybe just a size 8. Depends on how I feel and what I look like.
And I thought I was going to keep this short and sweet. Some stats:
• Height 5’4
• SW 285.9lbs
• CW 167.1lbs
• UGW 145lbs or size 8
• Started mid April 2015
I know you want to get to the pictures. I included some of the foods I prepared at home. Maybe you’ve already scrolled to the pictures but if you are still reading I want to say thank you for reading my story and I hope it encourages or inspires you to create your own story or share. My entire journey from start til now has been documented on my Instagram account Aspire_2BFit. Did I mention how much fun it is to shop now and how good it feels to be able to cross my legs even if I shouldn’t.