One year, 115 lbs

So I turn 50 years old in a few months and always believed that it was impossible to lose weight as a female once you got into menopause. I was proven wrong what it takes is hard work and a different approach. I needed to be lifting weights (heavy weights in addition to doing cardio) to build lean muscle and increase my metabolic rate.

I was always fit until I got married and had my first child, almost 24 years ago. I never lost the weight I gained that pregnancy, nor the two after that. I tried a zillion times in the last 24 years to lose weight, would lose some, somewhere along the line would become unmotivated and gain it all back plus more, that typical pattern. Last summer I thought I was having a heart attack at 48 years of age... turns out it was a gallbladder attack, but that is when I said enough... I am not dying young from being overweight. I met with a trainer once, she gave me an exercise plan and said I needed to be lifting weight as well as doing cardio. I picked up a book by Tosca Reno on eating clean and have totally changed how I eat. One year ago to this date I started on this weight loss journey, in one year I have lost 115lbs having gone from 292lbs to 177lbs, and have lost 16 inches of my waist, 10 inches on one thigh, almost 20 inches off my hips and 12 inches on my chest. I would still like to lose another 25lbs but I am at the stage now where I am focused more on getting toned then the weight loss, trying to tighten up as much of that loose skin as I can, but people it is possible at 50!

Hope this inspires at least one person on their journey.

Photo on the left was from about 6 years ago I weighed about 40lbs more last August when I started, selfie from yesterday.

Left photo my daughters wedding last August, right photo about 3 weeks ago

Left photo first selfie I took in the gym after about a month in the gym, on the right most recent gym selfie I took about a week ago

And all I can say is at least that belly is gone!