Wedding Soon, Night Nurse! Weight Loss Journey

TLDR; 226lbs at heaviest, today I am 158.6lbs, goal weight of 145lbs. 5'3". 31 years old.

Here is my story:

I've been doing the KETO diet off and on for 10 years. Before it was a thing, now they are calling it a way of eating.

My journey off track starting with college, nursing school, the "freshman 15". Mine quickly turned into the freshman 50. I ballooned from 140lbs to 190lbs in maybe 5 years, between 22-27. I was never heavy before, but I certainly was now. I was sedentary, I studied 12+ hours a day in Nursing school, drinking my Starbucks (white chocolate mocha how I miss you. I go for ice coffee with heavy cream instead.) I played way too many computer games, and I drank.. a lot. I also allowed myself to spend 2 years, two times, with two very wrong men that destroyed my self esteem. During this time I also used Depo-Provera, a birth control that is straight from hell, that further contributed to my downward spiral of obesity and depression.

How'd I let myself get like this? I used to think I was so beautiful. Many people thought I was. Maybe I was even a bit narcissistic. But I'd changed, I stopped looking in the mirror, that helped me not to acknowledge my problem. I didn't own a scale, so that helped too. I never weighed myself. I wore scrubs in nursing school.. they let you pack on pounds faster than jeans do, so you're less prone to notice.. but I did notice. So did other people. Still, in my mind I didn't see myself the way I was, I saw myself the way I used to be. It's hard to explain but maybe you understand?

I ballooned all the way up to 226 at my worst. I've never told anyone that, you all are my very private friends to be able to hear this secret. I have pictures of myself at graduation nearly bursting from my scrubs. Before my 2nd very mentally and physically abusive relationship I lost 20 lbs with Keto. My drinking did not allow me to get much further.

When I left that situation I met my now husband, I sat around 206 for about 3 years. I tried the gym, I got up to 3-5 days a week. I was doing HIIT training, made my heart rate go up to 190 on the regular. I was training for a 5k. I ran faster than I've ever run before. Felt like I was dying. Always felt nice after the workout.. but during the workout, it was no walk in the park. After spending $1,000s at the gym with a personal trainer and seeing minimal results. I started on my Bachelors of Science in Nursing and let me just tell you, school.. it's expensive. I could not afford my personal trainer anymore. But my then boyfriend proposed to me.. and I went from girlfriend to fiancé to wife in a matter of 90 days. We eloped, much to the upset of both sides of our family. I won't forget my father saying to me, "You're a bit heavy, should lose some weight, he might leave you at the alter." That would stick with me. As did his comment many years ago, "You need to get in better shape, what if no one will hire you because of your weight?" I love my father and he wants me to be healthy, he just doesn't always have the most tactful approach.

At the start of January 2018 I decided I was going to do "DRY January". I quit drinking for 31 days. Drinking + Keto = ABSOLUTELY NO RESULTS. Keto - Drinking = RESULTS. During this time I lost weight. I lost a lot of weight. I decided I was going to stay dry and continue my KETO life style. Now my wedding is coming up in November.. I just bought my dress. I love it, I think I look amazing. I will look incredible. I am looking to get back into the gym to tone my arms for my big day but I'm so proud of my progress. I wanted to share my story in hopes that I could inspire even one person to take the first step to a happier, physically and mentally healthier life.

I didn't think I'd share so much.. if you read all of that, I'd love for you to join me on my journey. It's been a long one and it'll be life long.. so it will be interesting to tag along. Please add me to friends and let's encourage each other along the way, I'd love some new friends, hopefully you'd like one too.

Thank you for your time, encouragement, and friendship.

Night Nurse, Dog Mom, Fisherwoman, Artist, Gamer, Gardener,
Hunter, Wife, Daughter, Adventurer, Gamer Chick, Floridian