Slow and steady (w/ pics... hopefully)

Oh, fine! I don't know how to do pictuers! Any pointers?

Ah-ha! Thank you!

Very cool and inspiring to see! What did you change to help you lose weight?

Thanks! For me it was all about making one serious change and sticking to it for a couple of years before trying to incorporate something new. I learned that every time I made a significant change, I would lose about 20 lbs over the course of a year. But because I took the time to really let the change incorporate itself into my lifestyle, it would stay off. So I would be really content with a 20 lbs loss for a couple of years, then look in the mirror and decide I wanted to try and lose some more. Then I would add or change something to my lifestyle and lose about 20 lbs more.

The first 20 were easy, almost accidental, after I moved out of my mother's house and went to college. My mother is a wonderful person, but she shows her love through food. LOTS of food. So. Much. Food. And we bonded as a family by watching TV, not by doing anything active. So when I went off to college and was able to make my own food choices for once, as well as becoming active through dance classes and waking all over campus for classes, my body just kind of natural shed about 20 lbs of sloth weight.

After I graduated college I got my first job in a dinky little town where I knew absolutely no one and was bored spitless most of the time I wasn't at work. So, I started going to the gym for the first time in my life. I would try all the different aerobics classes they offered to meet people (Zumba and TurboKick were my favorites), and I also joined Weight Watchers. WW saved my life. If you know nothing about health, food, or nutrition, it is THE place to turn to. That's when I started to incorporate healthy food choices into my life. Whole wheat everything, learned what a portion was, started eating more fruits & veggies as close to their natural state as possible, and also learned about healthy substitutes for cooking and baking. I will forever encourage anyone starting out on their weight loss journey to go to WW first. It will change you. I got down to about 175 during that year, and that's where I stayed until last summer.

Last summer I started running. I didn't think I would ever say this, but I love running. Didn't even think I COULD run because I have a bum knee, but after a year of consistant running and a 20 lb weight loss, my knee doesn't hurt anymore. Ever. I think running has made it stronger, and losing the weight helped lift a giant strain off of it, I'm sure. I will forever be a runner.

Two months ago, I started to think I wanted to lose that last 20-25 lbs. I found this website through the app on my phone back in Feb., but decided I needed to start taking advanted of it if I wanted another change. And voila! I'm here! I've lost 5 lbs by tracking my food and exercise. It's slow again, but I just have to keep reminding myself that I am trying to lose, not maintain. My eating habits HAVE to be different during the period of losing. I know how to maintain, I'm good at that, but switching my mind back into losing mode is always hard for the first couple of months.

My piece of advice for anyone is to educate yourself. On your body, on food, on different activities. And stay active in the message boards, even if you're just loitering. You all really do make a difference in my life, and I hope I can return the favor!