Goal Weight!

Hello all,

I'm posting pictures because I found before and afters to be an important part of staying motivated in losing weight. I hope to be helpful to someone else! I started running a little over a year ago, but really began focusing on it after I completed my first 5K at the end of April. At the same time (beginning of May), my cousin told me about MFP, and I joined. I could not have been successful without this site and the app holding me accountable. Over the next 4 months, I counted calories, ran, did JM 30 Day Shred 2 to 4 times a week, and did elliptical and strength training at the gym. I mixed these things up and did not follow a strict routine, but I did work out 5 to 6 times a week.

Before (5/08):



During (6/11):



After (8/28/11):





It was not easy, but it was definitely worth it! I now know that I can control my fitness through exercise and eating right. I am not an innocent bystander to weight gain. I'm now trying to learn how to maintain, which is challenging but important!

*Edit*

I forgot stats:

I'm 5'10" tall. I started out at 183 lbs and am down to 150 lbs (give or take a couple of pounds while figuring out maintenance). My starting resting heart rate was between 80 and 85 bpm and is now down to around 60 bpm. When I started running in Sept of 09, I was thrilled to be able to run the first day of the Couch to 5K training app (about 1 min of running at a time for a total of about 10 minutes) At the beginning of May, it was a struggle to run my 5K at about a 12 min/mile pace. I'm now training for a 10K and can do about 5.5 miles at a 10.5 min/mile pace. I just ran 60 min straight last night!