18 Months Later Down 80 Pounds Half Marathon Completed!

I will try and not make this too long but I will explain my journey for the last 18 months. Pics will be posted at the end.

History: I use to be one of the best yo-yo dieters around. I would gain 40-60 pounds during the school year because I would stress eat and not make time to work out and would loose 40-50 pounds during the summer when I ate healthy and made time to work out. I did this my entire undergrad from 2006-2010.

Starting Weight--245 (maybe even 250)
Current Weight--165

June of 2010, I was the heaviest I had ever been, so I decided I should start working out and running. I tried running one day and couldn't even run 0.5 miles. I didn't try running again for 3 months later. In September of 2010 I had finally had enough of my unhealthy lifestyle. I began changing my eating habits and making time to go to the gym, although I was working full time and going to grad school at night full time. This lasted until the end of October early November when I got off track and gained 10 pounds back. Towards the end of that month I discovered MFP and started using it that say. It helped me get back on track. I kept going to the gym 5 or 6 times a week and by December I had gone from 245 pounds down to 200 pounds. The only thing I was doing at the gym was running on the treadmill, I never lifted weights because 1. I did not know how and 2. I was totally embarrassed because I knew how weak I was. Throughout the months of January to May I followed MFP and maintained a proper diet and exercise regimen for the most part. There were weeks here and there that I got off, but I somehow always managed to get back on track.

By May of 2011 I was down to the 180s. 180 pounds was my original goal weight but once I reached it I moved it down to 175. In June I reached this weight and still was unsatisfied so I changed it to 170. I reached 170 pounds in August of 2011. I was still unsatisfied and decided to move it to 160. I reached 165 in September-October time frame and was unable to loose anymore weight. I accepted that fact that maybe I wasn't suppose to go below 165.

Rewind to August. I started Pharmacy School. I had done nothing but cardio for the last year almost. One of my classmates agreed to help me start lifting in the gym and since the end of August I have started strength training as well. In September I decided I was going to finally run a half marathon a goal I had made 2 years ago when I lost weight and never made it past 4 miles. I trained hard for 8 weeks and today (11/6/11) I ran my first half marathon without stopping. My goal time was 2 hours and 15 minutes and I ended up completing it in 1 hour and 49 minutes. It was one of the most amazing things I have ever done in my life. The adrenaline, all the runners and supporters really do get you through the race.

Over the last 18 months I have completely changed my eating habits. I have endured a lot. I have been called crazy for counting calories as much as I do. I had to go through a spell where people asked me if I was eating. I had to hear a lot of stuff throughout my journey. My advice to anyone who will face this or has faced it don't let it bother you. You may say it won't, I did, but when it comes down to it, it really affected me. My other bit of advice is not to just do cardio. Remember everyone starts out somewhere. If you can only lift 10 pounds lift the entire time you workout. It will help tone your body and replace your fat with muscle. Finally take more pictures. I wish I would have taken pictures throughout my journey. I just have the random pics that people have taken. But looking back I am so proud of what I have done.

Good luck to anyone else that is going through this. You can do it remember that. It takes time, hard work, dedication and patience. But you can do it! If anyone has any questions feel free to message me. I will answer them the best I can. I am by no means the most fit person but I work hard and have goals. Best of luck

Pictures **Last time I posted the pic of my in the orange polo shirt people said it wasn't me. I assure you it is. It is a mirror image of myself.