From wheelchair to running...65lbs lost and 47lbs to go...(P

In June 2011 I sustained a spinal cord injury, due to a severely herniated disc, that left me temporarily paralyzed fro the waist down. I spent the month of June living in the hospital learning to walk again as I very slowly regained sensation in my legs and feet. The doctor said I had a few risk factors that contributed to this injury, namely genetics (a few other close relatives have had the disc issues too,) as well as being significantly overweight.

I was discharged from the hospital at the end of June, still using a walker, and did physical therapy in my home for another 2 months.

This is the day before I left the hospital:

262lbs




In August 2011, after 2 months of basically sitting sedentary in my house, I was released from PT, with instructions from the surgeon to "lose weight" to prevent this kind of injury from occurring again. Still using the cane, I started walking outside. The first day I walked around my block. 0.25 miles and it took me 25 minutes. I joined MFP that next day and started tracking calories. I started walking every single day. Each day I'd go a little farther and walk a little faster.

In September 2011 I joined the local YMCA and took to the treadmill, bike, and elliptical machine. I go every single day. For about an hour or more each day.

This is me in September, about 255lbs, size 24 dress


As of today, here are my stats

165 days since I started exercising.
I've traveled 858 miles. (walk, run, bike, elliptical)
187 hours of exercise.
65 lbs lost. (I'm 197 now)
47 left to go. (Goal is 150. I'm 5'8")

Here's a picture from today!
197lbs, size 16 jeans