5 Year Success Story - Before & After

Your story hit home with me because I've dealt with issues with alcohol and would drink as you described (just not caring if I was dead after a night of taking shot after shot), so far it has been nearly 2 months since I had a drink and a month and a half since a smoke. Your post is very inspiring to me and I hope to have as much success as you have had. Keep up the good work and thank you for sharing.

What an amazing story! Congratulations on your sobriety and quitting smoking! How amazing and on top of all of that you got fit. Beyond inspirational!

first off: HAPPY BIRTHDAY!! five years is awesome!

thank you so much for sharing your story. for your honesty. and for all of the hard work that proves to everyone else that this can be done.

weight gain in recovery is so common. we need something, a new addiction i guess, to take up the space of the old habits. funny how running never seems to be at the top of that list. LOL.

you should be proud of yourself. you have come so far. YAY on you!

Life is truly worth living. My late husband was an alcoholic and a heavy smoker. His years of abuse took their toll on him in 2004 when his short 52 years of life ended with cirrhosis of the liver. The last year of his life he was in and out of the hospital and I took to chain smoking - 2 plus packs a day. After his death, I quit smoking and have been smoke free for 7 years. Never thought I would ever do that. I am about 15 pounds overweight and my goal now is to get healthy again.

Please keep up the good work and stay sober and smoke free - your life depends on it!

That is a truly incredible and inspiring story. I'm glad you shared it with us. Just goes to show, no matter how bad things get, you can always come back.

Good for you! You look very healthy and happy. Enjoy your life.

Thank you for sharing that! Amazing!

Fantastic story. I'm really happy about your success. A real inspiration for all of us.

Thank you for sharing your story. You are an inspiration to us all. Im so glad you found MFP!! I know you will run many more Marathons and not be "dead last or dead Second to the last"!!:bigsmile: :bigsmile: :bigsmile:

so, soooooo proud of you!!!!! i need to friend you! i'm 4.5 years sober myself and loving every minute of my new life!!!!

Wow!!!! I don't reply much- but your story, your committment, your inspiration, your dedication, your triumph.....totally deserves a reply - CONGRATULATIONS!! You are amazing - enjoy your new healthy active life!!

I got goose bumps from your story. Such an inspiration! You are AWESOME!

Thanks for sharing you amazing story and thanks for choosing life!! Congrats!!

Here's to MANY more healthy years! Thanks for sharing.

WOW! You gave me goosebumps! I don't even know you and I am so proud of you for all you have done! You are truly inspirational. Thank you for sharing your story.