92lbs and Counting

I'm relatively new to MFP and already addicted. I figured I would introduce myself and get more involved in the Message Boards!

My name is Jill ("Hi Jill"...this feels like a meeting!) and I have had struggles with my weight for as long as I can remember. An emotional eater from a very young age, food was a constant source of comfort during a tumultuous childhood. My weight was a sore spot throughout my childhood. My grandmother would bribe me with a cruise if I lost enough weight to fit into a bikini. She's dead now and I'm still fat! So much for that!

My dysfunctional relationship with food continued onto adulthood. To say "I ate my feelings" was an understatement. I am not entirely sure how much I weighed at my heaviest point, but after an accident in 2009 that involved some stairs and having to be carted out by the fire department because the EMT's couldn't lift me themselves... absolutely humiliating...I finally hit my rock bottom and decided to make a change once and for all. I purchased a scale in January 2010 and needless to say when the number on there was close to 400lbs I just about died. Years of treating my body like a garbage disposal had finally caught up with me. They (whoever "they" are) say that in order to change you have to hit rock bottom, and there I was..The time for change is now. I started tracking what I was eating, basing loosely on the Weight Watchers points system. I gradually started incorporating various activities into my daily routine, including biking, hiking, swimming, Zumba, and most recently, Cross fit. To date I've lost 92lbs and counting! I am finally under 300lbs and I hope to never see that dreaded number ever again.

In 2011 I became a certified Zumba instructor and am currently teaching 5 classes a week. This is something I never thought was possible, as bending down to tie my shoes was a struggle at one point! I still have a long way to go to reach my final goal weight...which I'm not even sure what that will even look like...but It's been an amazing transformation thus far!

It is my hope to inspire others to get healthy and to show that it is possible to lose weight the "hard" way. No surgeries, shakes or fad diets for this kid! Real food, hard work and sweat is where it's at!

Some photos...


This is a collage of old pictures of me with words to describe my feelings at those times. I put this on the fridge for motivation. This quote really stuck with me.



January 2012 - A Boudoir Photo Shoot as a gift to myself for my hard work!