365 Days on MFP - 71 lbs = 1 Very Happy Kyli!

Hi, guys! Today is my one year MFP anniversary!!! Over the past year I've lost 71 lbs, discovered a love of running, and at 30 years old am in the best shape of my life! I definitely could not have done it without MFP and all of the AMAZING, supportive people I have met here. I am so glad I discovered this site! It's completely changed my life and it will change yours, too, if you stick with it and give it all you've got!

Here is how I lost the weight and got in shape...

Diet - I really didn't focus too much on eating healthier at first. I basically worked on measuring my food and eating proper portion sizes. I couldn't believe how much I was overeating! I stayed below the calorie goal MFP gave me with my settings on a 1 lb/week loss. I gradually started eating healthier foods and discovered a lot of great foods through the message boards that I'd never tried before, such as, Greek yogurt, unsweetened vanilla almond milk, edamame, protein bars, etc. I now focus on getting a lot of protein and fiber and eating a lot of fruits and veggies. I just feel so much better when I eat healthfully. I still eat fast food, junk food, and drink alcohol, but I do so in moderation and make sure it fits into my calorie goal for the day. My husband does not eat healthfully, so my house is constantly full of temptations, but I've gradually worked up the willpower to resist. Mind over matter.

Exercise - When I first started MFP, I was a total couch potato! I never played sports in school or enjoyed any form of physical activity really, so I was living a very sedentary life. I started out with just walking at the park and worked on gradually increasing my distance and speed. Then, I got a job that is very physically demanding and basically thought I was going to die at first, but now I love my job and it's been a big help in reaching my weight loss goal. I decided I needed to start exercising outside of just work, so I got some Jillian Michaels workout DVDs, which I love! I've done 30DS, RI30, and am currently on 6W6P. I've also done C25K and since completing it, I've ran three 5k trail races and a 10k. I'm now training for a half marathon in October. I've discovered that I love working out and running, NEVER EVER thought those words would come from my mouth, but it's true. I had no idea how amazing it could make me feel and I have so much energy now!

And now, pictures!

This is the picture that started it all. This was taken at my family reunion last summer and I could not even believe that was me! I was 195 lbs here. I realized that I needed to do something. I was so unhappy with myself and how I was living.






At 123 lbs.


Thank you for reading! :happy: