ONEderland! My Story So Far.....and Pics.

I'm so happy today.....I have made it to ONEderland! My weightloss began after a trip to my doctor's office in April of this year. I was feeling down, my body was achy and I was constantly tired. I knew I had gained a lot of weight over the past few years, but I avoided stepping on the scale so I really didn't know just how much I had gained. I knew I had gotten really big because I had grown out of all of my clothes over time. I also noticed other differences.....chairs at the local Starbucks and other places were "smaller". Uh, yeah right. Talk about being in denial. I did my best to avoid having my photo taken at any time, because I really didn't like what I saw on those few occasions where I did have my photo taken. I felt so embarassed about my weight gain that I began to avoid seeing old friends and turning down invitations to events. On top of that, the things I always loved to do so much were getting so hard. Things like going for walks and hiking take so much more energy and strength when you are heavy. Even shopping at the mall made me sore after a short period of time. It was so frustrating for me to try to participate with others in physical activity because I felt like they couldn't appreciate how much harder I had to work just in order to try to keep up with them. I'd be huffing and puffing and sweating like crazy, and they'd be whistling and singing.

Anyway, at my doctor's office I was forced to step on that scale and hear the truth about my weight. I was 242 pounds, and that was after I had lost some weight previously in the week from extreme dieting because of the upcoming doctor's appointment. I estimate that my heaviest weight was about 245. I decided right then and there that it was time for me to take back control of my life and make myself get healthy.

I found MFP and joined on April 30th with a starting weight of 240. I started eating much healthier and logging all of my food each and every day. I also started measuring some of my foods to make sure I was accurate with the calories. I found that I was pretty far off in my estimates of the amount of foods I was eating. I am set for a goal of 1200 calories per day but found that really difficult. I usually average between 1300-1450 calories per day and find that to be a very comfortable amount of food for me.

I began going to the gym most weekdays and then riding a bicycle outdoors on the weekends when the weather was decent. I did a lot of elliptical exercise and started with some weightlifting on the machines as well. I also started taking Zumba classes a couple of times per week, but then had to stop because I developed really severe shin splints. After about a month or so, I began taking other classes at the gym. I frequently take Body Pump, Spin Class, and also take Body Flow. Now that the weather is nice, I try to ride my bike every weekend as well.

I have lost a total of 43.2 pounds as of this morning from the 242 weigh in at my doctor's office in April. I still have a very long way to go before I reach my goal weight, but I feel like I'm on the right path! Besides the pounds lost, I have gained several friends and a great support system on MFP, confidence, new muscles, physical endurance, and a new zest for living each and every day as healthy as possible. Thanks to all of my MFP friends for all of your continued inspiration, motivation, and acceptance. Here's to wishing you all the happiness you deserve in your lives. Cheers!

Photo from early April:
[img]]http://i1071.photobucket.com/albums/u514/dlangfd/Picture012.jpg[/img]

Photo from this morning: