So far, I haven't exactly done a lot of talking or sharing on the forum. I'm not really sure why; maybe I feel like I haven't done enough or have enough to offer to the community.
I started my 29th birthday (September 2009) topping out at 245 lb. I knew I'd ballooned quite a bit while traveling 100% (every Sunday-Friday) for work, but in that weird mirror-avoidance mentality, I hadn't realized just how horrifying it had gotten. My friends were always ever so sweet, but I'm sure my flaking out and not joining them going out, etc., worried them as much as it did me.
Here's the picture that did me in. I took a road trip with a friend down to portland to celebrate my 29th birthday and when I uploaded the pics at home, I burst into tears.
I weighed just shy of 245, tore the crotch region of a pair of size 16 paige premium jeans (aka, the ONLY pair of "designer jeans" I could squeeze into) that same weekend, and decided right then that enough was enough.
I joined Weight Watchers a week later, lost 16 lb over the remainder of 2009 and then started going to a bariatric MD / weight loss clinic and lost another 50 or so lb over the course of 2010. I follow a paleo/primal diet of high protein, moderate carbs (in the form of fruits and veggies) and exercise by commuting to work on foot and doing water aerobics and light elliptical at the gym.
here I am exactly one year later, trying LBDs on for my 30th birthday dinner. I weighed 174 and was wearing a size 10 dress slack, size 12 designer jean and size 8 (single digits!) dress. I lost nearly 8 inches from my waist, from a 37 down to a 29. (oh, and i ended up going with the knee-length dress and silver shoes!)
I've spent the better part of this year focused on my goals of improving my health and getting rid of the excess baggage in the form of lbs and emotions. The past 2 months I've fallen off the bandwagon though and I am back up to 185 and a size 12 dress slack / size 14 jean.
I'm hoping that by posting these pictures and making an effort to participate in the forums, I will remind myself I've come quite a long way and even though my 30th bday pictures still make me cringe a bit, I can hit my goal and maintain a healthy weight / size throughout my adult life.
I could really use some support and cheering on though!