*****UPDATED AS OF MARCH 1, 2011*****
4 years ago, at the age of 19, I had hit my high of 350 pounds. I had just graduated culinary school, and when I came back home my sister told me it looked like I had gained weight. That, combined with some events that happened on a graduation vacation, caused me to step on the scale for the first time in 3 years. It read 349.4*. I still remember that exact number. I spent some time reflecting on my weight. Because for the first time, I was aware of my actual size. Why did I have to weigh myself? Being blissfully oblivious made me happy. This put me at a very dark place.
So fast forward 6 months. I hadn't tried to lose weight and I don't know why. Maybe I wasn't ready? Maybe I thought I would fail? Whatever the reason, it wasn't going to take care of itself. I decided to get away for a bit, and spend some time just focusing on me. So I applied for a job at a popular ranch resort out west, in the mountains. At the time, I wasn't focused on losing weight.
Things changed after I got there. I was thrown into an atmosphere of college aged adults who all looked like they belonged to a sorority or fraternity. And most of them did. I felt like the odd one out. These people we're nice to me, but I never felt truly accepted. Maybe my self-confidence had taken a turn for the worse, and it was seen as such. I don't know. But It was the kick start I needed to make this drastic change.
My job was very demanding and I was working 10 hours a day, sometimes more. Being in the kitchen, meant no sitting down, and always moving around so I got lucky in that aspect. My physical activity was NOT lacking that summer, even if I had no access to a gym. I started reducing my portion sizes. I wasn't going to cut anything out because the food was UN-FREAKIN-BELIVEABLE. I didn't eat the healthiest food, but I stayed away from the worse(deep-fried,extremely high cal.) I spent the summer working on just those two changes.
After approx 5 months, and 2 weeks I was down my first 70 pounds. I went from a size 24/26 to a 20/22. I would like to say alot of people noticed and we're supportive. But these people saw me everyday. And I was BIG. After losing 40 pounds, one guy had asked me if I lost weight. No one else commented the entire time. When I had gotten home my mom asked if I had lost a "Little" weight. From 350 to 280...just a little, ya know...
After that summer, I went to work at a Ski resort. But Shortly after, I had surgery to remove a gallbladder full of gallstones. After surgery, I took a break. I felt like it was a good idea for me physically and mentally. I was told that my infected gallbladder could have been the result of my rapid weight loss. I didn't want to lose that much that fast again. So from December 2008 to June 2010, I maintained. And it wasn't hard. I checked my weight once a month, and always stayed within the same 5 pounds, even without counting calories.
Right before I started up again, I decided to move back out west because I loved it so much. I ended up at another resort, this time, with workers that we're a bit more varied. And they were amazing. I was there for 4 months and 2 weeks. I lost 50 pounds. I used portion control, activities like hiking, swimming, horseback riding, and actual healthy eating. It was the first time I felt like I was eating like a normal person yet still losing weight. Those 50 pounds lost put me from my 20/22's to a solid size 18. 280 to 230 pounds.
SO much moving around. But again, at the end of that summer, I went to work at another resort. So, back to skiing/snowboarding community in December 2010. In January of 2011 I joined the gym for the first time. Within 2 months I had lost 20 pounds. Things came up, and I couldn't work out as often as I wanted after that. So from March 2011-June 2011 I maintained again. I wasen't planning on losing weight, but something happened around that point, that made me drop down between 200-202. So I stayed at that weight until November 5th, 2011.
The day I joined 3fatchicks. Because of this community and all the knowledge and support, I've managed to get to the lowest for my height that I can remember.
As of March 1st, 2012, I am 184 pounds with a BMI of 24.9 which puts me in the healthy range. I have been apart of a gym since October, I now run 2-3 miles a day, and I calorie count. My original goal was 175, but after coming this far and seeing that I still need to lose a few pounds, my final goal weight is at 160. I'm hoping to reach it by the end of summer and am looking forward to maintaining and starting to work more on my fitness goals
Thanks for reading my story.
Here are some pics throughout my journey:
Taken before I started losing. On a cruise in 2007. Age 19. Around 320 pounds
Near my graduation in 2007...Age 19, 2007, 350 Pounds
Face Pic around the same weight
http://img269.imageshack.us/img269/8681/91643583.jpg
Now at 185, as of Feb 23rd
One that shows loose skin on stomache....grrrrr xD
150 Down....only 25 more to go
