So last time I posted mini-goal pictures they were erased by the great 3FC crash of 2008 and the thread was lost forever. This time around I've reached a higher goal of 100 pounds lost, so I'm hoping this thread survives!
I can't think of a time that I wasn't overweight... I grew up as a fat kid and was put on my first major diet when I was about three years old. The following 20+ years were spent in a continual cycle of emotional overeating and trying every fad diet on the market. Eventually, I dieted my way to nearly 300 pounds. I have no idea what my highest actual weight was, but I know that it was at least 286. Here are some pictures from those days:
Early 2005, close to my highest weight
A few months later, where I topped out at size 26
Summer 2006, after losing 20 pounds, size 22-24
Christmas 2006, before I got really serious
In late 2006 my dieting frustration reached its peak. I was 25 pounds down, but couldn't manage to push myself beyond that boundary. And the restrictive plan I was on was making me feel deprived and miserable. At that point I had given up completely and went back to eating massive amounts of junk, until one night I began to have heart palpitations while lying in bed. Worried that I would have a heart attack at age 26, I came to the conclusion that my options were to change my lifestyle for the sake of health (and not the size of my rear end) or die young.
I started slowly, adding fruits and vegetables to every meal, and replacing my sweetened drinks with green tea. Later on I swapped white bread for whole grain and added plenty of beans, nuts, lentils, and other fiber-rich foods to my diet. I eventually traded the rich dishes and fatty meats I was accustomed to for lots of fish and healthy protein sources. In order not to feel deprived, I still had small treats here and there, and always indulged (sensibly) when going to parties, but made sure that healthy, nutritious foods made up the bulk of my diet. So far I'm down 100 pounds.
Minus 100
At 186 pounds and size 12 jeans, November, 2008
And more importantly, my heart is happy.
Update, minus 125
In my size 8 conference gear, March 2009
Update, minus 140
Rear double bicep, yeah! June 2009
Update, minus 145
Yes, a bikini, no joke... August 2009
100 down, less than 40 to go (updated July 2009 at minus 140)
Smoke Free - Since September 30th 2009 
Jessica
"As the heavens are higher that the Earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts higher than your thoughts." ISAIAH 55:9
Started 4/14/08 
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