*clears throat*....GOAL !!!!!!! (pic heavy) lol
 

OMGGGG I CANT HOLD THE EXCITEMENT! 85LB GONE FOREVER!!! LOL I can't believe it's my turn to post in here!! :) :carrot:

Hiya everyone!! I've been MIA for a bit but that's only because I hit my goal and needed to make sure it was for real lol

Some of you already know me, some don't so here is my little introduction and recap of what got me here.

In February of 2011, my sister and I got into a huge argument because she called me fat. She said I was unhappy because I was fat. And I was fat because I was unhappy.
I took it really badly, I even said HOW DARE SHE?! Then I slowly started noticing the little things I was so in denial of:
- I started getting stretch marks on my stomach.
- I would get winded at nothing at all.
- My clothes wouldn't fit, I had to buy size 16 & 18...
- I felt ugly..... She was right.

After a month of things constantly slapping me in the face, I bought a scale. I thought at the most I'd weigh 190. I stepped on it, and to my surprise, saw a big whopping 220.
220.
That hit me like a ton of bricks. I honestly never thought I'd see a number remotely close to that much.
So I sat down on the bathroom floor and gave myself an ultimatum. I either do something about it, RIGHT NOW, or I end up morbidly obese and end up with a ton of problems and eventually die due to some complications.
The choice wasn't difficult. I had to change. Now.

I had found a quote online that said "One year from now, you'll be glad you started today."

I started cold turkey. I know a lot of people can't do that, but if I kept eating the things I loved so much I'd never have made it, and this is just me, personally, because I know I wasn't strong enough.

I ate 1200 calories, in 6 meals per day. Drank over 2L of water, and worked out for at least 30 minutes, every, single, day.

The weight started coming off, I started increasing my workouts, and started feeling good about myself.

There was no turning back.

I lost the first 50 lb in 6 months. I was on fire. Nothing could stop me, until I hit a major plateau. And when I mean major, I mean about 3 months of NADA. Not one pound, not ONE ounce...

So I did what I thought would be best and took a break. I maintained at that weight for the next few months until March. March was supposed to be my one year anniversary.

I looked at myself, before and after pictures, and realized the quote I had read was completely true. I WAS glad I had started a year before, and now I knew I had to finish.

I bought a bike and went bike riding every day for about an hour, I also kept the elliptical going and added in hot yoga.

I have now hit my goal, of 135 and I have never ever in my life been so happy.

Here are some additional information in case someone is curious as well as pictures.

I NEVER would've done it without the support I found here on 3FC. You guys were my rock, my backbone and my inspiration, for that, I thank you a million times :hug:

Before Measurements:
Weight: 220lb
Chest: 40"
Waist: 38"
Hips: 48"
Sizes: 16-18 in jeans and dresses, XL in tops and bottoms

After measurements:
Weight: 135lb
Chest: 35"
Waist: 25"
Hips: 35"
Sizes: 2 in dresses, 4-6 in jeans small in tops, small/medium in pants

Before Pics
http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m...arch202011.jpg
http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m...a/100_0546.jpg
http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m...a/sept2010.jpg
http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m...a/20100626.jpg

After Pics:
http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m...tta/IMG237.jpg
http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m...909_184303.jpg
http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m...tta/IMG172.jpg
http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m...29904465_n.jpg

OMG !so pretty you give me HOPE you were grogeous before but ....you should be PROUD of yourself !

Wow! Congratulations to you and by the way, I know you know it, but you look gorgeous!! I must admit you were gorgeous before, but now you're the smaller healthier version of you! Enjoy your new body!

You look amazing!!! Great job and you're such an inspiration!

Wow!!!! Such a huge inspiration!!!!! You look fantastic

Congratulations! Thanks for sharing! I love success stories because they are proof it can be done!

Well...i started today and ur quote is gonna be my biggest inspiration. Congratulations and a big thank u!!!

Way to go!!! You look amazing!!! I hope to be there with you very soon....

Wow, you look like you should be modeling! Gorgeous!

You are so amazing! You look fabulous. You are an inspiration and I'm very proud of you!!!!

You have such a rockin' bod! I hope you feel as fantastic as you look! I hope to be following in your footsteps very soon!!!

Fantastic!!

:cheer: Congratulations! :cheer: I know you've been working on this for a long time and I am so proud of you for reaching your goal! Well done!

Omg, congrats - you look freakin' AWESOME!!! Honestly, I've been waiting for you to make this thread because I knew you were reaching goal. You've been a HUGE inspiration for me as well as many members on here.

Congrats again on reaching goal!! I'm motivated to really get going again!! Lol!

Simply gorgeous! Congratulations :)

:congrat: You are giving Kim a run for her money :)

You look so so amazing! Your waist is tiny, you seem to have an hourglass figure. Great work, you are so inspiring!

congratulations!!!!!
You look absolitely amazing and started off where I am now. Totally an inspiration :)

Girl, you know you are such an inspiration to me! It's amazing how sometimes we have to hit rock bottom, have it thrown up to us in really unpleasant ways, to take a hard cold look and do what needs to be done. And you have. And as you said, there's no going back!

Thank you for sharing your story, and yourself, with us all. Thank you friend!

OMG your transformation is jaw dropping stunning!! SO INSPIRING. You looked gorgeous even before and beautiful after! You look like a model.

You ladies just proved to me once more why I fell in love with you all here. I am so happy reading all your kind words and am ecstatic that I inspired anyone.

I'm gonna stick around the forum, ill need it for maintenance and toning :)

Love you all!! Ps. my word of advice: no matter how hard it gets or when you feel like giving up; just don't. its so worth it when its all done :) :hug:

You look absolutely stunning. You've worked really hard and it shows. I wish I could look that good in a bikini. I honestly can't see where you need to tone at all. lolol

You look amazing! What an inspiration! I know exactly what you mean about not being strong enough to eat the foods you loved before. I feel the _exact_ same way about cigarettes!

Congratulations!

Absolutely amazing!! You are such a big inspiration!!

My starting measurements are the same as yours... I only hope that when I reach my goal my measurements will be like yours! Curvy thin is where it's at :)

I tried looking at some of your post history to see what meals you ate to make up 1200 cals a day! As much as I've tried to eat 1200 calories, it's so hard for me. What were your favourite meals/what did you eat throughout the day? :)

Again congrats!

HOLY COW I hope I on the right thread!
 

Miss Carmalkitty~ I have been trying to post since last night.. but I am SUCH A NEWBIE~ I did not have access yet.. then when I did~ I couldnt find your post again. Perhaps my goal is to learn to navigate this site better~

SO my first post is CONGRATULATIONS to YOU! I can't agree more with the other gals here... you are truly inspirational. What an amazing goal to meet!

Hope to find you again and see how you are doing.. I am keeping a copy of your goal announcement next to my computer~ to remember your journey!

SO genuinely proud of you.... thanks for sharing your story!

Wow, that's just amazing.. Congrats

you look STUNNING!! What an inspiration!!!

Yowza!!! Amazing job!!!

As I said before, seeing your mini goal actually convinced me to join 3fcs, seeing your goal makes me extatic and hopeful!

You're beautiful, inside and out, way to go!

Wow you look absolutely stunning! I love your quote btw, I wrote it down so I can keep that in mind, you have certainly inspired me!

:carrot: Oh my god, you look absolutely incredible! I showed my boyfriend and his jaw pretty much dropped, he's probably wondering why I don't look like you haha :P

Seriously though you are such an inspiration! You have been an awesome friend to me here and I'm just so happy for you lady :hug: (I'm half asleep right now so I'm sorry if this makes no sense, anyway... delighted for you!!!!!) x

^This! Way to go lady!!!

You guys!!! Seriously I'm tearing up, I love you guys so much!! :grouphug: Thank you for the sweet sweet words. It's overwhelming xoxo

I had to break down my meals in 3 meals of 300 calories and 3 snacks of 100 calories.

For example when I first started:

Breakfast: Cereal high in fiber with skim milk
Snack: Apple or Banana and some almonds
Lunch: Turkey sandwich on whole wheat toast with an orange or mango
Snack: Veggies galore lol
Dinner: Grilled chicken salad, or salmon or tilapia, usually a lean meat with A LOT of salad :)
After my workout I'd have a low cal pudding but at least 4 hours before bed, I just found my tummy had a hard time digesting if I ate too late.

:)

Congrats!!!
 

Congratulations!!! You look amazing. I have seen you around the forum since joining here back in April. I haven't made it to your starting weight yet but you have definitely been an inspiration to me. And that quote you found was right, it's only been 6 months for me so far but I'm so glad I started on March 20th. I can't wait :) until March 20, 2013 to see how far I have made it.

Meka150 Great loss so far!! Congratulations! Keep pushing! :)

Congratulations!!! You look so gorgeous and fit! A lot of hard work and dedication went into achieving your goal. Enjoy it - you've earned it!!! :carrot:

What a gorgeous figure was hiding under the extra pounds!

Congrats not just on the weight loss, but your skin & muscles look great too!!!

Wow! You must've had insane willpower to START your diet on that :)

I would love to do that and might just try... haha :)

Again, thanks for sharing your story! You inspire me!

You look fantastic! What a great job :) Most importantly you seem happy and at peace. Can't wait until I'm there too! I just started on Monday so I will be keeping your quote in mind... you are an inspiration!!!

You look great!!! Wow.

thank you for sharing, You are an inspiration :)

Gosh you look really great. Beautiful before but you can tell you've worked very hard for your new body, wow. Keeping me motivated!