My whole life I was a chubby kid. Then when I turned 10 or so my weight started to skyrocket to the point where I was 12 years old and 217#s. My doctors said nothing. But there was something wrong; I was depressed (biologically based) and withdrew from all society and ate and ate, not caring about what it was doing to me physically and emotionally.
I went on my first diet when I was 13 and learned all about calories and the basics of proper nutrition and lost 25#s.
Then I started gaining again. Slowly, bit by bit it crept on. Then I turned 17, had a major depressive episode, went to a hospital and was pulled out of school. And the weight went on more quickly (despite trying weight watchers).
By the time I was 19 I was about 255#, in college and thoroughly stressed out—I started having panic attacks. And some more weight piled on. I reached my all time high of 272#s when I turned 20.5 years of age (despite having tried atkins and weight watchers again and even nutrisystem).
But, something was changing about me---- I wasn't so depressed anymore and wasn't so anxious. I started to lose weight without even being aware that I was. I casually got on the scale on morning to notice that I had lost 5#s since the last time I weighed myself the previous month. I was astonished because after trying so many diets and seeing them (and me) fail and fail again was disheartening. I actually didn't believe that I could physically lose weight. I thought it was impossible.
Those measly 5#s were a catalyst for me. I felt empowered. I started being consciously aware of what I was eating--- mainly take-out and fast food. I wasn't prepared to give up that lifestyle at first so all I did was modify it: I would order what I would usually have and would only eat half. I started making a concerted effort toward exercise and would walk on the treadmill for about 90min a week.
That was how the first 75#s were lost over the first year. The remaining 60#s were more stubborn and took a further 20 months to lose.
I had to start watching not only what I ate but my calorie intake as well. I aimed for anything below 1750 calories. The overall exercise average stayed the same, though sometimes I would kick things up a bit.
I started getting too fastidious, though. I started graduate school (2 years into the weight loss) and became really very stressed out. I had taken on a much too rigorous course load. The bad anxiety came back. I started fixating on my food intake and would restrict too much and would lose control and binge and purge. It became a very serious issue.
I am still working on my disordered eating behaviors (which was a negative manifestation of my issues with depression and anxiety I think).
I now see a dietician and am working on getting my life back under my healthy, but not obsessive, control.
I think that perseverance is the most important thing in weight loss and that the weight should be lost not through a diet or unhealthy eating but through a healthy and balanced lifestyle that one can continue throughout one's life.
It took me nearly 1,000 days to lose my 136#s and it has been a stormy ride at times. But I have weathered it and am only coming out the stronger as my journey into maintenance begins.
Thanks so much for sharing your story and your photos. You did find a way! 
and thank you for sharing your story. 
Is it possible to be proud of someone you don't even know? lol I got the biggest smile on my face when I saw you had posted in the goal section! Way to go!! Thank you for the inspiration!
