Just a year ago today I decided to change my whole lifestyle. I got online and found some exercise dvds that I thought I could handle (which ended up being tae bo). I made my plan for the next day (it was already after dinnertime), and asked hubby to pick up said work out dvds for me while I was at work.

I don't know what it was that made me go through with it. I had never seriously tried to lose weight in the past but there were a few times in the past that I would decide to do it and be all gung ho for about an hour lol.

I ate what I had planned all day at work September 1st, 2009, and then I came home after a 10.5 hour workday and I did my first workout in years. After that, there was no stopping me. I didn't go over my calories even once, and I didn't even skip one work out the whole time I was in the initial losing phase.

On June 12, 2010 I reached my goal of 145. I maintained that more or less for about 2.5 months, and I've recently decided to lose a few more pounds. Anyway, I'm just very excited that I've stuck with this new lifestyle for a whole year. I don't even remember what it's like to not look at a nutrition label anymore!!

So, to celebrate, I thought I'd post a few pics from this weekend, compared to a few pics from a year ago These aren't my official goal pics and I don't think those will be here for quite a while as I'm losing weight slowwwly, but it's still exciting!

Thanks 3fc community for listening and for being there ALWAYS (even 3AM hehe)


Before:



Now:

You look great! I am so impressed...what a transformation. Good job.

:da nce: Congrats! you look amazing and i bet you feel great! Such an inspiration for a new comer like me!

OMG you are sooo beautiful and you have such an amazing will power!
Congrats! You are very inspiring!

Ummm...forgive me but why do you want to lose more weight??? You look fantastic!!!!

Thanks for sharing your story. We celebrate with you.

Thank you, thank youuu! It's really great to share this with all of you because I've been inspired by SO many of you!

ThicknPretty: Thank you! I love reading your posts because I can relate to some body image issues that you've spoken out about.

Pandabear: It means a lot to me to be able to inspire other people because looking at before and after pictures and reading the stories took up A LOT of my time at the beginning of my journey lol! Good luck!

Philosia: Thank you so much! However, my will power while maintaining was really not so good. I've gotten it back full force, though

Slim CB: Thank you. I can understand where you are coming from but these are just selected pics. I can show you manyyy pictures that show that I really do still have a lot of fat on my body. Especially in my midsection. If I were pear shaped perhaps I wouldn't be concerned, but I know that the amount of fat I have in my midsection is actually still considered "unhealthy" even though my weight is healthy. I am also very small boned/small framed so I can have a lower weight compared to others at my height.

mrhighnotes: Thank you so much!

Thanks again! I just can't believe how fast a year of healthy living went by. It felt SO much easier than I could have ever imagined!

You look absolutely amazing! Congratulations!!!

Amazing! You look great! Congratulations on 1 year.

You are truly an inspiration. We are the same height and pretty close to the same starting weight. I want to lose 100lbs in a year and seeing your pics makes me realize it isn't an impossible goal. Great Job girl!!

way to go!

Thanks for sharing! You are gorgeous and your story inspires me! I also started my weight loss plan about a year ago though haven't stayed on plan or exercised as much as I want to, but I know if I stick to it where I can end up.

Hickory0305, Kismet89, and bonnie2009: Thank you so so much

justjill124: If your info is up to date, you're already half way there!!! Congrats!! I know when I was around your current weight, it really started to sink in, and I was finally able to see the weight loss (it's tough to see early on when you're tall, isn't it??)

Everlasting: You've done an AMAZING job with almost 80 pounds lost already. I think it's about making it a forever plan that is important. So exercising more than you would normally will only get you there a little faster; it's insignificant. The real goal is to learn how to figure out what is right for YOUR lifestyle forever, which you've done.

You are GORGEOUS!!!!

Congrats! You are such an inspiration to everyone on 3FC, especially me!