There's normal short, and there's me-short. Me? I'm 4'10.5" (yes I claim every half inch) with a very small frame. So when I started my weight loss journey last December at 155 lbs, I both obese and unhealthy.

How did I lose the weight?
I lost all my weight using Medifast. I had seen a co-worker lose over 50 lbs on a meal replacement plan recommended by his doctor. It wasn't Medifast, but it made me realize that it was possible to be successful on a meal replacement plan if you committed to it 100%. And when I started to research meal replacement plans, Medifast came up as a clear winner - both in results and in affordability compared to freshly prepared meal replacement plans.

I had seen a Medifast center in my neighborhood and the week after a particularly depressing and indulgent Thanksgiving, I walked in out of the blue to check it out. I heard their pitch, I saw their setup, and I gawked at the price. But I knew that if I was going to be 100% successful, I needed to give up control of my eating, I needed to be monitored, I needed to have my hand held (and slapped on occasion). I had to admit and embrace that I couldn't do this on my own. I had tried and failed too many times, each time more unhealthy and desperate than the time before.

The rest is history. I got my food, I got on plan, I stayed on plan (not 100%, but almost). 32 weeks later, I reached my goal of 55 lbs lost!

Before and After Stats
Weight: 155.0 lbs to 98.2 lbs
BMI: 31.8 to 20.2
Waist Measurement: 35 inches to 26 inches
Hips Measurement: 40 inches to 31 inches
Total Inches Lost: 80.25 inches
Body Fat: Over 50% to 25%
Cholesterol: 228 to 157

My Before and After Photos
Here I am at my heaviest, not a terrible picture (of course I deleted all the really bad ones)


Here are my official Medifast center before and afters




And last but not least, my "official" after picture (as taken by DH this afternoon in our backyard)


I hope to give back some of the inspiration I've fed off of here for so long! Thanks for letting me share my story!

congratulations chickpea! you look really amazing!

You look fabulous! I would never think that you had been overweight!
Great job!

congrats!! you look awesome

THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, and CONGRATS!!!
I bought all the MF food and 2 days after starting broke my leg (this is back in March). I have tried to get back on OP but on those bad days of therapy I misbehave. This has TOTALLY motivated me to start again! CONGRATS again, you are gorgeous!

Thank you therex, and debs54!

Carol, I get that comment a lot, even from people who have always known me as overweight. I love receiving the compliment, and thank you, but I wish I had some kind of way of silently communicating winning the fight against obesity, like a bracelet or something, so people will know I don't take being slim for granted and that I've been there. I feel like I've gone from being the friendly fat girl to being the annoyingly happy skinny girl. :P

nurse2be, you have the food, you can do this! I am so grateful to Medifast for giving me a completely new perspective on life and it just couldn't have been easier or faster. Plus, they just came out with ice cream and pancakes, so maybe those would help ease some of the bad days. I hope you're healing well and good luck!

Wow! You look sooo good! I love your outfit!

You look great! Well done!

You look beautiful!

Thank you for posting your medical stats also, what an amazing difference! Not only do you look much happier, but I am sure you have added years to your life

Wow great job! You look so cute!!!

Congrats wtg!

Congrats! I plan to visit San Diego in late 2011, maybe we could meet up. I'm working on losing 200lbs and I'm counting calories and exercising 6 days a week. I exercise 30minutes a day for three days, then 10 minutes for three other days. U are magnificent! U were cute before but now, u're beyond magnificent!

Congrats! You look beautiful!

You look SO great! I looove that last picture of you! Congrats!!

WoW! Awesome job. I cant wait to be able to post my story here too. Very insperational!