Three Years Ago I Saved My Life

Three years ago I saved my life! I decided that I would turn everything around to a new direction.

I was a bigger girl in my later childhood years and tipped the scale at 210 my senior year. I continued to gain weight through the years and found once I was disabled after my last back surgery, with my unhealthy diet and lack of exercise my waistline quickly grew.

It hasn't been easy and I've had many moments where the weight goes no where for many months. From mid January through the first of May this year I didn't lose one single pound for the most part. Only other time I had that happen to me was when I first began to lose weight.

Everything began with a change of diet for me. No more sugar filled food, or at first at least not as much. Then came to have less sodium and oily fatty foods. I lost a little weight my first six months in 2007 and the beginning of 2008 was very difficult for me but I dropped dress sizes like crazy at first. Going from a record size of 26/28 to now a size of 8/10 to 12/14. Depends on who makes it to what size I can fit in, however even my size 14's are baggy on me now.

I became a vegetarian in January 2008 and was still enjoying eggs for a month and enjoyed dairy for the next year and one month. Once I became vegan February 2009 the weight began to melt away as well as the dress sizes. I had no idea how much dairy can be fattening and not necessary for your body. I don't miss dairy at all, once in awhile I'll miss ice cream but then I remember how wonderful vegan ice cream is and I smile. :)

Not many people are willing to share their weight loss story or even admit their weight, less alone their age. I am proud of my accomplishments and can't believe that I only have 13 lbs before I reach my first weight loss goal.

I have put a lot of pressure on myself since the beginning of this year with my weight loss and the move wasn't easy, many emotional nights worried that we would lose our new house for good and never sell our condo. But now since everything worked out I can focus on my goal again and hope to achieve it by my deadline, which is by my 30th birthday, the first week of January. I know I have plenty of time to drop 38 pounds between now and then however to take off the worry if I don't make it, my new revised goal is to be able to drop the weight by my 30th year.

I hope that my story can help others see that anything is possible and if you set your mind to it, you can do it! It takes lots of patience, discipline, hard work, eating healthy and not stressing out when you don't drop a pound after all the hard work. Eventually with all the right steps you will achieve your goal.

Now you can see where I have come from and my progress so far. Here listed are the numbers of years where I have been a healthy weight, to overweight, to skinnier than I was than in high school. I've come a long way and so happy to be where I am today! :) I hope that my story will inspire you!


This is where I have come and my progress so far:

Weight: 165 pounds, Year 1996
I did not understand when I was younger why I continued to gain weight. I was very active and even though overweight, it looked good on me.

Weight: 210 pounds, Year 2000
When I met my husband I had gained over 40 pounds over the years.

Weight: 240 pounds, 03/23/2006
Had my first back surgery in 2003, and this was my weight before my second back surgery in 2006. I had continued to gain weight even though a lot more active. Was diagnosed with PCOS a year previous and finally understood why I have had so many problems with my weight and cycles.

Weight: 278 pounds, 08/25/2006
I went in for a knee surgery in August and found that I had gained a lot of weight in five months. I was taking three different medications, all with weight gain side effects. Also could not move well after surgery until about six months later. By that time I had gained more weight.

Weight: 295 pounds, 12/21/2006
This was my weight in December 2006. I have no idea how much heavier I got afterward because I never weighed myself until the summer that next year. I know that I did gain more weight but have no way of knowing because I did not weigh myself.

Weight: 285 pounds, August/September 2007
I had began to exercise more and eat healthier foods, like a salad every other day, which eventually was a salad every day. The weight loss was beginning to take effect and become noticeable.

Weight: 275 pounds, 01/30/2008
Been vegetarian for a month and adjusting to not eating meat. Had lost some weight but not that much since July 2007.

Weight: 243 pounds, 11/24/2008
Had had difficulty loosing weight and for several months did not drop any weight. Getting around better since surgery.

Weight: 239 pounds, 01/01/2009
Met my goal for the year 2008, which was to get to the weight in the 230's by the new year. Was easier dropping the pounds again. Cutting out more fatty foods and sugar.


Weight: 223.8 pounds, 04/04/2009
Went completely vegan February 1st and kept my goal of dropping one pound per week. I continued to loose weight and hoped to get under 200 pounds later in the year.

Weight: 223.2 pounds, 04/09/2009

Weight: 221.6 pounds, 04/13/2009

Weight: 221.2 pounds, 04/15/2009

Weight: 221.4 pounds, 04/20/2009

Weight: 222 pounds, 04/21/2009

Weight: 223 pounds, 04/28/2009

Weight: 221.8 pounds, 04/30/2009

Weight: 222.2 pounds, 05/01/2009

Weight: 221.6 pounds, 05/04/2009

Weight: 222.4 pounds, 05/12/2009

Weight: 219.8 pounds, 05/19/2009

Weight: 219.6 pounds, 05/21/2009

Weight: 218.4 pounds, 05/28/2009

Weight: 217 pounds, 06/08/2009

Weight: 216 pounds, 06/16/2009

Weight: 215.8 pounds, 06/22/2009



UPDATES:

Nine months ago: 201 pounds

Eight months ago: 198 pounds

Seven months ago: 189 pounds

Six months ago : 186 pounds

Three months ago: 186 pounds

Two months ago: 180 pounds

One month ago: 179 pounds

Last week: 178 pounds


I now am only 13 pounds away from my first goal and 38 pounds away from my overall goal. I realize now that these last 38 will be the most challenging. I've come a long way to get here and very happy I am! Best things I did for myself three years ago. I know now that I saved my life!