My Journey...



January 2010 198 lbs.



Inspired by a fellow photographer, I decided to share my weight loss journey with all of you. No matter what your size or age most women struggle with weight. I am no different.

Now, I am 5'8" tall so whenever I was at my biggest I still didn't see myself as "big" due to the fact that my weight was proportioned properly...well that's what I told myself.

I didn't really start to notice a huge gain until three years ago. My weight kept going up, closer and closer to 200 lbs...it was not good. Then...I got pregnant.

I had the mentality that "I'm pregnant I can eat what I want, I'm eating for two!" and I did. This was not a good concept to have. My doctors repeatedly told me to exercise more and watch what I was eating. I ignored them.

The day I went into the hospital to give birth to my Son, I was 227 lbs. Granted immediately after having him I was down to 210 lbs. That was still entirely too big. I knew I had to do something, but I have TERRIBLE will power when it comes to food.

I kept eating like I had before (when I was pregnant) and got a Wii Fit. My OBGYN had told me that another patient of hers lost 30lbs using one. I was game! I used it every morning before my Son woke up for months and I lost 12 lbs by the beginning of 2010. Then my loss stopped. I knew I had to do something about my diet.

I have tried many diets throughout my life. South Beach Diet (my sister lost a lot of weight using that one), Atkins (I love meat, sounded like a good plan) and trying to just eat salads. None of them worked for me. I then researched  Weight Watchers.

Portion control, filling foods, and healthy grains. Slowly losing weight to keep it off. I do the online program where I log all the foods I am eating on my own points tracker. At first it was hard. I would lose a couple pounds and gain one. I stuck with it, and within the first six months I lost 20 lbs!

I started to feel good about myself and was able to get back into the jeans I hadn't been able to wear in a couple years! Weight kept coming off slowly but surely and I was still eating what I was feeding my family. The difference was how much I was eating. In the past I would eat two soft tacos on taco night, now it's a small one. Fresh fruit, veggies, low sugar cereals and low fat milk. Egg whites instead of a whole egg. It sounds so easy, and it is!!!


January 2011 160 lbs



Now we are 18 months into my journey, and I am the smallest I have been in five years! Since walking out of the hospital on my Son's birthday, I have lost 55 lbs. Since starting Weight Watchers, I have lost 43 pounds.

Of course it isn't JUST the diet that contributes to my weight loss. I jog when I can, take walks twice a day with my Son when I can, ride horses, anything to keep me active.

I know people look for a "quick" fix and to drop weight fast. For me, that wasn't the answer. I am able to eat whatever I want now, ice cream, pizza, beer, and keep my weight the same. I would like to lose five more pounds, but I'm not going to beat myself up if I don't. I feel fantastic about myself right now, and wouldn't want to change a thing.

I am now a size 9, and can run around the yard with my Son and not feel winded. I can ride three horses in one afternoon and my legs don't feel like they want to fall off. Life is good!

I now know when and if we decide to have another child, to moderate what I eat. I want to give him/her the nourishment they need, but keep myself healthy as well. We shall see when we cross that bridge.

I didn't write this to endorse WW, or to say that large women aren't beautiful. It's about how you FEEL inside FIRST. I didn't like myself when I was big, I couldn't get on my horse without assistance! I just wanted to feel good about ME. To hell with what anyone else thought, this is MY journey and it is a good one!