Goal has been reached!!

I have met my "big" weight loss goal! Now what? lol I need to maintain this weight as best I can. I know that fluctuating within 5 lbs is normal, and I am ok with that. I am aware that when I go back to MI in a few weeks that I won't be as conscious of what I eat (come on it's vacation!) and will probably gain a bit. These things don't bother me. It's returning to the point where I felt not so good about myself.

This was May of 2010. I had already lost about 30 lbs and was feeling so good that I could fit into my wranglers again. Of course they were a size 14...huh. Looking at this photo I remember feeling so much better, but no where near how I feel today!

Just took today! (Don't mind the blocks and mess the only full-length mirror is in my Son's room) I feel GREAT! I am now in a size 9 and haven't been here in YEARS! I only have two pairs of pants the fit me at the moment though.

Like I have mentioned before, ANYONE can do this! Three meals a day, healthy snacks, fruit, veggies, and portion control! If I miss breakfast, I constantly graze and go over my points allowance. Skipping meals has never been in my plan anyway, I love food too much, hehe.

Hang in there, those of you on this same path. Time is your friend! This took me two years, and that's ok (gave me some time to save money for new clothes, hehe). I now know I can stay this weight and still enjoy life. I never wanted my life to revolve around food, calories, restrictions, etc. I think about what I eat when I'm hungry, and some days I do fall off the wagon (especially when baking!). It's all part of it.

Most of all ENJOY LIFE!! Do something that makes you happy to help you lose the weight! Make sure you are satisfied with the way you are living, and LIVE!

"The only person who is with us our entire lives is ourselves...be alive while you are ALIVE!"

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!