Hi everyone. I'm semi-new here...have been lurking for a while and have decided to put up a post here. My story begins in October of 2007 when I was looking at photos from my 22nd birthday party a few days before. It was the moment that I said "oh my god..what happened? something needs to change right now

I bought a treadmill and started walking at first because I was very out of shape. That combined with cutting out a few unhealthy meals I would have normally eaten got me down 20 pounds quickly. At 160 I maintained for a while due to stress in my life and no focus on diet or exercise..but I got back on track by going 1 months with no fried foods and playing dance dance revolution 3-4 times a week. At 145 I got stuck in a plateau and tried the Abs diet for women eating plan/exercise plan. Once I got into the 130s i went back to a plain reduced calorie diet with interval workouts on my treadmill.

Now here I am making this post slightly over a year later. It's been a long journey and I still have a little ways to go before I reach my goal, but atleast I am at a healthy weight now and I'm no longer ashamed to share the number on the scale with anyone..so here are some pics!


This is me at my birthday party in 2007. It was an 80s theme party, so I was supposed to look awesomely tacky and stupid...but at 183 pounds this is the most embarassing photo of myself I have ever seen!


Another photo of me with some friends from that night.


and one of me with my boyfriend.

Now for some recents:

When I was around 145.


Down to 135.


On Halloween with some friends.


On my 23rd birthday with my boyfriend.


I'm hoping to get between 120-125, taking things slow from here on. I have been a little off track in recent weeks...with going out to dinners, going to bars for concerts of local bands I know and having a halloween party filled with treats and drinks...lol but hey gotta have a little fun right? I love the posts on this forum, everyone is very encouraging and I hope to someday be able to post some super amazing finished photos like some of the rest of you have!!!

OMGOSH!!! You look fantastic, sweetie! All of your hard work has paid off big time! I am so impressed with your transformation - it is hard to even recognize you! Very, very well done.

ABBA

You look fantastic, AND I bet you have got some really incredible DDR skills now.

ABBA- thanks so much! I actually ran into a girl this weekend that I hadnt seen in 6-7 months and she couldnt recognize me..she said it took her 5 mins of looking to figure out who I was between the weight and the new blonde hair, haha I was so flattered!

Rebecca - thank you! and oooh, did I get good at DDR. After just a few weeks I was on expert on a lot of songs. I get out of breath easily though because unfortunately I am a smoker and have yet to kick that habit. I actually put DDR away for a while, because I havent had space in my cluttered room to lay the pad out on the floor..but Im missing it, I want to bring it back. Its so damn addictive!

Amazing job. Tell your boyfriend to smile in pictures.

Her boyfriend is probably too scared to smile cause she looks disproportionatly better than him now. she is way too good looking for someone like him now that she changed herself so much.

I really don't think that is right to say. But anyway, Girlfriend you look really good. I started at 188 and im trying to get down to 125. this story really inspires me.

Congratulations! You are a pretty girl and you just look so much happier and healthier in your after pictures.

Wow. That was really frikken rude!

You look amazing! Totally inspiring! You look really great as a blonde too! Hot!

Wow, you look great! Nice job. Amazing transformation

Thanks Jeff! I tell him to smile but all he does is smirk! haha.

Healthy I appreciate the compliment but I dont think Im too good for him just because I look different now. he loved me even at my heaviest and still loves me now, and has supported me every step of the way so I'm really grateful for that!

Ania you can do it!! It may seem like a long process but just break it down and stay patient! the slower it goes the more likely you are to keep it off. sometimes it gets discouraging and you'll think "damn, this is gonna take me atleast 6 more months...that's forever" but you have to tell yourself "either I can stick with it and when that 6 months that feels like foreeeeever comes, I will have made progress..or I can give up bc it feels like foreeeever and I will be the same as I am now." Im happy to be giving motivation and I will share any advice I can!!

everyone thanks so much for the compliments it makes me feel so accomplished!

You look great! Good job!

You look GREAT!! Fantastic transformation. Isn't it great to see your hard work paying off?

Big kudos to your boyfriend for being both accepting and supportive. That's a rare gem.

This may be a stupid question, but did you do anything specific to tone up your tummy? I have a similar shape (as in the before picture shape), and i can't believe how flat and toned your tummy is now! Usually even if I lose weight I'll carry a little pudge there since that's where I carry the bulk of my fat.

Thanks!