Hi everyone. I lurked these forums a bit for inspiration, so now it's my turn to share.

Last summer (2008), I realized that in the two years since I had moved out on my own, I had put on a lot of weight. I decided that 20 was too young to be unhealthy, so I started going to the gym, eating smaller meals more often, and trying to be as active and healthy as possible. I got in really great shape and even did a triathlon this past August! I now weigh less than I did in high school!

I started on September 1st 2008 at 161 pounds, and by August 2009 I weighed 123 pounds. The first 20 pounds came off in less than two months, but everything since then has been a constant struggle of gaining and losing and forcing myself to push harder. It was worth it, because I feel so much better and healthier. I'm pretty proud of my results, so here are some pictures! Sorry for the ridiculous faces I'm making in some of these!

Summer 2008 at 161 pounds:



Summer 2009 at 123 pounds:




Thanks for taking a look, and good luck!

wow great job! you look totally different and alot more healthy

YOu look so much younger! Amazing...Great Job!

Agree with workingtobethin... the age difference is striking! Fantastic job! Very pretty, btw.

Wow, that's fantastic. A triathlon even! Where would you like to go from here?

Whooaaa! Congrats!
I can't believe the difference in your face. We can now see your spectacular bone structure.

You're a massive inspiration to me. xo

You DO have spectacular bone structure!!
You could have titled this thread 'Super Cute to Super Hot in exactly one year'!!

Thanks for the kind comments, everyone!

Steve, I'm doing a 10k running race next weekend, and my goals for next year are an olympic distance triathlon and (hopefully) a half-marathon. I am finding it somewhat difficult to stay motivated, now that the original goals of weight loss and finishing a triathlon are behind me. I recently joined a swim team, and the coaching really helps with my focus, so I'm going to look for a bike and/or running team in the spring.

Thank you again! It feels great to get such positive feedback!

Great job on all of your goals and I wish you the best of luck in your future ones. And I have to agree you do look so much younger. I do have a question because the weight when you started is around where I am now...How tall are you? Because I see different people around the same height as me and around the same weight but we all carry it differently and I was just wondering how did you carry your weight when you were 161 and of course your height...Thanks.


Great job again!!!

You look fantastic AND FIT! congratulations to you on your hard work!

I'm 5'5. Whenever I gain weight, it goes directly to my waist. I had people ask me if I was pregnant on several occasions when I was heavier, because I had quite the belly on me (as you can see in the third picture). I'm not a curvy girl at all, so I didn't look good at that weight. I'm sure another woman with the same BMI as me at the start could look great because her weight would be evenly distributed, especially at her hips and rear end. I have a more athletic, less 'feminine' build, so I look way better when I'm lean.

amazing

absolutely incredible job

you look great..........congratulations! when did u start seeing results?i have been exercising on and off for the last several months without no significant results...............how did u stay motivatefd during the journey?

You look fantastic!

Very fit - and very hot. You've made an impressive transformation.

Congratulations on the triathlon! That's the sort of thing I like to see - someone really taking life by the horns. It is the sort of thing I aspire to myself.

Good work, and thanks for sharing.

Thanks for the info...I am just debating on what I should focus on...My weight sits differently and I want to make sure I am focusing on the right thing when it comes to it.