Note: This post has been edited since publishing, and I apologize that I had to slap unsightly watermarks over most of the before and after photos. It was brought to my attention that my personal photos were being used by others on websites with fake stories and names promoting weight loss products I absolutely don’t use.
Oddly enough, considering I open up a certain portion of my life to millions of people on the internet on a regular basis, I’m actually a very private person. It’s an interesting dynamic when your job requires you to stretch those boundaries. Kate and I are both very hesitant to steer away from our comfort-zone of comfort-food because 1. There are some things we just prefer to keep private, and 2. We’ve found that the internet can be a cruel place, where good intentions are often skewed and hate loves to hide behind the anonymity of a screen name. But sometimes we do go out on a limb and get personal. And we’re always nervous about it. We worried when we wrote about our tender feelings of motherhood, and the heartbreaking experiences we’ve both had with our own Mothers. I know one of the hardest things Kate has done was share the horrific experience of coming moments away from losing a child in a near-drowning we both witnessed. And then just last week I published something I’ve been working up the courage to write about for over a year now.
We’re always a little nervous to put stuff “out there,” but the more we do the more we realize one very important thing: everyone has a story. Those 3 posts I just mentioned are 3 of the most highest-trafficked posts on our site. Every one of them was flooded with comments and personal emails and we never know how therapeutic/inspiring/relatable they are until they are in fact “out there.” When I started focusing on my own personal health and fitness a couple of years ago, I did it very quietly. I’m not the type of person to post workout announcements on Facebook or shout from the rooftops that I lost ten pounds. I did it for me. And I did it privately. Then just a couple of months ago I posted a photo on Instagram. It was just a little peek at an object lesson I was using to teach my kids about goal-setting and New Year’s Resolutions. It was this picture:
The response to that photo was overwhelming. I’d never had (or had since) a bigger response to a photo on Instagram. You asked for more of this story, so I tested the waters with my recent post on fitness. Again, I was amazed at the response and I loved hearing all of your stories. So many of you have emailed me, and left comments, and communicated via social media, and one thing is clear. My story is not unique! So many of you can relate! SO many of you communicated that you felt inspired and that alone was my goal. There is so much false inspiration in the media when it comes to health and fitness. You’ve probably all seen those before and after pictures taken by trainers on the very same day to demonstrate how easy it is to embellish those types of results. So here’s what I want to say: This is real life. I’m a real person. I’m probably a lot like you. I’m going to tell you my story in hopes that many of you can relate and if anything- can be inspired that if I can do this, so can you. Because one of the most satisfying feelings in the world is gaining control of something that has controlled you.
It all started in August of 2011. I went on a family vacation and when I got home and unloaded the photos from my camera I was very concerned. About my camera. Surely there was something wrong. Some sort of lens malfunction. I was shocked to see myself. Somehow it didn’t seem that bad when I looked in a mirror, but seeing photos, it really hit me. I had gotten way off track. (Every before photo in this post is from that trip. While going through my photos I found many recent photos that seemed to mirror the poses in older photos so I grouped those together and I’ll scatter them in this post.)
I’d like to say it was baby weight- I had a one year old at the time. But the truth is, I did a really good job getting a good chunk of that baby weight off in the first few months after having him. Something had happened in the months since and I let things go. I gained it all back and then some. The moment I got home from that trip, I vowed to change things, and I did. I joined a gym. I started eating better. Over the next few months I lost a little weight and was feeling much better but I had such a long way to go, and the thought was overwhelming. I was running like crazy every day, but not really seeing any big changes so it just all felt like a waste of time and that was frustrating. I was so sick of always being consumed with my weight. I didn’t want that to be something I stressed about day in and day out. I’m a very type A kind of person (just ask my husband or my business partner). I like to be in control of things. I’m a very driven person and I’ve found success in almost every area of my life- except this one. It drove me crazy that this owned me, and I wanted to change it but I had failed so many times that I didn’t have a lot of faith in myself.
About that same time I re-connected with an old friend on Facebook. I grew up with Paige, and vividly remembered her infectious smile. This is the Paige I remembered, but I hadn’t seen her in over 10 years.
The Paige I found on Facebook wasn’t the same person. In fact, I double checked the name. Was it really her? What the heck happened? Did she have surgery? Go on some sort of juice diet?
I clicked over to her blog, and was instantly drawn to her story because I could see from her photos that she didn’t just lose weight. She was an athlete. She was strong, she was toned, and she did it all the good ol’ fashioned way. That was inspiring. I read a post about her trainer and instantly recognized him. He trained at my gym. I saw him nearly every day. After reading about Paige’s experiences, and how instrumental her trainer was, I decided to talk to him one day. What I kind of assumed would be a quick chat, and maybe turn into a few sessions where he gave me some pointers, turned into something much, much bigger.
I spent over and hour talking to Jacob that first time and realized that my problems were deeper than just the simple fact that I liked to bake cookies (and eat them.) I needed to make some big changes. Some big life changes. I needed to get away from the idea of crash dieting and really learn how to manage my health for the long term. I have been on a million diets. I’ve done everything under the sun and I always end up right back where I started. Every. Time. I’ll find something that works for the short-term and once I lose a little bit of weight I get comfortable and let go again and then before I know it, I’m starting over. I wanted this time to be different. I didn’t want to quit. But it also seemed like a really big goal. We calculated numbers and got a realistic picture of what it would take and inside I wondered if I had it in me. Sensing my hesitation, Jacob said very matter-of-factly, “Extraordinary things are only extraordinary because not very many people do them. Just be one of the people that does it. Finish it.” When I left that meeting, I wrote down two words on a post-it note. My goal. He asked me what the one thing was that was most important to me; what did I really want to accomplish?
I wanted to finish it for once. Do it all the way. Not do it a little bit and get comfy. Go big or go home. That was the moment it clicked in my head. I was actually going to do this, no matter what it took. I wasn’t just going to lose a little weight; I was going to get fit. Get strong. Now I sit here writing this post, one month away from my 35th birthday. A thirty-something mother of 3 who cooks food for a living, and I can honestly say I’m in the best shape of my life. It wasn’t easy, but it wasn’t all that hard either. It took a lot of dedication, focus, and hard work. If you want to see big changes, you have to be willing to put in big effort.
I’m not saying I’m perfect. I still have work to do, and I’m constantly trying to push myself to get rid of the many, many things that jiggle (and shouldn’t). I’d still like to lose a few more pounds and push down my body fat percentage by a little bit, but I’m here. I’m doing it. I didn’t quit, I didn’t give up, and I’ve kept off the weight, and truly changed my lifestyle, which has made all the difference. I’m going to share a few of the most important things I’ve learned along the way, in hopes of inspiring someone else out there. If you’re reading thinking you wish you could do this too- YOU CAN! I may have had a trainer, but there was no top-secret diet, so never-before-seen workout program. Everything I did, you can do too. I promise.
Even if you’re a private person like me, if you’re going to take on a big goal, and make big changes, you need the support of the people around you. If no one else, your spouse or significant other. The people closest to you can be your biggest support, or your greatest challenge. I’ve seen enough weight-loss reality TV to know that when your spouse isn’t on board, it can be detrimental. It doesn’t mean they have to completely change their lives like you’re changing yours. At some point you have to be strong enough to make decisions for you, even if everyone around you is tempting you to do otherwise, but let them know what you’re doing and why you’re doing it. Let them know you need their support and encouragement. My husband is without a doubt the most supportive, encouraging, motivating person in my life. 
He arranges his schedule so I can make sure to get my exercising in. He passes up things he knows will tempt me when I’m trying to avoid them, and he tells me often how proud he is of my accomplishments. I couldn’t have done this without him cheering me on, and making sacrifices to help me succeed. The fun side-effect is that we’re now a much more active couple. We still love to go out to eat and watch movies on dates, but now we also go hiking together, work out together, ski, snowshoe, backpack together. We have so many active hobbies now and that has been awesome.
If you’re starting from zero, don’t try to drastically change everything all at once. I was notorious for this. Out of the blue, I’d make a huge goal, “I’m gonna lose 30 lbs by my vacation in 8 weeks!” “I’m going to workout for 2 hours every day!” “And eat no sugar! And only salad!” Sheesh. No wonder that never lasted more than about 7 days. When I first started training, my only responsibility was to exercise every day and eat about 1500 calories, keeping track of my food. That made it easy. I could manage that alone. After a few weeks, when those things were habit, we added more. Increasing the intensity of my workouts, focusing more on what I was eating, etc. If you want long-term success, I suggest starting with a few basic things that you know you can manage. It will help you develop good habits that you can actually stick with and make you feel successful.
When I had my first meeting with my trainer, I expected long list of certain foods I was to eat and not eat. Surely there was some top-secret miracle trainer diet that I would finally get to see. Nope. My only responsibility: log my food. When it comes to nutrition people make it so much harder than it needs to be. The math is simple. Every day you burn a certain amount of calories, an you intake a certain number of calories. If you eat about the same amount that you burn, you maintain your wait. If you eat more than you burn, you gain weight. If you eat less than you burn, you lose weight. 3500 calories = 1 pound. If you want to lose 1 pound each week, you need to have a deficit of 3500 calories, or 500 calories per day. Keep track of what you eat, religiously. I use MyFitnessPal. It makes it ridiculously easy to know where you stand. You might feel frustrated that you don’t have a lot of time to exercise, or you don’t have a gym membership, or you simply don’t have the energy to work out as you’d like to. The one thing you have 100% complete control over, is what you put into your body. You control what you eat. You can manage that.
End the mindless eating. If you’re going to snack, don’t stick your hand in the bag of crackers and munch away. Look at the serving size, count them out, and write it down. Invest in a Food Scale. Be aware of portion sizes and know exactly what you’re putting into your body. It takes effort sometimes to calculate the calories in a recipe and figure out the serving size, but take the time if you’re serious about weight loss. You can still enjoy good, indulgent foods, if you can learn to do it in moderation. My birthday last year was during a time where I was trying hard to lose weight. Instead of a big cake and ice cream binge, I made mini Somoa Cheesecakes. With all the good stuff: real butter, full-fat cream cheese, whipped cream, and creamy ganache. They were perfectly delicious, fit into my daily calorie needs, and I invited over some friends so I wouldn’t have leftovers; it was perfect.
Avoid Extremes. I would say that any diet that completely eliminates any food group is one to stay away from. Trust me: you don’t need to go crazy. You don’t need to go on a no-sugar no-carb low calorie blitz or any other weird thing that promises you’ll lose 10 pounds that week. Sure you might lose weight, but at what cost? (Including your sanity). Focus on things that are long-lasting. That’s why I finally, after all of these years, I feel like I have my nutrition in check. Is it perfect? No way. I do stupid things and eat way too much all the time. Just last Friday night I went out to an awesome restaurant and demolished a 16oz ribeye. 16 ounces. Do you know how big that is?? (It tasted like heaven. Amazing cow heaven.) But I correct it. I do better the next day. I find that if I make good choices 80% of the time, and live actively, then that allows plenty of wiggle room to still eat things I love (like dessert.) I’m going to dive further into nutrition on my post tomorrow on The Scoop (okay, not tomorrow because we’re having a technical issue with The Scoop- but soon!), so if you’re interested in this topic, check that out.
I talked about this in my Fitness post, so I won’t repeat too much. Dieting and cardio will only get you so far. You will absolutely lose weight that way, but chances are good that you’ll end up in that state people lovingly refer to as “Skinny Fat”. If you want to be fit, strong, and lean, you need to build muscle. You’ll lose weight and inches faster, and burn more calories while you’re doing nothing! The minute I started weight training, the weight melted off.
This was a big turning point for me, and I’d say it was key to why I had been unsuccessful with my weight loss and fitness so many times before, and why this time was different. My trainer taught me to work out differently. He taught me to be comfortable in the weight room. To lift heavy. As I did, I saw my body transform. I saw definition in places I had never seen without flab (like that arm and shoulder below).
When I first saw this picture (below, upper) from that infamous trip a few years ago, my first thought was, “Sheesh. I guess I don’t ever look at my back. Does it seriously look like that??”
And then I had the exact same reaction when I saw the photos below it, snapped just a few days ago. “I guess I don’t ever look at my back. Does it seriously look like that?? Are those muscles?”
I can’t emphasize this enough. The real key to my success when it comes to fitness is that I stopped exercising like a girl. Don’t be scared of the weight room. Get in there and lift. If you can do 12-15 reps and not struggle by the last one, you can probably try something heavier. Keep going until it’s really hard at the end. Stay at that weight until you conquer it and then slowly increase. Cardio is still important, and your diet is important. It’s finding the balance of all 3 of those things that will give you the magic combination.
I have such a love-hate relationship with my scale. My trainer, on more than one occasion, has instructed me to hide it on the top shelf of my closet for a few weeks. DO weigh yourself. That’s important. One of the reasons I got so far off track a few years ago was because I literally refused to weight myself. I had absolutely no clue how much I weighed because I didn’t want to know! Weighing yourself regularly will help you keep things in check. That being said, DON’T be a slave to the scale. It’s not the only indication of what’s going on.
(That’s a Special K Scale, I admit I kind of like those cheesy commercials.)
Just because the numbers aren’t moving, doesn’t mean that that you aren’t making progress. One of the many reasons a trainer has been helpful to me is that I don’t just stand on a scale. Every 3 weeks we do measurements, where we measure with a tape measure pinch the fat, etc. Those numbers don’t lie! Combined with the number on the scale, you can see exactly what’s happening, like last December, when I was depressed I only lost 1 pound all month, but after measurements I could see that I gained 3 pounds of solid muscle. That explained why my weight didn’t change much, but my clothes fit better and I felt so great. Try weighing yourself once a week, on the same day and stick to that. And don’t freak out if you worked really hard and the scale doesn’t show it. Over time, if you’re doing the right things, it will reflect that.
Without a doubt, the key to my success being long-lasting this time, is that I figured out a way to simply live a balanced life. People are constantly asking how I stay fit when I’m obviously cooking lots of treats and indulging in good food often. The key is balance and moderation.
When you live actively, there’s room in life for good food. I love food. I always have and always will. I don’t live life on a constant diet anymore. I eat normal food, I just eat reasonable amounts of it. And I live actively. My entire family is more active now. We love exploring the world around us, and getting in exercise while having fun together.
I have so much more energy for my kids now, and I enjoy opportunities to have fun while also being healthy.
I’ve taken up so many new hobbies with my stronger body. My husband I love to ski, hike, play sports, backpack, and snow shoe. The best exercise is the kind disguised as a hobby!
Don’t quit. Don’t make excuses. No if’s, and’s or but’s about it.
See what I did there? And yes, I did just post a close up of my butt on the internet. There’s a first for everything. Seriously though. If you make a goal, follow through, but don’t let a bad day (or two, or three, or 10) make you quit. If you feel lost right now, find yourself. Out of control? Get in control. My entire journey has been 2 steps forward, one step back; the point is that you continue to move in the right direction. I think that’s normal. It’s impossible to be perfect, so don’t expect it of yourself. If you get off track, get back on track. You’re stronger than you think and you CAN do it! Getting fit and learning to better live a healthy lifestyle has changed my life for the better, and not just in a physical sense. Yes it’s nice to feel comfortable in my own skin, but it’s also very mentally and emotionally empowering to master something that’s been haunting you. If you want to change, do it. Be extraordinary. Finish it.
If you have any questions, please feel free to leave a comment below- I’ll do my best to keep on top of them and answer them all. I also love hearing YOUR stories! If you have any tips and advice of your own, please leave a comment and share. There’s lots of people out there looking for inspiration!
Thank you for pointing out that not eatinga fix group won’t help. I’ve lost weight before (after the birth of children…) and the only way I could do it was by working out and watching how much I ate! Cutting out carbs does NOT work over time! Thanks for sharing your story.
Sara, I’ve never commented on a blog before, but I want you to know how inspirational I found your story… for a different reason than others who have commented. I am 36 and have struggled with anorexia for years and after many years of hard work am solidly on my journey to recovery. Your words about food, control, etc. echo my feelings through the years. While we are on a different journeys, your post is a reminder that the path is essentially the same. Pay attention to solid nutrition, log what you eat, embrace a strong body. Finish the journey and never, ever give up. One bad day doesn’t equal failure.
On a side note, cooking blogs, such as yours, have been a big part of my recovery as I learn to find enjoyment in food again. Thank you.
Rebecca, you’re so right. I think the core of most food issues, whether you’re eating too much, or not enough, stems from the same place. Thank you for taking the time to leave a comment, that means a lot to me! I’m so glad our recipes are helping you a little on your journey as well. Stick with it!
I’ve only read part of this so far, because I keep tearing up. All I can say is I am finding this very inspirational and am hoping that after I read the post in its entirety I am able to push myself onto the right path that I KNOW I NEED TO BE ON. Thanks for sharing. Maybe it’s time for me to take MY Day 1 picture. 🙂 And by the way, not only do you look GREAT, but you look SO HAPPY! Congratulations – hard work really does pay off!
I love these posts. Since this is a bit of a series, any chance you can address for those of us who are clueless how to calculate nutritional info? I have played around with My Fitness Pal, but by the time I entered in all of the ingredients for a meal, I was often so frustrated that I would give up!
That would be a good topic for a Scoop post. I’ll put it on my to-do list!
I am a newlywed college student who can’t afford a trainer:( I am dying to lift weights but I have no idea where to start. Do you know of any weight training schedules online that people like me can use?
I don’t off the top of my head, but I bet you could easily find something on YouTube. I’ll poke around. Another great option is to grab a friend that’s comfortable in the weight room and have them show you around. Also, many gyms will offer a complimentary training session or something similar. Take advantage and have someone show you the ropes!
As a fellow newlywed college student I have discovered that at my university’s gym they have free trainers who can help. You can either register for one or go and ask whoever is on duty. I would ask around. Also, many seniors who are recreational management, sports training, physical therapy etc majors know a lot on the subject and would probably be happy to help for free or minimal cost.
I would suggest signing up for Bodybuilding.com. Sure, the name sounds nothing like what you want to do, but it’s not just for bodybuilders. They have a ton of free programs on there with workout schedules and diet plans. They even have videos of each exercise so you can see how to do it properly. Currently, I’m enrolled in Jamie Easton’s Live Fit program, which is 12 weeks long. I’ve only done 1 week so far, but I like that there’s a schedule there for me to follow and I already know how to do most of the exercises.
Check out Jamie Eason’s Live Fit Program. She has a great schedule that is in three phases. It’s a GREAT starting point. Here’s the link:
http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/jamie-eason-livefit-trainer.html
Look up “body weight” routines on Youtube. I like Nerd Fitness’ body weight routine.
This post just about made me cry…in a good way! I’m the girl in the before pics. Three kids in 6 years has taken its toll and I have some major work ahead of me. I have wanted to get started, but I feel all alone doing it – time to man up and make the changes for me thanks!
That was awesomely inspiring. I confronted my addiction to food in August 2013. By November I lost 42 pounds through counting calories – on fitness pal and strength training. Since November – I’ve gained back 10 pounds, feel awful and way out of control. I stopped tracking my food and started feeling really sorry for myself. I’ve got so far to go (at least another 100 pounds). Did you ever feel that way? What got you through? (p.s. – my post-it note says “Sidewinder 2014” – it’s the name of the rollercoaster that I couldn’t ride on our family vacation: too fat. NEVER AGAIN will that happen to me!)
I love your inspiration note! Stick with it! I can totally relate. Last summer I totally got off track after a month of vacationing and gained 10lbs myself. After working so hard to get those pounds off the first time, that was really discouraging! Don’t let that stop you. Choose now to turn right around and get back on track. I have some other homework for you too. Go read my friend Paige’s blog. She lost over 130lbs and she has SUCH good advice and motivation on there. She is very open and honest with both her struggles and her triumphs and I think you’ll really be inspired there. Check it out! http://joyjourneypaige.blogspot.com/
You look terrific!!! I would never have dreamed you had struggled with weight. It is such a battle.
You look amazing!! Thank you for the inspiring post.
Ask Jacob if he knows anyone in New Jersey?! lol I read your story on “The Scoop” yesterday and was so inspired I have been asking around for PT recs, but nothing yet! I am looking to tone and I LOVED when you mentioned stepping away from the cardio. I want to try resistance training now!
Thank you for putting your story out there and it was one of the most inspiring stories I’ve read!
You are my hero Sara! Wow your 90 day picture is awe inspiring. Thank you for proving that Moms can do it and look great when they are done 🙂 I think a support system really helps and props to your man as well for being so supportive. Keep inspiring 🙂
That is awesome! You are so real and such an inspiration! I lost 40 lbs about 3 years ago and have kept it off by being active with my kids and cooking healthier for my family. We are all in it together and it is so exciting to see that my kids are getting how much better life is when you are active and healthy!
I love that you are willing to share your journey. I think so many of us are done with the up and down weight. I want a healthy and fit life. I would love the suggestion you gave, but would you be willing to be more specific? How many days do you exercise? How you divide your weight training? How heavy you lifted in the beginning on certain exercises and how heavy are you lifting now? What cardio do you do and for how long? How many calories to you aim to burn in a workout….or do you even monitor your calories burned? What does a typical day of eating look like? If you can’t tell….I’m Type A too. Thanks in advance.
Haha, yes, you sound like me! I’ll have to go into more detail in a separate post, but I change things often and that’s key. I do things for a little while, and then when I start to get comfy there, I switch things up.
You are in a position to do so much good in the world, because of all you’ve already done. Thanks for having the courage to do it.
This really is a perfect post. Thanks for everything you said. I’ve been working really hard to lose weight and be healthy and attain goals that I never thought possible and I appreciate the “finish it” perspective so so much.
I am so happy for your success and thank you so much for this post. Thank you for opening your life to us and providing me with much needed inspiration, knowledge, and motivation. I love your blog and my family and I love your recipes but I am loving and truly grateful for this series that you have been doing. You ladies are the best, thank you! Oh and if by some miracle you know of any awesome trainers in Madison, Alabama I would love to have their names. 🙂
Way to go Sara! You look awesome. Congrats on all of the hard work paying off.
Thank you! I needed to read this just as much as your last post about the issue. I have become friends with Kate, as she is the flip side of the coin in life for me. Since my son Miles passed away and I was suddenly pregnant, grieving and depressed the weight of not only life but my body has just been compounding. That in itself hasn’t helped my already down mental state. In the last week I too have looked at myself and realized that as I thought I was hiding this extra weight, I’m really not. I’ve since gotten a gym membership and been hitting the gym each morning. It’s the little things that are big deals. I use to be so active, but I just can’t pull myself together to do the same things or even in the same way I use to. I was active with Miles, so each activity is so emotional for me. I’ve been running for years. But since having my third baby and again with all that life has handed me my body is not letting go of an ounce. So I’m going to start incorporating strength training into my routine! Thank you! I use to wake up early before the kids woke up each morning, but I haven’t done it in almost 18 months now. Well this last week I have, and you know what I feel great taking that time for me. I’ve decided that the day is going to start whether or not I greet it, so this past week I have greeted it every single morning. It feels so wonderful! Thank you for sharing your story. You have inspired me just when I really needed it. Andrae
I have been reading your blog for so long and love love your recipes and personalities.
I think b/c I started reading your blog as a FOOD blog, it seems more REAL to hear your weight loss struggling and triumphs. It is so nice to see you, the before and after pix and it seems so REAL vs someone whom started a fitness blog.
I will probably go back and read this last post over and over. I read it thinking “Is this ME writing this?” The trying every diet under the sun, being frustrated that nothing really has helped, too much cardio etc….. I now KNOW and have realized that I have GOT to lift weights. I have a trainer, I see him 2 times a week but I think I’m not losing weight b/c my food is not changing. So now between the trainer and lifting weights, I need to watch my food closer and I will hopefully see results.
Can you post an idea of what a typical week of fitness looks like for you?
thanks so much and congrats, I can’t wait to be as proud of myself as you are of yourself!!
I really, really appreciate your posts on this stuff and I hope you continue to do this. It provides so much inspiration to me!!! I love all of your posts but lately, these are the ones that are making me think and give me ideas about how I can amp up my own program. I look forward to them and I’m glad you’ll post twice on it this week. Can you please consider using T/Th for these kinds of posts on a weekly basis?
Thanks for your post. And congrats to you! That is amazing and so inspiring. Getting a trainer and joining a gym isn’t doable right now, but I’d love to know any exercise tips (especially weight training ideas) to do at home and how often you do it. Thanks!
You have no idea how much I needed this. I have been trying to lose weight and was doing really well until about a month ago, when I started to let things slip a little bit and now I feel like I am back to where I started with my eating. This post was just what I needed to kick myself in the rear and get going again. Thank you, thank you!!
NEEDED this today. Thank you and congratulations!! Working hard on a healthier lifestyle. This is so inspiring!!
Can I ask how much your trainer cost? I know nothing about which weights to use and when, etc, etc, etc and I would love to hire a trainer, but worry about the added money to my budget…
ps, you look AWESOME! And you are very motivating. I want to get there.
Sara- I did the exact same thing 5 years ago. I was overweight and lost 50lbs by counting calories and exercising. Would it be possible for you and Kate to start to include the calories per portion for the recipes you have? That would be amazing!! You did great! I used to say it was the hardest thing I had ever done and I still believe it! I know what you went through, you did it! Congrats!!
I loved reading this. I have lost 45 pounds in 11 months. I am hoping to lose 10 more pounds to get to my goal weight. I have been stuck at the same weight for a week now because I’m just not very motivated. This post made me get motivated again. I’m going to lose that last 10 pounds!!! Alright I’m off to go work out now that I’m motivated again. Thank you so much you are a huge inspiration!!!
You are SO brave for sharing this and SO amazing for sticking with something so life changing. I also loved your practical approach, the whole no-this or no-that extreme diets make me nuts! Thanks so much for sharing and congrats on your amazing progress 🙂
Could I do Yoga sometimes instead of weight training?
Reading this was amazing. When you described how you were feeling 18 months ago made me realize that’s where I am right now. I’m glad it can be done. Now I just need to find time or maybe I need to start making my older kids babysit. 🙂
I am writing this comment with tears streaming down my face. I am in the place you were 2 years ago. I have been over weight my entire life. I have done all sorts of different diets and fads but I have never been able to finish. I have been trying to figure out where to go from here. Your two posts have inspired me like nothing else has! I don’t want to lose weight just to lose weight because it will never happen. I want to change the way I live. Thank you so much for this post, words truly cannot express how much it has helped me and will continue to help me.