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!
Questions & Reviews
Please share your weight lifting routine! I’ve changed my diet, started running – currently training for my 5th half marathon, but I need to learn how to weight train! How can you make sure you get a good trainer?
Thanks for posting this and sharing all of your tips! I have loved this series. I am stuck with about 10 more pounds to lose, and I just can’t seem to shed the last bit of weight. I would love to know some of your weekly workout plans if your trainer doesn’t mind you sharing. I would also love to know some of your meal plans or guidelines that you used for eating after you got further into your weight loss. Finally, I love the Athleta workout top that you posted, but they are sold out. Any other recommendations of tops like this one?
Thanks!
I have never left a comment on a site before…but I just have to today!Thanks so much for sharing your story.I have belonged to my local TOPS group since 2001. Came very close to my weight goal once and have decided that THIS is the year I will do it.Having trouble with those last stubborn 5 pounds though.Anyway,would love to share this post with my group .Thanks for the renewed inspiration!
This is so inspiring. You are lovely in both pictures but I can imagine how much better you feel and how much more you can do! Congratulations! I’m waiting for the Best ‘Skinny’ Bites Cookbook!
Please do one!
Love this-thanks for the inspiration! I love that your a food blogger and did this-we can still love food and make smart choices! I had to crack down in November due to healthy issues. I still have a long way to go and more discipline to develop, but I’ve lost 20 lbs and that success alone feels great. I am impressed you dropped that many sizes with 50 lbs. I only dropped one size with 20, but that could be because my butt is disproportionate to my waist. haha. My pants are always too big at the waist, but if I buy a size down, they are too tight on my butt and eventually will tear. Super annoying!
I had a similar experience. I was never one of those skinny, rail thin teenagers. I was always more ‘normal’, and therefore I thought i was so fat and huge. I grew up just thinking I was a fat girl…in reality I was just fine. But, because of that, when I started having babies, the real weight kind of snuck up on me. After 3 kids I was so frustrated with my body. It didn’t seem like I could ever find clothes that looked good on me. I never took good pictures, etc. Then one day I REALLY saw myself and realized how large I really was. Not obese, but absolutley over weight. Suddenly I was committed. It wasn’t a fad diet. It wasn’t starving myself. It was hard, hard work. Eating well and exercising. I lost 40 pounds in about 5 months. THat was over 11 years ago. Since then, I’ve had some dips where my weight has been more….especially after having more babies. But, I’m the in the best shape of my life and I’m 41 and the mother of 7. I weigh about the same, or a little less than when we were married. I run several times a week and I monitor my weigh. RIght now, I’m trying to get down 5+ pounds from a pig out trip across Sounthern California…and there is always going to be the elusive 10 pounds I’d love to drop…but overall I’m happy. I have people comment on ‘how good I look…especially for having 7 kids’, but they don’t realize how much I still work at it and watch it. I can’t just eat what I want and I need to exercise. There is no quick fix, and there is no ‘easy way’, but it is SIMPLE. Eat less, move more.
THANK YOU THANK YOU for sharing this! I am a mid-30s mom who gains a couple pounds every year and I WANT to stop the cycle and be one FIT momma! You have inspired me so much- I cannot begin to tell you! I have a trainer coming tomorrow! I am first-time-with-a-trainer excited and motivated!
Sara,
I wanted to say thanks for doing the post about getting in shape and training with Jacob. My sister shared it on FB and when I read it I immediately FB messaged Jacob. We must live in the same general area because it only takes me about 3 minutes to get over to the gym too. I just started training with him a week or so ago and I agree…he’s fabulous.
I’d been in good shape in the past, but over a couple of years had bumped up a couple of sizes. I was looking for a good trainer and was thankful that Jacob was able to squeeze me into his busy schedule.
Thanks for pointing me in the right direction! And perhaps we’ll cross paths at the gym on day and I’ll be able to thank you in person.
So happy to hear this Christianne! And yes, you’re lucky- he is one busy guy these days. I’m sure we’ll cross paths some time, can’t wait to meet you!
Thank you thank you! I gained my weight 12 years ago in grad school, and I am gearing up to lose it. (I would start today, but I’m 11 weeks away from delivering baby #4, so I’m going to wait until the fall at least). Thanks for sharing your story. I think it’s time I joined a gym!
Sara,
Thank you so much for taking the time to write this. I had my second baby 6 months ago and am currently working on 50 pounds…it can be overwhelming when I think about it. I’m encouraged by this though, so much! Two questions…how long did it take you to reach your 50 lb goal? And what kind of nutrition did you focus on? I know the eating part is HUGE when it comes to weight loss.
Thank you!
I lost 30- pounds very quickly, like within the first 2 months or so, and then the rest came off gradually over the next several months. Eating is a huge part, I focused mainly on my calories at first. Simply staying within a reasonable calorie range. As I lost more weight and became accustomed to that, I tweaked my diet hear and there, focusing on lean protein.
This is exactly what I needed to read today. I have two kids, 3 and 1, and my husband is super busy in his 3rd year of law school. I feel over the last few months I have been sliding downward as far as my overall health goes. I snack like a monster, barely drink any water, and stay up way to late (enjoying the quiet of a sleeping house). I have lost almost all of my baby weight but I feel fatter than ever; probably because my body fat composes more of a percentage of my body than it should. I am a perfectionist and want fast results, but reading this has reminded me that I need to just chill out about my approach. It really is about moderation in eating, strength training, staying hydrated, getting rest, and managing stress. Its not gonna be easy, but I am finally ready to full on commit to this. Thanks so much for having the courage to share!
Thinness does not equal fitness. Thanks to great genes my 6ft frame helps me hide my weight better. But I am so weak. It’s hard to exercise with 3 little ones 5 and under but I want to be stronger and healthier for them and for me. Each time I get ready to dive into getting healthier fitness wise I find out we have a new baby on the way which is great for our family but not so great for that goal. Any suggestions or resources for that? Obviously if all I can eat is subway or Taco Bell or otter pops that’s what has to happen. But fitness wise I just don’t feel like I can really take on anything without worryin I will hurt the little peanut or myself. Plus I am wiped out all the time. Suggestions? Resources? I just want to be able to Ritter be there physically for my kids. Again it’s about fitness not thinness.
As long as you’re healthy to start with, you can certainly exercise during your entire pregnancy. Don’t let that slow you down (besides the obvious way in which it does, lol). That baby is safe in there!
First – what a great post. Thank you for being honest and real and accessible! I too love food, and believe that in moderation and with some thought before hand you can eat great food and still be healthy!
Second – totally off topic – I LOVE your brown boots in the pict with you in a white dress…. I have been search for eons it seems and can’t find any. But you seem to have found a great pair – can I ask where you got them!?
Thank you again for you post – I think it’s just awesome!
Oh my gosh, I literally hunted down a complete stranger in public to ask about her boots because I have been searching for the perfect pair for sooo long. And these are IT. They are Steve Madden “Rocket”. I wish I could remember where I bought them too, because they were half off at some random little on-line boutique!
You are Awesome!! Thank you for the response… I am going to start looking for some boots!
Thank you!
I’m just working to get back into a strong, healthy shape after baby #2. I really appreciate your focus on being “fit” as opposed to “skinny.” I want to focus on being healthy for my babies more than anything!
i read your last post, and believe me, i was inspired! i had started working out
/dieting a couple weeks prior and your story really got me going. So things were going great for both my husband and i, and this past week we took off on our yearly winter vacation with some family to hang out in the snow. this year i decided to be active and snowboard vs sitting in lodge, aaaannnnddddd… broke my wrist. now what. im totally discouraged. i dont want to be a debbie downer,but my motivation is gone-zo. this post gave me a great lift, but any suggestions on exercising minus 1 wrist? besides say, running, all my workouts are out the window….
and truly,thanks for your story!
9
Ah, that stinks! I’d focus on keeping up with good nutrition, and simply being active (walking, etc.) until you get your arm back!
I LOVE your story!! I’m turning 40 the end of May and my family is going to Hawaii in August. I’m determined to not give up this time. I’ve been telling myself I’m going to be 40 and fabulous not 40 and fat. Hahaha. I’m currently a size 12/14 and have just started weights. I’ve been using my fitness pal for a while and I’ve already lost 20 lbs. My question if its not too personal is how much weight did you have to lose to go from your picture of size 12/14 to the picture of you as size 2/4? I just put my scale on top of the closet because of my hate hate…I mean love hate relationship with it but I would like a gauge as to how much weight I still have to go. I would LOVE to be a size 2/4 however that seems like a very daunting task right now. I’m going to aim for size 6/8 and then take it from there. Like I said if it’s not too personal, I was just wondering how much weight you had actually lost from your 12/14 to 2/4?
That was start to finish, so about 50 lbs.
I just want to say thank you. Thank you for sharing your story. It’s a motivating and encouraging story. I learned quite a few things from this and so thank you for the tips and knowledge!
Have a great day!
Congratulations on your hard work! You look great and I love that you shared your story to inspire others to a healthier lifestyle. I am a fitness instructor and I don’t eat perfectly 100% of the time either – moderation is so key to happiness! I am going to share your post.
Thank you. I’m working on my own journey. I’ve been overweight most of my adult life, I’m now 51. I want to get and stay fit. Your story is very inspring and helps me keep going. I am going to FINSISH THIS!
Thank you so much for this post. Three years ago I was asked by a friend to be a ‘guinea pig’ while she studied for her personal trainer certification. I stuck with it for 18 months and although I never enjoyed working out, I did like the results – slowly but surely my body was changing and I could do push ups! Me! Then we moved. I made excuses as to why I couldn’t work out, our eating habits changed and the pounds have slowly crept back. A visit to the doctors office to ensure my vaccinations are up to date for my nursing class led to a revelation. My cholesterol is up. Not enough to worry about, but if I don’t do something about it now, it will become a problem. We went over the importance of diet and I blew off the exercise – with two children, a house, and schoolwork, I just don’t have the time. Four days ago I was on Pinterest and found your story. I read it, got up, got changed, and for the first time in almost a year got on the eliptical. For the last four days I have made time for me, without feeling guilty about it. Thank you for giving me the inspiration to do something about my weight. Between you and my bloodwork results, I actually want to make changes and regain the body that I was working towards before we moved.
Thank you for sharing your story. You are a real inspiration! I get tons of useful tips from your blog.
Thank you for sharing your tips. I found this through Pinterest. I am 27 and have always been overweight/obese. I had back surgery on August (was told it was not due to my weight). Since then I have been doing physical therapy (until the end of Dec) and lost 50 pounds by PT and just not eating until I was hungry. I do not often feel “hungry” so I have begun eating differently and joined the Y. I have been doing water fitness and weight training. My goal is for water aerobics three times per week and two days of weight training (using the Y’s computerized personal training program). I only got one day of weight training on this week, but I am still going strong for next week.
Thank you for your inspiration. I still have a long way to go and a lot of weight to lose but I am excited about the journey I am currently on. Thanks for sharing your story.
This is such an inspiring story!!! I relate so much to how you said you felt before your journey began – like you and I have visited and you wrote down what I said! These are such practical tips and I am going to finish!!
Wow – what an inspirational story! So motivating, thank you for sharing! I was wondering if you (or your trainer) would be able to recommend a weight training workout at home (a DVD?). I have 4 little ones and a deploy-able hubby, so gym time is few and far between. I would love some suggestions 🙂 Thanks again for posting this!
Hi there! Dunno if you’re still reading comments since it’s been several days and there are now hundreds of comments, but I wanted to thank you for these awesome posts and ask a question.
You have totally inspired me! I bought workout clothes and am going to sign up for a gym on Monday. I’m actually really excited. I have about 20 lbs to lose and the toning up that a person who has never exercised regularly in her life would need! Haha! Thank you for sharing all this! I can’t wait for your nutrition post!!
So my question is about food tracking. I’ve been doing it for about a week. It’s helping a TON because while I eat pretty healthfully, I was paying zero attention to portions and since I’m nursing, I’ve been hungry and really was going crazy with my intake (way, way in excess of the 300-500 cals burned breastfeeding). However. I just wondered. Am I going to have to do this the rest of my life? Or like 6 days a week minus a cheat day for the rest of my life? It’s so hard to measure and portion everything out and limit every serving!!!! It’s definitely valuable of course. I just wanna know, straight up. If I want control of my weight, are food tracking and calorie counting my life now??
I think you need to be aware of portion control and food portions for the rest of your life, yes. How you do that is completely up to you. I’ve found the more/longer I take the time to actual measure and count, the more I naturally do it. I can estimate a serving size extremely well now, without having to weigh and measure everything, but everyone is different. There certainly comes a point of maintenance where you can relax a little. Stick with it!
I have been doing the things you have just described and want to thank you for sharing your experience. It validates what I am doing and gives me motivation to keep going. I think it can feel selfish at times to take time for my own fitness while my home and kids need me, but I know my family needs me to be healthy and set the example. Thank you so much for sharing.
Thank you for sharing! I think you look great. I just started using My Fitness Pal two days ago and I was amazed at how much I was eating without realizing it… thank you for the inspiration to do better.
Thank you for the inspiration! Back in 2010 I lost 60 lbs and felt the best I ever have. Then I had my 4th baby in 2012 and have not been able to get back where I was. I have attempted several times to get back to calorie counting and being more healthy, but my motivation doesn’t seem to last long. Your last several posts have been just what I have needed! Your before and after shots were inspiring to me! I went to the grocery store this morning and stocked up on everything I needed for your lunch for 1 recipes and I am committing myself to “Finish It” this time. Thank you so much again and please keep the inspiration and recipes coming!
Thank you so much for sharing your story. Personally, I’ve got a solid 50 pounds to lose. You’re before/after pictures are very inspiring, because when I look at myself, I think “I could never get small again.” but seeing that it can be done makes me want to work.
I love your cookbooks/recipes, they are always my go-to for anything. Have you guys thought about doing a “healthy” or “skinny” cookbook? I would buy that one, too, for sure!!
I love your post! Thank you for sharing it with us. My husband and I have been trying to change our lifestyle too. We are in our mid-40’s and still have young kids at home, a Senior in high school and a 21 year old. We use My Fitness Pal and love it! We want to be healthy and strong so that we can continue to raise our children and enjoy our grandchildren. We eat healthier, exercise, and feel better. Thank you for the great tips! We will FINISH IT. 🙂