Before and current pictures.

https://imgur.com/gallery.jpg/zzIdJKs

First some background: Based on the way I look today, it’s hard to fathom that I would understand, but, believe me, I do. I was always a bigger girl my whole childhood to adulthood. When I met my husband, I was around 250 lbs wearing a size 16-18. After having kids I gained more weight. A little over 3 years ago, I hit rock bottom and maxed at 300 pounds, wearing size 26/28. Depressed and desperate, I tried to lean on husband for help. My husband panicked and the only suggestion he had was to offer to budget for gastric bypass surgery, hearing that suggestion, scared the crap out of me. For all those years, I told myself, I’m okay, I’m okay, that one day, it would click and I’d lose some weight. But, hearing it, was very real. I really hit rock bottom and I was scared. I told my husband, okay, let’s put that in the plan B pile. I told him, I wanted to try this “diet & exercise” shtick one last try! I was conflicted, mainly because I was really scared that it came to this. But, I felt like I still had hope. Because, inside my heart, I knew, at least 1% of me, knew that I could do it. So, I created a game plan. My first move was to ask my doctor if he recommended an appetite suppressant. He suggested a few, but Phentermine was within my budget. Side note: Phentermine is affordable via free GoodRx membership, a 30 day supply is around $15-$20. I took Phentermine and I was impressed. I got a boost of energy and for me, it worked. It really did suppress my appetite. I was drinking more water and I was eating enough and I no longer over ate. I thought this was a miracle cure! Within a few weeks, I dropped 10 pounds! Then, the following weeks, the results leveled off. It wasn’t a cure, but a teaching moment. Phentermine, helps to curb appetite, so I can train my mind, what a proper serving of food is and that diet alone is not going to help me lose the weight. So, the second phase of plan A, exercise. Before, my greatest excuse was that I just didn’t have the time to. Which is true, I have a full plate. I work full time and we have two kids. I knew what my priorities were. For me, if I had to make a choice, be obese and unhealthy, and provide quality time to my family or get healthier and be distant with my family, then, the choice is simple. I will forever be obese and unhealthy. My family means everything to me. Because they mean so much to me, I said, there has to be a way to have both. I created an exercise game plan. My plan was to exercise when everyone else is off to bed. I dusted off the treadmill that was bought as a New Year’s resolution present from two years prior turned coat hanger and readied it to incorporate into my life. In the mornings, I would wake up, get the kids and hubby up. I would feed the kids breakfast and send the hubby off to work and kids off to school. I would go to work and when I got home, I would fix dinner and check homework. After, I would do the regular parenting stuff! After I would help my kids brush their teeth and tuck them in, I would spend a little time with my husband. After that and only after that, I would jump on the treadmill. My first night on the treadmill was disastrous! I came into realization that I was way, way out of shape! I walked for 15 minutes and I was winded. I was defeated. As I sat at the end of the bed, panting heavily, I looked over at my husband. He smiled and said, good job and that he was proud of me. Well…at least someone was proud of me, I took that glimmer of encouragement and I was determined. Instead of dwelling in my own pity, I decided to create mini milestones. My first milestone was to be able to walk on the treadmill for 20 minutes and not feel so winded. I achieved that milestone within a couple weeks. I continued to set subsequent milestones and achieving the goals. That kept me motivated and engaged. Six months into my journey, I was feeling good and making great progress. I was buying new clothes weekly. I felt bad for buying new clothes, so I started getting clothes from the Goodwill, because I was changing sizes so frequently. I was feeling great! I went to my husband and I jokingly made a promise to him. I told him, that I was going to get skinny and hot for him! He told me he was proud of me and that he would love me the same no matter what. That’s when it clicked, all my life I was a people pleaser, even today, I would consider myself as a people pleaser, I tend to put others’ needs before my own. There is nothing wrong with that way of life! But, sometimes, you should prioritize your wants. Damn it! That’s what I want! I want my husband to have that skinny and hot wife. I want my kids to have a healthy mom, so I can be there for them when they grow up! As the days past, weeks go by, I remained vigilant. I ate right, I hit the treadmill every night. I was determined. Nothing stopped me from getting on the treadmill. I had the flu, I had crappy days, etc, etc, I still got on the treadmill. I walked, I jogged and I eventually starting running! Before you know it, 18 months after I started the last ditch effort, I did it! I lost half my body weight. I have never been happier in my life! I am healthier than ever. I weigh less than what I ever did during high school so many years ago. I am wearing clothes that I skipped while growing up. Damn it…I am finally proud of me!