On September 22, 2006 I started a life changing journey. I stepped on the scale at 250 pounds and decided I’d had enough. I was tired of being fat. I was tired of being unhealthy.
I had high blood pressure, I was dizzy all the time, my body ached from carrying around the extra weight and I was developing diabetes. That meant I would have to inject myself with insulin–something horrifying to me. I wanted a change.
I had set backs. I had struggles. I experienced many plateaus in my journey. I gained about 15 pounds and had to re-lose it. I clocked in many hours at the gym. But I never regretted a single moment of it.
Less than two years later, on August 10, 2008 I stepped on the scale at 150 pounds.
I had reached my goal of losing 100 pounds! It was one of the happiest days of my life. I’d been determined to lose the weight and I did it. Then I kept going! I lost about 10 more pounds.
I am happy with my journey. I did not have surgery. I did not do fad diets. I did not join any “clubs” to lose weight. I did it all on my own. I counted calories religiously every day. I wrote them down by hand in a small notepad. Eventually I upgraded to an iPhone App that tracks my calories and exercise.
The day I weighed in 100 pounds lighter, Michael took me out to dinner to celebrate. I’d stopped eating pizza for almost 2 years (one of my trigger foods) and he took me to the best pizza place in Portland. That slice had never tasted better!
When I was 250 pounds, I NEVER thought I’d become an athlete.
- I ran my first 5K race (Run Like Hell) and the Shamrock Run (8K).
- Michael and I participated in the Reach the Beach bike ride. It was a joy to train for it. It was an exciting adventure the day of the race. And I completed 55 miles on my bike–even though my bike broke the last 10 miles!
- I wanted to challenge myself further. I ran Hood To Coast (a 200 mile relay race). I was excited that I was able to participate and complete Hood to Coast without walking!
- I swam 2 miles!
Plus I’m training for a Century bike ride. The training is going well and I love commuting to work on my bike.
Not only did I become an athlete that loves fitness (hiking, biking and running) but my story was published in a magazine.
I was even on the cover of the magazine. I was shocked when the magazine told me that they loved my story so much they wanted me on the cover. I excitedly bought many many copies of the magazine.
Now, three years later, I weigh about 145 pounds, over 100 pounds less than I used to weigh. I’ve had some ups and downs in those three years, but I feel like I can confidently say, “I lost the weight and kept it off.”
My hope is that this blog and this post inspires other people to lose weight and get healthy. Here’s to another year of weight loss! Thanks for reading!
QUESTION: How are you going to change your life for the better?
What a GREAT anniversary for you!!!! You are amazing and a huge inspiration. I think maintaining your weight loss for three years is JUST as big of an achievement as losing it 🙂
Hope you celebrate today!
Thanks Amber! My daily life is so “the norm” now (exercising, eating healthy) that I didn’t even realize the anniversary was coming up until I saw it on my calender (thank goodness for Google Calender reminders).
Way to GO!! Woohoo!! You look fabulous, but more importantly I’ll bet you feel fabulous. Congrats on another anniversary! Your story is inspirational. I have 40 more pounds to lose and you inspire me!
Thank you Amy! I love being able to inspire people. 🙂
It’s absolutely inspiring me!! Thanks for sharing your story and for being so supportive of others trying to lose weight. I hope to celebrate my 100 lb. lost anniversary some day too! Congrats on yours!
For years I said “It’s genetic” and “I’ll always be fat” but that’s not the truth. I changed that and anyone can do it too!
Happy happy happy anniversary!! You continue to be an inspiration and you look fantastic!
Thanks Becky! 🙂
You look amazing! Way to go on maintaining your weight loss : ). I too am losing weight on my terms…counting calories and exercising : ).
I think that’s the winning combo to lose it and keep it off!
Congratulations on your three year anniversary of losing the weight! it’s so encouraging and inspiring to see someone further along in their weight loss journey than I am, to show me that keeping it off can be done!
Thank you Beth. Maintenance is doable! I may never get down to 140 and stay there, but I can manage staying under 150–which was my original goal weight.
Congratulations!! You look beautiful !!
Your blog is most definitely an inspiration. I am glad I found it. In the past, everytime I have tried to lose weight, I would always see everyone else eating what ever they wanted to and I felt so restricted that I would give in…cave…give up.
Reading blogs like yours reminds me that I am not alone on my journey to lose 50 pounds and to never re-gain it again.
Thanks for sharing so many of your personal stories! 🙂
Thank you for reading, Darlene. I think for me, never calling what I was doing a “diet” helped a lot. The word diet implied that I was denying myself things and then I’d cave…just like you said. But eating whatever I want (in smaller portions) works much better.
Congratulations Lisa! You inspire me so much! I look at your blog everyday and I think if she can do it so can I! (I need to lose around 40 lbs). You look fantastic!
You CAN do it!!
congratulations, Lisa. your story is very inspiring, especially the years of maintaining!
Here’s to many more!
Congratulations! Your story is amazing, and I would have bought a box of that magazine issue too! I wish I would have followed your blog during the time it was published, I’d totally mail it to you & have you sign it! haha! But I’ll do that when you write a book! 🙂
Thank you Steena! You are too funny. Someday I’m sure we’ll meet. I like cheese, I may visit Wisconsin….then I can sign the magazine. hehehe
Congratulations on another loseversary!
Proof positive that losing weight and keeping it off can be done! Bravo!
Yep Lori! It canbe done!
Lisa,
Happy third anniversary of keeping those pounds off. MANY MANY MORE!
Jane~
Keepingthepoundsoff.com
Yes! And many more!!
You’re such an amazing inspiration! Of course they wanted you on their cover. You’re the bomb dot com! And, confession: seeing your picture in the magazine, I remember seeing it and reading your story. And duh, I just put two and two together! I know a celebrity! *fist pump* Keep it up girl!
That is sooo funny that you remember the magazine!
Such an inspiration!! Congratulations on 3 years of being healthy!! 😀
Congrats on such a huge accomplishment!! Your story is so inspiring. I love that you lost the weight the hard way (no surgery) and proved that it can be done. Great job!!
Nope! No surgery!
Big hugs and pride, as always. 🙂
Thanks Tiffany!
Congratulations Lisa! You really are inspiring!
Thank you Kathy! 🙂