It’s about to get personal here as I talk about how I got to a maximum weight of 195 lbs at 5’4″. After losing 60 lbs, I have managed to maintain a healthy weight of 135 lbs for the past 3+ years.
I’ve pieced this information together from different journals I have kept over the years.
My Weight Loss Story – 20 Years
1998 – Age 15, 116 lbs.
I started researching about fitness and nutrition when I was in high school. I spent my entire childhood being overweight. That changed the summer before my sophomore year of high school. I spent most of that summer entertaining myself by jumping on a 12-foot trampoline my parents got me for my birthday.
I also ate as little as I could get away with and lost a ton of weight that summer. I don’t even know what weight I started at (140 maybe?). By the time I was in Driver’s Education class that year and filling out my info for my driving permit, I was at my low point of 116 lbs.
2005 – Age 23, 195 lbs.
Then came college with the super convenient food court and nearby restaurants that accepted my college meal plan card just like a debit card. After college I got a job that had me traveling and working long hours and eating out frequently. Before I knew it, I was up to a high of 195 lbs. in 2005 when I was 23.
At least that’s the highest I ever saw on a scale. I wasn’t exactly weighing myself daily at that point.
Seeing the scale at almost 200 lbs struck a nerve with me. I made some immediate changes to lose weight that included eating out less and being more active.
In 2006, I also took a job that paid much less money but that I enjoyed more and allowed me to be more active at work. (See also: 5 Simple Ways to Stand up For Your Health)
2008 – Age 26, 173 lbs.
In 2008, at 173 lbs, I started going to a personal trainer who specialized in super slow strength training. By this time I had a higher paying job. I was single, making good money, and had great benefits so I could afford a personal trainer.
I am not a runner, but for a year and a half between 2009-2010, I tried to be a runner. I completed my first 5K in September 2009. I was proud of myself for running the whole distance and finished at an 11 minute mile pace.
2010 – Age 28, 158 lbs.
I began running 2-4 miles early in the mornings in my neighborhood before work. This was a good distance for me that I grew to be comfortable with. I got down to 158 lbs when I was running consistently.
I registered for 2 half marathons and a full marathon in 2010. However, I got too bored to do the long runs essential to endurance training for these longer races. I completed the half marathons as a run/walker and I only completed just over half of the marathon. At this point I was bored with running altogether.
2011 – Age 28, 164 lbs.
When I found out I was pregnant in early 2011, I weighed 164 lbs. I monitored my weight and diet throughout my pregnancy and maxed out at 190 lbs. for a total pregnancy weight gain of 26 lbs. I maxed out at less than my highest pre-pregnancy weight! Soon after having my baby I was down 21 lbs. to 169 lbs. without much effort.
In the summer of 2012, my employer sponsored a pilot program for 50 employees to participate in a 10 week weight loss program through Naturally Slim (now Wondr Health). I was chosen as a participant and lost 17 lbs. in those 10 weeks.
2013 – Age 31, 135 lbs.
In the year following the end of the Naturally Slim program, I continued to lose another 17 lbs while not strictly following the principles I learned from Naturally Slim.
I cooked most of our meals from home. I learned to substitute many processed foods for a homemade version instead. I switched from canned vegetables to frozen. (See also: 10 Simple Ways to Eat Healthier This Year.)
2017 – Age 34, 136 lbs.
Now, 3-and-a-half years later, I step on the scale in the evening and see I am at 136 lbs. It feels good to know that, in general, I have been making healthy choices that have allowed me to maintain my weight when I spent so much of my life struggling with my weight.
I do a much better job of making sleep a priority now since I made over my evenings.
What now?
Now that I am at a healthy weight, I am more concerned with my overall health than my weight. As a mom, I want to do the best I can to make sure my husband and I are there for our children for as long as possible.
I also want our children live long, healthy lives without the struggles so many people currently suffer due to poor diets and lack of exercise. I want to use this blog to help busy moms balance the chaos of everyday life so they can provide healthier meals and healthier homes for their families.
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