Really wasn't sure if I wanted to post this for all the world to see, but decided to anyway.
The picture on the left was taken June 2008 at my heaviest, and the picture on the right was taken today before exercising. I wanted to take an "After" picture today to put in my weight-loss notebook where I have been keeping track of my weight loss for over a year now (with pictures, body measurement, goals, etc).
The Before picture was taken on the day of my graduation from university. I should have felt great that day, but instead was self conscious because I hated my outfit and the way I looked and felt (the night before I had discovered that even my shoes didn't fit anymore!!)
Now a few years later I feel completely different and so much healthier and happier. Exercise and eating healthy is such a part of my life now and I am happy to say that I am now within a "healthy" weight range.
* I just wanted to add a note to say that my reasons for weight loss were for health reasons, not vanity, as I was starting to show signs of "insulin resistance" which could easily become diabetes! Fortunately all is well, and I am not insulin resistant any longer :)
@laurenaphelps mostly I started jogging, but really just did whatever i was in the mood for (videos, yoga, biking, whatever) 4-5 days a week. Funny you mention insanity I just started it a few weeks ago, but have only done it a few times, wow it's hard!!! but good
Kudos!!! Exercise, when you enjoy it, is awesome for losing weight/staying in shape. I took up backpacking in 2008 and am in much better shape than I was then. Keep pushing yourself, you'll be amazed what you can do!
@asrai thanks Lee! @scooter it's true it has been hard at times, thanks for the kind comment! @klemieux congrats on the backpacking!! @jgoldrup haha well I could be a spokesperson for the "Running Room" which i think is his chain of stores. I've purchased all my running shoes there. maybe i should get a cut of the profit :) @deniseescovino Denise, thanks so much for that!
@laurentye ~Write into the RR mag with your story - it would be so cool to open it up and see you in it! Although, those story might be biased towards folks who have participated in their clinics. Marketing strategy, I guess!
Wow, Lauren! You should be so proud of yourself!! Congratulations on all your hard work! It's not easy and takes so much discipline....you should be commended for such an achievement!
Ok..I'm back.. After a long thinking here. I have to tel you something about myself: I was anorexic once, when I was your age. I've alwyas fought with this weight thing... Never the right way. Now I have to deal with the bad results.. I go for exercises 5 times a week and I don't lose a single pound. Seeing these photos, and all that you have accomplished in only 3 years is overwelming for me. You are an example of willpower and perseverance, and you should be proud of yourself. This is AMAZING! So glad you decided to share this. You were already beautiful but now look so happy , so healthy, so bright! Congratulations! I already loved your sweetness and your talent, now I admire you for the strong young woman you are.
wow Lauren! good for you!!! you truely are an inspiration for me as well! i have always struggled with my weight and am never happy with how i look but i have quit smoking and i like to work out now as well. I have not come ANYWHERE near as far as you, but seeing this gives me even more hope :) GOOD FOR YOU!! you must be SO SO proud of yourself and feel AMAAAZING!!!! THANK YOU for sharing this :D and congrats to you again!
Congratulations! What a turnaround! I'm so happy that you've kept to your regime! You're a role model for those of us with a few extra pounds and not so healthy lifestyles.
@kammy awww thanks Kammy! @skyepurls thanks for that! @hjbenson thanks Harry. I'm learning that "healthy" is what matters more to any numbers, etc :) @tabbycat thanks and yes it was something i really wanted for myself @exposure4u Wendy, thank you I really appreciate that! @deniseescovino thanks for sharing that Denise, you should be commended for overcoming such a battle. I'm proud of YOU for that! and so happy you are healthy now!!
@jenilaub2011 thanks Jen. 60 pounds now (well some days 57 as i sometimes fluctuate, lol) congrats to you on your accomplishments too! @webfoot thank you Paul @kdimagery Congrats to you for quitting smoking!!! that's a HUGE accomplishment! and such a healthy choice, so happy for you!!! although you said you are never happy with how you look, i think from your pics you are gorgeous!!! thanks for your kindness :) @petra thank you so much Petra and yes I am proud @rbobh69 thanks very much Bob, I feel honoured that you called me a "role model" very nice of you to say! @4littleones thanks! @fernbaugh thank you Bobby!!
How incredibly courageous of you to even post this - fantastic!
Congratulations on your successes, and I hope you continue to strive for your goals. Proud of you!
Congratulations. My wife and I on currently on a weight loss journey ourselves. My wife has lost 58 lbs and I have lost 43 lbs. We are both feeling so much better and of course are finding that we can do so many things that we have not ben able to do for so long
Amazing strength and courage you have to not only do this, but share it with everyone! Congrats on your accomplishments and keep up the great work! Very inspiring to a lot of people!!!!!! You rock!!!!!!!!
I LOVE YOU LAUREN! YOU ARE AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
AND SOO BEAUTIFUL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
And you were beautiful chubby too!
I agree, healthy and beautiful wins over beautiful and chubby! lol
It's so great that you posted this pic. Congratulations, for being brave for posting it, and also for staying positive and for getting to where you have. you should be really proud! Happy 200! :)
Awesome story and selfies! Fabulous habits to have! I also struggle with weight and self issues, but like you, I work out and eat right and always feel good on the inside. Way to go!
@laurentye aww, well thank you so much for your compliment lauren, that was really sweet of you. Yes, quitting smoking has been a huge accomplishment for me, AND my husband!! we both quit together :) I dont think one of us could have done it if the other hadnt quit at the same time...so i am glad for that!
Personally, I think you look good both before and after. Kudos on keeping up the exercise, that's not easy to do and I'm glad its helped your health concerns. You must be around your ideal weight/shape now?
*** thanks for the awesome comments on this. Although I felt a bit embarrassed posting this picture, I'm glad I did and want to say that I really appreciate the comments on this! and as Matt asked, I do feel I am around my ideal weight. I wouldn't mind losing maybe another 7-10 pounds, but I'm not stressing about it and feel more content with my weight right now.
Lauren ftw. I know it's hard, it's harder to keep it off for me, need to go a run but after losing the stones you don't really have a reason, and it creeps back. So good on you for still exercising! yey!!
So glad you shared this Lauren! I appreciate how you might not have wanted to share this, but you have every reason to be proud of your accomplishment and hopefully others will find it inspiring to make similar changes in their own lives.
My wife and I went though almost the exact same thing a few years ago (her first). It was very empowering to know I could actually lose the weight, and have since turned into an exercise junkie. It's such a satisfying thing to do, but you are so right in that the best reason to do it is for your own health. Cheers!
@scooter it's true it has been hard at times, thanks for the kind comment!
@klemieux congrats on the backpacking!!
@jgoldrup haha well I could be a spokesperson for the "Running Room" which i think is his chain of stores. I've purchased all my running shoes there. maybe i should get a cut of the profit :)
@deniseescovino Denise, thanks so much for that!
Me... A "fluffy" mom !
@skyepurls thanks for that!
@hjbenson thanks Harry. I'm learning that "healthy" is what matters more to any numbers, etc :)
@tabbycat thanks and yes it was something i really wanted for myself
@exposure4u Wendy, thank you I really appreciate that!
@deniseescovino thanks for sharing that Denise, you should be commended for overcoming such a battle. I'm proud of YOU for that! and so happy you are healthy now!!
@jenilaub2011 thanks Jen. 60 pounds now (well some days 57 as i sometimes fluctuate, lol) congrats to you on your accomplishments too!
@webfoot thank you Paul
@kdimagery Congrats to you for quitting smoking!!! that's a HUGE accomplishment! and such a healthy choice, so happy for you!!! although you said you are never happy with how you look, i think from your pics you are gorgeous!!! thanks for your kindness :)
@petra thank you so much Petra and yes I am proud
@rbobh69 thanks very much Bob, I feel honoured that you called me a "role model" very nice of you to say!
@4littleones thanks!
@fernbaugh thank you Bobby!!
Congratulations on your successes, and I hope you continue to strive for your goals. Proud of you!
AND SOO BEAUTIFUL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
And you were beautiful chubby too!
I agree, healthy and beautiful wins over beautiful and chubby! lol
You're in onederland now FOREVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
you look great either way! thanks for sharing
Judging by all of the comments, I think that it was a good decision to post the picts.
My wife and I went though almost the exact same thing a few years ago (her first). It was very empowering to know I could actually lose the weight, and have since turned into an exercise junkie. It's such a satisfying thing to do, but you are so right in that the best reason to do it is for your own health. Cheers!