Before and After Pictures - 240lbs down to 176lbs - Still more to go

MBrewster

MBrewster

New member
Hi all my name is Michelle. I've been checking out this site for a long time now, but this is the first time I am posting. All of your pictures and stories have been such an inspiration to me and have helped to get me to the place I am now.

I started this weight loss journey at 240lbs. I might have been a little higher at some points, but I honestly was just too depressed to get on the scale. I was a heavy smoker and I liked my beer and I loved loved loved food. I have scoliosis and because of the extra weight on my body, I suffered through chronic pain for over 2 years when I was at my very heaviest.

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I was tired and depressed. I hated the way I looked and felt, but I really didn't think there was anything I could do about it. I don't remember exactly what made me change, but something did. I started with small changes, smaller portions on food, eating healthier food and I bought a treadmill that I used for speed walking and a little jogging (1min jog or so every now and then). I started to see a little bit of a change.

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On a fluke, my husband and I watched the documentary Food Inc. and I have to say that movie completely changed my life. I decided to change my diet to an organic vegetarian diet, and that was about 6 months ago. On top of that, my time on the treadmill had payed off! I graduated to running outside and I started training for a half marathon. Between the new vegetarian diet and the training, I am an entirely new person. I have gone from 240lbs to 176lbs so far, I was a size 22 and now I'm a size 15. I am far from done, I would like to lose another 20-50lbs, but I am not setting a final goal right now, I am letting my body settle where it wants to.

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I will be sure to add more pictures soonish, I am running the half marathon in 2 weeks and then I start training for a full marathon!
 
Fantastic transformation! You look great.

Food Inc was eye opening. I read Omnivore's Dilemma as well, the movie uses it as an information source. It's an excellent read. I'm not vegetarian, I have been in the past, and after reading the book, I've made a big effort to eat meat from animals that were raised on their natural diet, and wild fish for whole protein sources. I strongly agree with avoiding industrialized meat and produce.

Keep it up! It must feel great to be so close to your goal.
 
Wow, you look hot! :coolgleamA:

Does it really get easier with the running then?? As I really hate it, and I literally can't run for more than about 10 secs (or so it feels like) and I love hearing stories of people taking up running and managing to increase their distances so much!
 
Thank you guys so much for your encouragement!

And I wouldn't exactly say running gets easier, it's more like you get harder and you enjoy the challenge. Where as most sports are competitive against someone else, running is all about being competitive with yourself. It's long, hard and painful but still the most rewarding thing I have ever done :) I hope that you grow to love it too!
 
You look amazing! You must be so proud. And now you are an inspiration to me and many others I'm sure. Honestly it looks like you aged back about 10 years. From the first picture I would guess mid 30's and the last picture I would guess late 20's. Keep it up and thanks for posting.
 
It's a really amazing change, in your very first picture you look like you're 40! Now you look like early-mid twenties. You could even pass for a high school student maybe.
 
Hey Michelle - I can really identify with your weight loss journey as I am in pretty much the same place - around 8lbs behind you maybe!! I started at 238 and am now 183lbs! Running has to be the single biggest change I made! I am now running 5 miles regularly throughout the week and wanting to work up to a half marathon - somethign I didn't think I'd ever be able to do, let along ENJOY, let alone MISS it if I get too busy to run for a few days...how life changes!!

I think you look fantastic! Definitely years younger and just looking at the phototgraphs, SO much happier with yourself - you can see it in your face :D So here's a big WELL DONE from me :D Keep it up and come hang out with us in the weight loss journals/diaries section!
 
jjjay - thank you so much and I'm glad to hear that you are also reaching for your goals! Just wanted to let you know that if you do decide to start training for a half, I used Hal Higdons free training programs, he has a website that is totally worth checking out :)
 
Oh my gosh, I can't believe how much younger you look! Your first pic looks like a 35-40-year-old woman and in the last one you look like a schoolgirl! Well done and good luck with the running! You'll kick a$$!
 
Awesome job, you look fantastic! Cruelty issues aside, I also lost a TON of weight when I went vegetarian too (40 pounds over a summer). It's crazy how much cutting back on animal products helps people with weight loss!
 
I can't believe how different you look in your before and after shots! I would never guess that it was the same person. You've done an amazing job transforming yourself into a new, healthier, and YOUNGER woman! WOW!

And great job on the running! I've recently taken up running myself - though I don't think I'm ready for any marathons yet!

Keep up the great work! You are doing awesome!
 
one thing that i noted the most is how much younger you looked!! in the before pictures you looked as if u're in your 30s and now you look like you're in your early 20s! good job!
 
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