Thursday, June 5, 2008

I Lost! I Won! I rock!

My family had a weight loss contest. I won it!
There was a time about 2 years ago when I stepped on the scale and realized I was only a bag of flamin' hot cheetos away from tipping over 200 pounds. I was actually about 197 pounds.
I peaked at 185 with both of my pregnancies, so the idea of weighing in at a deuce -unpregnant- terrified me.
I made a few changes, mostly including walking more, and managed to lose about a pound a month over the next year. So when we moved to Virginia Beach last August I was back down to my full term pregnancy weight of 185.
Something about moving here changed things for me. Overall it was a whole lifestyle change:
New house, new city, new job, new schedule, and so on. Changing all of these things made it easy to make some of the changes in my eating habits.
Fewer snacks. Healthier snacks. No more fast food. Healthy cereal every morning. Walking more.
And guess what? These changes changed me!
I never bothered to take "before" pictures, but I happened to be in places recently where I had my picture taken a year or 2 ago. So I took some "after" pictures that go along with the old ones.
I was surprised at the difference.

Me at the DC Temple, Fall '06

Me at the DC Temple May '08

Me at the beach August '07 Me at the beach June '08

Ok, sorry for the flashy bikini pics, but I am SOO proud of myself.

And seeing the difference in the pictures really showed me how far I've come.

How far exactly?

My family only started this contest in January. I was 172 then so I have lost 17 pounds since the beginning of our contest.

I weighed 185 when we moved here, so I have lost 30 pounds since August.

I was 197 a year before that, so I have lost 42 pounds in 2 years!

If you can do math, you have figured that I now weigh 155 pounds! Which for being as tall as I am is a very healthy weight. (WiiFit even says so).

If I lost another 10 pounds I would be at my wedding and original pre-pregnancy weight. But if I don't lose any more I will be thrilled with what I have accomplished and be proud to wear a swimsuit at the beach this summer.

Hooray Me!!!

8 comments:

Carrie and Karl said...

I am way proud of you! Losing weight is hard, but it feels great when you actually accomplish it.
Congrats!

Chet and Liz Hugo said...

Way to go Della. We're both proud of you.--Chet & Liz

Lydia said...

Della you look great I know it fells great too. I will be taking pictures in September so I will have a true before and after, I am looking forward to being little again. Lydia

Della Hill said...

Carrie-
I know you can relate. You have lost more than I have.
Chet and Liz-
Thank you. (Recognition is always nice).
Lydia-
At least you have a good excuse.
I was over my pregnancy weight, but not pregnant.
And you get a prize for gaining the weight too.
I know you will be competing with me before long.
-Della

Jordan said...

Congratulations! You look awesome. That's quite an achievement.

Stefany said...

WOOOOW girl you look great in those pictures! You have done such an amazing job! What an achievement.

Della Hill said...

Jordan and Pike-
Thank you.
The weight loss should be enough of a reward, but recognition for it is great too.
-Della

Hollys Hobbies said...

Whoo hoo!!! Awesome job hon!! You look smokin' hot in that bikini, not only that but you can see the self confidence you obviously have written all over your face. You would have won regardless of you winning, keep up the good work-I know how hard it is!!!