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smileLisa 
12:59am Today
It has been a truly incredible year. It feels like it was ages ago that I joined here in desperation, in hope that I would find some support in my far-fetched plan to lose 70 pounds... I will recap the story...
Between September 2006 and September 2007, I gained a total of 71.2 pounds. I was an athlete growing up and I rebelled completely from the idea of exercise near the time I met my (chef) boyfriend. I started eating out all the time, stuffing my face in happy times and bad ones, and I put on 6 pounds a month until I decided to just STOP. I went from 140 to 211 in a YEAR. I couldn't stand having to shop in a fat store, or seeing the looks of peoples faces (who knew me in high school) when they saw me. I hated myself and knew I needed to change.
I had no clue where to start. I joined Slimfast's website and got a little bit of support there. Still, I was looking for more hands-on support and interaction, and I googled "weight loss support group" and up came Daily Strength.
My first 3 months were spent trying to do the impossible, sticking to 1,000 calories a day. WTF I know. I lost six pounds my first week, and by the end of the 3 months I was down 13. But I was stuck, hungry, and had no inspiration left. I felt it was helpless.
Enter Susan. I found Susan Blech though the January 2008 "Half Their Size" People magazine. She was in the "alumni" section and it was talking about her book, confessions of a carb queen. My life changed forever after that. I spent the next month carrying that book EVERYWHERE I went. I highlighted paragraphs that struck something in me and would re-read them before going to the gym. I HATED going to the gym, but in good times and bad, Susan helped me get through it and get my butt in gear. I tracked my food logs (balanced diet, no gimmicks) on here, every day, always. Even on the embarassing and horribly bad days. I tried to shoot for the 1200-1300 calorie range.
By the end of January, I was down to 189 (down from 198 on January 3rd). I cried when I broke 190. I bawled in joy, in pride, in the renewed sense of faith I gained in myself. I cried because I knew right then that this isn't an impossible feat. I knew then that there was no turning back. I still have Brian's voicemail saved from that night ("189!! WOOHOOO!! Sweatheart that is fantastic!!"). I will never in my whole life forget the day I broke 190.
I spent the next 4 months working out like CRAZY. Keeping a hard workout schedule in addition to full time school and two jobs took its toll on my health. Still I pushed on, food log in hand, water bottle in the other. My frineds kept me going, kept me strong, and helped me through the rough patches.
The day after my last final exam (in May) I ran from my house to Brian's. The 8.8 miles hurt like hell but the joy and pride of finishing it in one piece made it all worth it.
I had been sick on and off for months with a goopy cough. Less than a week after my run I had a 102 degree temp and was coughing up blood.
My pneumonia, in its entirety, lasted six weeks. During my time off from working out,
I took a LOT of time to figure out my eating and calories. I got pnuemonia when I was 146, only 6 pounds away from my goal of 140. I knew that I couldn't work out, but instead I focused hard on eating well and keeping my calories at a good level. At the end of the six weeks, I weighed 142. I started working out again and training for a half marathon, and my weight dropped to 137. Once I had maintained my weight of 137 for about 4 weeks I made my 100% "official."
But I ran too far too soon and pinched a nerve in my back. No half marathon, but I was able to find other ways to work out my body and get stronger while my back healed. My calories stayed an important part of my plan. I was so scared to start the "maintenence" portion of my journey. It was an adjustment that hit me way harder than expected, and I still struggle with it. Keeping myself healthy is a daily battle that I will never ever stop fighting.
Tomorrow will be 15 weeks of maintaining my weight loss. My range is 134-138 and I am feel strong, healthy, and like a whole different person. My total weight loss ended up being 76 pounds. Having my friends here to root me on, help me through my hard times and sickness, and keep me on track has been invaluable. My friends have made all the difference for me. I am the luckiest person alive to have such an amazing support system. I am thankful every day for you guys.
That's my story in a nutshell. 
And I did complete my goal of getting to workout #234 by today. It was almost impossible to fit that many workouts in this past week (NINE workouts! During midterm week!! omg what was I thinking?!!) but I set the goal and I made myself complete it.
SATURDAY'S FOOD
Meal #1
starbucks (285)
lara bar--its a fruit & nut bar-- (210)
Snack:
yogurt (80)
low carb monster (20)
Meal #2
alternative bagel (110)
2 tbsp cranberry orange cream cheese (100)
3 hardboiled egg whites (60)
3 medium apples, sliced with cinnamon on top (240)
Meal #3
6 oz chicken breast with bbq sauce on top (165)
4 oz lowfat cottage cheese (90)
raisin english muffin (180)
with 1 tbsp light cream cheese on top (35)
low carb monster (20)
salad with carrots, corn, and light italian dressing (95)
sugarfree pudding cup (60)
with 3/4 cup frozen berries mixed inside (80)
Snack:
Luna Bar (180)
TOTAL= 2,010 calories
SATURDAY'S 1st WORKOUT (#233)
2x up and down monster hill by my house
2 miles total
16:15 = time
8:07/8 per mile
jog & walk warm down
stretching
SATURDAY'S 2nd WORKOUT (#234)
10 lb dumbells- 4x 10 behind the head tricep lifts, 4x10 bicep curls
125 leg lifts- broken into 30, 40, 55
200 crunches
30 stability ball body extension things (<--don't know the name for it)
25 squats
wall sits- 2 x 1 minute
stretching
SATURDAY'S WATER
105 ounces total
UPDATED GOALS
300 workouts in 2008!
Progress 75%
workouts since Jan 3rd (days)
234
Encouragements: 96
Add your support
Drink 100+ oz water daily
Progress 30%
days (#)
109
water (ounce)
105
Encouragements: 28
Add your support
Comments
Lisa this journal entry is amazing! It inspires me so much you are so inspiring. I hope you wake up every morning and remeber to be proud and happy with yourself. Happy 1 year!!!! :-)
Jaime1313
Lisa I am so lucky to be witness to your amazing continuing journey. A year in the life of Lisa is so inspirational, you have really changed your body and thoughts and life and achieved the nearly impossible. I am proud to watch from from NY and to call you my friend. I don't know what to say except I feel teary and joyful for you. You are a true leader here and I am just pleased that I get to follow in your footsteps and I hope I really do make you proud as well in the end. I cannot wait to see what the next year in the life of story brings for you.
(((HUG)))
HAPPY DANCE for DS!!
Emily75
It is truly awesome to see you from the very beginning to the person you have come to be; not only physically but emotionally, professionally and personally. Each time I had followed up on you throughout the year, I was more proud then I had been the time before, I was more in awe of all that you set forth to do and accomplished regardless of good or bad times.
You being one of my first friends on here, I feel truly honored to still be here with you as you continue to maintain and find all the joys in life for yourself.
You have bene a good friend and am glad that we have stayed friends and strong through good and bad times. I cant wait to share in the next and many more years from this point on.
HUGE ASS *bear hug* for U from my coast to yours!
Stay strong, live well and love often ...
ChiTownBear
P.S. I guess I owe you $5 .. you beat me on the weight goal. :)
ChiTownBear
Congrats on your amazing journey, I'm so happy for you! You have truly changed your life around in one year, I wonder what wonderful things are ahead for you in the next year! I'm very proud of you and I hope you will continue your journey and inspire others!
NCFroggy
I love your story. It is so motivational. You were working and going to school and still managed to lose weight by working out and watching what you ate. There is no excuse! I am working and going to school as well, but there is always time to workout! You are the best Lisa. I've missed you. Thank you for this message. This is my wake up call!
Inteligensia
I'm so excited you wrote this. Last night before you posted this, I was at work and I had an hour til I could go home with nothing to do. So I went back to you're very first journal and started reading from there. I got to about mid febuary and then work was over :). I want to print this, laminate it and make a little book that I can carry around in my pocket and read 15 times a day. Seriously, I'm doing it. You are my Susan Blech. You carried her book everywhere, I carry YOU every where. When I work out, when I eat, when I hear something funny, when I'm excited or sad or exhausted or crazy or or or... When I breathe air. You inspire me every day. I first came on DS in January, but I didn't actually use it until March when I saw your exercise everday goal and was inspired by you. I'm so thankful for your friendship and I cant wait for this summer, which will have WAAAAAY more lisa/ashly time :). NINE WORKOUTS OHMYGODZILLA!! That's incredible Lisa! I'm so proud of you. And I love you so :)
ashlyellen
Oh my gosh....I so needed to read this today! You are my Susan Blech too...I mean it, I mean I really do. I have been really struggling this past weekend with motivation and eating and just feeling like I can't do it anymore. Then I come on here this morning and I read this and I know your journey was so much hard work too but so incredibly worth it. You are the best Lisa, and I don't know where I would be without you. I just love you so much!!!!!!!!!!!!! I can not believe you got in 9 Killer Workouts on such a tough week! You are seriously a rock star and my hero!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Did I mention how much I love you???? HUGS
sweetcyndi
WOW, a year gone by so fast and you have accomplished sooooooo much, you have to be super proud. I am very inspired by you and everyday I tell myself it can be done but it's all about pushing yourself and believing in yourself and that you did. I am glad that I was there in your journey and you make everything seem possible. Congrats on Maintaining, that's awesome 15 weeks, WOW, that is amazing. Your still going strong. How did things go with that mag. article, any news on that??? Best of luck and will hope to be the 1st to read in IL :) Big Hugs!!!
KACKY
I just found your page ad I too want to lose about 50-70 pounds. If you don't mind I would like to come to your page every day for inspiration and motivation because right now I have NONE!!
AngO
It is so amazing what you have accomplished in a year. This is a great entry and an inspiration to all of us who hope to share your success! You amaze me! Thanks for writing this.... it really helps the rest of us to know what is possible if we are just as determined as you!
WyominJo