My all time highest weight was 196 pounds. I was about 23 years old at the time and had no clue about how to eat healthy. I thought I could just exercise the weight off and not really worry about what I ate. Through trial and error I lost about 20 pounds and got into the 170s before my 24th birthday. I maintained that weight for about a year and then a friend asked me to be in her wedding party and I joined WW and I went from 176 to 154 in about 3 months. I stayed that weight for a few months and then another friend asked me to sign up for a 10K so I took up running and eventually over a few months I lost more weight and got to about 145 pounds. I was 26 and in the best shape of my life. My weight did yo-yo up and down by 20 pounds for a while after that (I'd gain to around 160 pounds and then get back in the 140s and then gain again, etc.)
I'm 37 years old now and weigh about 135. I've maintained this weight/size since 2003. I lift weights three times a week and run (interval training) 4 times a week (each session is 25 minutes long). I have my dream body. Back in my early 20s I would have never imagined looking like this. I use fitday to track my calories (protein, carbs, fat) every day. I eat 4-5 times a day. I weigh and measure every bit of food that I consume. My family thinks my eating habits are odd and people give me a hard time for not eating cake, cookies, junk food, etc. when we have family get togethers. I worked hard to get in shape and I feel great about myself.
I went from wearing size 18/20 to wearing a size 6. It didn't happen over night and I made alot of mistakes along the way, but now I know what works for me and I enjoy making healthy eating and fitness a priority. I look forward to every weekend because I love getting dressed up in all the great clothes I can fit into now. Friday and Saturday nights I can go out with my boyfriend and we enjoy drinks and a nice meal and we have a great time. Those two nights a week are my "eat what I want" nights and the rest of the week it is back to business.
You can do it! Anything is possible. There will be days when you feel like tossing in the towel but you just have to keep at it and think of the big picture. All your efforts count towards something and eventually you will reach your goal and look in the mirror and think, "Hey, I'm hot!"
Me around 160 in February 2003 - the *last* time I was ever that weight:
To weeks ago:
March 2:
I'm still working on building muscle and losing fat. It is a GREAT challenge!
. On to much more positive thinking 
......
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) and it felt pretty good. I'm going to the grocery today to pick up stuff for this week for work. 
. I used to go to Curves, until they closed the one by me. I really like the 30 second, brainless moving in a circle kind of thing. I really miss it. 
