So many women try to lose weight for their weddings. They get an engagement ring on their finger, and frantically try to be at their thinnest for their big day… but my journey started over three years ago, and while yes, I’d like to lose a bit more weight before our wedding in November, I’m in this for the long haul–not just for my white dress!

My own food and cooking blog has been instrumental in helping me “stick with it” this time, as I’m constantly coming up with new recipes and food ideas to keep things fresh, rather than getting bored like I have in the past. My weight loss story is below… by no means am I a registered dietitian or nutritionist, but rather a normal woman trying to get myself to my healthiest point.

I was born small, 5 lbs 7 ounces to be exact, and I was a full-term healthy baby.

Just days old...

I always loved food, and was always adventurous in my tastes. I can remember being about seven years-old, on a road trip and going to a nice restaurant. My four year old sister ordered age appropriate macaroni and cheese. I ordered a filet mignon–medium rare, and roasted vegetables. We always got to choose our birthday dinner, and my mom would make whatever it was we chose. For my eight birthday, what did I choose? Steamed Asian sesame whitefish with sauteed spinach!

I distinctly remember the first time I tried to lose weight: I was 16, weighed 155 and desperately wanted to weigh 140, so I joined Weight Watchers. I lost six pounds and got bored. I stayed within the 155-160 range all through high school, and I remember always feeling “HUGE” compared to my friends. Looking back at pictures, I realize I was not “huge” but rather, healthy.

Senior Year Picture 1998

I went to college at Bradley University, and discovered the wonder that was midnight pizza delivery, $.99 baskets of fried things at the bars, and student discounts at all the local restaurants. Before I knew it, I was 190 lbs and wearing a size 16…

Fast forward… I met my fiancé Adam December 17, 2004. I was 24, in my second year teaching on the South Side of Chicago, and was living in this ridiculously small apartment with a joke of a kitchen. I used that small kitchen as an excuse to eat out for nearly every meal. Adam and I would order in or go out each and every time we’d get together, and soon, our “dates” were from Friday evening until Monday morning. Once I got comfortable in our relationship, about six months in, I completely stopped “watching it” when it came to what I ate. Breakfasts were fast food, snacks were McDonalds hamburgers, dinners were stuffed pizzas… A friend sent me pictures from the summer; while I didn’t like what I saw, I didn’t do anything about it.

Hawaiian Day at camp, 2005

Next thing I knew, students were asking me when I was due, and my family was whispering behind my back. My mom said something to me around January and suggested I do something. It was right around then that I got these pictures back from being in my friend’s wedding.

Me and Adam at the wedding reception

Fast forward to March, 2006. One of my best friends (the one whose wedding pictures I posted, actually) told me about this new program that Weight Watchers had that didn’t involve counting Points® and I was intrigued. The very next Saturday at 11:30 a.m. I joined and started following the Core plan.

The Monday after joining WW

The weight started melting off once I stopped eating crap and started eating real, wholesome, and healthy foods. I lost my first 50 lbs within 7 months and then got stuck. The 2006-2007 school year was one of the worst years of my life… my grandma got sick and passed away, Adam got laid off due to working in the sub-prime mortgage industry, and then my position at my school got eliminated. I started a new job last fall (2007), and am finally comfortable in my new position. I’m hoping that blogging, job security, and getting married will kick me back into losing weight mode again… Here are some more recent pictures, just to show you all my progress, and to remind myself that, though I’m stuck, I’ve still lost 50 pounds!

RIGHT after we got engaged!

Our official engagement photo!

Me and Adam, June 27, 2009... just so happy!

That’s my story so far… key words there being so far. I’m a work in progress and constantly working on making myself healthier. I started Jazzercise classes on March 6, 2009 and am so far, in LOVE with it. Who knows whats next?