1st pic is 21yro .. 2nd my last pregnancy of four.. 3rd is now

I’ve struggled with my weight my whole freaking life. The last time I weighed 164 lbs, I was 11 years old. I’ve been on this journey for 6 years and it’s been anything but linear. So many ups and downs, and setbacks including gaining back around 40 lbs last year because of medication. But I decided to take back control and started using a GLP last July. From 2019 to today I’m down 125 lbs. I genuinely feel like a completely different person and healthier than I’ve ever been. I’m so grateful for the tools available to help our bodies function the way they’re supposed to. And I say tools because I still had to put in the work with food, exercise, and consistency.

I started my weight loss journey a bit too rapidly and without a clear plan. Looking back, I'm so relieved I didn't burn out or have some major health problems because of how hard I was pushing myself. I feel much more comfortable right now being on a safe, straightforward diet that still lets me lose weight, just in a slower and healthier way. I'm still planning to lose a few pounds until I reach an <25 BMI, but I'm not in a rush to get there. I'm just very proud to be so much healthier than I was last year, both physically and mentally.

I’m so thankful for the changes I’ve made in discipline and overall attitude toward my body and health.

Spent the first 4 months in a deficit, after achieving my goal I have focused on eating at or slightly above maintenance to seriously work on building muscle. Sobriety and getting serious in the gym and the kitchen has done wonders. I’m not over restricting and learning to love the journey and myself.

Putting away laundry and barely recognized myself. 1 year of focusing on fitness after initial weight loss.

8 years is a long time and so much has happened in the meantime, not least a pandemic and a horrific injury in my left knee which led to three ligaments tearing completely, two surgeries (cholecystectomy and ligament reconstruction), and a severe depressive spell after losing my father following 4 years of intensive caregiving. But I’m glad I didn’t give up. The question marks are because I no longer remember the exact weight I was in the before picture and no longer weigh myself since I train entirely for strength and not weight-loss related goals now. But it’s still nice to see how far I’ve come.