Before: February 2004
After: November, 2004
52 lbs. lighter.
February, 2004 was a life altering month for me. My husband was called to active duty and deployed to Iraq. Through his deployment, I took care of my art business, painting nearly every day. I took care of our children, I redecorated our home and even tore out and rebuilt some walls. I also treadmilled for nearly an hour a day, drank gallons of water, and had more stress than the average bear.
Obviously that worked for me! I lost 52 pounds over the course of his deployment.
In March of 2005, he returned home. We both got comfortable again very quickly, back into our routine of eating out, of overeating when we ate out, of eating fast food instead of cooking, and eating as a family was something to do together - not something we did wisely at all.
20 pounds crept back up on me pretty quickly, and I became increasingly frustrated because I worked SO hard to get it off. I still had 40 to go at my lowest point, and I was just creating more work for myself!
Finally I had enough. One of my best friends asked me to be her Maid of Honor and I thought - the last wedding was in I looked like a stuffed sausage in her wedding photos. That is NOT happening again. So I start again. And I continue, this time, with the support of my family.
I created Pounds2Go with me in mind, of course. I started a page on my regular blog, Leanne Wildermuth : Artist by Nature, and invited friends to support me and join in if they wanted to. It wasn’t long before I spun that idea into this one - a whole group of people who can post individually and offer eachother support along the way.
Pounds2Go isn’t just for me anymore, I’ve grown to care about the members who have so much to gain from continued success with weight loss. I want to lead by example - I’ve already lost 52 pounds and worked my butt off to get that far. It is NOT easy, and it absolutely sucks to go it alone. So, I’m here. I created this place, and I hope you like it. I hope it motivates you, and I hope my determination is contagious!
That big fatty face up there in my “before” photo? That is never going to happen again. I thought that picture was great at the time. I remember thinking it, I remember printing it and sending it to my husband overseas. Holy Cannoli. He came home to the girl on the right- and I don’t even need to have my glasses on to see the difference! I’ve changed even more over the last year that he’s been home, and I’ll post that final photo when I’ve reached my goal.
