Drum Roll Please.... BEFORE and AFTER!!!!

Okay, okay... here it is! I know I have been promising my before and after pictures of my not-so-perfect body, but I have finally gathered up enough courage to do it.  Don't scroll down just yet, it is making me nervous =)

So, I have been working on getting my after body for a few months now.  I cannot believe that I set a goal and actually reached it.  Some people may be thinking, so you just lost the baby weight and that just comes off with time.  Well, you are soooo wrong!!

I had my surro triplets in September 2010.  Throughout my 32 weeks of pregnancy, I gained a total of 38 pounds.  Not bad.  Prior to actually getting pregnant, and taking hormone injections and pills for 6 months, I gained 15 pounds.  So, when I found out the transfer actually worked, I was kind of chunky =)  Anyway, after having the girls, and without dieting or exercising, I lost the 38 pounds after just a few short months.  I am pretty sure pumping the amount of milk I had helped me burn lots of calories.  Although I was very happy that the baby weight came off so fast, I still was very uncomfortable in my skin.

If you didn't know already, I had 3 pregnancies in just 3 years (my 2 boys are 15 months apart) and I have delivered a total of 5 babies before I reached age 27!!  My first baby, in July 2007, was a whopping 10 pounds 3 ounces (yes, a natural birth).  My second, in September 2008, was delivered 2 weeks early and was 8 pounds 6 ounces.  Then, the girls were delivered less than a year ago and their weights totaled more than 13 pounds!!  I think my body has gone through hell these past few years!!!

So, after I had the girls, I really wanted to do something for me.  I never felt more uncomfortable with my body.  Something on the outside just didn't match with the inside.  When I looked at pictures of myself, I didn't feel the way I looked.  But, I never thought I could change.  I truly thought that this was the way I was destined to be.  I was going to have to live with this body because it was permanently damaged from all of these babies!!  But, I was out to prove myself wrong!!

My wonderful sister introduced me to a really good friend of hers;  Melissa was a personal trainer and owned her own fitness center, Perfection Fitness.  She agreed to train me and guide me through the right diet as long as I stuck with it and gave her the results she knew I could reach.  When I first met with her, January 11th, 2011, I could not believe what goal we set for myself... to lose 30 pounds by May 1st!!!  When she told me that, I just laughed.  In my mind I knew it was never going to happen.  30 pounds?!?  That's like Biggest Loser style!  I didn't stress about it much because I knew it was impossible and NEVER going to happen.

For the first time in my life, I stuck with something and met every single weight loss goal that came each week.  I never gave up.  And I did all of this the right way.  I never starved myself.  I exercised daily and stayed on a very healthy diet.

In just 3 1/2 months, I lost 31 pounds!!

And, here it is (my heart is racing).  Keep in mind that I had TRIPLETS!! Oh, and I still have a little bit of work to do.  Drum roll please.......

Before- January 2011

After- May 2011

I can't believe I just posted this!!  LOL!!!  But, I hope this is encouraging to some of you out there, especially those of you who have had, or are having, multiples.  Really, if I can do it anyone can.  I think the hardest part is starting.  Once you get started and see results, you don't want to stop.  Yes, there were weeks where my weight loss came to a halt and my hard work wasn't paying off, but I got through it, didn't get discouraged, and never stopped. 

I love this line and always told myself, "You gotta give something to get something."  Things just don't happen overnight, nor are things just given to you.  If you put your heart and soul into something, it will definitely pay off in the end.

So, now I feel amazing!!  I have so much more energy and I haven't felt this comfortable in my body for a long time.  I feel like the woman my husband married 5 years ago (and 10 pounds lighter than that day) and I know he isn't complaining =)  Although I reached this amazing goal, I think I will go for just 10 more!! Go me!