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Name: Lacy Lane
Age: 31
Height: 5'9"
Before Weight: 325 pounds
How I Gained It: I was a huge sweets-eater. I don't mean I like an occasional piece of cake or pie. I mean, I like an occasional cake or pie. In high school, my mom surprised me with a beautiful, three-tiered, white buttercream and mini M&M cake. I ate over half that cake in less than 24 hours, and, in less than 36 hours, I had eaten the whole thing. A day or so later, I was pretty sure I had stubbed my toe, because it hurt dearly. After a few days of intense pain, a trip to the doctor resulted in a diagnosis of gout.
Now, this should have been a light-bulb moment, but I was 17 years old and the doctor just gave me medication and I was fine. My mother, being a wonderful mother, was always supportive and told me and showed me how to eat right. Yet, I didn't listen. Fast-forward a few more years, and I had gotten up to 325 pounds.
My mom suggested I look into Weight Watchers. I was the type of person who could lose weight with a group. I lost 44 pounds at my local chapter before I found out I was pregnant. In 2010, I welcomed a beautiful baby girl. I had gained 47 pounds during my pregnancy, and within 13 days I had lost those 47 pounds. But I quickly got off track and gained those pounds back post-pregnancy.
Breaking Point: Having a baby and knowing that she will need me to be a part of her life for the rest of her life... that makes you stop and think. I never want her to be embarrassed by me. That was a turning point for me, because I knew then that I was embarrassed by me. I always thought I was happy overweight. Turns out, after I lost weight, I realized how unhappy I actually was.
How I Lost It: I went back to Weight Watchers. I had a few stumbles, but in 134 meetings I lost 151 pounds. I hit my goal weight and got my Lifetime Membership award earlier this year. I am so excited. It is so great to know I worked this hard for something. I did this for myself. I wanted to feel better and be active.
Now comes the fun part -- maintaining. Achieving such a dramatic weight loss is wonderful, but keeping it off, that is something I work at daily. You don't just go back to eating like you did, or you end up in the same boat you were in at the beginning of your journey. I look in the mirror and see excess skin sagging from a lifetime of being overweight. Yet, I am trying to remember that I made this body, and I need to love this body. I have a lot of self-loathing that I have to work through, but I am happy with where I am.
I have started running -- well, jogging -- lightly. When you have a child, it's tougher to work exercise in. But I want her to be active, and she loves being outside, so we play outside together. My eating has changed dramatically. I've almost completely cut out sweets. My eating is now my lifestyle. It takes a lot of determination to keep working at it day after day. I am so thankful for my friends and family who have stood by me and listened as I have complained. I couldn't do it without each and every one of them.
Current Weight: 171 pounds
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As told to Sarah Klein