My Weight Loss Journey: How I Lost 85 Pounds (And What I Learned Along the Way)
The Breaking Point
At 314 pounds, I found myself at a crossroads. My marriage was falling apart, and deep down I knew my husband was cheating on me despite his denials. I felt unloved, undesirable, and trapped in a body I didn’t recognize anymore.
You know that moment when you realize the water you’ve been sitting in has slowly heated to a boil? That was me—a lobster who hadn’t noticed how unhappy I had become until I was nearly cooked by it.
My health was suffering. My joy was non-existent. Everything hurt—physically and emotionally. Standing at this crossroads, I faced two painful truths simultaneously: my marriage was ending, and I was morbidly obese.
The History of Trying Everything
Like many of you reading this, I’m a veteran of the diet industry. Name a diet, and I’ve probably tried it.
Weight Watchers? Check. Low carb? Been there. Meal replacement shakes? Done that. Counting points, calories, macros? Yes, yes, and yes.
The most I’d ever managed to lose before was 50 pounds back in 2002, getting down to 209. But I quickly regained it all, plus more. I hadn’t seen a number under 200 on the scale since my early 20s.
Each “failure” reinforced the story I told myself: maybe I just couldn’t do this. Maybe I was meant to be heavy forever.
The Last Resort Decision
By summer 2022, I felt so desperate that I began exploring weight loss surgery. It seemed like my only option left. I met with a surgeon who bluntly told me that surgery was the only way I would ever lose the weight—words that felt both defeating and oddly validating of my struggle.
The surgery terrified me, and the cost was prohibitive. I even started researching options in Mexico, that’s how determined I was to find a solution.
Fortunately, my primary care doctor suggested an alternative: meeting with a weight loss specialist to explore medication options. At that time, my insurance actually covered weight loss medication (something that would change later), opening a door I didn’t know existed.
The Medication Journey Begins
In July 2022, I started Wegovy at the lowest dose. My doctor increased it each month until we started seeing results. Meanwhile, my personal life was crumbling—by September 2022, I had filed for divorce after finding irrefutable proof of my husband’s affair.
It’s strange how sometimes our darkest moments coincide with our greatest periods of change. While my marriage ended, something else was beginning: my journey back to myself.
The Results That Changed Everything
By October 2023, I had lost 85 pounds. The scale read 229—a number I hadn’t seen in years.
The changes weren’t just on the scale. I experienced non-scale victories that, in many ways, meant even more:
- Clothes that had been pushed to the back of my closet for years fit again
- I noticed a slimmer face looking back at me in the mirror
- Climbing stairs became easier—I wasn’t winded after a single flight
- I could walk longer distances, which opened up new possibilities
- Friends and family commented on how different I looked
- For a brief magical period, the constant “food noise” in my head quieted down
That last one surprised me the most. My doctor had explained that most people don’t constantly think about food, but I had never experienced life any other way. For a few precious months, food wasn’t the center of my world—and it was liberating.
The Plateau Reality
Then came the plateau. Despite being on the highest dose of Wegovy, my weight loss stalled completely. Throughout all of 2024, I hovered between 229 and 239 pounds.
After my divorce finalized in April 2024, I lost my insurance coverage for weight loss medication. I went off Wegovy but managed to maintain my weight until December 2024. In early 2025, I’ve seen the scale creep up to between 244-249 pounds. I guess it’s the curves and unexpected dead-ends that make it a true “journey”, right? Very few successful journeys are a straight line, and my weight loss journey is no exception.
The Unexpected Challenges of my Weight Loss Journey
When people ask about the hardest parts of my weight loss journey, they’re often surprised by my answer. Yes, giving up certain foods was difficult. Yes, increasing my activity level took effort. But the biggest challenge? Managing all the other changes happening simultaneously in my life.
Divorce. Financial stress. Living alone. Supporting myself entirely. These circumstances created a perfect storm that could have derailed everything.
The weight loss medication helped tremendously by suppressing my appetite during this turbulent time. But I also needed something to focus on—a goal that had nothing to do with my weight or my failed marriage.
That’s when I decided to register for the Disney Princess Half Marathon in February 2024.
Finding Joy in Movement Again
My passion for Disney had always been there, but during my marriage, I had packed away certain dreams. My ex-husband had discouraged me from participating in Disney races, saying I was “too slow” and they were “too expensive.”
One of my first acts of rebellion after filing for divorce was registering for that half marathon. It became my beacon during dark days—something to look forward to, train for, and accomplish completely on my own terms.
Training for the race as a walker gave me structured exercise and stress management. More importantly, it reconnected me with a part of myself I had suppressed. I didn’t necessarily always want to train, but thinking about the excitement of race day usually got me moving.
I’ve since completed two Disney Princess Half Marathons and am training for my third on March 1. I also walked the 10K and the Half Marathon at the Wine & Dine weekend in October 2025. These events have become milestones that mark my journey not just to a healthier weight, but to a happier life.
What I Wish I’d Known From the Beginning
If I could go back and tell my 314-pound self one thing, it would be this: It doesn’t have to be so hard. It doesn’t have to always feel terrible.
When food is the center of your world, making changes to eating habits feels traumatic. But when you shift your focus to joy, activity, or passion—when food becomes just fuel for the life you’re excited about living—everything gets easier.
I’m still working on this shift. Some days are better than others. But I know this approach works because when I’m most consistent with it, my healthy habits flow naturally.
Where I Am Today
Currently, I’m in a period of recommitment. After maintaining my 85-pound loss for almost two years, I’ve realized that some of my old habits have started creeping back in. The brain patterns and voices that were so mean to me for decades didn’t disappear after just a year or two of self-compassion. They were just napping, waiting for me to stop paying attention.
I’m focusing again on the fundamentals that I know work for me:
- Eating at least 100g of protein daily (aiming for 150g)
- Drinking half my body weight in ounces of water
- Walking 10,000-12,000 steps daily
- Incorporating yoga and stretching
- Dancing and finding movement that brings me joy
- Prioritizing good sleep (including using my CPAP)
- Choosing whole foods over processed options and fast food
I’ve learned that this weight loss journey isn’t linear. There are ups and downs, successes and setbacks. The difference now is that I don’t see setbacks as proof that I can’t do this. I see them as information about what needs adjustment.
What I Want You to Know
If you see yourself in my “before” story, if you’re sitting at your own breaking point wondering if change is possible, here’s what I want you to know:
It’s never too late. I went on my first diet at 14 and tried dozens more over the decades. Nothing stuck until now—at 55+ years old.
Our bodies want to be healthy; it’s our brains that work against us. And we can choose to work on our brains any time we want.
Will I ever be a size 6? Probably not. But that’s not my goal. My goal is to achieve a healthy weight where I look and feel good about myself. Where I can focus on all the joy in my life, and my life is not ruled by food.
My way isn’t the fastest way. I’m not focused on “lose 15 pounds by Saturday”. That’s not real and not sustainable. I’m focused on small steps to feel better and happier. Operating from that place makes healthier eating and exercise choices easier.
We can all take better care of ourselves than we do. There are new sources of joy that we can find. We can all be kinder to ourselves, at any time.
Step by step, day by day, we can build lives and bodies that feel good to live in. It’s not about perfection; it’s about progress. And progress happens whenever we decide to begin again.
This is your invitation to start. Not on Monday. Not on the first of the month. Right now, exactly where you are.
Download my free Gentle Reset for Women Tired of Starting Over.
What part of my journey resonates most with you? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below, or reach out directly through the contact page. Your story matters to me.
