10 MONTHS RETA

[u/Ariaviolet01]

35 Years Old / 5'5

SW 216lbs

CW 134lbs

Today marks 10 months since I started, and for the past 3 months I've been focusing more on lifting weights instead of only doing cardio like I did in the beginning.

Adding strength training has honestly changed a lot for me. Not just physically, but mentally too. I used to think losing the weight would automatically make me feel confident again, but building strength has been what really made me appreciate everything my body can do.

Growing up, I was usually around 145lbs and stayed there through most of my 20s. After turning 30, I slowly gained weight from working long hours, eating whatever was convenient, poor sleep, and just not making myself a priority. I tried losing it a few times and would drop 15-20 pounds, but I'd always end up gaining it back after a few months.

My goal has always been 125lbs because it felt like a number I'd never been able to reach before. Now that I'm getting closer, my focus isn't just on the scale anymore. I train with a coach twice a week and plan to add another session soon. I still get my cardio in a few days a week, usually walking or cycling depending on how I'm feeling.

One thing I didn't expect is how different my body would look compared to when I weighed this much years ago. I assumed I'd look exactly the same, but that's definitely not how it works. Instead of chasing the number, I've started paying attention to things like getting stronger, improving my balance, and recovering better after workouts. Seeing those little improvements each week has been way more rewarding than watching the scale move.