This is a subject I’ve been avoiding blogging about, for various reasons. But it’s time. I can’t avoid the discussion anymore, and shouldn’t, perhaps. To kick it off, I want to share with you two pics.
You see that girl on the right? The one who looks swollen and clearly out of shape? If you look really closely, you can see an unhappy glint in her eye. She’s unhappy with her weight, unhappy with her life. She weighs 255.5lbs. That girl is me. Or was.
Up until recently, I was morbidly obese for about 15 years. I panted after going up stairs. My back hurt all of the time. I snored and never felt rested. I couldn’t chase after my daughter or do anything that required movement with my son. I was miserable, and completely unhealthy.
So I decided to do something about it. Something I’ve spoken about on Twitter and Facebook, but not here. Mostly because I want to make sure that I convey the right message – that you should love who you are, no matter what size you are, and that this was about health for me…not vanity.
That being said, this pic is also me.
But this is me recently, at 137.2lbs. I’m happier, healthier, don’t pant, chase my kids, and feel amazing.
I lost all that weight in a year, with some determination and common sense (and my doctor’s advice). I stayed away from carbs and cut way back on junk food, ate lots of protein and drank lots of water. And I feel better than I ever have.
Why do I bring this up? Because it’s too obvious not to talk about. Because people have asked me about it. People have asked me how I did it.
The first thing to do if you’re concerned about your weight is to discuss it with your doctor, to ask them if you’re not at a healthy BMI, and if you aren’t, exactly how you should healthily lose the excess weight. Don’t ignore your doctor’s advice. The key here is health – and if your doc says you don’t need to lose weight, then you don’t. But most importantly, love yourself at any size. As unhappy as I was at 255.5, I still loved myself. I was still the same person I am today. Still fun, quirky, geeky, and macabre. Be yourself. Love yourself.
But take care of yourself.
By the way, Minions…we’re #6 on the New York Times this week! Here’s hoping for a threepeat!!!
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Wow! Auntie Heather, you really do look amazing. And to tell you the truth, it gives me a little more incentive to keep working at it. My story is similar. I am 5’5” tall and before i started my diet, i weighed about 146. I’ve lost four pounds since then and even though it’s not that much, i know that cutting out all the junk food and eating healthier stuff is working. like i said, four pounds may not seem like much but when i got on the scale and it said 242, i jumped for joy because my weight is finally going down like i’ve wanted.
Thanks so much for sharing your story and Congratulations.
Oh snap, we weigh the same.
You are sooooooooo right, Auntie. And um, about asking your doctor if your weight is unhealthy, does that mean if you are small too? I’m a shrimp, but you’re right, I like myself anyway. I met you in Walker, LA by the way, and it awesome!!!!
Wow Auntie!!!! I’m so impressed!!!
I just wish I was a little bit taller
OMV!!! that was u!!! u look awesome now! thats amazing! when u put to work u dont stop!!! i cant believe it!!!! but u look great now!!! congrats!!!
Auntie you look awesomer now and me happy for you. But we minions are have a different view of others, from some of us being outcasts and hiding in the shadows with people like us. We look at the soul, heart, and darkness of mind. To us you have a lot of all three. To us you are like a god and that wouldnt change no matter what you weigh!!!
Wow Auntie! You look awesome!
congrats on everything! 
Wow auntie congrats! Im so happy for you and I want to tell you thank you. You see similar to you I recently lost some excess weight by eating healthier but recently I have been falling back into old eating habits. But your story is giving me the extra push I need to get my weight back on track so for that I thank you
wow you look amazing!!! you did a great job. and dont forget YOU are amazing!!
You’re a mere shadow of your former self…
Seriously, you look good girl! Great seeing you again and rock on with yer badself
good job auntie heather u r the perfect role model for some one who needs to lose wight
O.O WOAH! holy wow..you really lost a lot of weight! Steely determination pulls through!
congrats though..you look really wow, you look way younger! sorry for being straightforward but dayum girl! You look good (Y)
Does blood have lots of carbs? Can’t find it in my ‘sensible eating’ books.
ha that was a good one Marianne
O.o woah! … i don’t know what to say… congrats i guess… i’m in shock…
auntie, you look like my sister did 7 years ago, when she was 21!!!!!!!!!!
Auntie you look good! I’ve lost some weight myself and proud of it!
…now if I can just get taller. I’m fifteen and still like 4′ 11″!
congratulations! i lost more than 10 pounds myself recently, and it was just from changing wat i ate. im very happy 4 u, tho! thats 1 more person who has taken control of their lives and made good choices.have fun with your kids!!!!!
thats amaizing but its funny too you look like a teen in the second picture and i didnt know you had a daugher
you look amazing
wooooooow you look amazingly amazing!!! lol my bad…but you look so amazing rite now!! i wont eat more food…but i’ll still eat poptarts lol
ok sersously i LOVE the shirt were can i get one? im not kidding!!!
wow!!! auntie heather you look awsome in that pic love your shirt so fuking much!!!!!!!!!!. u even look perfect in that pic tew gwed modeling.
I like your books alot
lol u haf such willpowerrrr
You look amazing
I’m 16 years old and over wieght but the docters have told me most of my wight is from bone density(big-boned) but I loose a few pounds here and there and I still work out just to stay in shape to help my sister practice her softball pitching.
And you’re right people are beautiful no matter what size and I hope to become a fashion designer for plus size women and espescially teenangers that have that struggle to accept theirselves for who they are or to just give them that boost of confidence.
Keep up the great work Auntie Heather
I’m very happy for you Auntie Heather. What kind of plan did you follow? The resson I ask is I am five two and weigh about 170. I would love to have a happier, healthier me.
omg Auntie Heather!u look awesome!congratulations!!
You’re a great role model. Many teenage girls out there think they’re “fat” even when they’re clearly one of the skinniest people I’ve ever seen! Magazines and shows on TV present us this idea that you have to be completely skinny and look perfect to feel good; this is obviously not true because going on a diet unnecessarily is detrimental to health.
I really love your Vladimir Tod books, and I can relate to him. I’m only working on “Eighth Grade Bites,” but I will definitely continue reading the rest as soon as I’m done.
Congrats on Operation Shrink Heather, obesity runs in my family so I totally get what you are talking about (the before). You look happy, healthy, and beautiful now, keep up the good work! xox.
*Enthusiastic Applause* Yaaaaay, Auntie Heather!!!! Congrats!… You look like…. 20. Wow.
Thats really great Auntie. And ur right, be happy, but be healthy. That being said….
That was so not cool! That ending on 11th Grade burns!?!?! I mean, seriously, why must you torture us! What did we ever do but give you our admiration and respect! Wah! That is the biggest cliff hangers in all of cliffhangers! I mean, so far this is my favorite one, really, the writing was excellent, and you molded the plot lines together so it wasn’t all spread out and all over the place, which I completely think is awesome. I mean, alot of writers can’t do that. Hell, I don’t even think I can do that yet! But seriousy…. why why why why why!?!? I am going to my emo corner to sulk now until 12th grade comes out. *bangs head against wall in emo corner*
lookin’ good auntie!!!!
Yea for Auntie!!!!!!! woohooo!!!!!! (dose little happy dance) thats great! im so happy for u! my mom has been very depresed about her weight laitly and i try to tell her it dosent matter but shes not listening
i wish i could help her.
U LOOK AMAZING!!!!!!!
Greetings Auntie Heather. You look fangtastic keep up the good work
wow! o.o u look more awesome than i thought xD lol because i picture authors old people with no life but now u changed that, thanks!!
xD
you look awesome!!!! im impressed tht you stuck to your diet!!!! btw i luvvvv the vladimir tod series and its in front of vampire academy and night world!!!
you look awesome!!!! im impressed tht you stuck to your diet!!!! btw i luvvvv the vladimir tod series and its in front of vampire academy and night world!!!
Just want to tell you I love your books. I generally don’t like vampire books but yours are great. Keep up the good work an can’t wait for 12th grade to come out.
This has given me a lot more will-power to keep trying to stay healthy. I’m only five feet tall, and I used to have weighed 180. Now, *This is weird!* I weigh about 136. Keep on going and you’re amazing.
GO AUNTIE!!!! U ROCK!!!!
WOAH!! GO HEATHER!!! im sooooooooo proud of u
OMG!!! you look amazing!!!
wooooooooo thats CRAZY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! YOU DID SOOOOO GREAT. i been trying to lose wieght. (Althought im only 12). i wieght 97. my friends say i look fine. i dont beive them… but my doctor said im ok so whatever…
whouldnt you have all that extra flab you get from loseing wieght? anyway IM SOOO PROUDE OF YOU!!!!!!!!
Yours enternally
jaid.
YOU SHOULD SELL A BRAND OF YOU SHIRTS TO HOT TOPIC!! I WOULD BYE THEM!!!!!!!!!!!!!! FOR SURE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Wow you look really nice but whenever you get the chance can you come to pensacola florida please i’d like to meet the person behind Vladimir
thaks, I love what you wrote! i have learned alot.
Emo Girl is the best emo blog on earth!
i absolutely lovve the hair. mine is black and red which is just as cool i guess. lol. but i lovve the shirt with the vampiric smileyface those should be sold at hot topic!!!!