Age: 33
Height: 5’4″
How I Gained It: I am the youngest of three girls and my sisters are twins. Blonde-haired, blue-eyed, perfect little size four hourglass-shaped twins. Then there was me. My nickname was “Chubby” and even though I was around a size 10 for my teen years, I felt fat.
I went for a jog one day when I was around 14 past some boys out on the basketball court, and I heard one of the boys ask “Who is that?” For half a second my heart soared because someone had noticed me, but then the other boy answered, “Its one of the Malone girls.” The first asked, “Grace or Jeanne?” and the other answered, “No, the ugly one.” He didn’t know I could hear, he wasn’t trying to be mean, but that was how I was known. I was the fat sister. I am not saying that feeling fat made me gain weight. The truth is I was 218 pounds because I love food, and the little voice in my head that says “Don’t eat that” is not nearly as loud or as fun as the joy I get from eating.
Breaking Point: I found out I was pregnant in June 2011. At my very first doctor appointment, I stepped on the scale and it read 218.6. I nearly fell off the scale. The nurse made a note on the chart and asked, “About how much do you think you have gained so far?” I was only six weeks along, and I hadn’t been feeling well, so I knew I had probably lost weight in the last few weeks, but I lied and told her I had gained five pounds just so I could pretend the baby was part of the reason for my weight. I decided right then that as soon as my baby was born I was going to lose all the extra weight.
How I Lost It: My youngest was born January 20, 2012. My goal was to be hot — and hopefully 125 pounds — by the time I went to a wedding on September 30, 2012. It seemed like such an ambitious goal at the time, since I had only left the hospital with baby in tow that day. I was 213 pounds at the time, and that was actually five pounds less than I had been before I got pregnant. I needed to drop 88 pounds in about 8 months. I thought it was aggressive, but doable. Then I remembered I would be up all night with baby and up all day with toddler and it seemed impossible. But I will say I have one thing working for me: I am stubborn. I decided I was going to eat fewer calories than I burn and I was going to keep doing it even if the scale didn’t always tell me what I wanted to hear.
While I was pregnant, I had gestational diabetes and needed to take my blood sugar regularly and track everything I ate. I also had some tummy troubles and began having to eat in small amounts several times a day. By the time my little one came around this was normal for me, so I continued eating a balanced blood sugar diet. I focused on lean meats, lots of veggies and fiber, and limited my sugar and empty carb intake. I gave up all fast food, which was very challenging with a newborn at home and a hungry husband, teenagers and toddler to feed. Everyday, whether I felt like it or not, I went into the kitchen and made something healthy for dinner. I wanted to give up more times than I could count, but that date was coming and I was either going to be the fat sister or I was going to be hot.
I would love to say the greatest part of being thin is feeling healthy, but I have discovered I am too vain for that! The best part is having people make eye contact with me. I am outgoing and friendly, but it wears on your soul to have people look away every time when you smile at them. Some women are nice enough to smile back, but most people didn’t even see me.
Clothes fit and look cute! I needed a whole new wardrobe! I don’t have to run from the camera now. And I have energy! My precious little angel still does not sleep, but I am able to function during the day and even keep up with my 4 year old and the herd of teenagers that descends upon my house in the afternoons.
Funny downsides no one tells you about: I’m cold! I live in Arizona and the house is around 74 degrees, and I am wearing fuzzy socks and a robe and I am still cold. Seats everywhere are hard! I went to Disneyland a couple months ago, and I must have bruised my butt bones dozens of times. And seat belt panic! When I ride in my car I panic at least once every trip thinking I forgot to buckle my seatbelt because I no longer feel it cutting into me.
In the end, we have to look at the reasons we were where we were, and then either let them go or figure out a way to work with them.
Source: Huffington Post
Wow!!!!
Madison Rylie
What kind of people did this woman know at 218 who wouldn’t even make eye contact?! Good grief. Those people don’t deserve your presence..
Congratulations
Congrats, Tricia! I get cold, too. Never expected that at all.
Having to buy an entire new wardrobe was a great reward. I bought my wardrobe ahead of time (spread the buying out over a year) and was so excited to finally wear some of the clothes. Although, the bras were too big! And some of the shirts are still a little snug.
you are an inspiration to us that were and are the “fat”sister, thanks for sharing your story with us.
Awesome! Any dietary changes?
Within the next month, I’m adding a ‘diet/meal prep’ questionnaire to women on the site to see if they’ll share more specifics on their nutrition changes! π
Yes. 90% of weight loss is diet. Exercise whether structured or just adding lots of movement won’t fix your weight if you just eat more to compensate. I started adjusting what I was eating before I even gave birth. I had to eat fewer carbs for the sake of my gestational diabetes and by the time baby came around some of the carb addiction was getting under control. I started with the easier meals to control. For me that was breakfast and lunch because I could eat the same thing everyday if needed to keep it simple. That way I could also adjust my family’s diet more slowly. As you can image all those boys were not anxious to switch from burgers to salads for dinner. I make the world’s best mac&cheese so they needed to be gradually stepped down into higher protein higher fiber lower carb and lower fat. It was good for them though. All of my older boys have lost weight and are healthier. Calorie cutting was gradual at first and a bit more aggressive towards the end. Don’t let anyone fool you into thinking that just because you lose weight fast you cannot keep it off. Some people have to quit food addiction the way they have quit smoking or drinking but for others it is not an addiction so they can make a more gradual approach. I am only about 8lbs heavier than my lightest weight and it has been 5yrs now so look honestly at why you are eating and decide on an approach. If you eat because you are bored then eating less when you are bored will only be a temporary fix, not being bored will fix the problem. If you eat when you are nervous then eating less when you are nervous is a temporary fix and you have to develop more healthy coping mechanisms an that may mean giving up nervous eating entirely to force yourself to do that. If you eat because your stomach is growling and the food taste good then it is a matter of will power and you just have to eat a bit less even though you like it. Every reason has an approach and every person is different but it always starts by being honest.
I am so happy for you!! What a great accomplishment!!!!
Lunch !
Congrats for choosing a new path
Wow congratulations
You were beautiful then, and you are now. Great job Tricia!
I love it! Good for you, Tricia. Congrats!
How’d you get the red text?
Just type it and hit enter. If you click on it, it’s supposed to do a little video. (from my computer. I don’t know if you can do it from a device)
Not even the same person.
Awesome job!!!
Melanie Steinhauser
Today’s story’s topic, exercise. It’s like the thread heard us.
“Look at why we are where we are…fix it or get over it”…you inspire me! I like your real approach…
You look wonderful
You have inspired me!!!
Congrats on your accomplishment!! I wish those boys on the basketball court could see you now.
Loved your story and your reasons behind your motivation! Truly inspirational! βΊοΈ
Wow go girl
Ah…I remember those days when young, it was so easy to shed pounds.
Congratulations to you
Way to go you look MARVELOUS
Lookin fabulous!!!!
You are amazing and you look fantastic!!!
Awesome ! Congrats!
You look great! Got that Bond girl thing going on. Lol. Very inspiring. π
She totally looks like a Bond girl!!! π ~kat
You look amazing!
You look great. Good job
You look amazing ! You did it !
Congratulations what a great job well done.
Wow,you’re an inspiration! I’m trying to lose weight. It’s so hard,but I know I can do it!
Well Tricia, you DEFINITELY SUCCEEDED!!! You are HOT!!
Hard to believe it’s been 4yrs. Thanks for the kind words!
Fantastic
Congratulations I myself am in the middle of losing weight. Thank you for your sharing
Patricia Baker
You look amazing! My story is similar to yours as I was always labeled “the fat one”. I have a beautiful 5 year old little girl, a 15 year old little sister, an amazing husband, work part time as a nurse, and am back in nursing school full time to further my education. Finding time to exercise and prepare healthy meals seems so challenging some days. Thank you for the inspiration to not give up!
What an accomplishment!
She is cute at either size. Good job on feeling better. You look great!
Way to go!!!!!!
Samantha Paige Stewart
Congratulations!
Wow
I need to do this daily at least walk some….but i hate where im at to walk around.
Tillia Britt
awesome
Yesenia
My mom just shared this on FB so I didn’t know this was here previously. I can assure you the pictures are real, because they are me. Thank you for all the kind comments! It is nearly 3yrs since I reached my goal and I am still small and still active. Many people have this notion that you can either have fast or lasting results but not both. Its not true. Sometimes you have to retrain yourself to stop looking at food as reward and just like any dependency some people do better with cold turkey and others do better with step down approach. Another thing that I have learned in the last 3yrs is that loose skin gets better with time. That after picture is rather far away but I had a good bit of loose skin at that point, the vast majority of which is gone now thankfully. There was a lot of improvement in the first year and more in the last few months since I joined a gym and started putting a bit of muscle under it. If you want to see more up to date pictures (and better ones than Huffington chose to use) look me up on MyFitnessPal triciab79
Awesome story! I love the part about adding more activity than formal exercise
Congrats you look amazing what am inspiration
Congrats you look amazing what am inspiration
I have also lost 100 pounds. Wrote a book about it. http://booksangiewrote.com
Wow. I’m a similar size to her starting weight but I don’t look nearly as big as she did. I also would hate to lose 100 lbs.
Miaisha M
Hot damnnnnnn
Way to go lady!! Also Yadira Velasco 30 is still amazing! Good work!!!
Yeah Christina but you are older! Keep it up!
You gotta get a move on. So much more goes well with more movement. The stronger you get the more you want to move. It’s a cycle that gives back. Life gets better.
Awesome job. You look fantastic.
You are amazing
Congrats
Congratulations! You look amazing!
U look great!!
Keep up the good work !!!!
Congratulations!
Sami Rae Tracie Hamilton Cierra Monroe Newport
Damn…..And I thought I was kicking ass having lost 36 lbs. over the last month and a half…lol…pretty cool story and definitely inspirational
Congrats!!!
So awesome!! Congratulations!
Congratulations
You are such a inspiration
God bless
Thank you for this story!!
Thank you for this story!!
Then the next you post about losing weight….
Then the next you post about losing weight….
Awesome job beautiful sister !!!;)
AMAZING transformation..you look stunning! Not to mention healthy!
Tricia is my friend on myfitnesspal. She is such an inspiration!
Kevin Lynch i was just saying this to you
Congrats!
Look what it did for her. Impressive!
Congratulations! U look great
So happy for you. You are a strong woman to do that.
Gorgeous!
Just goes to show everyone that it can be done….awesome job. ..you are beautiful
Wow beautiful
Well done. At work, when I am waiting on the printer to finish (several times a day), I dance! Thankfully, my clients can’t see me! But it adds more movements to my day.
Agree with all posts!
A great job well done!!
I am happy for you You look great
Congratulations! What an inspiration!!
Well done…. incredible
Incredible amount of hard work, determination, and honesty! Congratulations!!!!
Loved your story!!! Simple but the truth!
Awesome!
Awesome!
Well done bravoooo xx
Wow, wow,wow, you look incredible, well done!
Congratulations
You Look awesome
I did a awesome job
God bless
Congratulations! You look amazing.
Amazing! Such an inspiration!
Wow she looks beautiful!
Great job! What a great change. Very encouraging
Awesome!!!!
Just awesome! Outstanding! Your my hero! Wow!
For the people saying it’s not the same woman here’s a lil FYI I was friends with her on my fitness pal and followed her. She has before and after pics with her family as well… it most certainly is her! Don’t discredit the hard work this woman has done just because her her results are awesome. Anyone who puts their mind to it can have the same outcome. Congrats Tricia you earned this girl!
GREAT JOB (y)
John Burch, if it’s not her, it’d have to be one of her sisters. You can zoom in and see its the same face.
You go girl. An inspiration to all of us,
There’s you!!! You came out and you look so very happy and healthy!!!
Probably not the same woman since we aren’t able to click on the pic and compare the face!!!!!!!! Really?????
Yep it is the same person. Its me. Look me up on Myfitnesspal.com triciab79 3yrs later and its still me, still small, still healthy, still eating less and moving more.
Wow!!!!!!!!
Onesti Lapp
Interested
How
I mean your journey towards your weight loss begins.
I think when you have decided in your mind, then your journey to your weight begins. And read and be motivated and encouraged by this stories of triumph and hard work.
congrats!
I love stories like this. They are so motivational.
Yani Puyat
Be proud and own it!!!!
U look awesome! !
Loved this article. The things she mentioned at the end are so true, not to mention being able to sit comfortably in a chair that has arms on it vs. feeling like I had vice grips on my thighs.
https://m.facebook.com/GettingFitStayingHealthy4Life
Congrats to a job well done and keep at it.
AWESOME!!!
So motivating……you are beautiful
Thank you so much. This is big inspiration
You look Tricia!!!
CONGRATS!!!!!
What was her daily routine
I love this page. These stories of weight loss journeys have truly helped me to stay motivated and on track. Thank you!
Wow! Thank you so much for sharing your story. I am around your age and I am 220 and thinking of trying to start a family. Your story has further motivated me to lose weight before baby and add more movement to my daily routine.
Congrats!
I can’t relate but I enjoyed her triumph and humor … good 4 her
Awesome! You are amazing. Congrats! Great discipline. I love the way you describe your journey. By the way, you look absolutely drop dead gorgeous. But more importantly, from the sound of it you are happy and smiling now. I got about 60 lbs to go.
Awesome!!
Congratulations Tricia way to go girl!!!!
Amazing!! Thanks for the inspiration!!
HELP!
Unbelievable… You’re an inspiration!
Congrats!
great job
I really love this page! It is so motivating! Losing weight is so much harder than putting it on and I feel like I am constantly planning the next meal, or snack, or fitness class. It is really awesome to see real people who have the same responsibilities and obstacles that I do find success. Thank you to everyone who shares their story. You are truly an inspiration!
LOL Girl you are not kidding about the butt bone!! After losing weight I sat on the bleachers at school to watch a volleyball game..man that hurt! Rock on with your hot self!!! Very inspiring as I have about 20 more I want to lose myself!!! You look hot. You have always been amazing!
π
Great story! Very motivating π
You go Tricia! Looking fabulous !!! π
AWESOME JOB TRICIA!!!! “Weigh” to go!!! I know you feel amazing and are beautiful inside and out. I’d love your input on my page http://www.facebook.com/heathershealthyhabitsdoingitforme. Congrats!!
Wow!
Awesome
Simply amazing!
Nic Marie motivation for after my bald peanut comes out(:
Wonderful!
I have 120 to lose in an entire year, this woman has re instilled my motivation. It can be done!!
Gorgeous.
Wow…great, great INSPIRATION !!!!!
Very inspiring. Loved your detailed honest account of your journey to hotness
Outstanding!!!
Wow!
Great job
Simply Gorgeous! π
AMAZING!!!
Congrats
Awesome
I’m so proud of her. I pray I can be that strong
I lost 27 kilo, just by walking π
Wow
Great story!
AWESOME for her.
inspiring
great story
awesome!
I think that a lot of young people put on so much weight is because they eat so many processed foods. They need to use Tricia as an example. Eat healthy.
Awesome story!
wow!
U look amazing great job keep it up
π you are awesome Tricia!
That is the right way to do it!
I like how the title says “added more movement to her regular routine….” Lol
She worked for it, changed her diet, which is the #1 thing, and became active. You can’t just “stand up to read the mail. Funny they made it found like she didn’t have to do much to lose 100 lbs. good for her!!!! That’s awesome!
Thank you for sharing your inspiring life change.
the thing I love about this is that I worry all the time how will my stomach area get smaller…..this gives me hope!
very inspiring story.well done!!!!!!
Great job!!!
u did great baby keep it up
Very heart warming story I could relate to everything that you have written congrats on your new life even though I don’t know you I send you kuddos
Congrats! :-)…Looking gooood hunbuns!!!…
AWESOME
Wow you look beautiful! Great story, thanks!
Wow!
That is like jaw dropping π
She looks amazing!! And her health was all the better for losing all that extra weight π
One word…WOW! Great job!