100 Pounds Lost
Weight Loss Success: Hattie Montgomery Let Go Of A Painful Past And Lost 300 Pounds
Name: Hattie Montgomery
Age: 34
Height: 5’8″
Before Weight: 500+ pounds
How I Gained It: I came out a big baby. From day one, “plump” and “chubby” were common names for me. I was an active child, running and playing with my friends, and I thought that I ate the same as my family. Looking back, I now see that wasn’t the case; I ate the same foods, just a lot more. By elementary school, I was already developing. The bullying started then and didn’t stop. As the pain grew heavier, food became more comforting.
There were times during high school that I would try to lose weight, but it always came back. By the end of high school, I was already over 300 pounds. I excelled in school and loved singing. These activities were my way of escaping, the times where the pain was gone, and I could just be happy.
I carried on this way into my early 20s. At 24, I was sexually assaulted by a friend’s friend. The little bit of spirit and fight that was in me suddenly was nowhere to be found. I turned to my best friend — food — for comfort. When I was sad, I ate. When I was afraid or angry, I ate. I eventually could no longer deal with the pain and started eating to die. I was begging to be taken. I didn’t understand how my life had any purpose if all I was to people was a punching bag.
Breaking Point: I will never forget the day when I cut my leg and, instead of blood, clear liquid came out. I had such severe edema, apnea and high blood pressure that I knew my time was short. Then a few simple words changed everything. Simple kindness reminded me that I was loved and important. It suddenly made me see that giving up was not an option. I knew that it was an uphill battle because at this point I was 31 and weighed over 500 pounds, but I was ready to do whatever it took to survive. I decided I was going to save my life.
How I Lost It: A big turning point for me was letting go of the past. I had to forgive the people who hurt me, let go of the pain and sadness I felt and make my life priority number one. I started a diet program which consisted of eating 750 calories a day of specific fruits, vegetables and proteins. I was monitored closely by my doctor to make sure I was okay.
I became very dedicated to journaling my food intake and really paid attention to the quality of the food I was eating. I gave up soda, fried foods, ice cream, chips — all those wonderful foods that we think make us feel so good. It was so hard. I often found myself crying, almost mourning the loss of my old friend.
Eventually I started adding exercise into my routine. When I first started, I could walk maybe 10 minutes a day. As I continued to push harder, that increased more and more. I took up tennis, started yoga and eventually tried jogging. Today I work out with a personal trainer who has been an amazing supporter and wonderful friend. He and I have been working together for over a year now, and he has forever changed my life. I resistance train three days a week and have such amazing balance and strength. I am also training to participate in my gym’s indoor triathlon this month.
I still have more to my journey and also have some excess skin from the weight loss to deal with, but I can’t express how lucky I feel to wake up each day and know that I am alive! Three years ago I was thinking about how my family would no longer be burdened by me once I died, and now I’m going to do an indoor triathlon in less than a month! I have an amazing support system of friends and family who have made my success possible, cheering me on every step of the way.
I don’t know many people who get a second chance, and it is my wish to be able to take this wonderful opportunity to reach out and help people realize that it’s never too late to make a change. Yes, it’s hard. This will be a life-long journey for me, but I gave up all those foods I loved for all those years so that I could finally live.
Source: huffingtonpost
Republished by Blog Post Promoter
Robyne Chabant
January 19, 2015 at 4:40 am
Wonderful!!!
Elizabeth Hamada
January 18, 2015 at 1:03 pm
CONGRATS!!!!
Alexander Marquez
January 18, 2015 at 12:19 pm
great job!
Olga Volga
January 17, 2015 at 6:26 pm
Stay strong. You are one of a kind!
Wanda Judkins Sticka
January 17, 2015 at 11:51 am
Love reading about eople who overcome painful past!
Shawna Sharrock
January 17, 2015 at 9:31 am
Wow !!!! Awesome job !!!! You look great !!! It’s a blessing that you overcame the bullying and inner demons !!!!
Kelly Thomson
January 17, 2015 at 8:20 am
Amazing, well done x
Lorie Fisher-Murray
January 17, 2015 at 8:07 am
what an amazing story im going to keep going. I wont give up! Thank you Hattie
Gal Ram
January 17, 2015 at 4:21 am
“Then a few simple words changed everything. Simple kindness reminded me that I was loved and important. It suddenly made me see that giving up was not an option.” <3 (y)
Rube Tuesday
January 17, 2015 at 4:10 am
You are amazing Hattie… ! ~
Linda Thompson
January 17, 2015 at 1:25 am
Freaking beautiful and awesome! You showed all the “haters”. Like no words to describe. What an inspiration!!
Buffy Brandt Ellis
January 17, 2015 at 12:50 am
Awesome, amazing, and congratulations!
Danielle N Chuck Caso
January 17, 2015 at 12:42 am
Wow…….
Carol Jackson
January 17, 2015 at 12:02 am
Amazing story….. Congratulations and I wish you all the best in days to come. I hope to survive my battle.
Glenna Jeani Spicer-Hilligoss
January 16, 2015 at 11:47 pm
What an inspiration you are!!
Rohini Muthuraman
January 16, 2015 at 11:33 pm
Wow….
Tom Hilgers
January 16, 2015 at 11:19 pm
Fantastic.
Tabatha Whitehead
January 16, 2015 at 11:01 pm
Wonderful and your story just gave me the will to keep going I have been doing the healthy fruits and veggies diet 4 weeks and I have lost 20 pounds I still have a long way to go but I will succeed thank you for sharing
Cookie Torres
January 16, 2015 at 10:16 pm
awesome and beautiful!!! you go!!!girl!! 🙂 <3
Pamela Lee
January 16, 2015 at 10:01 pm
Congrats! I know it must have been a challange to lose all that weight. You look fabulous!
Karen Kester Maciejewski
January 16, 2015 at 9:46 pm
Good for you!!!! That’s amazing !!!!!
Mary Capasso-Newman
January 16, 2015 at 9:39 pm
Wow !!!!
Marcella Hollinger
January 16, 2015 at 9:33 pm
Amazing Heather Keller! Gives me hope
Anita J Dargis
January 16, 2015 at 9:24 pm
That is so wonderful!
Valerie Nickerson Loveland
January 16, 2015 at 9:19 pm
Wow just wow that’s an amazing story
Nessa Sasou Riche
January 16, 2015 at 9:02 pm
Regine Cheron
Heather Keller
January 16, 2015 at 8:47 pm
Marcella Hollinger did you see this amazing!
Lynn Galvin
January 16, 2015 at 8:31 pm
Fabulous!!!!!
Victor Ruiz
January 16, 2015 at 8:26 pm
Good for u dont matter what i like u picture before i bet u are beautiful inside to
Colleen Dauernheim Blase
January 16, 2015 at 8:10 pm
Amazing!! Keep inspiring others!
Jj Monte
January 16, 2015 at 8:00 pm
Blessings and congratulations!
Judy Phillips Culler
January 16, 2015 at 6:59 pm
I would love to talk to you.
Beth Manwaring
January 16, 2015 at 6:34 pm
Wow!!!
Audette Hagan Johnson
January 16, 2015 at 6:28 pm
Woooooow way to go simply amazing you should be so proud of yourself you look beautiful!!!
Pamela Meyers
January 16, 2015 at 5:52 pm
Wow! Great job!
Rochelle Jackson Dahmer
January 16, 2015 at 5:33 pm
Amazing!
Debbie Losinger
January 16, 2015 at 5:24 pm
Your beautiful and such an inspiration as I now am on my own personal journey to a healthier and longer life.
Kay Powers
January 16, 2015 at 5:18 pm
Congratulations Hattie!!!
Shawn Abrams
January 16, 2015 at 5:13 pm
Awesome!
Steve Garber
January 16, 2015 at 5:11 pm
Awesome !!
Kesha Diop
January 16, 2015 at 5:04 pm
Wowsers!!!
That’s awesome!
Cathy Elsen
January 16, 2015 at 4:45 pm
Wow you are inspiration in action…way to go!
Jane Hickman
January 16, 2015 at 4:43 pm
Great
Laurie Thompson
January 16, 2015 at 4:24 pm
Awesome!! So proudof you.
Penny Martin
January 16, 2015 at 4:19 pm
Amazing!
Rhonda Douglas
January 16, 2015 at 4:16 pm
Congratulations!!!!
Irene Pirker Jensen
January 16, 2015 at 4:15 pm
What an inspiration you are!!
Annetta Nichols
January 16, 2015 at 4:10 pm
Great job! You should be very very proud of yourself. It is hard and ypu have done it! 🙂
Susan M Hanks
January 16, 2015 at 3:58 pm
So awesome!
Cyndi Benton Hunt
January 16, 2015 at 3:47 pm
Amazing job!!!
Lisa Book
January 16, 2015 at 3:39 pm
A BIG CONGRATULATIONS, you should be VERY proud of yourself!
Miki Clark
January 16, 2015 at 3:35 pm
Incredibly inspiring! Laura Kretzmer-Bartow you are much stronger than you think you are. You get up everyday and that takes strength. Just keep walking forward and you will make it! One foot in front of the other and take small steps.
Lisa Holman
January 16, 2015 at 3:26 pm
Beautiful!!
Jennifer Dugan
January 16, 2015 at 3:26 pm
Hattie you are my hero! Amazing!
Jaxon Ashton
January 16, 2015 at 3:11 pm
Hoooooly wow! Go Hattie!!
Kelly Smith
January 16, 2015 at 3:06 pm
Hattie – you my dear are amazing. Simply amazing. Way to go!!!
Jessica McDonald
January 16, 2015 at 3:02 pm
Whoa!
Melissa Brown
January 16, 2015 at 2:56 pm
I only wish I knew how to start and have the will power to continue.
Yolanda Reed-ludd
January 16, 2015 at 2:55 pm
You look great ! Congrats
Patti Rogers Devine
January 16, 2015 at 2:55 pm
wow
Melissa Brown
January 16, 2015 at 2:54 pm
Oh my goodness!!! Wow! Congratulations to you!! <3
Laura Kretzmer-Bartow
January 16, 2015 at 2:53 pm
Cried reading your story!! I wish I had your strength!!!
Linda Rikard Gordon
January 16, 2015 at 2:50 pm
Thanks for Sharing U are truly an inspiration! U Look amazing!
Kelly Diaz-Durham
January 16, 2015 at 2:49 pm
Beautiful
Sheila Tashiro
January 16, 2015 at 2:48 pm
Great job
Stacey Barbeau
January 16, 2015 at 2:47 pm
Love these stories. Keep them coming!
Jennifer Knight
January 16, 2015 at 2:45 pm
Wow!
Yvette Frank
January 12, 2014 at 8:59 pm
FABULOUS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Michelle Chelle
January 12, 2014 at 3:38 am
Way to goooooooooooo !!!
Ruth Crook
January 11, 2014 at 8:20 pm
Yes. It’s true. Some of us just plain EAT TOO MUCH! And if you are fat, that is no doubt true of you. As it is of me. Dish yourself up and then scrape half of it off your plate and give it to the dog or whatever.
Winter Mistique J
January 11, 2014 at 11:31 am
Such a great story Hattie! You’re a fighter. I’m happy for you! 🙂
Lynanne Meier Sparby
January 11, 2014 at 7:53 am
Awsome Hattie!!!!
Tabby Mclendon
January 11, 2014 at 3:52 am
congrats
Sarah Liz
January 10, 2014 at 11:29 pm
Well done Hattie!!!!
Lillie Locklear
January 10, 2014 at 11:02 pm
u look fab!
Greg Retzlaff
January 10, 2014 at 6:40 pm
I’m so proud of you Hattie for being a fighter!! Not giving up and wanting to live life again. I can relate to many of your struggles as 2 years ago I was 495# and close to death and now down to 265# which just included the skin removal surgery last month. You’re a great inspiration!!!
Yvette Swafford
January 10, 2014 at 6:27 pm
You go girl, and congrats! God bless you.
Kimeve Edmonson
January 10, 2014 at 6:17 pm
BLESS!
Sarah Carter
January 10, 2014 at 6:16 pm
Amazing!
Kolokea Houghton
January 10, 2014 at 6:09 pm
Very proud of you! 🙂
Felicia Hitch
January 10, 2014 at 5:40 pm
That’s so wonderful!!
Diamond Williams-Davis
January 10, 2014 at 5:11 pm
Go ahead girl!!! Congrats
Joyce Kyle
January 10, 2014 at 5:07 pm
great job
Leslie Johnson
January 10, 2014 at 5:04 pm
I can relate so much to the beginning of this story. Now I just need to find my happy ending as well. Congrats on the hard work and dedication. Also congrats on finding your self worth! That is my hardest obstacle. Good luck with your future journey!
Paul Slac
January 10, 2014 at 4:57 pm
Congrats to her!
Ronda Pelham-Kelly
January 10, 2014 at 4:46 pm
Awesome!!! You look beautiful
Dumitru Alina
January 10, 2014 at 4:40 pm
Very well done !!!
Sheila Davis
January 10, 2014 at 4:24 pm
Congrats!!! Looking good!!
Pam Abbott
January 10, 2014 at 4:19 pm
Fantastic!!!!!!!!