And Then Shit Changed

The best day of my life was calling the bank that held my Lane Bryant credit card and telling them "I need to close this account, please."
"May we ask why you're closing your account today?"
"Well, I can't wear any of your clothes any longer, I'm too skinny."
I think I actually apologized to the lady...but she just laughed and congratulated me and let me know that's the best reason to close the account she could think of. And so, the account was closed.
I lost a ton of weight, I was sitting around 155-160 and life was ok. I was in a size 12 jeans, and a size M/L shirt. This was the first time as an adult that I was small enough for a 'normal' size shirt. I still really wanted to be in a size 10, which is NOT considered 'plus size'...what I REALLY wanted, tho was to be in a size that was just ONE digit. So, i kept working at it...no junk food (or very very little), exercise, eating mainly raw, healthy fruits and vegetables.
A bunch of personal stuff changed and my membership to the boxing gym had to be cancelled and I was stuck on a college campus with a gym, but a gym with scary treadmills and machines and JOCKS...young, 20-something jocks...I was a flabby almost 30, had three kids, grown up...I did not want to be in the gym with svelte college students. What I did have though was a bike and a pair of running shoes. So...I started biking A LOT, and then I started running stairs by the dorm during evening hours in the summer (campus was practically dead at that time). I did this and I continued to eat sensibly.
I was living off of granola bars, fresh fruit, cheese, and occasional crackers. Sometimes I'd have a p'nut butter sandwich, but usually I'd just have some fruit, or a salad, and some cheese or nuts as protein. I had yet to discover the absolute goodness of tofu and alternate protein sources, I was a little larval vegetarian...just trying to figure it all out.

I eventually lost weight down to about 138-139 and was finally in a size 8/10, S/M shirts and felt GREAT!  It is truly amazing the difference you feel between eating poorly and eating well (healthy). It's tremendous and well worth the sacrifice of sugar and fats. I was also able to fit into ANY clothes I could find that I thought were cute.  No longer was I having to find if an online store had a 'plus size' section, and no longer was I having to wear tents to cover up my belly, or ass. I was wearing TANK TOPS! And flaunting my body for once!

I did have a slip and I gained some of the weight back, but only to about 155, I'm still a size 8/10, and wear S/M. I exercise everyday and still eat VERY sensibly. The only differences now are that I have taken up running, and am trying to lose the final 20-ish pounds to get down to my final goal of 135lbs. After that I will work very hard to maintain that weight and hopefully lead a long, healthy life without worrying about losing "that last <foo> pounds".