I Saved a Picture of 154 Pounds. Today, I Weigh It.

Melissa Tori
Jun 25
2 min read

Ten years ago, I saved a photo of a dream. Today, I’m living it.

On September 15, 2015, about nine months into my health journey, I screenshotted a picture of what 154 pounds looked like on six different women.

If I had to guess, I’d say I was weighing around 280 pounds when I saved that image, hoping I could reach that number; using it as inspiration and proof that transformation was possible.

Fast forward to today: I weigh 154 pounds!

I’ve shed 165.9 pounds through consistency, mindset shifts, and real lifestyle changes. No gimmicks or shortcuts; just healing and deep work. I had no idea how much healing I needed to do so my body would release my fat suit of protection. I have 11.1 pounds left until I reach my goal.

At the start of this year, I set a goal I called Thrive to 55. It wasn’t about starting anything new because I was already living a healthy lifestyle. It was about finishing what I started and finally closing the book on weight loss. To no longer be chasing “losing weight” and the scale forever. Time to move into the maintenance phase, with clarity and peace. Understanding that we are always growing and evolving and I will never be done maintaining a healthy life.

I’ve been Melissa on a health journey, trying to lose weight, since I was 10 years old. Yes, 10. Over the last decade, I’ve also been Melissa who shows up, who prioritizes her wellness, who keeps going. I’ve spent years building strength, joy, and confidence.

That picture once felt like an impossible dream. Something only other women could achieve. Something people like me: Women over 50, women who had "tried everything", women in menopause and perimenopause with significant weight to lose, we were told there was no point to try.

I had to break the self-imposed limiting belief that I couldn’t. I had to believe I could, for as long as it took and as long as I kept going. Time passes anyway. Why not use it to create a life you're proud of, right?

So here we are. And I can now add myself to that picture as another empowered, confident woman who lost more than half her body weight and finally found herself in the process.

To anyone out there still chasing the dream: don’t stop. You’re becoming her.