Tue. Feb 10, 2009 | 8:01 AM
christinafitgirl.jpg

Meet Christina and follow her journey and she works to lose weight for her wedding day!

Hey, all. I'm Christina (a member of Team Tyra you might recognize) and guess what -- I'm out of shape.

I've always been what's considered a "plus size" girl -- I've got the hips, boobs and booty of an Italian girl -- and the appetite of one too. But being plus-size is not the part that bothered me. I learned long ago to forget about the labels and just feel fabulous in a well-fitting, fierce-looking outfit. At my best I was a size 12 and for me, that worked just fine. Even now, I enjoy the hunt -- the very sport of tracking down curvalicious clothing on the cheapy-cheap.

But while I don't believe you need to be a size 8 to be happy with yourself, me at a size 18 -- is pushing it.

This year, I'm being forced to look at myself under a little more scrutiny than normal. By this time next year -- I'll be weeks away from strutting my bad self down the aisle of a church. While planning my wedding and imagining how I'm going to look and all that fun, girly stuff, my theme song has been "I'm going to be myself, just the best version of me." For example, you'd never see these fingernails decked out in a French manicure, so why would I do that on my wedding day? But as "big, blonde and beautiful" as I am, do I really see myself at this size that day?

I hate that the drive to do it has come down to the fact that I'm getting married, but alas here it is. This is not about me not loving the curves I was bestowed with; it's about me feeling good. If I were to whittle down to nothing and look super-skinny on my wedding day, there's a fair chance it'll come back on ten-fold once I toss the bouquet. This is about a lifestyle and change for better health -- and a size 12 wedding dress tag wouldn't be too bad of a bonus either.

Join the Fit Girl community group to share your own weight loss journey and while you're there, leave messages of support for Christina!


NEXT: 5 Money Saving Tips
related stories

 
eau4pc
Posted by Rnhazblh 07/14/09 12:07 AM
 
Christina, I am so much like you in so many ways. I am an Italian girl myself and as us Italian girls love to eat I tend to stay away from food as much as I can. I am 5'5" and weight in at 220 lbs., and I am getting married this year. Our wedding date is set for August 15th, 2009. I would love to lose some weight but I don’t have a whole lot of time left, as my dress is getting altered on April 25th of this year, which is only a month away. Recently I had to go into the emergency room because I thought I had another kidney infection (I have what is called renal disease stage 2, so any infection is very serious and needs to be treated right away). Come to find out after they ran a CT scan that I have a cyst on my ovary that is causing the pain, but that did not stop the doctor to tell me that there is a fat deposit that is around one of my arteries and he had to add that I should lose weight. I am just so sick of the doctors to tell me to lose weight. I mean I know I should drop about a 100 pounds but its not like I don't try either. I have a hard time eating after I had surgery a few years ago. I had to have an acid reflux surgery done. The lining of my esophagus was being eating away by all the acid. It was so bad that they had to cut my stomach in half to make a new esophagus. Since then my appetite has been cut dramatically. I am lucky if I can eat once a day. When I become
Posted by Yvonne 03/11/09 11:49 AM
 
what exactly do u recomened to loose the weight?
Posted by megan 03/09/09 5:11 PM
 
i am in the same predicament ur in...i jus had a baby n gaind 74 lbs...now im upto 286.i recently got engaged n now i have to b my skinny self before my wedding!
Posted by julissa 03/03/09 2:31 PM
 
Christina!!!!!!! I know you can do I have so much faith in you .....u are truly amazing and I'm going to help you the whole way through ....you are not alone in this ( damn the maid of honor has to be fit tooooo)...I'm going to be your conscience ....just call me jimeny cricketttt love you
Posted by Corinne 02/24/09 11:59 AM
 
I'M TRYING TO LOSE 150 POUNDS MYSELF SO I KNOW HOW YOU FEEL . GOOD LUCK!
Posted by MELODY MCDUFFY 02/23/09 10:22 PM
 
Hey, it's good to know there are more of us out there ready to make a healthy change for the better! I've been trying my best to lose weight while I still have access to a gym at my university, but I've discovered that food is my biggest issue. Now that I'm dealing with the stress of a looming graduation and figuring out what I'll do with my life, I'm starting to have gall bladder problems. That has finally done it for me- I can't be 23 facing gall bladder surgery! It's time for a change! Yes we can, Christina!
Posted by Rachael 02/23/09 1:03 AM
 
I'm here for you girl!!! you can do it!!! i believe in you i hope that you don't stray. just look at all the encouragement we have for you and burn those calories. When you look into that 5 panel mirror and see your self in your gorgeous gown (OF COURSE) you be happy you did. Congradulations on getting married. I wish you Many happy years and children.
Posted by Mars 02/19/09 12:30 PM
 
Good Luck,,you will make it.... -----(@
Posted by Marie 02/16/09 12:25 PM
 
I am getting married in a couple of months. I have 4 children of my own and 3 step sons and they keep me buisy, I also attend school right now and no matter how hard I try I cannot loose weight. I lost my son that I was expecting last June and I have been struggling with my weight since then. My fiancee says that I am fine the way that I am but I feel horrible. I told him that I will not get married until I loose the weight so I desperately need help. I sent Tyra an email a few months ago and never received a response. Please help me I hate the way I look, my weight, my teeth , and my body this is an important day and for once I would like to be beautiful. Caitrina
Posted by Caitrina 02/16/09 7:38 AM
 
Hey Cristina me and my sister have been battling the bulb for most of our lives. I used to think so what don't like it lump it but now that I am getting older I do care and it is harderthan ever to loose any wieght at all. I am praying for your sucess in all that you do God Bless you.
Posted by Gina 02/13/09 7:24 AM
 
Hi Tyra how are you doing today. Let's make a story short. My name is Patricia i am a 35 year old, with two kids, my husband pass away two year ago. I started going to the gym working out i lost a lot of weight, but my stomach is going down a little bit but not how i wanted it. can you tell me what to do. Tyra i need a make over.
Posted by patricia browne 02/13/09 6:53 AM
 
I wish you the best of luck on your journey to being healthier. I am not much on being overweight, I was once about 40lbs overweight. It is not about being thin but being fit. It will make you feel better physically and mentally because exercise helps endorphins. I hope you keep the new way of life better eating and staying active. Way to go!
Posted by Lisa Boyer 02/12/09 12:05 PM
 
Girl.....I know exactly what you are going through!!! I always think that this is the time that I am going to do it and lose this weight....and I do really, really well until my self esteem gets to me and says "Who am I kidding?? I can never be thin! I've never been thin in my life!".... It's always about 2 and a half weeks untill my emotions get the best of me and I crash, and I only hope that you can be stronger than me. I do think my problems stem from my period, and I have gone for help, but have only been put on certain birth control pills which are supposed to help, but do not. Weight is not only a battle with the outside world, but a battle within youself, and I hope that you conqure it more than I ever have. Best, Michie
Posted by Michie 02/12/09 12:46 AM
 
Bonjour Christina, I think you are doing a fantastic job too for the show. You allow the show to breath with your creative writing. I am strongly standing beyond you to make this happen for yourself, I repeat for yourself. I strongly believe that you are already beautiful as you are. Indeed, we can always do our best to keep ourselves in a great shape. Nevertheless, it irks when girls do it because their mate require so. I do hope this is not the case for you. :) What we all learn from true beauty is, beauty is TRUE beauty is start from who we are inside. The show true beauty reveals all of us that you do have the most important factor. Do it girl! I wish you the best. PS. I just started my own photography dream in the field of wedding & Fashion. It has been a challenge for me to get into the business. My goal for photography is to bring awareness into photography, by helping family in needs through micro finances, by planting 100 trees for every wedding we book to help the environment. Part of my vision is to also randomly pick a couple trough out the year and do their wedding for $1.00; however, they will need to donate a check to one of their favorite charity. It allows us to help the economy and making a difference at the same time. I would love to ask you for one favor, is it possible to photograph your wedding as an extra photographer? I am also open to do a free engagement session for you as well. I met Tyra a few years ago when I was in the movie "Like Mike 1" in Philly. I wish you the best; I am confident you
Posted by Toussaint, Ulysse 02/11/09 8:44 AM



 (this will not appear)

(you may use HTML tags for style)

Back to Top »