Inspiring bride loses over 100 pounds after seeing her proposal photos

Anna Iovine
Updated

Many woman lose weight in anticipation for their wedding, but one woman took it a step beyond.

Texan Haley Smith decided to make a change after she saw her proposal photos. She told PEOPLE, "I saw them and didn't even recognize myself."

"I cried because this was one of the happiest moments of my life, but I was just so ashamed," she said on her now-husband Matt proposing. She knew she had to make a change.

#tbt to my proposal size vs two days before the wedding. It's been a long 15 months of some hard work. There's about 110lbs difference in these two pictures. Sometimes I can't believe the picture on the left was actually me. And sometimes I can't believe that the picture on the right is me. It's a weird feeling, but I'm proud of how far I've come. I'm not at goal weight or goal size, but I'm going to keep pushing! Don't quit just because you are starting to feel comfortable with your body! Keep pushing, there's always room for improvement and always new goals to crush! #throwbackthursday #transformationtuesday #transformation #weightlosstransformation #beforeandafterweightloss #beforeandafter #weightloss #sweatingforthewedding #fitbride

A photo posted by Haley Smith (@haley_j_smith) on Oct 6, 2016 at 6:46am PDT

Smith, a psychology grad student, had tried crash diets in the past but they did not work. This time, she decided to make small changes throughout an extended amount of time. She stopped eating after 8:00 pm and tried to eat out less. Smith also started tracking what she ate.

By making these lifestyle changes, Smith was able to lose 110 pounds before her wedding. She said motivation is key, and she would try different things to keep herself going.

PHOTOS: See photos of Smith, her husband, and her wedding

For example," she told PEOPLE, "I have decorated my scale, I hang motivational quotes and signs all over my house, I love daily goal charts that I can physically check off having completed a task, I bought a Fitbit, and one of my biggest motivations has been starting my fitness Instagram account."

Her Instagram does not just motivate herself: she's amassed over 35,000 followers that are inspired as well.

Smith got married last week in the dress of her dreams:

Sorry it took so long to get a picture up! Matt and I actually have ZERO full body pictures of us alone or of just me. 🙄🙄 We have to wait until we get back to get a picture of us together from the photographer, but even from them, there are NO pictures of just me in the dress haha. So if you are getting married, be sure your photographer, family and friends remember to get pictures of just YOU and just YOU and your HUSBAND!! Because unfortunately we didn't, and that sucks haha. So here are pictures from my bridal shots the week before the wedding! I'll post another shortly, and when I get the pictures of Matt and I in like 3 weeks, I'll post that! So until then, I'll post random wedding pictures, and of course, my adventure in New Zealand, starting in Queenstown today! #smithsquared #octoberbride #maggiesottero #maggiesotterobride #bridalpictures #newzealand #honeymoon #queenstown #milfordsound

A photo posted by Haley Smith (@haley_j_smith) on Oct 11, 2016 at 9:34am PDT

She hasn't stopped going after her goals, however. On her honeymoon she went hiking and exploring.

I forgot to do my usual #motivationmonday last week because I got lost in the time change. So this week it's about looking at planning a trip! Knowing my honeymoon was coming up was a huge push for me this year. I wanted to hike, swim, bike, run a 5k, and basically just be able to say yes to anything that came up! These pictures are from some of the activities that I wouldn't have been able to do a year ago. I would have been too tired, not strong enough, or just physically couldn't have handled it. So if you are able, try to plan something that will make you want to move! Go to the lake for spring break this year or plan a backpacking excursion to the mountains. Just pick something that motivates you, and set the date so you don't back out! #motivationmondays #fitnessmotivation #fitnessinspiration #fitspiration #fitspo #takeatrip

A photo posted by Haley Smith (@haley_j_smith) on Oct 17, 2016 at 8:46pm PDT

"Just pick something that motivates you," she said, "and set the date so you don't back out!"

Advertisement