June 2012: "I remembered seeing this photo after it was taken and thinking people would look at it and wonder what my husband was doing with somebody that looked like me," said Roni Tarver.
Getting her dream body —
June 2012: "I remembered seeing this photo after it was taken and thinking people would look at it and wonder what my husband was doing with somebody that looked like me," said Roni Tarver.
Courtesy Roni Tarver
June 2012: Photos like this one from a wedding were a wake-up call for Tarver. "I couldn't believe how big I was from the side ... I was so uncomfortable throughout the ceremony because of how big I was compared to the other bridesmaids in the wedding party. I had specifically chosen that style of dress to hide my stomach."
Getting her dream body —
June 2012: Photos like this one from a wedding were a wake-up call for Tarver. "I couldn't believe how big I was from the side ... I was so uncomfortable throughout the ceremony because of how big I was compared to the other bridesmaids in the wedding party. I had specifically chosen that style of dress to hide my stomach."
Courtesy Roni Tarver
March 2013: Tarver, right, poses with Zumba instructor Catalina Salas a few months after starting classes. "An old roommate in college had given me that shirt ... and it was tight on me when I borrowed it. When I noticed how baggy it looked here, I knew I was really making headway in my weight loss journey."
Getting her dream body —
March 2013: Tarver, right, poses with Zumba instructor Catalina Salas a few months after starting classes. "An old roommate in college had given me that shirt ... and it was tight on me when I borrowed it. When I noticed how baggy it looked here, I knew I was really making headway in my weight loss journey."
Courtesy Roni Tarver
July 2013: Tarver and her mom, Vicki Crow, who was a full-time teacher and aerobics instructor. "I had just started being able to purchase clothing in the women's section that was not plus sized. When I tried this shirt on and it fit, and it wasn't an XL, I cried."
Getting her dream body —
July 2013: Tarver and her mom, Vicki Crow, who was a full-time teacher and aerobics instructor. "I had just started being able to purchase clothing in the women's section that was not plus sized. When I tried this shirt on and it fit, and it wasn't an XL, I cried."
Courtesy Roni Tarver
August 2013: Tarver had lost 75 pounds by the time she and her husband Tom went to her 10-year high school reunion. "I felt so beautiful and confident in this picture," she said.
Getting her dream body —
August 2013: Tarver had lost 75 pounds by the time she and her husband Tom went to her 10-year high school reunion. "I felt so beautiful and confident in this picture," she said.
Courtesy Roni Tarver
December 2013: Two years after her wedding, Roni put on her dress to see just how much her body had changed. "I couldn't believe how big it was on me."
Getting her dream body —
December 2013: Two years after her wedding, Roni put on her dress to see just how much her body had changed. "I couldn't believe how big it was on me."
Left: Courtesy Craig Stuard / Right: Courtesy Roni Tarver
February 2014: Tarver poses with faculty head shots she found from 2011 and 2012. "The one on the right was taken right after I started working out and so I was feeling more driven to do my hair and wear makeup. The one on the left was my second year of teaching and it is clear I did not care how I looked."
Getting her dream body —
February 2014: Tarver poses with faculty head shots she found from 2011 and 2012. "The one on the right was taken right after I started working out and so I was feeling more driven to do my hair and wear makeup. The one on the left was my second year of teaching and it is clear I did not care how I looked."
Courtesy Roni Tarver
March 2014: "This was my first size 6 dress that I fit into since middle school. I was over the moon excited about being able to zip it up in the back without struggling."
Getting her dream body —
March 2014: "This was my first size 6 dress that I fit into since middle school. I was over the moon excited about being able to zip it up in the back without struggling."
Courtesy Roni Tarver
May 2014: Tarver kept taking classes with Salas, who pushed her to get her Zumba instructor license and is now a close friend.
Getting her dream body —
May 2014: Tarver kept taking classes with Salas, who pushed her to get her Zumba instructor license and is now a close friend.
Courtesy Roni Tarver