Carol Highsmith was at a healthy weight during her high school years at Minnehaha Academy in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Courtesy Carol M. Highsmith
To be young again —
But by 2014, the 5-foot-1 photographer had reached 175 pounds.
Courtesy Carol M. Highsmith
To be young again —
Highsmith vowed to lose 50 pounds by her 50th high school reunion so she could fit into her favorite dress.
Courtesy Carol M. Highsmith
To be young again —
Highsmith cut out all sweets and most processed foods to stick to a daily calorie budget of 1,300. A few weeks in, she felt comfortable with tucking in her shirt, no longer as self-conscious about her stomach.
Courtesy Carol M. Highsmith
To be young again —
Highsmith kept steadily following her new healthy lifestyle as she traveled the country (here, at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington) on a work project, holding on to her desire to wow her classmates as motivation.
Courtesy Carol M. Highsmith
To be young again —
Highsmith began to feel better and have more energy the more she exercised and ate right. Here, she embraces the Dallas Cowboys mascot.
Courtesy Carol M. Highsmith
To be young again —
Soon her pants were way too big for her, a good sign that her treasured high school dress was going to fit in time for the reunion.
Courtesy Carol M. Highsmith
To be young again —
Proud to have accomplished her weight loss goals, Highsmith poses in front of her high school wearing her high school dress.
Courtesy Carol M. Highsmith
To be young again —
Highsmith, left, celebrates with Minnehaha Academy classmates from 50 years ago.
Courtesy Carol M. Highsmith
To be young again —
Highsmith proudly stands front and center in her class reunion portrait.
Courtesy Carol M. Highsmith
To be young again —
Her journey is not over. "We are what we eat and I have decided for the rest of my life that if something goes into my mouth, it must be good for me," she says.
