Amazing results!Congrats

I am inspired by your story. I am going to start counting my calories starting from today. May you have a healthy and happy life. I do have a question; What about consistency? Staying with the program, longivity? Mohammed

I am also inspired by your story.  Am a yoyo dieter and I'm trying to change that.

Congratulations on your success! I too have started counting calories (which is not easy), but I need to stop looking at the scale on a daily basis... thanks for sharing your story and giving us the encouragement that it is all possible. Steph

I`m really pleased for you, it`s a big achievement, WELL DONE. I`m very inspired by your story.

AWESOME JOB!!!

I have found that "seeing" my calories for the day in a list helps me to realize where I could have stayed "true" if I hadn't had this or that....usually it is one high calorie thing that puts me over my goal for the day, I make a mental note of what did it and move on to the next day, hopefully smarter and armed with knowledge.

Great job!  I always look at the scale and get upset.  Your story is inspiring. 

I'm so proud of her. Stories like that really help us newcomers.

Keep up the Great work!!!!

Fantastic!!!! best wishes

Congratulations - youve done wonderfully and I admire how you not only lost weight but made other changes for your health too!    I appreciate how your tip about getting right back to it if you blow your diet one day.  Your commitment really shows and you look great!

OMG...UR A WINNER!!!!!!! congratulations...really i mean it.

here i am tryin 2 lose 20pounds and thinkin how hard it is and u can lose 105pounds. whenever i get down i am gonna read ur story....keep ma motivation up. congrats!!!

Congrats! I have 80 pounds to lose, and it feels frusterating.. ready this makes me want to push harder.. WAY TO GO!!!

Congrats thats really great ,

Im a size 14 at age 16 ,ive tryed to lose weight by not eating to much junk food but living in my house its very difficult the smells of the food draw you into eating it ,I dont exercise as  im a shy person and would only do it in gyms,but gyms here only let from age 18. Does anyone know how i can lose weight without exercising? i do walk everyday for like 30 minutes.

YYEEEEAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

Great job Haley, I am so very proud of you.

I agree that it is hard no matter how much weight you have to loose. But just keep hanging in there everyone we can do it.

For the young teenager, my dear you must exercise or you will have hanging skin. Trust me its not pretty. I have what I call chicken wings.

If you don't want to exercise in front of others you don't have to. Start out with short walks around your neighborhood or do exercises in your room. I too do not like to exercise in front of others. What I do is if I am home alone, if not I go to my room and turn on the tv to a music channel or my fav CD and just march/walk/jog in place. I know that sounds boring but you have to do some kind of exercise. You also need to get your heart pumping too.

I will say that I am in such a hurry all the time that I don't eat properly and don't keep track of my calories. Shame on me, but I will have to work on finding something that will work for me. In the meantime I do have a great support system, ALL of YOU.

God Bless

This is amazing.  I have the same situation with the "biggest challenge".  I have to deal with people who will eat chips, pizzas and other things that will mess up a "healthy eating" diet.  I am interested in how she  managed to cut out ALL red meat.  That is something my  household likes to eat, even though the economy has caused the cut back of some thing.  I am losing weight and her 5 tips include things I am doing, so I feel that this is supporting what I do to achieve the weightloss I want.

Your story is really inspirational.  I am trying to lose 100 pounds and have lost 15 so far.  It helps to know it is possbible.  I only weigh myself once a week and that does help.  The veggie advice is good.

I knew you could do it!!  Way to go Buddy!! I am so proud of you, your CC friend!

Congrats on your weight loss!!!

Congratulations,  it is really hard to stay foccused around family and friends who either don't have weight problems or don't realize, even without weight problems, they are still harming their health, when we, who are trying are weak, at the junk fiesta. If anyone has a better answer than just getting back on track next day, I would love to hear it. 

It is a really difficult journey and my hat is off to you for a job well done.  Someday when I get to share my success I will be praising Calorie Count for their help.  I love this site and look forward to the encourgaging messages to help with the daily struggles.

Thankyou for sharing.

Congrats!!  You are an true role model.  I find such strength from reading peoples sucess stories.  Thank you for sharing yours. 

Congrats Haley,  I know the hard work and also the excitement you have.  I recently lost 40 lbs and buying a whole new wardrobe felt awesome.  

I have a couple of comments though,  I find motivation in weighing myself every day.  I know weight fluctuates, but when I saw the scale staying the same for several days in a row that made me exercise harder that day.  Now that I am at my goal weight I continue to weigh myself every day.  If I see that I may have gained a pound then I know to watch what I am eating and get on that elliptical.  I so far have maintained my goal weight since September 2008. 

As for the diet changes,  I have a family that does not watch their diet.  I have a son who is in fact trying to Gain weight for football.  They truly love their red meat and fast food.  When I starting seeing all of the fat and calories in the red meats that made me want to stop eating them.  When you truly want to feel good it is easy to cut out the food that makes you  feel lousy.  I know that now because when I occasionally eat that steak,  I feel so full and uncomfortable afterwords.  I also tricked my family by substituing ground turkey for ground beef.  They are smart though so in some recipes I will use Half ground beef and Half ground turkey,  they never notice the difference and you are at least getting rid of half of the fat and calories while making the family happy.  I know it is hard to stop eating that food, but trust me once you see how lousy it is for you, you will not want to put that into your body.  And keep coming to calorie count,  it is a great support system when you are doing it alone, it has been for me.

Congratulatons on almost reaching your target weight.  It took alot of commiitment to healthy eating and excercise to lose it and I know you will keep it off also. I lost twenty five pounds so far. I do a ZUMBA workout every day for an hour. I just eat mni meals of fruit veggies a little chicken or turkey and alot of tuna fish and nothing else and I do have one cheat night a week also like you do. It keeps the weight off also to be able to eat one night a week something I like that doesn't have to much sodium in it.  I've cut out salt in my food also and that helps you lose weight also.  I drink lots of bottled water also.  I wish everyone success with their weight loss!!!

hello :)

congrats

i wish i could be like you ;) courageous and determinate

Thank you for sharing your story... Its 2pm and I am having a bad day so far but I still have time to turn it around. Once again, thank you for the words of encouragement.

Congrats! It proves htere is not instant magic, but being consistent.  Even with little slip ups or occasional treats you still can lose the weight. You should be proud you figured it out.  

You Go girl!!!!! I am trying to lose about 40lbs of baby fat, well my daughter is about to be three so I am not sure if I am allowed to still call it baby fat. Anyways It has been a struggle, but i have found this great web site and your story has truly motivated me!

                                                       Thanks

                                                              Alexis

Way to go!  What an amazing and inspiring story!  I found calorie count three weeks ago when we started "Biggest Loser" at work...just a little contest here at our office.  I've had some fluctuations, but am down 4 pounds in these first 3 weeks.  I too struggle with not stepping on the scale every day....its a hard habit to break!

My goal is a size 10 by my birthday.  I'm a 14-16 now.  Thanks for motivating me!

 Congrats to you form inspiring me to achieve my overall goal of 101 lbs.  Thank you for your tips, simple yet effective...thank you for your story.  Its great to know that we can achieve our goals without going to extremes!

That is wonderful! Great job! I'm hoping to lose some weight myself and hearing these stories just inspire me even more!

This was so inspirational. All these stories are. I think I'll definently have to try some of your tips.

congrats and keep up the good work=]

Walk longer and faster.  Add time to your 30 minutes and keep a brisk pace.  Walking is a great way to keep fit and healthy. 

Way to go girl!!!! I need to lose also. My girlfriend just had lapband surgery. I really do not want to go that route. I will be 60 this fall. My daughter is expecting again after 14 yrs of motherhood. My granddaughter only knows a grandma that has been overweight her whole life. I want my granddaughter and my new grandson to be to know a healthier, thinner grandma that is full of life. Haley you are such an inspiration to us all. God Bless

Way to go, Haley! YOU'RE A TRUE INSPIRATION!

Brendasue, try getting a hula hoop (not the little kid kind, but an adult hoop with water in it and friction tape wrapped around it) and hula hoop to music. Burns at least 200 calories per half hour and is FUN!

Thanks,

Love the hula hoop idea. I'm going to try it. At lunch I'll go get me one.

Love this site and all the wonderful encouraging people with great ideas.

Thanks one and all.

You look great - I feel the same as I have now lost about 90lbs.  Great to see others that have had such a life-altering change.  I think that you hit the nail on the head when you said that you cut out fast food and added veggies.  I eat about 2/3-3/4 veggies at each meal.  A huge difference from what I was accustomed to eating.  Even though your family might not participate in your lifestyle now, I have found that if I continued to eat properly and exercise regularly, they will want to at some point.  My wife is getting involved now, about a year and a half after I started.  Sometimes it takes a while to sink in but stay on the same path that you are on and you will influence others. People like you keep us motivated.  It is not the same as motivating your family, but when they are ready, they too will appreciate your strength.  Thanks.

Bravo!  Congratulations!  You should be very proud of your accomplishments! 

Congratulations!  I've done it before and I'm trying to do it again.  Every diet article says the same thing in different ways:  Eat less, Exercise more.  I just joined caloriecount today and hope it wil help me to be more honest and consistent about the food I take in.  Also I'm hoping for moral support to keep me burning extra calories.  Good luck one and all!!!

That is SO SO awesome Haley!  Thank you for sharing your story with us! 

good job , i been working to so far i got 70lbs  off but it took 2 years , but that better then a gain any day . good luck to every one   

Plan, plan, plan ahead....that's how I stay on track.  I lost 95 pounds over a period of 14 months.  I have maintained my weight loss for 3 years.  I try to plan meals way in advance.  I don't always adhere to the meal plans, as we all know, things come up, but in the event that my boyfriend is eating sandwiches on the run, I make sure I have healthy "on the run" alternatives in the fridge so I'm not tempted to dig into the bag of Doritos with him.  Multigrain Wasa bread & roasted red pepper hummus are staples at my house.  Fruit & nuts are also a must for quick on the go, throw in your purse kinds of snacks.  Good luck to everyone in their journey to better health!

Your story is inspiring. I wish you all the best and congratulations.

c

Good Job, your story gives me hope that I too can loose some of this "happy" weight. utilizing calorie count to see a list of things I ate all day and seeing the analysis of what grade ai have so far allows me to change my foods during the day to strive for an A day. good luck and continued sucess!

Thank you everyone for very sweet comments.  I wish i could give you all a hug!  I have to tell you all that I am NOT one of those ppl at the gym you see working their **** off and dripping with sweat!  That is not me.  I use the treadmill, get my heart pumping, and that's it!  With the nicer weather, I ride my mountain bike 5X a week.....first thing in the morning.  I cycle typically about 40 minutes which clocks me about 8 miles according to my cyclometer.  You would be shocked what just a little extra effort will get you!!!!!

Thanks to all my new buddies too!  I love you all!!!

~H~

Congrats on your success!! It's hard to realize that it didn't take a week or a month to put on the weight, so to see that you accepted this as a lifestyle vs a diet is great!

I agree that it can be hard when people you live with don't watch what they eat. It's hard to buy/cook two meals. Or even to figure out one meal that will satisfy both.  I also think it's great that you and your husband enjoy a night together and that you don't 'beat yourself up' over having a chicken wing! (on occasion) It's most difficult to lose when you don't allow yourself to be real, or hold yourself accountable. It's a process. I'm glad to see you found one that works for you!

Way to go!!

You have done so well!  It is undoubtedly proof that being healthy and thin is a REALITY!  You've made it so! I used to think it was a just a memory - or it was an "idea" I had to do "someday".  It's people like you that make those ideas turn into goals - that turn into something REAL and TRUE!

Thanks for everything you have done for you and for us - you are an inspiration!

AMAZING!!! These stories are so motivational!!!

Wow! Congratulations! Your story is really inspiring. I was feeling a little demotivated after 2 weeks into my diet because I can only see little results, but your story has indeed inspired me and got me motivated again. Hands down!!

Hi There:  Just read your story.  It sounds like I'm on a very similar diet.  I am not eating meats, cheeses (all dairies) or pastas and breads.  I'm eating loads of vegies like broccoli.  Can I ask you, how many calories are you eating per day?  I'm into week 2, my ninth day.  My goal is to get from 162 to 130 or 135.  My goal is by mid July, and I started this mid April.  Also, I am doing 1/2 hour aerobics classes five days a week.  Are my expectations too high for trying to lose 25 lbs. by mid July?  Thanks if you have any input in this.  Alex

I, too, am on the treadmill three days a week religiously, putting in 35-45 minutes at a speed of 3.0 and once a week I do interval training wherein my incline goes back and forth up to 5.0 to 7.0 incline for a couple of minutes and then back down for a couple of minutes and then back up for at least 20 minutes.  This has helped tremendously with my energy and stamina and looking tighter.  However, my calorie intake must still be off track because I am not losing weight.  And I love sugar.  I always have more than one sugary item a day and even though I log it in and think I am within my calorie limit, I am not losing weight.  Heh, guys, can sugar keep ou from actually losing weight even though you are within the guidelines of calorie limit?  Please extend me your opinions. 

You may need to shake up your workout.  I would suggest walking at a faster rate --- try adding .1 per day until you reach 4.0 and can do it comfortably.   With regard to the sugar -- not all calories are created equal -  bad sugar turns to fat when it goes through your body.  You may want to substitute how you get your sugar.  Try fresh fruit, or a smoothie -- yogurt and fruit -- seasonal b/c it tends to be sweeter and may satisfy your sweet tooth.  Keep up the hard work.