For all the experienced losers ... how is it possible?

So I've been overweight forever - I've been lingering around 200 for 7+ years since my Dad died - except for 2006 and a little part earlier this year I've weighed 195+ - I know when I did weigh 178 in December I did feel better - I did feel the absence of certain rolls under my arms and around my belly - but they were still there.

So my question is ... is it possible .. to really change your body? I'd be very happy to lose @ a rate of 1 lb. a week - within a year I'd be close to goal. But I just can't imagine having all these rolls - this huge belly etc.

I need some inspiration - have you really changed your body and gotten rid of rolls?

You can do whatever you put your mind to.  From what I have heard, it is usually a little easier to lose the weight than to maintain it.  However, you have an awesome support group to help you through any and all of your rough times.

My hat goes off to you for making a change for the better!  The best of luck! 

Yes, I do believe you can change your body.  What I hear you saying is that you can't imagine yourself thin.  (sorry to be such a social worker) I think you are also saying that you don't want to go for a year of losing 1lb a week and find you still look the same.  If you can try to focus on feeling better and less on the looks department it might help.  You yourself said that you did feel better when you weighed less.  Focus on that, focus on being able to climb stairs easier and feeling good about what you're eating.  I know that I don't have much to lose and frankly I've been the same weight now for months, but when I'm here reading regularly and counting my calories and making the better food choices I just feel better about myself in general.  Hope this helps a little and good luck!  Eating better is always worth it!

Yes, I had rolls of fat, and extra flab all over.
But it's gone, and I do look lean. I didn't think it was possible either, but it really is.

If you want some inspiration google "weight loss success stories."  There are lots of great ones to read out there.

Earlier today I posted one of the best I've ever found.  Some people couldn't seem to access it, I had no trouble. Worth a shot.

www.geocities.com/snues208

or google "Susan's meltdown pictures."

i have to agree with bintzp. i have been frustrated on my weight loss and sometimes get discouraged because the scale dont say what i want it to say, i have been working out daily but have not measured to see if i have lost any inches cant tell by my clothes because i wear the same kind of clothes every day which are baggy all the time anyway, i buy them like that just to hide my weight but any way my husband made a good point to stop weighing my self so much, he said he can tell that working out makes me feel better and he said that he knows its bettr for me so im going to keep going because watching what i eat and exercise does make me feel better

you can do it i know you can, dont give up

It surely is possible to lose weight and lose rolls, lol.  But it requires diet AND exercise.  You simply must do both.   They go hand in hand for me. You can do this.  The hardests part is the first few days, then the first few weeks.  You can do this!  :)

For me... the REAL change came when it wasn't about weight anymore.  (I originally lost 168 by the way, had a three year "slip," but right now I'm down 110...  and still larger than you are now.)  HOWEVER... when goal weight lost all meaning for me... that's when it changed.  If I eat right and exercise right, I will lose weight... sure... but it's all about how good you make yourself feel...  how healthy you are... and you start feeling that pretty quickly in... after six weeks you feel like a totally new person... and in six weeks... you can be where you are right now... or you can feel great, empowered, and proud.

I guarantee to you that I'll never yo yo again since I figured "it" out...  I do still weigh myself... but it's just ONE measure of many... and not NEARLY the most important one... but good luck, and EVERYONE is here to help!

Thanks everyone for your support - I do focus on feeling healthy and better but like everyone else I also want my body to feel different. I think that was really my question - is it physically possible to lose the rolls and layers of fat. You see it in magazines etc. but I just can't imagine them being gone. LOL!

Thanks!

I've 'only' lost 22lbs, but I've lost 4 sizes and yes, some rolls.  Exercise is the key, for sure.  I do some 'special' ones called Callanetics that really, really pull you in fast.  But really, anything that exercises your whole body will get the results you want.   Yoga. Pilates.  The gym.  Get that workout!  They say it's better to lose 'inches' than weight.  If you lose weight but no inches, bad.  EXERCISE!  EXERCISE!   EXERCISE!   EXERCISE!   EXERCISE!  

 hi, well.....I went from 230 down to 147 and it was awesome.  It was really hard, I won't say it was easy.  I exercised for two hours a day for 8 months and lost it all.  I pretty much lost all my rolls, but I think it was through exercise.  My diet changed too, I found that when I exercised I felt better, so in turn I ate better.  I still ate everything in moderation.  Now I am trying to maintain it which is for sure the hardest part.  I no longer exercise for that amount of course, but I try to get in at-least 30 minutes, at the very least  20 minute Pilate's.  Right now I am using the calorie counter on this site to try to keep me in check.  I have been hoovering around one 160 for awhile now and want to get back to where I was, so I'm with you........lets loose this weight, inches, and yes rolls!

YES YES YES it is possible... i just put up before/ after pics today. at my heaviest, i never thought id be able to get to where i am now. it is hard work, but totally possible... its a lifestyle change, not just an food change. the biggest thing i can offer is EXCERCISE. Even if it is just walking at first... will give you the best results. good luck :)

I find it is extremely helpful to just write down what you eat. Write down every single thing that you put into your mouth.  I wouldn't be surprised if you found yourself losing weight with that one simply step, you'll lose some weight. As you see what you eat on paper, you'll notice trends. You'll notice things you can cut out that you'll barely notice.

Also, don't drink anything but water. You'll lose pound a week doing that alone. Let's say (conservatively) you drink two sodas or glasses of juice a day. If you cut that out, that's easily a pound a week. Drinking anything but water is just wasted calories. They don't fill you up or hydrate you any better than water, and yet have tons of calories.

You know what, I think you can.  Think of one single thing that you could do to for four days.  For example, drink a glass of water before you eat your meals.  or avoid sodas for four days.  specific actions that you need to change, but only for four days.  you will see that four days dont seem like a lot, but are enough to get you started, and once you start, you will not want to stop, four days at a time!

luck,

Gaby