does anybody have any inspirational stories?

i was just wandering if anyoen out there had any stories of success or their journey etc that cud spur me into kicking myself bk on track.  i love to hear about other peoples success's n how theyve conquered their binges/cravings/years of bad habit etc.

it kind of makes me realise it is possible n makes me wanna join the list lol.

wud be nice to hear some positives if anyone has any they'd like to share..... x

It took me until the age of 40 to really get to grips with the basic idea that if I wanted to be slimmer and healthier it was going to involve a) less self-indulgence and b) a bit of effort!  That was 4 years ago and it's a work in progress.

I had quite a few years of bad habits to get rid of.... A love of wine that's been with me since my big-drinking uni days was the first to be tackled.  A really poor idea of portion-sizes was the next one to bite the dust.   I've adjusted my approach to cooking so that my creations are a lot healthier but just as tasty.   I'm still working on my aversion to formal exercise.... much prefer practical work to 'hamster on a wheel' stuff!  But, bit by bit, I've chipped away at the worst habits... kept a few of the not-so-bad ones

I won't lie.... I slip up - everyone does.  I stepped on the scales for the first time in far too long last week and discovered why my jeans had stopped buttoning up!  LOL!   But I know how to fix it now rather than ignore the horrible truth and let 10lbs turn into 20lbs turn into 50lbs as it might have done in the past.  As I say, it's a work in progress. 

HI what a great idea.  I am still at the beginning of my journey but have been blessed with well  just blessed.  I have been struggling with my weight for the past 5 years or so.  I use to be able to lose pretty easy but menopause and celexa did a number on me.  I went to the doctor 3 months ago and had finally had my cholestrol checked.  I was in danger of a heart attcak with triglycerides in the 300's, my good choletrol low and my bad cholestrol high.  I have been praying for help from God to take away my appetite and help me gain some control, cause i am out of control when it comes to food.  i see it i eat it, doesn't matter if i just finnished a huge meal.  I was frightened with how little control i had.  I found out celexa had this for a side effect so i weaned myself off.  not an easy task.  Anyway,  my oldest daughter, who is always after me to lose weight and be healthy cause she wants her mom around for a long time, got layed off from her job, and moved back home.  She came if armed with a bag of groceries and a plan.  she showed me this sight and we set goals on the fridge to get to our first 10 lbs off.  At first i was a little defensive and resisted and then a light bulb went off.  this is what i had been praying for,  my own personal coach, and i better surrender and let her help me cause my way was not working.  well just a month in i had my blood work done again.  My triglycerides went from 309 to 176.  my good cholestrol went from 33 to 47 and the bad stuff from 123 to 109.  My doctor was stunned,  i am stunned.  I am working on my next goal and still struggle with my appetite, but now our work is participating in the wegman's challenge to eat 5 cups of fruit and vegetables and day and do 10 thousand steps.  We get a pedometer and are on teams. God truly answers prayers, cause work was the worst place with a candy drawer and treats pouring in the door every week.  I feel something i have not felt in a while,  hope!  thanks 

Original Post by nutbox:

i was just wandering if anyoen out there had any stories of success or their journey etc that cud spur me into kicking myself bk on track.  i love to hear about other peoples success's n how theyve conquered their binges/cravings/years of bad habit etc.

it kind of makes me realise it is possible n makes me wanna join the list lol.

wud be nice to hear some positives if anyone has any they'd like to share..... x

Funny thing, I only just now realized that my story could be considered a success story, too! :) I started out on CC at 168 lbs (at my heaviest I was 175 lbs) in January 2008. I lost around 18-20 lbs till May with virtually no exercise, just calorie counting. Then I somehow lost all my motivation, and summer was there with its BBQs and beer... Long story short, I somehow managed to maintain at around 150 lbs, and in February 2009 I decided to get back on the wagon and lose the rest of the weight. This time I'm working out - and, of course, religiously counting calories. Turbo Jam and Turbo Sculpt have become my two best friends :D In 8 short weeks I lost 11 lbs, a whole bunch of inches, and for the first time in my life I'm getting some definition pretty much everywhere! At 5"4', 139 lbs, I'm getting more compliments than I have ever gotten in my life. It feels great!

I guess the best thing about it is that this time I am confident that I will reach my goal weight of 125 lbs. I know I will! It's just a matter of time :)

And if a fast food junkie and couch potato like me can do it, ANYONE can!

http://tintinity.blogspot.com/

look towards the right-hand side of this site and you'll see something that's akin to a, err.... "message of inspiration"

Well, my real story comes before I found CC, but it has helped me stay the way I am, and offer me a lot of help and advice on what to do to maintain (which was my problem, I kept losing after I hit my goal).  In short, I've lost about 90lbs total.  I posted my story and a couple of before and after pics on my profile.

The true key, for me anyways, was learning portion control and that my body didn't really need as much food as I thought it needed.  So, learn to listen to your body and that a taste of chocolate or ice cream or chips, whatever it is that you crave, is just as good as the whole bag/tub/bar.   And that it'll still be there in the morning if you let it.

I had a goal to lose 10 pounds in 2 months last year.  I wanted to look good for my wedding =).  I hit the gym, did weights and ran...ran a lot..After 4 weeks of intense workouts  I only lost 2 lbs.  It was very discouraging but on the 5th week weight started coming off like butter! The following weeks I managed to lose another 6lbs. It was amazing to me..at least. 

I think your body just has to reach a level of physical activity and once it reaches a certain point, your body will just react.  Moral of the story, don't get discourage if you don't see immediate results and keep pushing on with your diet and workouts.

I have been on the receiving end of no motivation, lack of desire and sheer boredom but it ends and we move past it and get to where we want to be.

I started my Healthy, thinner journey about 2+ years ago and weighed 235 lbs, never really realized when it happened or really noticed it until my daughter came to me and told me she was pregnant.  My daughter lost her Grandmother at a very early age and never truly got over it so I didn't want my Grandson to have to go through the same, I was already experiencing some heart issues and at 5'2 235 is not a good number, so I started cutting back on my intake of food first, smaller portions, healthier choices and then started exercising.  I now weigh 134 lbs, feel great and know this is definately my new life.  No heart issues, tons of energy and shopping in the Jr. section. LOL

It is not that I did this speedily but I did it right.  I still eat at a deficit on most days but I am religious about working out and when I get bored I switch it up.  I am 43 years old and learned to ride a bike with speeds, I have done 200 cruches in one work out, I have bench pressed 100 lbs (Once) and I am so looking forward to watching my Children get married and my Grandson Graduate from College.

Great success to all!!!

I went from teenage couch potato to (almost) certified fitness professional. My whole story is in my profile.

My body went haywire at age 9 when I started going through puberty, at age 29 I was 352 pounds! I had been married 3 years and during that time I had packed on a whopping 60 pounds! My highest weight ever! I lost 20 pounds after My husband and myself seperated. I battled depression the entire 3 years and infertility because of my Poly cystic ovarian syndrome.

In September 2008, I had severe back pain. That started in March of 2008. I got fed up and finally went to see my doctor. Come to find out it was all related to my PCOS and not having a period! I got really scared and knew that if I didn't do something right then and there, I would end up never being a mother and dying young. I switched to diet Soda, I have long been a Coca Cola addict, since I was a teen. Weight started falling off, then I quit eating candy bars and most junk food. In November I quit drinking soda all together, December I began working out every other day, walk/running at the local track. In January I quit eating fast food, that had become a daily habit, I began eating soup and sandwiches, I then started cooking again and started really eating healthier. Lots of fruits and veggies and gallons of water! Everyday! In March I joined a gym and started lifting weights, I gave up the running. I recently started Protein shakes and lifting differently thanks to Muscle and Fitness Magazine. I am now 295 pounds! Which is still quite a ways from my goal weight, but I have never felt healthier in my life!! If I did it, So can you! You just have to want it badly enough and keep plugging away, Imagery helps! Visualize what you want! Remember everday is another day to start over, But no day is a day for giving UP! Just keep going! Eventually you will get there!! Goodluck!

I am like a lot of stories on here.  I did not gain weight because I am an emotional eater.  I gained weight because I did not know how the body works and my metabolism slowed to a crawl.  Add a child and a dose of steroids and my weight ballooned.

Since February I have lost 17 lbs.  I still have 25-30 lbs to go.  But I feel like a success because for the first time in a decade I eat normally and I feel normal.  I also know how to continue to lose weight and how to maintain my goal weight when i reach it.  I am a success because I am so much happier now!

When I found CC I still had some screwed up ideas of what I had to do to lose weight.  But after being on this site for several weeks I realized how much better off my body and I would be with a healthier diet.  I almost cried when I realized that i could eat a lot of food and lose weight faster than my old starvation method.

I am a success because the critics don't phase me any more.  I am much more confident, slimmer and healthier than I have been in many, many years.

you know i got mixed up with the low carb no carb rage, and actually lost like five pounds when i first started on it but then i was sneaking in carbs, and thinking they wouldn;t matter.  lol  carlories are the way to go,  that and high fiber.  been such a help to actually know what i have eaten and if i have room for anything more at the end of the day.