Does anyone reach their goal wt here?

I'd love to be inspired by someone who has reached their goal. Stories would be fabulous. How did you do it? How long did it take you? Before and after pics are great. C'mon-show it off!

Thanks-I'm just getting started and need some inspiration!

Mary Elizabeth

Hey Mary Elizabeth. I actually just reached my goal last week. I'm 5'9" and went from 171 to 139 (goal weight was 140). It took me a little over 4 months and I would share pictures but I didn't think to take before pics! Ugh!

I did it by exercising daily and counting calories. I never thought I'd be able to do this on my own. I never exercised on my own before and I blamed it on me just not liking it. Even now I don't get those wonderful endorphins everyone talks about. But one day I was talking to my mom with diabetes type 1. I was telling her how I don't work out because I hate it and it makes me feel sick. She said, "Yeah, so do I but unfortunately it's just something I have to do for my health." That really struck me and that's how I think about it now. We all do things we don't want to do, but we have to. Exercise is one of them. 

The other thing that's really helped me is getting my portions under control and not feeling pressured to clean my plate. It also keeps me stocked with leftovers!

It won't be easy, but it's totally worth it. I'm now wearing a size 6 for the first time in who-knows-when and that makes me feel better than junk food ever did. 

Best of luck to you with your weight loss journey! You can definitely do it and you'll be so happy when you reach your goal. 

Hi Aimsa,

Thanks for your reply. This is awesome! Congratulations!

I'm on a four month track to lose 30 pounds, too. I have very long days and can't fit in excercise everyday, but I am doing long bike rides every other day. I am also really cutting back on portions and this calorie counting is actually kinda fun for me.

Thanks for the encouragement!

ME

Hi, Aimsa,

  I was wondering about reaching goal weight also.  I'm trying to lose 26 lbs more - I've lost 2 lbs since 12 Sep when I joined.  I'm keeping my calories at about 1300 although this weekend it was more.  I succumbed to a bagel and Starbucks at about 600 calories.  I won't do that again.

 But you have done fantastic at 8 lbs a month.  I'm hoping I can do the same.  I walk a couple miles a day and do lite weights. 

  My main issue right now is just being patient with the process and allowing myself to just be in the moment. 

  You're an inspiration.  I look forward to maintanance.

 Barbara

Thank you Barbara! I'm sure you can do the same!

reading all of your replies is really encouraging!! i am trying to lose 35 pounds. . when i set up my account it put my goal date to be late spring of '10. i am so hoping i can do it faster than that! 

my problem is trying to eat right AND exercise! either i eat really well and drink lots of water or i exercise every day really hard. i can't seem to get the 2 together! lol i know if i can just start doing both things at the same time i would see great results. . . 

i htink i fall into the "well i worked out hard so i deserve a treat" trap - or the "i am doing so good with my eating habits that i don't really HAVE to exercise" trap! 

ack!!!

Well here's to success this time around and thanks for posting such encouraging stories!

Hey diet. I think it's just about finding out what works for you and having a balanced lifestyle. I still hate exercising, but the only thing I hate more is exercising early in the morning or at 5pm when I'm tired after work. I did some research and found a small, private gym that's walking distance from my work. I go over there every day on my lunch break. It's always quiet and I'm able to release some steam from the work day.

I also don't believe in deprivation, rather modification. For example, Barbara above mentioned a bagel and a Starbucks. If that's what you feel like, go for it, but maybe just eat half or scoop out the bready part of the bagel and use a low fat schmear. For a coffee drink get a small size and use soy milk (or my new favorite is green tea with honey). Substitutions and modifications have been SO important for me. I'm Italian and will never give up what I love. Even if I can't modify something I really, really want, I eat it anyways, but I try to fill up on healthy stuff before. I've also noticed the more I focus and taste my food, the less I need. It's more satisfying.

A lot of people don't really like Bethenny Frankel's book "Naturally Thin", but several things in there really resonated with me. I've mentioned it before in some other forums but I live by two of her commandments: 1. Your diet is your bank account, and 2. You can have it all, just not all at once.  I would say those 2 concepts have really helped change the way I eat and I love it because I never feel unsatisfied with my meals.

I think balance is absolutely the most crucial part to weight loss (at the very least it was to mine), but it's also definitely the hardest thing to master...It took me years to finally get to a place where I understood what this balancing act would look like for me. I promise though, once you're there it's the best feeling and you can't imagine going back to any other way of life.

thank you so much for this. . this is encouraging. lots of good advice here! 

laura

Original Post by aimsa:

Hey Mary Elizabeth. I actually just reached my goal last week. I'm 5'9" and went from 171 to 139 (goal weight was 140). It took me a little over 4 months and I would share pictures but I didn't think to take before pics! Ugh!

I did it by exercising daily and counting calories. I never thought I'd be able to do this on my own. I never exercised on my own before and I blamed it on me just not liking it. Even now I don't get those wonderful endorphins everyone talks about. But one day I was talking to my mom with diabetes type 1. I was telling her how I don't work out because I hate it and it makes me feel sick. She said, "Yeah, so do I but unfortunately it's just something I have to do for my health." That really struck me and that's how I think about it now. We all do things we don't want to do, but we have to. Exercise is one of them. 

The other thing that's really helped me is getting my portions under control and not feeling pressured to clean my plate. It also keeps me stocked with leftovers!

It won't be easy, but it's totally worth it. I'm now wearing a size 6 for the first time in who-knows-when and that makes me feel better than junk food ever did. 

Best of luck to you with your weight loss journey! You can definitely do it and you'll be so happy when you reach your goal. 

 Congrats!  That's awesome!  You definitely gave me a good bit of inspiration!  I used to be very active, thin person, but over the years stress, a sedentary job etc have caught up with me and I have just stopped exercizing and I'm clearly an emotional eater!  Your goal and starting weight are kind of similar to mine, so you've really given me a reminder that it IS possible!  :)  Thank you!

Aw you made my day and I think I'm blushing! It is totally possible and I'm sure you'll hit your goal also!!