Beaming With Confidence
Long term Calorie Count Member Elfkittie22 has lost 87lbs and is thrilled with her new figure. She tells us that the key to her success was changing her attitude, removing unhealthy foods from her diet such as alcohol and incorporating exercise.
She contacted us through our Share Your Story feature and provided the following answers to our questionnaire.
1. What made you decide to lose weight this time?
I was a senior in college finishing up some requirements to graduate. At my school, two physical education classes are required. I decided to sign up for weight lifting and SCUBA. I thought that since I had to go lift weights 3 times per week anyway for class, I'd try counting calories as well "just to see what happened." I was also really tired of feeling bad about myself, and was starting to experience joint problems even though I was only 21 years old.
2. What other "diets" (programs, products, plans, or services) had you tried in the past?
I have been a member of Calorie Count for many years, so I have tried calorie counting (though not religiously) in addition to slim fast, Weight Watchers, Slimquick, extreme calorie reduction and detox diets.
3. What changes did you make to your usual diet, activity, lifestyle, and attitude?
I began very slowly with the changes. I didn't do any other exercise at first besides my weight lifting and SCUBA classes, but I began by simply counting calories. The first day I entered everything into Calorie Count I was amazed to see how much I was actually eating!
After that I gradually made other changes like adding some light walking, quitting drinking alcohol except for special occasions and limiting eating out to a maximum of 3 meals per week.
After I dropped the first 50 or so pounds I started doing the Couch to 5k running program. At first, I could barely handle one minute of running at a time. I huffed and puffed and struggled my way through each run.
The most important change that I made, and the reason I think I was successful at losing weight this time was my attitude. I was much more relaxed about things and less rigid in my food choices, which made it much easier to stick to. This helped me make sensible decisions, but still enjoy my life and the food I eat.
4. How did Calorie Count help you to lose weight?
I would never have been able to do this without Calorie Count. It has proved invaluable for me. I use it to look up and create recipes, see how many calories are in restaurant food before I go out, keep track of my daily calories in and calories out, and of course talk with other members who have become my friends.
The forums are an incredible tool and have been such a help. I can always ask a question or get some support if I am struggling with something, or I can give others advice in something I have been through. I spend most of my time on the thread "Girls in their 20's who want to lose about 100 pounds" in the motivation forum. Having people you are accountable to really helps you push through hard days.
5. What was most challenging about losing weight?
The plateaus! As I have gotten closer to my goal weight, I have been losing slower and slower, and sometimes I won't lose any weight for a month or more. It has taken me 6 months to lose 10 more pounds! It can be really frustrating and disheartening to make healthy choices, yet not see results on the scale. Sometimes it felt almost impossible to stay positive and keep exercising and counting calories.
Plateaus have taught me that I need to keep a variety going in my eating and exercise, and have proved to me that I will be able to maintain my weight once I am at goal. They are both a blessing and a curse!
6. How long did it take you to see results?
I lost about six pounds in my first month, but I also did measurements and discovered that I had lost almost 6 inches in the first month as well. People really started to notice when I had lost about 15-25 pounds.
Taking down my measurements and keeping track of them in my calorie count journal has also really helped me to visualize my results. I was amazed to discover that I have lost 10 inches in my hips, waist and chest since I began losing weight.
7. When did you realize that you were a success?
A pivotal moment for me was when I was at the gym and someone left out their dumbbells without putting them away. To be nice, I started moving them back where they belonged. I was struggling and out of breath by the end, when I realized that the dumbbell I had been lifting weighed 45 pounds, which was how much I had lost at that time. I was shocked. I could barely lift that much weight, and I had been carrying it around on my body for years! No wonder I was having joint pain and getting out of breath.
I realized I was a complete success when people began telling me that I inspired them and asking me for advice on how to lose their own weight. This has been both strange and exciting for me, and I take it as a huge compliment when I can inspire others. It really makes me feel good, and happy that I can help other people.
8. How do you prevent relapse?
I keep my pair of jeans that I wore at 255 pounds and try them on occasionally. It is a huge eye opener to see how big those jeans really are and how much my body has changed. It reminds me of how far I've come and helps me put things in perspective.
I also keep logging! I only take a day off occasionally for special occasions; otherwise I am diligent about it!
9. How has your life changed now that you've lost weight?
My life has done a complete 180. My joint pain has disappeared, I can now run 25 minutes at a time, climb stairs without having to take a break and my confidence has gone through the roof.
I now call myself a runner, which is still strange to me since I have always hated running. I am still working on my speed, but I really do love getting out and hitting the pavement. I love various types of exercise including: weight lifting, swimming, tae bo, dancing and of course running. Getting out and moving really makes me feel great. I am finally comfortable in my own skin, and I am much more outgoing than I used to be. I love having my picture taken; I get flirted with by strangers at the grocery store and I feel awesome about myself! I am not worried about dancing in public and I actually like getting dolled up now! I have really come a long way. Along with the 87 pounds I have lost so far, I have also shed many of my insecurities.
10. What five tips do you have for other dieters?
- Use measuring cups and smaller plates, bowls and eating utensils. I have really become aware of my portion sizes, and measuring cups are the best way for me to really know how much I'm eating. A smaller fork or spoon helps me eat slower, and clearing a smaller plate makes me feel more satisfied without eating as much.
- Give yourself a bit of tough love and STOP making excuses! This is something I really embraced, because excuses are what caused me to put on 100 pounds of excess weight. Excuses only stand in the way of what you can achieve.
- Find a workout you enjoy! If you are having a blast, then it doesn't feel like "exercise." Go biking with friends, play with the dog or go dancing! Whatever gets you moving. It is so much easier to stick with an exercise if you like doing it.
- Don't beat yourself up if you mess up one day. In the grand scheme of things, one day doesn't mean much. One day of overeating or missing the gym will NOT cause the end of the world, and will not cause you to put all your weight back on. This is real life people, and no one is perfect! Take your oopsie day with a grain of salt and move on.
- Cut out alcohol. This one was a big challenge for me, because let's face it, drinking is fun. I realized, however, that it isn't worth it. Alcohol is empty calories that alters your ability to control yourself. For me, this resulted in late night fast food binges and an upset stomach the next day. I am not saying stop drinking completely, but bring it down to a "once in a while" thing instead of say nightly or even weekly. I only drink 2-3 nights per month and can have a perfectly awesome time with no alcohol!
If you would like us to feature your success story, you can submit it here. The most insightful stories will be featured on this blog and in the weekly "Success Stories" newsletter.
Comments
Your story is amazing and I totally agree, very inspirational. 
Especially the part where you just kept on going, even when it didn't seem like you were getting anywhere towards the end of your goal. I hope to accomplish what you have in the way of attitude and confidence. Well done! 
You are an inspiration! I love your line "Excuses only stand in the way of what you can achieve." So true and so many facets of life. Congratulations!
Shelia,
You are just beautiful. You look like a different person. I guess that you are! What an inspirational story. How lovely that you can help other people now. What a gift to other people that are struggling with weight (like me). Your information on alchohol consumption hit home with me. Yup. Cut way down. When I drink, I eat. Thanks for your great story. My best to you.
WOW!!! You look great!!! You are the evidence that we are able to do as much as we let to our own minds (for you it seems that there is no limit)! I really admire you a lot! I was able to loose weight but only with personal trainer... somebody has to push me to do that! 
I am very determined also, but your determination is amazing!!! to do it all by yourself... CONGRATULATIONS!!!
Great job! I know how it is to change your life style. I would love to talk more with you about your success and what you did. i weight 251 lbs and I want and need to loose a 100 lbs but I can't seem to get started. My email is rujane2001@yahoo.com
elfkittie, I've actually written to you before because I found your story inspiring and similar, especially the plateaus at the same time mine were. I know I've said it before, but you've done such an amazing job and at such a young age. Imagine if you waited another decade to do it like I did? You have such a great opportunity now, I am so thrilled for you and am so happy you stuck to it to lose the last 10 lbs in the last six months, I know it's just as hard an accomplishment as the first 75+ lbs. You should congratulate yourself every single day for all that you've done and succeeded.
oh, and I know I've commented on how stupendous you look now (including the hair (you're rocking it!), but I must say from your before and after pics, that your complexion and skin have definitely improved as well. I know healthy eating & lifestyle have done that for me too.
as for running, I've never mentioned this before but the biggest help for me has been some advice I heard years ago and only remembered recently. It's only mental but somehow it has a huge physical effect. I hate running and feel like I'm pushing myself to do it, forced to head forward. Instead, picture a rope being pulled from your chest, that you're being pulled forward instead of pushing yourself. I can't explain it, but it makes me feel lighter and my steps become quicker and farther since they feel like they're being pulled forward as well instead of pushing off.
good luck in all you do, your outside beauty now matches the inner beauty that shows even through the internet! lol What a beautiful swan you have become!
:) congratulations!!!!
And thanks for the advices!! they are really usefull!
I like the one of the alcohol, i already quit that!
Is amazing how many calories you drink in one night, and is not worth it !!!
I now go out and prefer a limonate or a diet soda... they are still calories.. but less!!!! and they keep you bussy!!
Amazing! I love success stories. I wish you all the best in maintaining your healthy way of living for life! You look great!http://fullbodytransformation.wordpress.com/
Just the article to read on the day I get back to it! Thank you!! You look great and sounds like your attitude is right on track to keep it off. Way to go!
WOW!!!!!!!!!!! You look amazing. Congratulations. I think your story is great, as soon as you started moving and eating healthy you started seeing the results. Keep up the great work. I too find journaling, logging, weighing, measuring and trying on my old pants makes me see how far I have come and wanting to maintain it forever. It is VERY true about the alcohol, I cut it out (except rare social events) instead of nightly or weekly and saw huge results. Now that I am drinking again on the weekends, I find my food choices are bad and its hard to maintain. I will be cutting out the alcohol again too. Thanks for the reminder!
Beautiful!!!! Amazing transformation!
Amazing! You look stunning! I hope you are proud as you should be!! Congrats.
YEah for you! Way to go!
I have discovered running like you did and its great!
Love your measuring cup tip! I get laughed at during dinner when I measure my stuff out that way, but it really does open your eyes to portion sizes!
Chris
(110 pounds down in 2010 - see my profile for blog link)
WOW you look amazing and this story was so inspiring! No more excuses for me! I just have to do it. Thanks so much for sharing!
Of all the success stories I've read I truly enjoyed yours the most! First of all a big congrats, second of all I can relate and I am so happy to have read your story becuase you have confirmed some of my doubts. As a returning runner after many years of laziness, I feel glad that I read your story because you are proof that running, eating right will work in the long run. Thank you for giving me the confidence to keep going. I have 30 lbs to lose and now I feel much better about my approach. Running, calorie counting and just generally being more active and facing it with a smile!
Congrats!!! You story is really inspiring! Thanks for sharing your tips with us =)
Totally sensible account and I do agree that you look fantastic. I have only lost 19lbs and am now 10st (140lbs) and 5'6" and cannot really get any more off. I am mid-50's and I don't do much exercise although I walk the dog at weekends and occasionally go hill walking and often cycle to work. So I think I have reached a plateau.
I too found that massively reducing casual alcohol has helped a lot, daily weighing and counting calories for breakfast and lunch say (250 plus 350 then eating whatever) for a meal in the evening worked well for a while.
Weekends are always more difficult as my husband has one of those matabolisms where he can eat several meals a day and stays stick thin with minimal exercise and has low cholesterol too. I choose lower calorie choices in restaurants, avoid deserts more often and stick to avoiding alcohol 5 days out of seven and not much on the other two but I am always playing catch up when back at work on Monday to Friday.
Now I am still sticking to around 1600-1800 calories a day 5 days a week, but I know that nothing is going to happen without exercise which I only enjoy when I am going somewhere - so long walks is ok.
100 %. I also lost a lot of weight the same way and have finished my scuba at Blackbeards this month. Life just gets better and the weight loss makes life wonderful. Good work, John
Thank you so much everyone! I really appreciate the compliments, and knowing that my story is inspirational really means a lot to me. I just wanted you all to know that despite the frustrations, this is possible with a bit of motivation and effort!
Excellent!! Informative and inspiring. A job well done, elfkittie22.
Thank you for sharing your frustration with your plateaus. I think that is the most frustrating for all of us. The last time I hit a plateau and did not lost any weight for a week, I too, quickly changed some things in my diet, and voila!!
I have found that what will slow down my weight loss faster than anything, is not drinking enough water; and also not eating enough veggies. My secret weapon is Kale.....lol
All I do is sautee it (with less than 1/2 teaspoon of oil) fresh garlic or garlic powder -- for less than 2 minutes to keep its texture and fiber. The more I eat -- the more I lose...lol
Wow, congratulations! You look fantastic!
I'm going to add this page to my favourites. I've been trying to lose weight for YEARS, and each time I lose hope and motivation, and end up fatter than before.
Your before and after pics are really inspirational, too. Thank you!
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You look great! Congratulations!