'Do it for you'. I agree!!!  Well done and congratulations on your progress!!!  XXX

Love the quote "I don't believe in relapses. If I ate a pizza - so I ate pizza... I'll make sure not to eat one tomorrow and make sure I hit the gym. I guess the answer would be balance." Thank you for that!

Awesome work!

I love your whole story, its awesome, especially, the not beliving in relapses and the person commented above me. It is about balance! Awesome awesome story to help motivate :)

Congratulations!

Way to go - Making healthy choices for a better life is a great goal. This kind of reminds me of "It's not what you're eating, It's what's Eating You"

When you're Happy-Laugh; When you're Sad-Cry; When you're hungry-Eat

Have Fun & Never Look Back

I really admire your healthy approach! I love the advice "Don't worry about messing up. Just un-mess it up." The truth of that hit home for me. I think I'll use that as my mantra. Thanks for the encouraging words! 

I love your advice "Don't worry abut messing up. Just un-mess it up." Well put. Congratulations to an amazing person! 

Congratulations! I really liked what you said about the relaps, I should to the same :D

Great job. I too love your whole story. The two statements that, as I can see for many others, hit home to me on were the following

• I don't believe in relapses. If I ate a pizza - so I ate pizza... I'll make sure not to eat one tomorrow and make sure I hit the gym. I guess the answer would be balance.

I love this, this is the quote that many of us will use when we are trying to explain what we mean by we can eat ANYTHING we want, we just have to be accountable for it. Perfect statement. The answer is balance.

• Don't worry about messing up. Just un-mess it up.

This quote goes along the same lines as the one before, when we "eat pizza" we are not messing up, we are living and therefore we can continue to live by just accounting for it and working harder in a workout or eating less calories so that we do not go over the total calorie intake for that day. 

You are an inspiration and the first male that I would like to request as a friend. Cheers to many more healthy, happy and "normal" years to come.

Jessica

First I want to say "congratulations to you on your successful lifestyle change journey."

Secondly:  "I don't believe in relapses. If I ate a pizza - so I ate pizza... I'll make sure not to eat one tomorrow and make sure I hit the gym. I guess the answer would be balance."

I love that quote and it is one I can personally attest to, as I thorougly enjoyed my prime rib steak yesterday; I walked five miles this morning.

Nicely said and done.  CONGRATS!  ou are an inspiration. 

Excellent work!! If I had been so wise at your age, I wouldn't have needed to be on this website. Congratulations on your success;)

• Do it for you.
• Don't worry about messing up. Just un-mess it up.
• Don't listen to people's advice, do what works for you.
• Use Calorie Count and all its great tools.
• Don't give up. Ever.

Great advice!  Persistence is the key, just keep working the program even if you have messed up for a day, week or month - be persistent and get back on the wagon.  I've now lost 65 pounds in 7 months since June 10, 2009, 17 to go.  I'm going to make it, I'm still showing up, I'm being persistent!

Very helpful advice considering how hard we can be on ourselves for messing up once in a while.

Congratulations and thanks for being an inspiration.

Congratulations! You are very inspiring! This goes to show that all the hard work definitely pays off. I love the "Don't worry about messing up. Just un-mess it up" perspecitive because I tend to "mess up" too.

Congrats to you! Were the last 15 pounds hard to lose for you?

What an inspiration! Your advice on relapsing "messing up" is spot-on. With that attitude, I see only good things for you.

This is so encouraging!  Refusing guilt for "messing up" and presenting it as an intentional choice to eat something, followed by an intentional choice to compensate for something is tremendous!  Thank you!!

Good job, Yey123!  Don't stop...keep going!

You look awesome!!! Are you single?  Thanks for sharing, it's always nice to hear from the male perspective too.

Good job.  I enjoyed reading  your story.  I cannot tell you how closely your story resembles mine.   I went to the beach a few months ago and was able to take my shirt off.  I know how you feel and appreciate someone else saying the same things.    I agree, calorie-counting combined with regular exercise is what does it.  And I agree with you on the slip-ups too.  I always remember what I heard one mentor say, 'when it happens, and it will, just do the next best thing.'

You said that you used food to drown your feelings, but then realized that you just felt worse afterwards.  I cannot agree more.  I have done the same thing, but have realized that I get about 5 minutes of satisfaction but then at least 4-hours of realizing that what I ate is going to turn to fat, and then feeling bad about myself.  My point is that the chemical effects may be different, but the psycological effects are the same as a drug addict when we use food as a mood-stabilizer.

Thank you for sharing.  One of these days I'll build up the nerve to do the same thing.

Your 5 tips are right on, brief, to the point. It is a valuable

message that I hear you sharing with us: Quit going on and on about

it and just DO IT. Do it for you.

Best advice ever!! Thank you!!

Great Advice and GREAT for you! Congratulations on your success! Thanks for the inspiration!

This is my second week with calorie count and your story is just the additional motivation I need to get this done. Thank you so much.

Great story, thank you for sharing. I'm so happy for you and your awesome success. 34 jeans...wow! That has to feel great.  I know this will help many others too. Have a fabulous day!

This is the best story and sound straightforward advice ive ever seen without all that extra gobbledygook i normally see on any site(not that those others arent any good - they just sound repetitive).

Thanks so much for posting this!

 Thank you all, best wishes.

Love your 5 tips!  'simple as that" Thanks!!

You are doing an awesome job! Don't beat yourself up..love that!! It is a matter of knowing that not every day is a *OOPS* day and allow yourself those fun things every now and then. Now if I can just stay away from those Starbucks and Caribou coffee Mochas!!!! Kudos to you for putting yourself first! I am still trying...

I agree that losing weight have to be a decision for you.  I used to live in FL, and I was VERY active in activities, so i never counted calories.. NOW I live in TX, and I have put on a good 40lbs. ( and I maybe in denial that is more..smile) 

I am getting married, but I decided to loose the weight for my health.  I will be in the magazine looking 35 going on 55..still active with my kids..happy to be healthy for my kids.

Congrats to you,Yey123

You made it! And it's no wonder, with that great mindset, and easy on yourself attitude. I am truly very happy for you!

That was the part that struck me the most, too!  What an inspiration!!  Way to go :)

Great story...so inspired!! 

WOOOOHOOOOOO way to go!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Great story and a great inpiration.  I have tasked myself with losing 50lbs.  I hope to be able to have the same type of testimony.

great story! inspiring! =D

wonderful!

I love reading how others have done it, doing exactly what I am doing for myself...hopefully someday I will get to my own goal of losing 100lbs. (CC tells me to lose 95, but an extra 5 wouldn't hurt!)

So far I am @ 47lbs. & counting...been here since last June. We all just keep doing our best, don't we? And you have done a phenomenal job!!

Kudos to you & many blessings...

Thanks for sharing your story. I especially like your "just un-messup" tip.  That is a great way to put it.

Dude, you look awesome! My goal is the same as yours, and i'm about halfway there. You encourage me! If you can do it, so can I!

What terrific commitment & determination.  YOu have inspired me to stay the course....and not get all bent out of shape if I mess up and eat something really "bad" or overeat...I just get back on the horse and start the ride over again...Congratulations!!  You deserve your current & future successes!!! 

Basically, I have the exact same story. I can honestly say that this works and it is the best way to lose weight and keep it off. It will turn your life around in a brilliant way. Way to go, Yey123!

cool, and congrats, i soo love tha 5 tips and the messin up part. and thank u for sharing ur story.

good on ya buddy.

but how long did it actually take to lose all that weight?

Just started a Diet/fitness program at work.  They are holding a team contest to see which team can lose the most weight between now and April.  My team the Bahama Mama's, total weight was 938 pounds for the 4 of us.  An average weight of 234.5 each.  (more than my real weight)  It seems my team is only there for the time away from their desks.  Does anyone have any suggestions for motivating them?   One of the girls already went to McDonald's, the other doesn't like the first girl, the last girl is complacent, if she loses ok, if not so what.  Some team huh?   I have always tried to lose by myself, with little to no luck.  I really thought this waould be a good thing.  Turns out I am the only one who cares.   Dog gone it! 

you were a great hit! great job. i have been on calorie court for 2 weeks and have lost 10 pounds. hope i can keep the positive mind set like you have!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! cc

I like  your attitude!!  Sounds like you're coping w/ food better now.  Food is my drug of choice too, but i'm getting under control now.  I realize that it wasn't making me feel better.  cant wait to see results like yours.