Posts by lindsayanne

Just wanted to check in around these parts, so glad to see everyone doing well!

For the last month or two I've been jumping between 145 and 155. I've always been a fluctuator! For the past three weeks I've been a solid 145-147, which has me quite pleased. I have to give credit to the 30 Day Shred even though the principal of the workout goes against everything I have ever learned about exercise. I seriously feel like I'm betraying someone by flinging around my 8lb hand weights but results ARE results. I've got quite a bit of definition happening in the arms, legs and abs. The short bursts of cardio have also translated into an improvement in stamina during my runs. I'm finding I can run faster for longer.

I still have a few pounds of fat that I'd like to get rid of and wish I'd had my BF% measured at regular intervals. If I can end up around 140 with lower BF% I think I will be set.

I'm not sure how much this will help given that my weight loss process has been erratic, inconsistent and constantly changing but here goes...

Height: 5'10"

8/1/08: 195 (SW)

9/23/08: 180

10/30/08: 175 (SW on Calorie Count)

1/16/09: 159

2/17/09: 157 (Plateau began here)

5/26/09: 145

So, as you can see I got stuck somewhere around mid-February. Up until that point I had been a faithful calorie zig-zagger aiming to average 1800. I spent a fair amount of time at the gym where I would do about 30 to 60 minutes of cardio and a minimum of 30 minutes of strength training five days a week. In March I made a big move and started a new job, so weight loss was put on the back burner beginning then. In April I made a concerted effort to start counting calories again. Since then I've averaged 1600 calories a day and have been running about 3 miles every day. For strength training, I've been doing pilates, lunges, tons of push ups, squats, etc. I've been fluctuating between 145 and 150, which is quite normal for me. Throughout the journey I've eliminated all soda and most processed foods. My goal weight is 140. Sorry for being long winded!!

Mellisaann - I'm glad you've found my journey to be inspiring. I remember when I first found this group so many of the ladies became my greatest motivators through their own determination and progress.

To answer your question - I try to eat an average of 1800 calories, though I think a big part of my sucess has been the zig zag method, i.e. one day I'll have 1400, the next 1800, the next 1600, the next 2000, the next 1200, etc. Doing things that way gave me much greater flexibility if I had to plan for a special occasion or just felt like indulging in some M&Ms. I have to also thank my iPhone and the application I downloaded called Lose It!, which made it easy to log calories when I wasn't near a computer.

I wish you luck in your first ever pilates class. It can be overwhelming at times because you're like I'm supposed to do ALL of that at one time? But just pay attention to your body and how it is moving. The breathing, counting, and exact positions will come with practice and time. If you enjoy your class, I'd also suggest picking up a book for reference, that way you have illustrations and instructions to look over on your own time. Let me know if you have any other questions, I'd be more than happy to answer them!

No weigh in for me this past Friday since I was fearful of the effects of PMS but I've stuck more or less to my goal of 1600 cals, plus or minus 200 here and there. I have also managed to stick to my 1 hour morning dog walk/run despite the decline in temperature, 26 degrees to be precise. In other news, while I don't have a weight loss to report I slipped on a dress this morning that wouldn't zip in August but now has plenty of room everywhere.

I've also noticed that my nearly two year devotion to Pilates is beginning to payoff. I'm finally beginning to see the abs that I knew were under that flab all along!

Everyone -- great work on your continued accomplishments. Seeing your progress is certainly motivating me to stick with this lifestyle change.

Hi ladies, new member here if you'll take me! I've been following your thread for the last month or so and have been hugely inspired by everyone's amazing progress and figured now is as good a time as any to jump in.

I'm currently 5'10" and 175lbs with a large frame. I began actively trying to lose weight in June when I discovered I weighed 193lbs. My goal is to be at 150lbs for my birthday at the end of January.

I'll quickly recap my weight loss journey for anyone interested.

In high school, at 5'9" (apparently, I've grown) I maintained 160-165lbs quite effortlessly but went to college and gained the dreaded freshman 15 and then some. I magically, without much effort, lost that weight plus some left over from high school the summer after my freshman year. I returned to school in the fall for my sophomore year weighing in at 150lbs and consequently became gym obsessed and made it to a lean 140lbs. I maintained 140lbs for the next 3 years until magically, just as it had all began, my weight began creeping up and up.

Now, this may or may not have something to do with the fact that I work for a company that owns 50+ fast food and ice cream restaurants. Would you like to test your self-control, come work with me for a day! Add on constant travel and a boyfriend who prefers to eat out and you’ve got a pretty scary 55lbs.

I began weight watchers in June to help get me started and so that I could re-learn portions and nutritional values. Now that I am comfortable with making my own decisions outside of a plan, I’ve found calorie counting to be an easy way to stay on top of everything.  Now I am looking for a little encouragement and some accountability to keep my on track!

I’ve got some challenges, a recent break-up with the aforementioned boyfriend, being smack in the middle of buying my first home and my job that is stressful and requires long hours, but I am so excited to get back to my former self!