How far have you come and what's the best part?

Hello All!  I have lost 51 pounds on my current plan (and 71 since my all time high weight) and still have another 19 pounds to go until my goal weight.  I find myself getting frustrated because I'm so close, yet so far.  It's easy at those times to lose sight of just how far I have actually come!  I would love to hear about others' successes with weight loss in hopes that we can all inspire each other to keep going and feel great about what we've done already.

The best part of weight loss for me has been just feeling more comfortable in my own skin.  A close second would have to be being able to go shopping and not immediately reach to the very back of the rack in hopes that there's a size 16 I might be able to squeeze into.  Now I wear a size 10 and can shop almost anywhere I want!

So, I'd love to know....how far have you come and what's been the best part?

I have just started my lifestyle change (3 weeks) and have not really noted a weight-loss yet...but my clothes are already starting to fit differently and my energy is increasing. I just happened to be browsing the posts and came across yours. You should be so proud of how much you have accomplished! I am inspired by your post and will hopefully read about you reaching your goal in the near future!

Congratulations on coming so far!

Keep it up Mommasherwood!!  The clothes fitting and the energy level is just going to get better and better as you go!  The first month or so was always the hardest part for me, but once you plow through it, you really start to get used to the lifestyle and as the scale drops, it gets easier and easier to keep it up!

So far I've lost 25 pounds (about 30 since my all-time high), from 150 to 125. The best part has definitely been the clothes--I enjoy picking out clothes instead of dreading it, and I feel like I look good in things instead of just looking passable. I flaunt my body more instead of trying to find things that hide it. I went from a size 9/11 (usually an 11, which is big for someone who is only 5'2) to a size 5. This summer is the first time I've worn shorts in...god, probably four or five summers. And I'm only about five pounds away from my goal weight!

i am 93 kilos now, went from around 120, and my goal weight is 61 kilos. so i am near the middle of the journey... and it feels good!

I went from 220 to 188 (current).  I just recently bought all new clothes since all my old clothes don't fit me anymore.  It was fun buying clothes that looked good on me rather than ones that covered my gut.  I went from a 36" waist to a 33" (I'm 6'2").  Looking to loose a few more before I try and build more muscle again.

I'm happily married, but it still nice to get the flirty smile every once and a while from a random stranger to tell you that you've made a difference.  And I get a different kind of smile from my wife !

Thanks damsell300, I appreciate your encouragement.  I think my biggest hurdle is finding time to exercise with 2 small children and a full-time job.

I have been mostly walking in the evenings after my husband gets home from work.  I have resistant bands and light free-weights as well.

I hope one day to post success like all those who have posted so far today!

I have a long way to go and will try and remain patient...I plan to lose the weight the right way this time and not with any fad diets or pills.

It's great to read about your successes...may you continue on!

Carolynn

Momma - You're going up against a lot more then I am!  I am engaged, with no kids and in graduate school full time.  I do a lot of school work but am lucky and don't have to work so I can focus on school full time. 

My mother lost a lost of weight while my brother and I both lived in the house and she did it mostly by diet.  She did the Atkins diet, which she was able to maintain for a few years, until she started eating carbs again!  All she did for exercise was take long walks in the mornings or evenings!  A strict diet will go a long way!  Good Luck!

Congrats damsell!!!  That's fantastic and you should be proud :)  You're great motivation for the rest of us.

In 3 months I have lost over 30lbs, mainly through changing my eating habits.  I'd say that I can see the biggest change in  my clothing.  My jeans used to fit rather tightly and now I can slip them on without unbuttoning them!  I really should buy better-fitting clothes, but I'm still losing weight so I'm holding off :)  Instead I repeatedly put them in the dryer to shrink them down a bit haha!

My next goal (besides continuing the weight loss) is to incorporate more exercise.  I HATE to work out.  I'd rather cut down on calories eaten than work out.  I know the benefits, but it's hard to get motivated.  I don't find it fun.  I have a little stairstepper machine that gets old after a while.  And I have very little time.  Anybody have any tips??? 

I started my journey Jan 27, 2008 at 277 pounds and i'm currently at 230.8. I've lost 46.8 pounds.

The best part is knowing once i lose the weight it will be gone because i'm changing my lifestyle not dieting.

started at about 200lbs the beginning of this year and have gotten down to 185...had a set back and now at 187 so i'd say "about" 15. i still have another 25 go and i look forward to dropping another pants size and getting in the 170s and also losing 3 - 4 inches off of my waist. also starting to do strength (spell check)  training so i can tone and get definition all over

my main thing is to not let myself get sidetracked once i have gotten to a certain point and start feeling like i can pick up old/bad habits which is exactly my problem now. but i'm back and going harder than ever so i'm so confident that i will reach my goal and inspire/motivate others around to do the same

I started (again) at 317.5 lbs on january 14, 2008. My highest weight, a few years ago, was 340 or so. I lost 70 lbs before "falling off the wagon" and regaining nearly 50 lbs.

Now, I am almost back to where I left off two years ago, in fact am only 3 lbs away from breaking past and moving into uncharted territory.

The best part has been feeling in control for the first ime in my life. It is incredibly empowering to have a plan, see the results of that plan, and know that it's sustainable for life. There is no more wagon for me to fall off of...I really don't know what was more disheartening, being off the wagon or on the wagon...but now there is NO wagon, and I am relieved to not have the constant worry of "messing up" and going back to my old ways. This weekend I even ate bacon (!!!) and have no guilt, no worry I've messed up or will lose control again, just the simple knowledge that I do things differently now and always will. I think releasing myself from all the guilt and emotionality attached to eating has been a big part of my success, and the best part of my weight loss. I feel better about myself...not only can i do it, I AM doing it!

I've lost somewhere between 55 - 60 lbs (from around 185 down to 128-132).  Hard to say with current weight fluctuations, and an estimate as a starting weight.  Anyway.

There are tons of good things, but to me, it's being a normal healthy person.  This means I don't have to worry about whether or not I'll be able to fit into something, or sit on something, or if I'll be able to do something.  I don't mean to say that I can necessarily do all these things, but now if I can't, it isn't another devastating reminder that I am overweight.  If I can't fit into a t-shirt, it isn't because I am too big, it's because the t-shirt is too small.  Which may have always been the case, but it didn't feel like it.

Also, at this point in the game, it doesn't really matter to me if I lose anymore weight.  I'm very fit and healthy (good bloodwork, low resting heart rate and blood pressure, low bodyfat, etc.), so there is no reason to go any further except a little personal challenge, and vanity, haha.

Wow, can I just say how inspiring ALL of you are? 

Damsell, you came here looking for inspiration, but I found your post very inspirational.  I have about the same number of LBs to lose as you (although you are much further along than me) and it gives me so much hope!  Congrats on your success.  You will get where you want to be eventually and I'm thrilled for you.

As for me from top weight (pregnancy 265, post baby 235), I am now down to 206, so about 29 pounds).  I am just thrilled and dedicated to get out of the 200 after going on 3+ years.  I am now down to my pre-pregnancy weight and working on getting rid of my post married weight.  My lowest was 170 a long time ago, in college, but my goal is 140.

You all are great inspiration and wonderful successes, keep it up.

 

kata61882,

Think of what you like doing, like dancing, walking outside with some music, swimming.  Then find a video like Turbo Jam, or Budokon (mixture of Yoga and Martial arts) or Biggest loser.  Get a few to change it up.  Use  those 1-2 times a week and maybe just walk 1-2 times a week.  Don't go over board to fast, then you will get over worked and not want to keep going.  If you don't workout now, just do 1-2 things per week and gradually add more time or more days and so on. 

I started out with 2 days a week at 30 minutes, then added another day of 30 minutes, then added some time to those 3 days, now I am up to after 5 months doing 5-6 days a week at 45-90 minutes per day.  And they are never the same.  I walk once a week, run 2 times a week, do a video 2-3 times a week and do the elliptical 2 times a week.  I also am starting to do more strength training.

 

victoriagirl,

WOW good for you.  You looked great at 275.  And your amazing for doing it again.  I joined Weight watchers to figure out what I have been doing wrong, and the one thing that I think is important is that we don't limit our foods.  This is a LIFE LONG journey not a diet.  So if you want bacon eat some just not what you normally would eat. Like I would normally eat maybe 7-10 pieces, now I eat 2-3.   I can still enjoy them, just be wise about how much.  It looks like you are doing just that.  So keep it up.  Love your attitude.

I started at 300, and have lost 70lbs, eventhough I still have a way to go from 229, I feel so much more energetic, that is the best thing I've noticed, and am hoping it just gets better!

I started at 170 pounds last fall and ended at my goal weight of 135 pounds in February. I have been maintaining ever since.

My huge reward was going on vacation a couple of weeks ago in Florida with some friends. I wore shorts (which I haven't done since high school) and felt comfortable enough to walk around in a skimpy bathing suit.

The best part is that for the first time in years, I feel like me again.

Congratulations to everyone for your continued success!

Edit - didn't realize I went this long... Hope it helps someone tho...

You guys are great! Keep up the good work. Such a motivating thread.

Well here's my story: I hit 222 about 7-8 years ago. My wife and I both rejoined Weight Watchers (I'm a lifetime member from 1st try at lifestyle change some 30 years ago, been at WW goal twice) and she lost 55 lbs and has kept it off. I lost 20 and plateaued for years. Found CC mid 2006 and got down under 190 and plateaued again! I oscillated between 183 and 193 or so until last Dec where I returned to basic WW weigh and measure and finally broke 180. Am down to 172.2 with initial goal being WW goal of 166. Second goal is military/marriage weight of 155. However my Wii Fit tells me the best weight for me is 136 to have a BMI of 22. I haven't been that low since I was an early teenager. Might make it if I continue slow and steady weight loss. At my age (61) it gets harder and harder, especially with my drug regimen. I can't seem to burn more than 4 calories/min when I exercise and my BMR is 1800 cal/day. With a min cal limit of 1500 for men that doesn't give me much of a cal deficit with which to play with. Not bad from a slow/steady weight loss perspective which means a supportable life style change. Besides all the exercise I've been doing for the last 8 years helped me avoid damage when I had a heart attack in March!

My huge reward, besides a no damage heart attack has been feeling better about myself, having ever more energy and getting into smaller clothes. In the last few months I've gone from tight fitting 38 size pants, into loose fitting 36 and heading for 34's (not buying to many 36's). It was great when I gave away all of my 38 size pants to a "growing" friend (at the same time encouraging him to loose some so he could pass them on to someone else!). An even better reward was when my wife noticed that my shirts were hanging on me and we both realized that I had gone from a large shirt to a medium. We went to Banana Republic and verified that I can fit and look good in a BR medium T shirt! BR sizes are generally on the smaller side. I was so excited I wanted to shout. Its how I felt the first time I got into a pair of BR size 38 jeans! I can't wait to fit into some 34's.

My goal is to loose about .5-1 lb/week so that this is really and truly a lifestyle change. Both times I lost on WW (30 lbs the first time, 50 the second) I did it fast and without exercising. CC has been a big help, as is everyone I've come in contact on this site. My wife knows how obsessive I've become with looking at labels. Because of my medical problems I have to count not only calories, but sugars to keep triglycerides down, and since the heart attack have to keep sodium down as well. That eliminates a ton of prepared food from my lifestyle (don't want to say diet...) but it is doable.

The best part - I feel like this is the best time of my life!

Lets keep it up folks!

Congratulations to everyone and good luck with continued weight-loss!

I've lost 38lbs since 31st Nov 2007. I had lost around 16lbs before that but over a year or so - so in total 54lbs. I am now nearing my goal - 2.5lbs remaining and I will be there. I may continue a little further but I'll wait to reach my current target first though.

Going from being Obese to normal feels amazing and the benefits are worth all the hard work over the last 6 months. For me it is all about changing my lifestyle. Currently I'm eating the way I want to from now on, except I have the usual deficit to lose weight. Once I start maintaining it will simply be more of the same.

I'm so glad there are so many others on the same journey. Bon voyage!

I've lost 92 pounds in the 9 months that I've been doing this. I freak out whenever I try my old clothes on, and everytime I look at old pictures of myself. It feels good going from 240 pounds to 148 pounds

:)

Well now, I started out about 18 months ago at around 650, and now I'm 350.  So about 300 pounds so far, with another 50-100 to go.

The things I like best??  I have to start with still being alive!!  And then work to how much better my mobility is now, and that almost all my asthma symptoms have resided.  And simply my all around physical well being.

Then there are the clothes.  i went from a 12X to where I am now wearing 2x and 3x stuff.  Being able to go places without worrying if I'll break the chairs, let alone fit in one.  Getting myself back out in the world, and not feeling like some sort of freak.  Well, most of the time anyway. 

And then there are the new friends that have helped me along the journey.  many of which are right here on CC.  I had been self isolated for so long I really didn't know how to get back in the world, but with a little help from my friends, I am back in the game.

Simply enjoying life!!