Girls in their 20's who want to lose about 100 pounds

Hi, my name is Suzanne and I am 23 years old. I weigh 258.3 pounds(yikes) and would really like to get down to between 140 and 150. I was wondering if there was anyone else out there in their 20's who has about that much they want to lose. We could work together and stay motivated to reach our goals!!! Also, if there is anyone in their 20's who has lost that much and wants to share their success story, I would love to hear it! Thanks!

Sonini, totally know what you mean, I started when I got over 300, that was just a scary number the 3 infront of my weight, to me really huge people were 300 lbs and more...obvioulsy I was very much one of them! So yes I can not believe I'm in the 220's a year later, and I hope I can continute on this path cos I have another wierd thought these days, now that I'm here...I'm still huge!! when I look in the mirror I still see lots of fat, and I am still about a size 20 so yes I have a long way to go still!!

It will be so sureal to be able to shop in regular stores, so far I think my platueas have not been self sabotage beacuse of those thoughts, they have just been normal, but its such a wierd thought. 

And watchme, I have no idea, I'm trying not too look at the end if you know what I mean, its too overwhelming, I'm looking at the moment to be under 200, don't really have a number or looks goal, I'll be more than happy with a 10, I don't need to be a single digit size, but for the time being I'll be happy with a 16 too :) and I have no idea what I weighed in school, I was big then too, so I have no idea scale wise what I'll look like when, I'm just going along.

Hi ladies!

Watchme, I'm totally playing it by ear as far as my end weight goal.  I've always been overweight so I don't really have any frame of reference as to what my body will look like at 160, 150, 140, 130lbs.  Size wise, I'd like to be a 10.  My bottom is so much bigger than my top, and sizes vary so much, that I'd just like to be able to find a pair of pants that fit wherever I go, even if I have to bump up to a size 12 in some stores.  Beyond that, I want to have a tummy that I don't mind showing off (I've declared 2009 the summer of the bikini for me!) and arms that don't have much jiggly fat on them (I hate waving to someone and feeling that flab waving with me!). I'd like my body fat percentage to be between 20-24% which is athletic - normal.  I say pick a starting point to work towards (like a weight), and from there decide how you want to progress.  Like I'm aiming for a healthy BMI right now (less than 150lbs for me), and after that, I'll decide if I want to put on muscle, or continue losing fat, or just maintain.

ally, you did NOT say bikini! i am so jealous of 2009 you! for me, there's a strong probability that even once i'm at my goal weight, i won't be shaped well enough in the midsection to rock a bikini, even though i really really really really really really want to. i say this b/c i've seen pix of girls who were shaped almost exactly like me who lost over a hundred pounds and still had the nasty belly roll. not to be mean, but this is one of them. my stomach looks exactly like that now, and it probably will in 80 lbs. but if you see her pix below, she has a smokin' body w/o the tummy exposed.

scroll to the bottom of the page to see a full body shot of her (and her midsection) at her goal weight. she and i are about the same height and age, so i think she's not too far off the mark of where i'll be around her weight.

hi ladies,

first of all, I never expect to see my butt in a bikini, Second of all congrats to all you that are thinking of it and I know you will reach your goal if it is what you want!

Secondly, I now have 4 job interviews in Cali, not just 2 but 4~! I'm very hopeful that I will be able to start my career by August 1st or a little after, I will keep you all updated!

As far as exercise and diet: I have not been exercising and so therefor I have cut my calories to like 1200, so far I find it easy to eat 1200 as long as I'm at home, lol..no temptation....When I go to California I'm going to try & take my own food, it will be a first for me but that's what I plan to do...Alright everyone! Keep up your good work!

Watchme, that's great that you can get the nutritionist covered.  A while back, one of my dr's suggested it but I wasn't interested at the time.  Unfortunately, I am one of those that does not in fact have insurance.  I'm self-employed and it's a bit out of our price range right now.  Really sucks.   And grats on finally dropping that stubborn pound!! But as to the size, there's no way possible I'll be a skinny size 0 or 2.  Just not in my frame.  Once I'm under 200, I'll probably take a look at my goal to see.  Right now I'm setting it to 180, but at the most, I want to be 165 (highest for a healthy BMI for me).  I think it'll just be once I get there, I'll have to see what I think is healthy.  And like Dalma, it's hard to know, since I was always overweight.

Safantasia, I'm with Pixie on this.  I too wish I had a personal trainer.  I think it's less of an issue now, but will be more so when I get smaller.  And what does he have you do that you lost 10 inches???

Pixie, I love stories like that.  And that black Dr. from Atlanta is a cutie.

Sonini, grats on getting back into working out!  I know anytime I slack and start up again, I like that pain/stiffness feeling.  Weird, I know.

Dalma, that page reminded me of something I've always wanted - I have always wanted to be able to buy a hot Halloween Costume!  And I'd like to have a bikini body but have my doubts just like you.  I started at a higher weight overall and my tummy doesn't look good at all.

Dalma, I don't know for sure that I'll be able to wear a bikini, I'm just hoping! Lol!  And actually from what I've heard, it's possible for just about anyone to get rid of the belly... When you lose weight you lose both fat and muscle ('cuz you need more muscle to haul around more weight, so as you lose, some of that muscle is broken down).  Lifting weights while you still have a calorie deficit speeds your metabolism and helps maintain your current muscle mass, so most of what you're losing is fat.  Ultimately it's body fat percentage that dictates whether or not you have a belly roll.  After hitting my goal weight, I bet an additional six months of a 100-200 calorie deficit combined with a good weight lifting program, and the belly would be gone.  But this is just what I've heard while lurking in the fitness forum... It could be that it won't work for everyone, but I'm hoping that it does!  I've wanted to wear a bikini my entire life, and I'll be damned if after losing 80ish lbs and working my butt off, I'm going to let some tummy issues hold me back!  I'm one determined chica when it comes to that, lol! :-)

Boots, congratulations on FOUR interviews!  You'll totally rock them, chica!  Have fun in Cali, and good luck with the good eating!  :-)

I too don't think I could ever have a bikini body, the skin on my stomach is already in very bad shape and I still have lots to go, I have a feeling I will be left with very exessive skin in that area byt the end of it.

Liz, like I mentioned its all the rotation, whatever I do he makes me rotate my waist from side to side...even if its bicep curles or crunches or step ups, whatever it is I'm always rotating and that action really shrunk my waist tremendously.

Good luck Boots.

Well ladies... I'm glad I'm not the only one who has these feelings about where I'm at and how weird it is. I definitely understand the feelings of attempted "sabbotage".  Whenever I fit into a smaller size I kind of think "Ok, I can slow down now and just enjoy this size for a while" I don't want to move too quickly... and I think that also has to do with not wanting to lose it too fast because I don't want all that excess skin. I don't think I'll ever naturally have a bikini body either... but I'm definitely planning to get surgery if I reach my goal weight and still have the excess skin. I'll be damned if I work this hard to have  a sexy body and my body won't do it. I guess I'm lucky though because I'm in Canada, and since I will have lost so much weight, I think I might be able to get some/all of it covered... woohoo! Obviously I'll look into this a little more when the time comes.... and even if I have to pay for it, I'll do it... I don't care how much it costs.

So I went for a bike ride tonight and then did some crunches... I think I'm definitely going to start doing some more biking. I don't think you realize how much you are actually burning when you are just riding a bike. Sure, it's not as good as the video I've been doing, but it's a nice break for the off days. I think I'm definitely going to have to join the exercise challenge next month... I really need to get more movement in my life.

boots - congrats on the interviews and good luck! 4 is definitely better than 2! More choice for when they all give you offers ;)

liza - oh, I'm totally loving the stiff/pain feeling too. It hurts so good!! lol

dalma - that is like my biggest fear. That I will lose all the weight I want/need to lose and that my stomach will still look like that *sigh*

safantasia - the thing that made me start was that 3 in front of my weight too... so scary! I definitely still feel huge... and I have no idea what I will look like once I get past, well, now actually lol, since I've been overweight my entire life. We must be on the same "curve" because I think I'll be a size 20 when I hit the 220's too.

watchme - I'm always amazed at how you can remember all of your weights! I seriously can't remember anything other than I was 180 in grade 8, and 250 in second year university lol. Everything in between is totally lost!

ally - I have every faith that you will be in a bikini next summer... you're rockin!

July Workout Challenge: 17.5 of 34 ..... I've been totally slacking on my workouts this month so I have 16.5 hours of workout to complete in 8 days.  Its totally doable.  I guess I'll be doing 2.5 hrs tomorrow, and 2 hrs for each of the remanding 7 days of the month.

Reminder to Myself:  Start reading at post 3525...

So here's my exercise for the month of July as it stands:  16/20.

Have a great night, ladies!

Edit:  I caught up on the reading now; just had to post the workout hours before the number vanished from my head...  I'm not good at remembering numbers like watchme!  Ally, I know you'll be in that bikini next summer.  I will be living vicariously through you though, because after earning all these stretch marks from pregnancy/extra weight, I will not put anyone through the pain of bearing them in public!  I do have faith that my mommy pooch will significantly decrease, but sadly, no bikinis for me.

Ok, so I saw a friend that I haven't seen for about a month and a half, and she asked if I had been losing weight.  When I told her I had, she said, "Yeah, I thought so.  A lot right?  I didn't want to come right out and say that you look like you've lost a lot of weight, but you have!"  Yeah!  I also had to buy some new pants/shorts about 2 weeks ago, and I still can't believe the sizes!  All 3 were from Target (Mossimo and Mizrahi... sp?).  Ready for this???  One was a size ten and two were twelves!  Talk about "knock me over with a feather" when they fit!  The only parts of my body that I still really want to change are my upper arms and my tummy.  All the rest are really pleasing to me!  I still have a goal weight that puts me right smack dab in the "healthy" BMI range, but honestly I'm not sure I'd push myself too hard just for that number.

Exercise challenge add 2.5 hrs...puts me at 32 of 40 hrs so far. Gosh, I'm not sure if I'll make it this month! Going camping this weekend at a friends house (anual campout for the camping club Shawn and I joined). So I'll be helping a friend get her house and everything else ready for the festivities. Setting up tables & chairs, getting food ready, setting up the games. This year is the first year we're having a themed party, hawaiian, so we'll have to decorate our campsite too. The doggies are coming with us, they're part of the group too! I know it all sound silly, but we have a lot of fun. Nothing but a bunch of friends that drink, play games, have bonfires, go camping together, cook together and just over all have a great time. Us younger people learn a lot from the older folks that are in the group, but sometimes those older folks act just as young as we are, so it makes it even more enjoyable.

I probably won't be able to get back on all weekend since I won't be home till Sunday. So I'll post my hours on Monday after the weekend is through. I'll try to peek in tonight before bed to see how everybody is doing, if I can. Have a great weekend everybody!

Shawn & I saw The Dark Knight for our 4 yr anniversary the other day, and I really want to see it again. For those who haven't seen it yet....you have to see it! It's really good.

Good morning everyone!

Sonini, I've been thinking about getting a bike and trying biking too... It sounds like tons of fun!  Way to go, chica! :-)

Souljah, I have faith in you!  You can totally reach your exercise goal this month! :-)

Mladdy, are you kidding me?  OMG, 10s and 12s?  You're freaking awesome!  Way to go, girl!  Good for you!!!!  I'm thinking it's time for you to post some new pics in your hot new smaller sizes!  Keep up the good work! :-)

Sweepie, your group sounds like so much fun!  I have to admit, I'm a little jealous; I love to camp and we haven't gotten a chance to go all year!  I'll have to live vicariously through you, so come back with lots of stories to share!  Have fun! :-)

*sigh*  I'm annoyed with myself.  I should be doing better than I am, but I've been kind of slacking off.  I haven't been working out NEARLY enough, and I definitely haven't been eating the way I should.  I think my main problem is that weight loss has dropped down on my priority list lately.  I want to spend time with the BF, but his place is 40 minutes away with no traffic, and over an hour away during rush hour.  I go out there probably 3-4 times a week, and I never work out before I go, because when I do work out after work and before heading to his place, I don't get out there until 8pm, and then we only have 2 or 3 hours to hang out before we get tired and have to go to bed.  Also, if I get out there at 8pm, that means eating dinner really late, which I shouldn't be doing either.  The eating is another part... I haven't figured out how to eat healthy with him.  He's a steak and potatoes kinda guy, and I'd feel weird sitting there eating a chicken breast and broccoli while he was eating his steak.  Also, I don't want him to feel like I'm pushing my nutritional values on him.  

On the days I don't go out to see him, I have to do all the things around the house that I used to spread out during the week, AND I want to spend time with my friends since I see them less now that I'm in a relationship.  All combined it means I'm not eating very well most of the time, I'm hardly ever working out, I'm not getting enough sleep and I'm consequently feeling like a slug.  I need to get my rear into gear, and I don't know how. :-( 

I'm feeling particularly pensive today (I think it's the effect of the Hurricane Dolly rain that we're getting, TOM, and not smoking all rolled into one), so I think I'm going to continue this train of thought in my journal for anyone that gets bored today and is somewhat interested... :-/

sonini, i just remember a few key weights.  i basically know at every point where i needed new clothes -- moving to america, that i gained a ton 2 years after the move before i started high school, starting college, college job, after law school, etc.  aside from the first HUGE weight gain from 1993-1995 of 80 some lbs, i have gained 10-15 lbs a year there on up through 2006 and that is when i decided to make the change.  so, where i'm fuzzy, i try to just estimate where i'm at.

moved from pakistan to america:  135 lbs (1993).  i had to buy a whole new "american" wardrobe and i was fitting into size 8s but my mom said my butt shouldn't be showing so much and that i should be dressing more modestly in longish shirts so i was wearing larges and size 10s when really i could have been wearing sizes 6-8 and sizes small-mediums.

1995 weight:  215 lbs.  just started high school and had gained a crapload of weight in just 2 years, wasn't having my periods right.  (pcos crap had started). went upto 235 by about 1997 but then got down to 215 lbs after learning that i had pcos.

1999 weight:  started college and was at 235 lbs again.  previously, wasn't really buying clothes in high school b/c i went to an all girls catholic school so we had uniforms but so i'm not THAT clear on the weights, just knew that i yo-yo'ed.

2001 weight:  got my first job after sophomore year of college and needed size 20 clothes and was at the low 250s (where i am right now).

2003 weight:  right before law school, upto 275, got down to 265ish.  needed new clothes for job.

2006 weight:  in the 320s after 2 more years of law school and MADE the change.

ally, i responded to your journal post.  i hope that my thoughts help.  i'm feeling low too (per my journal entry) about a ton of things, esp the boy thing.  i hope i can get on a losing streak again so that i start to feel more positive and hopeful about everything.  hope you feel better chica.  xoxo

dalma, you get me.  thanks.  that's all i wanted to say :)

everyone, signed up for the Y trainer.  will be going twice a week.  very excited.  took last night off from exercise to get a good night's sleep (like 10 hours!!) and have a lot of work to do this morning so i'm gonna get to that now.  will check in again later. 

ally I have the same goal lol bikini bye summer 2009 but i'm not sure if my body will be ready for it or not lol I hope so I plan to be 180 by 7-14-2009 I have big bones and I don't want to be skinny i just want to be smaller with a little meat so 180 is my goal and i also smoke and want to quit but i am doing one thing at a time after the weight then i will concur  the smoking  but good luck to you

EVERYONE WHO SAID NO BIKINI  girls keep positive I am you may have to do exercises to target that tummy but you will be able to wear a bikini even if not you can find a sexy bathing suit to totally rock that body lol confidences is the most important part of looking good in how you look and what you wear if you think sexy you'll be sexy

 

Original Post by eeyvdj:

EVERYONE WHO SAID NO BIKINI  girls keep positive I am you may have to do exercises to target that tummy but you will be able to wear a bikini even if not you can find a sexy bathing suit to totally rock that body lol confidences is the most important part of looking good in how you look and what you wear if you think sexy you'll be sexy

Hear, hear!

Busy day at work today - will try to check in later this afternoon, but you're all doing great - I'm semi-jealous! ;)

Hi everyone, 

I was just sitting here thinking about how hard all of this is and I just wanted to say thanks for the support you guys!  Boots, Danibelle, Watchme, and everyone else who had wonderful supportive comments when I was feeling down yesterday (day before?), thank you!  Ya'll rock! :-)

Eeyvdj, I had also planned on waiting to quit until I hit my goal weight, but since the BF is quitting, and I'd planned on quitting at some point anyway, I decided to just go for it.  I just wish I could hurry up and get back to the point where they smell gross and aren't even tempting any more.  I wish I could finish eating a meal and not immediately want to go outside to have one.  I wish I could see one in a movie without having a craving.  I started as a social smoker two years ago; I wouldn't even touch a pack unless I was out at the bar drinking with my friends.  I don't quite know how it became a permanent fixture in my life, but it did, and it's just annoying.  Beyond the fact that it's unhealthy and smelly and expensive, I'm annoyed that it has power over me.  I never really smoked during the workday, so it's not so bad from the time I wake  up until 5pm, but after that I used to smoke anywhere from 3 cigarettes to a whole pack (20) in just the evening hours (like 5-11pm) depending on what I was doing, and who I was hanging around with.  *sigh* I just want to be normal again! :-(  I'm really hoping I can keep with it this time (I've tried, though not seriously, twice before).  I've heard the first 3 days are the hardest, and so far I've made it through 1.5, so ask me Saturday/Sunday if I've managed to be smoke free...

Thanks again for the support ladies!  I love ya'll! :-)

Ally- I know you can resist!  Just think of those things as stale, old, crusty donuts.  Nobody wants a stale, old, crusty donut!  Get yourself some licorice sticks.  One or two of those after a meal will keep your mouth busy :)  Just save enough calories for 2 twizzlers every evening!

WARNING:  I'M ABOUT TO WHINE.

i'm feeling blue.  i need to drop faster.  i'm pissed at myself.  everyone has dropped faster than me!  i was at 287 in january and i'm at 255 now.  i've had 2 cheat days a month max and those have been at "maintenance" but for 4 days in the whole freaking year that haven't been.  i've exercised 20+ hours every single month.  i am pissed at my body.  it needs to let go of this fat NOW.  GRRRRR.  i'm offically exactly 70 lbs down now.  but UGH.  why does it have to take me so much longer????  255 to a size 14 feels like it's forever :(  according to my sister, it's at least 70 lbs away.  *sigh*

Ally: I can't remember the source, but I heard one time that it can take a person 7 to 8 times/tries before they quit smoking

Watchme: Whine, I think you are allowed to: let it all out---I think it's fine to whine so that way it keeps you from eating the wrong foods: I know if I were in your situation I would have ordered a large pizza by now (cause I'm an emotional eater) o'wait I did that on Sunday night----I give you props for sticking it out this long and I'm hoping with the help of a personal trainer that the weight will start to fall off, also with the help of your doctor/nutritionist...So Whine away!!!!!!!! We are here to listen......

As for me, I'm in a busy time applying for all these jobs and fixing to interviews, so I have no time to exercise and I'm on only eating 1200 calories , low carb: I'll let you know how it goes....Everyone else keep up the great work!

Mladdy, grats on all those sizes.  Someday I'll hopefully post the same sizes.

Ally, hubby is a steak and potatoes type of guy too.  And Cheese and Mac.  I cook whatever I’m going to have anyway, and he winds up picking a lot of the dinners for my cheat day.  Works for us.  But, sometimes, we’ll just make more than one thing and each do our own leftovers.  And what about lean cuts of pork?  There are some great manly man types of meals you can do with that too.  Or fish.  I think it’s more about the spices that go along with it that gets hubby to eat it.  Or, I’ll do a lower cal meat with a high cal side that I know he likes.  And a low cal side like rice with the meats he loves.  Just what works for us.  And besides, he know that I’m happier with myself when I’m sticking to these changes and kinda sucks it up some.  And can the 2 of you do things together to count as your exercise…haha, I mean in the going for walks together, biking together, etc.   And smoking...we’re all rooting for you!  And you’ll be able to do it.  If you can lose that much weight through perseverance, I know you can do that too even though it may even be harder. 

Watchme, I still think that’s amazing.  In my head the only weight I can come up with is 240-250.  I have no idea when this was.  Completely clueless.  But, I can remember certain items that I wore at certain ages or certain events.  Wonder if I fit in my wedding dress or if it’s too big or small…  Although, it had a corset back, so that’d help make it fit either way.  And I can totally get how much this sucks for you.  Like boots said, hopefully with the nutritionist and personal trainer combo, you’ll get through it.  And hey, maybe you’ll all of a sudden just drop pounds left and right to compensate for your struggle.

Eeyvdj, I think that’s what I’m doing.  Hoping that I’ll fit one nicely at some point but not ruling out the idea that it won’t ever happen.  I think it’s a way to protect myself emotionally if after all of this I have really saggy skin.  I’ve been big for sooooo long.  And not just a little big, a LOT big.  Dunno how my skin will respond even with lots of muscle and working out.

So, my favorite fruit is one of the most expensive.  How frustrating is that?  I can get them better priced at Sam's but I also know that the season for Raspberries is so short.  Oh well.  I've been wondering, what do I do in winter when some of the things I love are virtually impossible to get?