Looking for Inspiration--Anbody Lost 50 Pounds or More??

Hi All,

I'm in this for the duration.  I started at 284, and am down to 245.  39 pounds have taken a hike, but I'm a loooong way to go to my goal of 150.  So . . . .

I know that a lot of you are--or were--in the same boat, and I'd just like to hear a little from anyone who has lost 50 pounds or more.

How did you do it?  Are you near your final goal weight?  Did you hit many plateaus (I'm on one now)?  What is the biggest change in your life that has come with losing weight?  What has been your "best" weight loss moment?  Your most "frustrating"?

I'm just looking for a bit of inspiration and motivation, if you're willing to tell your story! 

Thanks!  :D

I haven't lost that kind of weight.. 'only' 35 lbs.. but finewine has.. and Lady O has! :D

I passed my 50 lb mark this week! I've still got 77 left to go, but it's pretty cool to go to the gym and barely be able to lift those 50 lb weights, knowing that's what I used to be carrying around!

I've been working on this for over a year, so it's be vvvvveeeeeerrrrryyyyyyy slow. But I've had a lot of bad habits to break and time to retrain myself. I'll have to think about my best and most frustrating moments...it's all been quite a journey! A lot of it has been support from friends and family, and not being afraid of dealing with the emotional stuff too.

We have the same goal, by the way!

thanks, hk, I knew about obs and finewine (hope they'll respond! :D).  Trust me, though, 35 is GREAT!!  And, like you, I'm stuck in the 30-something plateau zone.  Blech!!  Hang in there--I KNOW we'll get offa there soon!!  *writestuff flexes her iron fist as the nasty plateau laughs*

kirs10, I had no idea you passed 50 and have the same goal!!  Whoo hoo!  That's so inspiring!  Sometimes, even though I know it will take months (years, honestly) to get where I want to be, I just want to be there right now.  You're such a great example, though, of patience!!  *writestuff dances around, singing "I wanna be like kirs10 . . .*  Seriously, though, I've read some of your posts and you have such a great attitude.  I'm trying but do get frustrated.  That's one reason I posted the question--I don't want to dwell on the frustration, and I DO want to be positive, stay motivated, and talk with other people who will understand this whole lifestyle change thing!  :D

Thank you! :) I do so love praise!

I just added you as a friend, which is one of the things that has helped tremendously. And to answer some of your questions...

Plateaus...heavens yes! I moved last August and basically plateaued until February! It was ridiculous and frustrating, and sometimes I go back and read my journal and cringe. But I got through it by getting re-motivated and being consistent. I didn't consistently monitor my nutrition until February on C-C, and since then, another 25 lbs! Just be patient and know that the changes you are making are for more than just weight loss.

Biggest change...confidence! People I've known for years can see such a difference in the way I carry myself, the way I approach people, the way I feel about myself. It feels phenomenal, and I know it will only get better!

Best weight loss moment...every single time I step on the scale and it goes down. Being able to put a pair of old jeans on over a pair I was wearing and still have about 3 inches of give was pretty nice too!

I'm sure you'll do great! :)

Hi Writestuff,  I've been on my weightloss journey for a little over a year now.  I started at 260 and I'm now at about 186 so I have about a 74lb weight loss.  I still want to loose about 46 more though.   The journey has been the toughest thing I have ever done but also the best thing I could do for myself.  There have been days when I've felt so great about myself and days when I can't even look at myself in the mirror because I feel terrible.  I've had 3mouth plateau and I've even "quit" a couple of times.   You just got to believe in yourself and know that THIS works and that there will be an end "someday".   I have no where been close to the perfect calorie counter or exerciser but I just never give up, I know I could have lost more in this time if I was more strict but this is my life and I have to live it, so if there is a birthday party or wedding ...I eat and don't feel guilty about it.  I just get back on the next day and forget it happened.   I feel great about my weight loss and I love being able to find clothes that I actually like and think look decent on me but I still get frustrated about every week and just want it to be over. I still get angry that I let myself get that overweight and I still hate that I can't eat like "others" but I know this is what I have to continue you to do to be healthy and live the life that I want.   

So congratulations on your loss so far, you've made a huge step.  I can't tell you it gets easy but maybe a little easier, but just remember that it will all be worth it and believe it!

Thanks kirs10, for sharing all of that!  Real examples like yours, rather than just hearing from my doctor that "it is possible," make such a difference!!  :)  I'm going to add you as a friend, too! 

Wow, grissy, you've done so well!!!!  That's so amazing!  I'm sorry you get frustrated and want everything to speed up, but I sure do know how that is.  Patience--UGH--is so hard for me sometimes!!  You're another great example, though.  May I enter you as a friend, too?

What sort of calorie range and percentages for fat/protein/carbs do you each have?  Have you increased or decreased any of that as you've lost?  Just curious. . .

I try to keep my calories between 1300-1400, but once or twice a week I bump it up to 1600-1700. I shoot for about 25% fat, 35% protein and 40% carbs, but usually end up with 20/30/50. Not too bad, though. It has been the goal all along, but just recently have I gotten closer to actually doing it! :)

*raises hand*

I've lost 61lbs. I hit a wicked plateau in May until I upped my calories from 1250  to 1450.

More recently I upped my calories again to 1500-1600, mainly because I've changed up my exercise to challenge myself more. more walking, more weight training, and yesterday I jogged. lol

4lbs to go till goal weight. but more importantly, 1/4" to goal measurements. ^_^

I ususally try to stay around 1200-1300 a day but on Sundays I'm usually higher because we have dinner with my husbands family and it's really hard to be good.   I try not to worry about my percentages too much and just eat foods that I know are healthy.  I love fruit so if my carbs are too high I know it's from that and don't worry about it. 

and yes you can enter me as a friend...you'd be my first, I'm kinda quiet on here but I read daily

Writestuff I saw that you live somewhere in the midwest.  I'm in Omaha Ne....are you anywhere close?? 

thanks, grissy, that's great!  I hope you'll speak up more--or at least stop by my journal and say hi every now and then.  You're really doing well!

Choco (good name! :D), 61 pounds??  That's wonderful, and it is fantastic that you're so close to your goal!!  I'm glad to hear about upping the calories.  That's what I've done a couple of days to shake up the scale (I'm usually eating at or just below 1500 or so), and it seems to work.  Since I'm sorta stuck on a plateau and feeling a little sick, I think I'm going to try to up today's total to 1650 or so and have some extra protein and fruit.  I tend to go a little short on those.  

There are so many exciting "big losers" (I mean that in a 100% positive weight loss kinda way ONLY!) on this site.  I hope others will respond . . .

choco, i didn't know you had lost so much! You look A-M-A-Z-I-N-G!

i was going to sneak you onto my friends list, but i think you mentioned something about me owing you...maybe not. :)

nope, grissy, I'm in Iowa on the Mississippi River. 

choco--wait a minute.  did you say "jogged"??  I hope to jog someday, but for right now, the only way I'd do it is if some scary guy (or girl) was chasing me with a gun.  I've got too much "jiggle" potential to jog at this point.  haha!  Good for you, though! 

This is great! There is so much motivation in the air!!! ;) I'm adding you all to my friend's list... if that's okay? ;)

I've always had trouble with dieting because I'm not sure what I'm suppose to be eating. I try to eat at much greens and fruits as possible in replacement for fatty snacks. What are your diets and what do you do when you crave for something? I once read that you drink cold water because most of time when you?re hungry, you?re just dehydrated. I?ve been really good. I have not drunk pop in about two ?three months now.  My weakest strength is controlling the amount of carbohydrates I take. I?m Asian and I LOVE rice. I grew up eating rice for every meal. I?m serious. I could eat rice with everything?well not everything.

I would really appreciate your response.

I started in January and have lost 94 lbs so far.  I ran into a few snags along the way, but nothing prolonged.  Right now, I'm actually at the same weight I was at this time last month...but that's because I went on vacation, pigged out, and gained 5 lbs.  I've just recently finally gotten THAT off (and have stayed steady for the last week, but thats ok...no weight has come off, but I noticed some "inches" did).

My BEST moment?  Had to be when I went and visited my mother and she was speechless.  She had no idea how much I had lost and how much better I looked.  She just kept staring at me.  It was nice to finally show that woman that I was good for something and make her "proud" of me...if only for a day :-\

WORST moment?  Haven't really had any!  It was a struggle at first, but nothing that was TOO hard.  My opinion is that if you're SERIOUS about doing this, then it's not that hard.  It's only when you waver and start doubting yourself will you ever fail.  I have not doubted ONCE that I was doing healthy stuff for myself, so I never once wanted to quit.

I don't really know what inspirational advice to tell you...just to keep on keepin on.  Bad stuff will happen and there will be times when you wanna quit.  Those are the times you need to do your best to stay the course.  When you're weak and about to pile food in your face...just remember all the hard work you've done to get where you are.  I will never sabotage what I've done because I know I'm better than that.  Your health is so much more important than the taste of a donut, ya know?

sure, yermama, add me!

finewine, that is fantastic!!  94 pounds since January!!  WOW!  You--and your mom--should be very PROUD.  I'm glad she was speechless.  I do know what you mean about the donut--last night it was the buttered popcorn and chocolate chip cookies my friends made for us to eat while watching a movie.  It took some willpower, but I turned down their offers for food, popped a piece of juicyfruit in my mouth (my one a day!), and just asked for the biggest glass of water they had.  I'm glad I didn't give in to temptation, and it is still hard.  Don't know if it will get easier but I hope so!  I'm determined to be healthier!! 

It never gets "easier" to do...it's just that after you do it, you feel less guilt.  Look at yourself after you do it...know that what you have accomplished is more powerful than that food.  I'm not saying that you shouldn't indulge...but do it on your own terms.  Eat that piece of cake when you've planned it out and can afford it.  Just avoid the spur of the moment spontaneous foods.  Those are the ones that kill you :)

hey write.. yup.. i've lost 87 pounds since january.. the first 3 weeks were he** on earth.. but it gradually got better after that.. now i'm not really struggling at all.. i'm feeling so much better and i'm super motivated.. i think motivation is the key.. find something (and it can change from day to day) that is more important to you than food is.. like getting into a smaller size (16's today!  w00t!) or running a 5k.. or whatever.. and keep motivated and focused..

also.. remembering that food is for sustinance NOT to make you happy.. is a good thing.. some day's that's harder to remember than others though.. :)

i still have 97 pounds left to lose.. so i still don't have 1/2 the weight i want to lose off of me.. but i'm getting there.. and i feel great.. which to me is a great motivator. 

Hey, I've almost hit the 50lb mark... I've lost 48.2 I started in January... most of it came off with just eating the right amount of calories, before I would either eat way too little, or way too much... I'm not quite sure what my goal is, but I am getting closer. I started at 195+ and now I'm down to 146ish. I hit about 2 or 3 platuaes. My "best" moment was probably a couple of weeks ago when a school aquintincce [sic] complimented my weight loss... my most frustrating, idk I haven't really gotten frustrated- not my style lol.

Good luck, it can be done :)

take care.

*hugs kirs10*

no need to sneak-come stomping over! XD