Losing 35 Pounds Since January
Krissytheteacher has lost 35 pounds since January. She used to weigh almost 190 pounds and now weighs 155. She credits her success by becoming “proud and more confident” of her body and stays motivated by reflecting back on her “overweight” pictures.
She contacted us through our Share Your Story feature, and provided the following answers to our questionnaire.
1. What made you decide to lose weight this time? Did you have an "Aha!" moment?
My Aha! moment was over Christmas, while dressing for a funeral. A favorite dress of mine just would not do up. After getting married 3 years ago, I realized I had totally let myself go - no exercise and poor food and portion choices had caught up with me!
2. What other "diets" (programs, products, plans, or services) had you tried in the past?
None. I just kept eating. I thought I looked fine, even though the "I just want you to be healthy" comments were starting to come from friends and family.
3. What changes did you make to your usual diet, activity, lifestyle, and attitude?
The changes I made included things like eating more vegetables, purchasing an elliptical so I could exercise every day, eating smaller portions, and drinking more water. And of course, keeping track of what I ate religiously using Calorie Count. I think the most important change was just my dedication to losing weight and being more fit.
4. How did Calorie Count help you to lose weight?
At first, I couldn't believe how much I was eating, calorie-wise! Calorie Count helped me to see what was good, what wasn't, what I was eating too much of, etc. The nutritional analysis was so helpful - I was eating too many carbs (a sin most of us are guilty of!) and had to limit certain foods. Without Calorie Count, I wouldn't have been nearly as educated.
5. What was most challenging about losing weight?
Getting up every morning at 5am to exercise. I was not a morning person, so this was the hardest change for me. It was also the best, though, as working out in the morning kept me motivated all day long - I would think, "I didn't get up at 5am just to eat a doughnut and cancel it out!".
6. How long did it take you to see results
I started dropping weight immediately, but after about a month other people started to notice, which was awesome.
7. When did you realize that you were a success?
Once other people started noticing and complimenting me, I felt more successful. The best part of my success, though, was not from other people - it was me starting to be proud of my body and the feeling of confidence that came with it. I started wearing a size 12, which was a Big Moment, and that was the moment I realized I was successful and that I never wanted to gain that weight back again.
8. How do you prevent relapse?
Look at pictures of yourself when you were heavier! That motivated me to go for a walk or have another workout. Also, when I feel myself getting off track, I start using Calorie Count again - for me, I don't want to use Calorie Count every day for the rest of my life, but it's a great tool to readjust yourself when you start falling back into those old habits.
9. How has your life changed now that you've lost weight?
I don't feel like my energy level has changed, but everything is just... easier. Lifting boxes, carrying things, and endurance - it all just got easier for me. Also, I sleep better at night!
10. What five tips do you have for other dieters?
- If you are reading this, you've already made a great first step. Keep it up.
- Find a vegetable you can't get enough of. For me, it was cucumber.
They are like little fresh-tasting crackers! You can put anything on
those! - Drink water. Buy a cute water bottle and carry it around with you.
At first, it seems so boring, but you get used to it and then you
start to love water. It's my favorite drink now! - Get some cute workout clothes. They don't have to be expensive - I
got my whole outfit for less the $15 at a discount superstore. But new
clothes are a motivating factor for me - you want to wear them, and
you only wear them to work out! - Reward yourself in a good way. My husband and I would go for walks
and get popsicles when I'd had an especially good week, or rent a
movie of my choosing. I tried to stay away from food rewards - that's
what got me into this pickle in the first place.
If you would like us to feature your success story, you can submit it here. The most insightful stories will be featured on this blog and in the weekly "Success Stories" newsletter.
Comments
Wow, that is awesome! Congratulations on your success! Hopefully you don't relapse, but I suppose you've already got some good preventive for that, hehe.
Congrats! You look great. Keep it up .
In Dec. I was weighing 167. I have lost 15 lbs. since January, but I seem to be at a plateau. Can you or someone give me any ideas on how to move past this. I have begun to feel a little frustrated.
Your story is almost identical to mine, 35 pounds since Christmas. More veggies, less fast food, and never skipping meals. I walk and do yoga. I have another 15 or so to go but Calorie Count really helped me get and STAY real about what I was eating. Congratulations to you. I still need to drink more water, who knew that would be the hardest adjustment for me!
Wow, you look great!! keep up the great work!!.. I am LOVING the calorie count.. I just started, the only downfall is I am getting discouraged when I can't get my levels right.. everything is always too low!!! but Ive eating all the allotted calories.. Surprisingly, Carbs is fine!! Sodium is off the charts!! I wish this thing would make you a menu =( I don't know what to eat to get the right balance!
I don't understand why this site emphasizes healthy weight loss, even banning suggestion of some things, and then spon sponsors advertising on all these fad bs diets! I'm just so sick and tired of all the hypocrisy and contradiction!
Original Post by: kattuck013Wow, you look great!! keep up the great work!!.. I am LOVING the calorie count.. I just started, the only downfall is I am getting discouraged when I can't get my levels right.. everything is always too low!!! but Ive eating all the allotted calories.. Surprisingly, Carbs is fine!! Sodium is off the charts!! I wish this thing would make you a menu =( I don't know what to eat to get the right balance!
I have the same problem; too much sodium and not enough potassium, sometimes not enough calcium either. I don't know if you noticed but on your analysis, where it lists the foods you ate and what nutrients they provided, if you hold the cursor over it it says "foods you ate containing ____"; click on that and it will tell you what you ate that was high in sodium, or whatever you are struggling with. Than try to cut back on the bad ones and increase the good ones!
I have a feeling I'm always going to struggle with sodium, though :)
That is great! I too have lost over 30 lbs since January. 152 to 120 after baby number two (175 when she was born!). She is now 10 months and people cannot believe I have such a little one. Thanks for sharing your story... I too hope to motivate others!!
Congrats on your loss. The best way to beat a plateau is to change it up, believe it or not, eat more and the weight will come off. Give yourself a break and eat a couple hundred extra calories for a couple of days. Your body has gotten used to your intake and exercise routine. Also, if possible, change up your workout routine. Personally, I walk every day, so now I try to jog every few minutes or step up on rocks, just to challenge myself a little more. Good luck!
About the potassium - I too am challenged with getting enough potassium. Some articles I have read say the max for adults is 4700mg, others 2000mg. It's all very confusing. My pharmacist said there is such a thing as potassium supplements BUT too little or too much of potassium is not good for the body. Whats a girl to do?
Low potassium is not a good thing, but high potassium can actually cause heart arryhythmias; I figure it's better to just keep trying to include high potassium foods in my diet and not try to take supplements. If you are truly concerned about not getting enough dietary potassium, go see your doctor and ask to have a blood potassium level drawn. If the results are abnormal, talk with the doctor about it.
Great job - and it's nice to see other people who have more of a "normal" shape, not too skinny, but looking great and in good health!
Throw in 2 days of weight training, build some muscle. Muscle burns more fat. You will look better and burn more calories at the same time!
Congrats!! Don't you just look fantastic?!! A plateau is a bummer, but the advice about a change up in some portion of your exercise or food portions is good advise. Good luck in your contining life style change.
Good luck, I believe a diet has to be a life-style change. Eating healthy and eating smaller portions!
I am proud of you!! You were sitting exactly where i was when I started this journey back in January. You have come along much faster then me, but I am proud of my progress and with the help of calorie count have gained so much insite to how I am going to MAINTAIN what I have accomplished. Something that always seems so much harder to me than losing the weight! The bloggs give me great encouragement and is the real reason I come to the site daily. Keep up the good work and I will be using your suggestions to stay motivated and hopefully be as slim as you soon!!
We all seem to have the same issue with Potassium - always coming up with the long red line - too low! BUT - I read somewhere that Potassium is rarely added up on foods - and so it isn't put into the nutrient count. Some cereals, for example, do show potassium - while others don't. Many foods we all are eating DO have potassium content but it isn't routinely shown.
As to sodium, all prepared foods have high levels of sodium. I was shocked when I saw the sodium content of egg substitute, non-fat cheese, cottage cheese - so I try to not eat too many "prepared" foods in a single day. Now, I use 1/4 cup of egg substitute along with a single egg white (and I discard the yolkd). About once a week, I do eat a whole egg (including yolk) along with egg whites.
you are an inspiration-your blog caught my eye b/c I started at the same weight and trying to get to what you are- only been doing it for a couple of weeks but this has inspired me- thanks- you look wonderful!! hopefully next year at this time I will to.
That is awesome that only after a short time you have had such great success!
I am just starting to get serious about exercise and what I am puttin in my mouth!!!
Congrats and keep it going!!!!
Great Job! I only started calorie count a few weeks ago but am now seeing good results. I too weighed almost 190 in January but now 175. I was 182 when I began calorie count. Stories like yours are very inspiring and makes me want to keep going! Thank you for sharing. You look great.
Original Post by: noldy1Wonderful, you look beautiful!
Very easy. Increase your water intake, decrease your carbs and increase your protein. On your work out reduce the minutes to 15-20 min, do intervals. Make sure you are on atleaset level 3. Start 3mph for 1 min. every min increase mph by 1 after 5 min you should be at 7mph. Then go back down the same way to get to 3mph then again back up to 7mph. I was 250lbs now weighing 205Lbs doing this. You should lose 1.5 to 2.5 lbs per week.
Congrats!!! You have done a great job at loosing the weight. I had to look twice at the pictures to confirm that it was the same person in the before and after pictures.
Thanks carrie1013 and ceomoneygreen for your helpful tips!
I do Yoga on the days I don't walk, so I thought that should help building some muscle through resistance. But as I said to ceomoneygreen, my carb intake still is on higher side (170gms) , and protein abt 60-70 gms .Could you please share with me how to reduce it further? I eat chicken and fish ,from the non-veg options.
P.S :- I hope I am not hijacking this blog, may be we should get on to a new thread?
A great way to add potassium is to add a baked potato. I have one for dinner with salsa and a big salad.
Wow you look great, I hope to be able to tell my story when I have lost weight, just started 3 days ago.
Keep inspiring everyone. I know you story has inspired me.
Original Post by: uummichelleI don't understand why this site emphasizes healthy weight loss, even banning suggestion of some things, and then spon sponsors advertising on all these fad bs diets! I'm just so sick and tired of all the hypocrisy and contradiction!
There would be no website if not for the ads. Maintaining a website takes work and someone is doing that work. The person(s) who does this deserves to make a living. The ads are what provide the paycheck. This isn't hypocrisy, it's life. I don't work for free, do you? You may wonder why the site doesn't post only ads for healthy products - perhaps they'd like to but don't get enough of them. Give these folks the benefit of the doubt. I like the site; it's free and it's extremely helpful to me. I ignore the ads. - To whoever is responsible for the website: Keep up the good work, you're doing a great job! THANK YOU.
And I totally agree with madamelily. CC is a wonderful web site and ads are part of all internet surfing. Some are very informative - others may not be. Even WW advertises "unhealthy" foods - and they do not give all the good information on our daily nutritional needs that CC does. I'm very happy with this site and I thank them too. Thank you!
Congrats on the weight loss! I'm in a similar position in regard to how much I want to lose, and where I want to end up (155). My only concern is that although my portions are smaller and I'm doing well on the exercise front, I'm still eating the same food as before, just less of them. I want to incorporate more fruits and vegetables, but I just can't stand anything other than starchy foods like corn and potatoes (I'm from the Midwest!). Any suggestions are greatly appreciated!
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awesome!!!! you look FAB!!!
I am trying to loose 10 pounds , but never got any sucess. Have a treadmill at home and walk on it for 40 mins 3-4 days a week at 5.5 KMPH, but not much loss , calorie intake is also upto 1400, Could you please share your workout details?
-VRN