Success!!!!!!! (110 pounds from 152)

I am 110 pounds today.

I am 110 pounds today.

I am...

Wow, I just can't believe that.  Actually, I've been having some troubles believing how small I've become in the last 2 monthes (I was 152 pounds and started losing weight in September 2006 - I think I've FINALLY gotten the hang of it, but I'll tell you - it's been a slow road)

Okay, so I know there's a special place for success stories but I just couldn't help it this morning.  I'M SOOOOO HAPPY.  (Don't send me hate mail for making my very own, 'all me' thread, because you KNOW you'll be doing crazy things like this with insane joy when you get here - AND YOU WILL!!!!)

The best thing about it, is my belly is actually flat, like flat and smooth and all Jessica Alba-esque.  I've been at about 115 for three months, looking pretty good, and I never thought I'd get those annoying vanity pounds off -- but I did. 

Seriously, I might get my belly pierced.  That's how happy I am right now.  I might go out today and get my belly button pierced (which I've never wanted to do before but I mean it's so tempting right now...)

I want to tell you guys the best tricks I've learned over these 3 years of ups and downs (I know there's also a place for this, but I'm just bursting with joy that I want to share - happiness loves company just like misery does!)...

1. Vegetable soup - I used that cabbage soup recipe from the cabbage soup diet and add a lot of chicken bouillon/chicken soup mix (even though I'm a vegetarian, oops!), a lot of yummy chunky salsa, and some olive oil - seriously it's sooooo good.  I try to eat a bowl of that every second day for a meal.  I love it.  I could eat it all day long (well actually, I couldn't that's the cabbage soup diet, and it makes you sick of it, but still...)  Mmmmm.  The trick here is to make sure you love the soup, if you add a little extra fat/salt its worth it to love the soup, because pretty much no matter what you do to it that soup is like a health bomb, also I add other random vegetables, like packs and packs of frozen spinach...

2. Suck in my gut - Weird trick, but I think (besides my hours of cardio/weight loss) the best way to make my belly flat is to try to remember to suck it in when I'm walking places -- it's really hard at first but as the muscles get stronger it gets easier, and now whether I try to suck in or not my belly is just flat.  I can't get over that.  Who would have thought?  My belly is FLAT...

3. Lemon suckers - so these are 40 calories each only, last me about 20-25 minutes because I lick them slow, and are sooo good (also cheap).  Here's the trick... even though I usually eat my meals really slow, I must have a really slow brain or something (lol - so it takes me a looong time to feel full).  To counter this, I will often have a lemon sucker right after dinner for 'desert', when I've eaten what I feel is a good number of calories but I'm still in 'eating mode' or still feel a little hungry... I tell myself if I'm STILL hungry after I finish my sucker I can have more dinner (I never am). 

4. Frozen berries - everyone mentions these, but I mean, yeah, there's a reason.  They work like a dream.  I would take these over a bowl of icecream any day.  They eat slow, I feel all sexy and classy when I eat them in front of my boyfriend (I mean, c'mon what looks sexier then thawing a frozen raspberry, lick by lick)  LOL.  I buy the big bag of mixed at cosco. 

5.  Flax seeds - well this really didn't help me lose weight, my doctor just recommended them to me for my skin a few days ago.  But in 3 days they've worked like a miracle for my skin... I just think everyone should eat these.  I just kind of snuck that in there, some random health hoopla for you :)

I have a ton more but this post is getting really long (and I kind of doubt if anyone is going to read all this, but I just had to write it to let out some of my sparkling inner joy)

JOOOOOOOY

If anyone has cool little tips like this of their own, go ahead and post them.  (Even though, yes I knoooow there's another thread for diet tricks)  Also, feel free to message me if you want anymore of my little tricks... :) :) :)

Yayayayayaayyaayayaya!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Spread the love!!!!

Congratulations! that is amazing. you have done and continue to do a fantastic job.

thanks you for posting your success- it's a great motivator for people. 

keep up the good work!!! all the best for maintaining i have no doubt you ll be fine

Thanks sidd!!!

Yeah, I just wanted to let people know it's possible, because I'll tell you after it goes so slowly... sometimes it doesn't feel possible.

BUT IT IS!

congratulations!! it's inspiring whenever someone achieves their goal....thank you for sharing your weight loss tools.....hurray for you

That is wonderful!  I am so glad to know you did it.  I was at 152 and 110 is where I want to go.  Hearing your story gives me hope that I will get there too.

Nice job! 

CONGRATULATIONNNNSSSSSS!!!! thats so coool =DDD!!! maaaan thats an amazing achievement!!! 

Awwwwww, thanks guys... Your posts made me smile - no wait, I was already smiling - your posts made my smile bigger :))

that is seriously so exciting!!!!! you completely deserve to brag and be proud of yourself because that is such a great accomplishment!!!! good for you!

Congratulations

congrats. those are my stats (what i am & what i want to be) you're my idol!

CONGRATULATIONS!!!!

wow thats so motivating!!!!! I do the same thing with 20 calorie popsicles instead of lemon suckers. works wonders!

This post made me so happy! I'm feeling so proud for you, and I don't even know you.

Good luck with maintaining!

congrats!

grats and thanks for sharing !!!!

Great job!  This is so inspiring.  Thanks for the wonderful tips.   & thanks for mentioning that it took three years, it helps to know  I should'nt  be discouraged when I'm not seeing results as quick as I'd like to.  Here's to keeping up the good work!

You are an AMAZING inspiration! I have the exact same start weight and almost the same goal (looking for around 115).. out of curiosity, how tall are you?

The entire tone of your post is absolutely amazing like I can feel your happiness and see the massive smile on your face!! I hope that I can one day be posting something similar!!!

Ahhh you are amazing! haha and the tips sound great!! Definitely interested in more if you can think of any :)

Again, total inspiration - THANKYOU!

That is awesome!  Congratulations!  I don't think anyone will ever be mad at success.  Jealous maybe! Good for you and thanks for all the good tips.

YOU GO GIRL! You deserve to have your very own GO YOU topic!  I'm so happy for you!!!!

Keep up the great work and maintain FOREVER!

~H~

ps. I LOVE LOVE LOVE soup too! :)

You guys are the best.  Haha.  Love you all.

Got my belly button pierced today... im such an idiot, haha, but I love it. 

Jenna I'm 5'5 almost 5'6, with a pretty small frame.  And yup, I hope to see you posting your insanely hyper success on here eventually too :)

You gotta have a picture posted with that kind of news...nothing is more inspirational than seeing it in real life - do you have before and afters?  I started at the same weight and am curious what that would look like for me - I'm an inch taller than you though.

Way to go! Before and after pictures???