1 year TODAY....

WOW!! It's definitely been a journey, with its ups, downs, twists and turns! But I love a wild ride! And am looking forward to staying on this path.

In the past year I have lost 85 pounds (just a little over half of what I want to lose)! I've gone 322 to 237. I have to stop and give myself kudos for that. I get easily depressed because I wanted to have lost more by now...but then as you wonderful people have told me before..."that's great" - and for that I want to thank you all. You have made me stop beating myself up and really look at my accomplishments.

I have gone from a size 28-30 to an 18-20 and can even fit into some extra large shirts!! Went shopping this past weekend and couldn't believe it. I kept looking at the tags (just to be sure, right?). There is nothing in the world that can beat that feeling.

It's funny how people I haven't seen in a while will run into me and they ALWAYS ask how I did it. When I tell them they look kinda of disappointed - as though I was supposed to tell them about some magic pill. I feel bad for them, but it is what it is and there is no way around it. I should know, especially seeing as how I still have quite a ways to go. I hope to be on here next year celebrating my next 85 pound loss!

Oh, and I HAVE to tell you all...I went out dancing with my husband on Saturday night, and it blew my mind when a youngster (okay, probably not young, to all...he was in his 20's and I'm 40) came up to me and said "You are so HOT!)....HAHA how's that for an ego boost?

*Side note, I will try to post some before and current pics soon. I weighed 264 in my profile pic.

you have no idea how much your post encouraged me!  I am just re-starting after gaining back weight when i stopped this and am kicking myself.  Thanks for sharing!  Congratulations!

Wow. Congratulations!
What a wonderful feeling it must be!
You're a needed inspiration for me!

Keep up the awesome work! :)

kae03 & sonini - Thank you! Funny how we inspire each other. Your encouragement and congratulations have made my day!

Kae03 - I can understand wanting to kick yourself, been there, done that, didn't help though...Getting back on that horse is always a hard thing to do and you're doing it. I wish you all the best. I want to see your post in a year declaring all the weight you've lost!

Sonini - I looked at your profile, and I've never had low self-esteem either. I have tried to always carry my head high. So come on girls, let's do this! =)! I'll be looking for you...

Congrats and good for you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

You should be proud of yourself.  Here's to having the next year be as kind to you ae the last one was.

Wow - that's an amazing year's work!! Congratulations - you are inspiring! I can't believe that you find 85 lbs to be too little for a year - that's a really impressive loss! (I, on the other hand, will probably make 60 or 65 by the time my first year's up in May, and am thrilled about it).

You'll see that the ego boosts will start coming more and more frequently in the upcoming year. You're at the threshold now, and as you lose more you'll be amazed (and, eventually, annoyed) by them.

Congrats, that is truly awesome!  You have every right to be proud :)

Thanks everyone! You guys are totally pumping me up today! =)

But can you "truly" get annoyed with ego-boosts? I'm willing to test that theory! *wink* *wink*

Congratulations on completing the first year of your journey and for your accomplishments to date!  GREAT JOB!

And welcome to the world of frustration and impatience.  My biggest roadblock at the moment is my impatience..... seems like I should have lost a lot more by now considering all my hard work but, patience, patience, patience.  Or as Aesop says, slow and steady wins the race!

I know what you mean about people walking up to you and asking how you did it.  Most of the people I encounter immediately assume that I had weight loss surgery (which i didn't).  When I tell them that I did it through healthy eating, portion control, and exercise, they look at me with that "yeah, right" glare. 

Keep up the great work.  You look gorgeous now and I'm sure you'll be absolutely stunning when you reach your goal weight.

 

Well, here's another one to test your annoyance level....

I am SO impressed with your weightloss and want to be where you are in about 11 months!  I would be THRILLED with and 85 pound weightloss and and so proud of you (and anyone else) who has achieved such!  Congratulations on doing it and on being able to reap the benefits!

WOW Kaufmkk!! YOU are TRULY AMAZING!!  I want to be like you when I grow up! ; ). I believe that you are a true inspriation. Congrat to you. ANd thank you so much for the compliments.

Karefreeman, you are too funny! Still not annoyed yet - lol. I guess we both have to remember that SOMETHING is wayyy better than nothing.

The egoboosts that will annoy you will be the random dudes hitting on you. At first it's novel and nice and then it gets annoying. :)

Props on CC, on the other hand, never get annoying.

So congrats again! ;)

That is absolutely AWESOME! keep up the great work.....

 

I am right there with you, I'm 38 married 3 kids and when I started last october I weighed 270 I am now at 223 today. It has been a very slow process with lots of ups and downs.  I could use the friends to help keep me motivated and would like to do the same.

Tina

Way To Go! to both of you.

I am awed by the dedication and determination.

WOW what an achievement !!!! 85 lbs is amazing, that's a little over 1.5 lbs a week, if you look at it that way, I think actually lots of people would love to have a rate like that !!!! CONGRATS !!!!

Again...THANKS!!

Trustwomen - you are too FUNNY!!  I'll be sure to look you up when that happens! I'm mean don't you actually HAVE TO BE HOT?!

You ARE hot!!!!  What an inpsiration to us all!!  I would be so happy to lose 85 lbs, I would just love that so much!!  I'm trying so hard to keep my motivation by reading about cc members like you, thank you!!

Congrats!!!

85 pounds is incredible! I am hoping to lose about that much myself, and it can be so daunting to look at such a big number still to go. I know doing it little by little really is the only way. I'm down about 12 pounds so far, and trying not to look too far ahead, just taking one day at a time, knowing that if I keep doing it right, I will be where you are EVENTUALLY. You are doing great, and your hard work is really inspiring. Keep it up! And by the way you ARE hot, so be ready for all those cheesy lines!!

Hey, how about building a 'blog' (like I did most recently), and tell it to everyone!  Aside from all of us here, friends/family, and others who might not be CC members would find your story very encouraging.

You could put photos; note the mile-stones - even remarks from your journal, and what inspired you to 'keep it going'.

If you have a Google e-mail, you can build one FOR FREE - it's not too tough - you just have to get the hang of it.

If you do it - let me know the link, so I can make a visit to see 'your journey'.

I remember when I was forty, my kids gave me a t-shirt that read FANTASTICFORTY.  When I turned fifty, they gave me a shirt that FOXYFIFTY.  When I turned sixty, they gave me one that read SEXYSIXTY.  Becaues they 'rewarded' me with t-shirts, I HAD to keep my weight under control; my hair combed, and live up to those 'shirts'.

The pianist, Roger Williams says cookies made him practice; well shirts made me focus on heath in my later years.

CONGRATULATIONS!

Original Post by mykanosdelight:

You ARE hot!!!!  What an inpsiration to us all!!  I would be so happy to lose 85 lbs, I would just love that so much!!  I'm trying so hard to keep my motivation by reading about cc members like you, thank you!!

Hey there, you're already hot, lady!  You've got elegance; intelligence, a great sense of humor!  Losing weight will only make you 'more hot' - so be sure to recognize all your virtues (if you already haven't).

You'll lose that weight because you WANT to - you won't fail, I just know that.  Diane

Congrats! Hanging in there for a year (well we really know this is a lifelong commitment, but most don't make it this far) with an 85 pound loss under your belt. You must feel awesome.

That next half will be a no brainier. You have this down.