A Work in Progress
Having to lose 200 pounds seemed like a daunting task for Warnerd5 who suffered a spinal injury. She devised a creative way to incorporate daily exercise and has successfully lost 100 pounds.
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?
I decided to work on my weight when I went to visit my grandchildren two years ago. I had to sit to hold them for fear of dropping them. I had been in an accident several years before and used it as an excuse to not have to work on my weight.
2. What other "diets" (programs, products, plans, or services) had you tried in the past?
I was big into eating all I wanted and then starving myself to maintain my weight but it never worked. I also tried Weight Watchers and diet pills. Again not successful.
3. What changes did you make to your usual diet, activity, lifestyle, and attitude?
I first saw my doctor and was put on a supervised diet of 1000 calories per day and maintained this for about a month. This jump-started my metabolism and I started losing weight. In this process I found Calorie Count and slowly upped my calories to 1700 a day. I still had a problem with exercising due to my spinal problems, so I started exercising in my bed. I know it sounds funny, but the bottom line is I couldn't get on the floor and I at least wanted to make an effort to exercise.
4. How did Calorie Count help you to lose weight?
I would love to say I always stayed within my calorie range for the day, but this wasn't the case in the beginning. So I started using Calorie Count to track myself and make myself accountable, and over time this helped me to balance my eating and exercise. Also, I focused my weight loss goals on nutrition grades rather than weight scale readings, and I made it one of my goals to be consistently graded B- or above. Finally, Calorie Count put me on a journey with other members who have been there and done that. With all this support it has helped me to keep going.
5. What was most challenging about losing weight?
The thought that I had to lose over 200 pounds, I had to break it down to 10 pounds a month.
6. How long did it take you to see results?
I started to really notice results in about two months, and it was great to see my hard work starting to pay off.
7. When did you realize that you were a success?
This has come slow for me as I still have to do this daily, so I try to look at myself as a "work in progress." If I can do this, anyone can!
8. How do you prevent relapse?
I have a list of things I have to do each day and this helps me to stay on track.
9. How has your life changed now that you've lost weight?
I can play with my grandchildren without the fear of dropping them. I can move my body and even tie my shoes. I also have an attitude of gratitude, this helps me to keep what I have.
10. What five tips do you have for other dieters
- Use the tools provided by Calorie Count
- Aim for progress instead of for perfection
- Stick with the winners and learn from them
- Never give up on yourself
- Incorporate any form of exercise
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
Original Post by: missylynn36I LOVE the "aim for progress instead of perfection". What a wonderful piece of advice.
Me too, often times we forget that good enough IS good enough we don't need to be perfect. We don't expect it from other people so why do we do it to ourselves?
Way to go Warnerd5 ! Well Done!
Your story is very inspirational! I love the fact that you didn't let your circumstances roadblock your progress. Exercising on your bed simply helped you skirt around a huge roadblock, most people would have just given up!
Ten pounds at a time sounds good to me, I think I'll take that idea and run with it or should I say walk with it (: >
Thanks Warnerd5 for your story!
I have to agree. "Aim for progress instead of for perfection" is a wonderful advice! So many times I had found my self giving up because I didn't manage to do a perfect job, that I had forgot all about the good job I had been doing.
What you say about incorporating any form of exercise is also something I have to riming my self every day. Sure! it is ideal to work out in a GYM or follow an exercise routine, but hey! some exercise is better than none at all.
Thanks for reminding us of that, and thanks for sharing your story!
Keep up the good work Warnerd5!
Wow , Amazing.
I am one of those ppl who keep finding excuses for not excercising or eating right, but your story is amazing. Truly inspirational. Thanks for sharing.
I think your attitude is the only way to look at loosing weight it can be a scary task, but your are right if you take it little by little and focus on the small steps and not stress over the larger picture so far I have lost 50 pounds I started 6/2008 and it has taken 14 mos so far and i have 60pounds to go but i'm realized earlly on that just by wright down what I was eating and getting up and moving I started losing weight wow what a concept ! its true there is not a majic pill! congrats !!! kepp up the hard work you will make it small steps ! i'm so happy I can fit into clothes i have not fit into in years 
Warnerd5, you are totally an inspiration to others! It's great that you are focusing on nutrition and that you've come so far.
I love all your weight loss tips especially "never give up on yourself" - anyone trying to improve themselves needs to have that spirit to suceed.
Congrats on your success! Good luck as you continue on your weight loss journey! It can seem daunting, but as you said small goals can help keep the task from looking insurmountable. I have 70 more pounds I would like to lose and so far have lost 22, but I keep focusing on the next 10 lb mark. And this is to everyone on this journey-- we can climb that weight mountain and we can conquer it one small step at a time!! 
Yes thanks for this story I am feeling down on myself right now because i havent seen or felt any results of my hard work. But I realize that I am putting to much pressure on myself and I need to judt do what I am doing and continue my exercising even if i dont see results right away.
Way to go, Sheila! Keep up the great work. Looks like the "progress instead of perfection" hits home with a lot of us....I used to feel (diet-wise) that if I'm not perfect then I'm an idiot. But with age, comes wisdom! <g> You're a good inspiration. Keep us posted down the road.
wow I am so glad to see there are lots of people out there who understand my struggles thank God for calorie counters blog I also exercise on my bed every night. I'm not able to get down on the floor. Well, I can get down on the floor, but not up again. So, I do my exercise on the bed, as well as adding small things to my daily routine that increase my activity.
Congrats and keep going! I will love to read your "I lost 200 pounds" story next year! And then your "I kept off 200 pounds" story the next!!!!
The article is aptly titled "work in progress".
calorie count has also helped me tremendously in tracking my calories. Despite my best intentions i was gaining weight every year.
After using the tools in calorie count, i know why that happened.
I urge all other CC members to persist with their efforts, Even though my size seems the same after 3 months of exercise, clothes seem to fit much better on me Now. This sure is an improvement.
Other than exercise , these three steps may also help in maintaining optimum weight:
Optimum sleep
Lots of water
alkalize your body
This article illustrates why the above will work.
Congrats to warner for sticking on to 10 pound a month goal. I did not know that one could exercise in Bed Too !!
I love this article. A reminder to us all to be proud of our progress, even if the results aren't so perfect yet.
Great job!
I love your tip to "aim for progress not perfection" also! That's a great way to look at losing weight, since you always have your ups and downs! It sounds like a plan for long term success! You are doing great! Keep up the good work!
Good luck with your progress, the best tip I`ve ever heard was Aim for progress instead of for perfection"
i should notice that it takes time to lose weight, thanks for your great story
I once read in a CC blog ~ "In trying to be perfect, you are perfect enough!" I think one of the moderators said this to a fellow CC member, but I can't remember who? All I know is that I have since adopted this as my own mantra!
Your story is exactly what they were talking about...and it obviously works for you. You are truly amazing, Warnerd5, and I love your story! You have a true spirit of persistence about you that I would love to emulate.
I still need to lose 74 lbs to reach my own goal (95 lbs in all) but if I break it down into 20 lbs increments, it doesn't seem so daunting ~ kinda like your own "10 lbs per month"...
I hope you will post your "sequel" next year to tell us how you lost the rest of your weight & let us all know how you are doing. 
LQ62 it's funny that we can cheer on our friends and family when they need it, but when it comes to patting ourselves on the back or forgiving ourselves and moving on, we find it so much more difficult. I'm sick of looking in the mirror and giving myself a hard time when I can soooo easily tell everyone else how great they look. we need to lighten up and be our own cheerleaders! Great job Warned 5!
It is wonderful to see how people can work past any obstacle and succeed. A back injury can be so painful and debilitating, so to here how you overcame it is inspirational. Stories like yours really help with my motivation as I work toward my goal.
Thanks so much for sharing your in progress sucess story. Awesome job.
All 5 tips are absolutely PERFECT to me!!!!!!!!!!! GREAT advice!!!!!!!!!!!
WOW....that is it for me today...PROGRESS NOT PERFECTION! I LOVE THAT! I also love the part "any kind of exercise". For those of us with disabilities it really does take some powerful determination and creativity to be able to find some form...any form of exercise! Even before my injuries I always liked to use my couch or bed for sit ups because of a tail bone problem. It also helps if you have injured knees for getting up and down much easier. A bed or a couch can serve as a tool just like Calorie Count. Thank you for sharing your story and congratulations. :)
Congratulations. I like the suggestion of looking at it 10 lbs at a time.. Knowing you have to lose 200 lbs can be overwhelming. I myself started out having to lose over 100 lbs, so I know exactly how overwhelming it can be. As you said, Progress, not perfection is the way to go. Keep it up and you will get there.
You are a true inspiration to all. Your persistance and positive attitude are very apparent in the lifestyle you have adopted. Keep up the fantastic work. I hope you feel as good as you look!
Thank you for sharing your positive experience! You have overcome amazing obstacles, and are so much stronger in and out, for sticking with it! I appreciate the 5 Tips you gave, and look forward to my own success using them! Great job--keep it up!
Congrats on your weight loss success. I am officially at the must loose 100 pounds mark, and will definitely keep your story on my mind.
Thank you so much for sharing your story. You are a true asset to this website!
I can understand the thrill of being able to tie your shoes. I used to have to ask my teenage boys to help. How embarassing. Thanks for the inspiration.
I am very proud of all of us for doing what ever we do to atleast try and get healthy and loose weight God bless everyone on here
Yet again another cc story which is about being kind to yourself as well as losing weight. Makes me wonder are we all on a journey to love ourselves a bit more???
Original Post by: joanna74Yet again another cc story which is about being kind to yourself as well as losing weight. Makes me wonder are we all on a journey to love ourselves a bit more???
We should be!!! Maybe if we did, life would be just that much easier for us all.
Your story was very inspiring to me. I'd LOVE to know what exercises you did/do in bed. I have arthritus in my hips and have heart trouble. I'm afraid to do TOO much. I am not letting it be my excuse any more!
Thank you for some positive advise from a wonderful lady. Those with health and disability issues need realistic motivation. Well done and God Bless you
Thank you for your story and thanks to everyone who answered her. To know that we are all in this together is refreshing. We can do it! :o)
I would love to peek at your list of things you do each day in order to prevent relapse. Thanks for being an inspiration!
Sheila,thanks for the inspiration.I also have had spine problems and at the present I am dealing with extreme pain in my left foot.I just got started forward in my quest for weight loss.Today actually.I am so glad to hear your success
Your story has been very inspirational. I too have back problems that limit my exercise. I hear all the exercise others do, and I think, but I can't do that. I also am not a young girl, so the exercise issues scares me. Reading your story was quite helpful.
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I LOVE the "aim for progress instead of perfection". What a wonderful piece of advice.