C-section Mom of 2 - My progress over the past couple years (lots of pics)
shadow2soul
Posts: 7,692 Member
I've been debating for awhile about when to post in here. Should I do it when I hit 130 lbs? Should I wait until I'm happy with my body composition? The list goes on and on. I've posted progress threads in the past, so I think that's what I'll go with; This is a progress thread. Why progress and not a Success? Because, I'm constantly setting new goals and I'm still pretty far from where I want to be body composition wise. I am, however, pretty happy with what the scale says.
Highest adult weight: 260 lbs
Weight when I started using MFP: 218 lbs
Current Trend weight*: 127.8 lbs
This mornings scale reading: 126.9 lbs
Lowest recent scale reading: 126 lbs
I lost some weight on my own before joining MFP. I was way over restrictive and couldn't sustain it. If I remember correctly I gained about 20 lbs of the around 60 lbs I had lost the year prior to joining MFP back. I didn't make lifestyle changes. It was more of a short term term diet that I had put myself on. I was able to keep it up for about 6 months before I couldn't take it anymore. Kept the weight off for about 2-3 months and then started gaining some back. I, thankfully, caught myself before I had undone it all.
I found MFP in Nov of 2012, but didn't start actually using it until March 13, 2013 when I was back up to 218 lbs. I set up MFP with a goal to lose 2 lbs a week, but I think I lasted all of a week with that goal before changing it to 1 lb a week. I started lurking in the forums and found lots of useful information. I'll post some of the threads that I consider to be useful down at the bottom of this post.
I was gifted a Fitbit Zip at the end of April by my husband. He knew I was looking at them and wanted one; he didn't know which one so he grabbed a zip because it came in bright pink. I started using that to monitor my activity and allowed it to make adjustments to my calorie goals here. Boy was I surprised to find that I was so lazy that even with MFP set to Sedentary, Fitbit was taking away calories and working out was just bringing my adjustment to 0 (meaning I was meeting the calorie burn MFP expected of a Sedentary person with my stats). By September, I had enough data from my food logs and Fitbit to determine that the Zip was underestimating my activity level by about 200 calories per day on average.
I bought a HRM for my workouts shortly after getting the Fitbit. I used this for any activity that wasn't walking and logged it in MFP with the correct start time/duration (start time is something required when logging activities when a Fitbit is connected to MFP).
Around June, I ended up purchasing a food scale so that I could be more accurate with my food logging. This was an eye opener and I started weighing all foods I made at home (still do). The best part is it required less clean up than measuring cups.
By September of that year, I had lost about 48 lbs from my start on MFP and about 90 from my highest weight. I had to stop at this point though, because I became pregnant with my second son.
Fast forward to now. My youngest was born at the end of May 2014. I went back to using MFP just as I had before pregnancy a few weeks after he was born. I wasn't able to start exercising until September (recovery from 2nd c-section), but I did start up about mid-September. The only major changes I've made is that as of Feb this year I am using the Fitbit Surge (no longer using Zip & HRM) and I joined a gym.
My favorite thing about the tools I have been using to help me with this process is that I don't have to cut out my favorite foods. Sure I have to watch my portion sizes, but that's where a food scale and my food log come in. I don't feel horribly restricted which makes it easier than what I was trying to do before using MFP (not that it's completely easy, it's not, but it is easier now that I'm not restricting myself to a small selection of foods).
*This is what I get from trendweight.com; a site that smooths out my scale fluctuations to show me what is happening with my weight.
After my first son was born (260 lbs):
2013:
My second pregnancy:
2 weeks Post-Partum(in the 190's):
And current:
I'm still working on losing a few more pounds before I either move to trying recomp, just maintaining or trying a bulk/cut. I haven't really decided where I want to go next just yet.
Helpful threads:
Logging Accurately Step by Step Guide
A Guide to Get You Started on Your Path to Sexypants
Highest adult weight: 260 lbs
Weight when I started using MFP: 218 lbs
Current Trend weight*: 127.8 lbs
This mornings scale reading: 126.9 lbs
Lowest recent scale reading: 126 lbs
I lost some weight on my own before joining MFP. I was way over restrictive and couldn't sustain it. If I remember correctly I gained about 20 lbs of the around 60 lbs I had lost the year prior to joining MFP back. I didn't make lifestyle changes. It was more of a short term term diet that I had put myself on. I was able to keep it up for about 6 months before I couldn't take it anymore. Kept the weight off for about 2-3 months and then started gaining some back. I, thankfully, caught myself before I had undone it all.
I found MFP in Nov of 2012, but didn't start actually using it until March 13, 2013 when I was back up to 218 lbs. I set up MFP with a goal to lose 2 lbs a week, but I think I lasted all of a week with that goal before changing it to 1 lb a week. I started lurking in the forums and found lots of useful information. I'll post some of the threads that I consider to be useful down at the bottom of this post.
I was gifted a Fitbit Zip at the end of April by my husband. He knew I was looking at them and wanted one; he didn't know which one so he grabbed a zip because it came in bright pink. I started using that to monitor my activity and allowed it to make adjustments to my calorie goals here. Boy was I surprised to find that I was so lazy that even with MFP set to Sedentary, Fitbit was taking away calories and working out was just bringing my adjustment to 0 (meaning I was meeting the calorie burn MFP expected of a Sedentary person with my stats). By September, I had enough data from my food logs and Fitbit to determine that the Zip was underestimating my activity level by about 200 calories per day on average.
I bought a HRM for my workouts shortly after getting the Fitbit. I used this for any activity that wasn't walking and logged it in MFP with the correct start time/duration (start time is something required when logging activities when a Fitbit is connected to MFP).
Around June, I ended up purchasing a food scale so that I could be more accurate with my food logging. This was an eye opener and I started weighing all foods I made at home (still do). The best part is it required less clean up than measuring cups.
By September of that year, I had lost about 48 lbs from my start on MFP and about 90 from my highest weight. I had to stop at this point though, because I became pregnant with my second son.
Fast forward to now. My youngest was born at the end of May 2014. I went back to using MFP just as I had before pregnancy a few weeks after he was born. I wasn't able to start exercising until September (recovery from 2nd c-section), but I did start up about mid-September. The only major changes I've made is that as of Feb this year I am using the Fitbit Surge (no longer using Zip & HRM) and I joined a gym.
My favorite thing about the tools I have been using to help me with this process is that I don't have to cut out my favorite foods. Sure I have to watch my portion sizes, but that's where a food scale and my food log come in. I don't feel horribly restricted which makes it easier than what I was trying to do before using MFP (not that it's completely easy, it's not, but it is easier now that I'm not restricting myself to a small selection of foods).
*This is what I get from trendweight.com; a site that smooths out my scale fluctuations to show me what is happening with my weight.
After my first son was born (260 lbs):
2013:
My second pregnancy:
2 weeks Post-Partum(in the 190's):
And current:
I'm still working on losing a few more pounds before I either move to trying recomp, just maintaining or trying a bulk/cut. I haven't really decided where I want to go next just yet.
Helpful threads:
Logging Accurately Step by Step Guide
A Guide to Get You Started on Your Path to Sexypants
59
Replies
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Now is the time to bulk for most over the cold months. I wouldn't worry about a couple pounds.2
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You look amazing! Nice work!3
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I've seen you on several threads I've lurked on and I'm always amazed, so I'm so glad you made your own thread!! I love how huge and bright your eyes look now. Outstanding.3
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Love your story. Awesome job!1
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You look great! Well done.1
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OMG! My mind is blown. Good job, like seriously!3
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Wow! Awesome job!1
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Hellz yeah! Super job!!!! High fives!1
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Congratulations. Fantastic work1
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Yay! So happy to see you still around and posting your awesomeness. ^_^ You will crush whatever you decide to do next. On another note, I look up to you
And I love your red hair! 
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Wow! You don't even look like the same person. You look great and have tons of energy for your little ones. Thank you for your tips too.1
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@queenliz99 , @FatStephanie15 , @42firm03 , @Alluminati , @krithsai , @BMRushing , @IILikeToMoveItMoveIt , @urloved33 , @wateryphoenix, @Crackertime
Thank you guys. :flowerforyou:
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Great post - love the change in style and fashion as you lost weight. Also couldn't agree more than Fitbit and MFP are useful tools.2
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great work!
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You are a real inspiration to me. I too was a similar start weight and have had 2 c sections. Thank you1
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Great job!!!!! and good on you for sticking with it....you are a great inspiration to us all. 1
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That's so awesome! Very inspiring! Way to go!!1
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@NextPage , @fatblatta , @SamanthaPeake , @MarietjieHoward , @BriansBean - Thank you guys :flowerforyou:
Thanks again everyone for your kind words.
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Holy crappers! I've seen you in the selfie thread, but I had no idea how far you had come! Insanely good job. Well done, chickie.1
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@PurringMyrrh - Awe thanks :flowerforyou:0
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