From a size 20 to a size 8 with strength training, in one year! PICS!

KiairaKay

This is what I'm talking about...you go girl! You look amazing! Please keep up the hard work as you have become a great inspiration! Thanks for sharing your story.

howejoyous

Wow, I am so impressed with your transformation. Congrats to you! You are really empowering us by showing how you did this without trainers, gyms, classes, etc. That is so helpful for me, especially, because I am on a limited budget and find it hard to go it alone.

I am 65 and a year and a half ago I was walking with difficulty and occasional arthritis/bursitis. Sometimes my ankle still tweaks and I wear a support ankle brace to walk and jog. I started out at 235 lbs 2 years ago. I am 5'6" and I have lost 52 lbs so far. The question I want to ask is about belly fat. Because I have been doing aqua aerobics, walking, easy bike rides last summer (I am new to biking and live in a cold climate.) I am feeling so much better, except I feel hopeless about my belly flab/overhang. Tell me that that goes away with lifting and strength training, and I will start that immediately.

You are so down to earth and open. I admire that so much. Thanks for your advice and encouragement on here.

GenElizabeth

Thanks everyone!! Means a lot to hear such awesome things.

GenElizabeth

howejoyous wrote: »

Wow, I am so impressed with your transformation. Congrats to you! You are really empowering us by showing how you did this without trainers, gyms, classes, etc. That is so helpful for me, especially, because I am on a limited budget and find it hard to go it alone.

I am 65 and a year and a half ago I was walking with difficulty and occasional arthritis/bursitis. Sometimes my ankle still tweaks and I wear a support ankle brace to walk and jog. I started out at 235 lbs 2 years ago. I am 5'6" and I have lost 52 lbs so far. The question I want to ask is about belly fat. Because I have been doing aqua aerobics, walking, easy bike rides last summer (I am new to biking and live in a cold climate.) I am feeling so much better, except I feel hopeless about my belly flab/overhang. Tell me that that goes away with lifting and strength training, and I will start that immediately.

You are so down to earth and open. I admire that so much. Thanks for your advice and encouragement on here.

Thank you! I'm super glad you found encouragement here.

Belly fat is simply excess body fat on your midsection. Unfortunately, the only way to get rid of it is to acquire a lower overall body fat % over time, by way of a moderate calorie deficit. To see the "abs" or the abdominals (stomach muscles) underneath, women must get their body fat % down to around the low teens, which is very difficult and could take years to do, but is still possible. MANY women have done it and continue to do it.

Loose skin, however, is different. Once you lose all of the fat in an area, there may be some loose skin there that remains. I have loose skin and stretch marks covering my entire stomach (from above my belly button, all the way down). I had 2 children, both were C-sections, but over the years, the stretch marks have faded a lot. The skin there is still far from tight, which is partially why I was so interested in weight training from the start, to help fill in areas that need it.

Weight training helps you burn calories and helps with body recomposition (which is basically losing fat and gaining muscle simultaneously). The more muscle we have, the more calories we burn, even when doing nothing! It will not help to tighten the actual loose skin that may be present, though it can help it to appear tighter by growing the muscle underneath. Eating fish, taking a fish oil supplement (I want to start taking asap!), staying hydrated by drinking tons of water (at least 64oz/day), and moisturizing the area regularly will all help. Surgery for some, is also an option later on.

I'm still awaiting my... "abs" and will likely be waiting a looooong time, lol. It takes a HUGE amount of time to bring ourselves full circle but that's why fitness is so fun! It never ends and if we keep going, the possibilities and results from hard work are endless!

Continue on with your progress, 52lbs is AWESOME. You can finish this AND you can look great. I wish you the very, very best!

GenElizabeth

bcomingfitmom wrote: »

Hi there, let me start of by saying you are Awesome!!! Very inspiring to read your story and looking at your pics. I am at 224 lbs and trying to lose 80 lbs . I read about strength training on a deficit and started it out about a month ago. I was having my doubts as to whether it would work or no. But seeing your pics today! I am stoked! I will definitely continue strength training now! No looking back thank you for posting this !!!

You are so welcome! And you can totally do this!! There is SO much information out there to help us too. There are no limits, IF it's what you really want. I decided early on that I WANT THIS, with 100% certainty, that I could do it. That's key because the ups and downs can make or break you in this process.

Start it up and like you said, no looking back!!! I'm excited for you. Good luck! And don't forget the protein after every work out!!!

skinneeme007

You look amazing!! Great job, and thank you for posting your inspirational story. It's just more proof that it's actually possible.

reiroome

GenElizabeth wrote: »

Amy3935 wrote: »

You look AMAZING! Did you ever hit any plateaus along the way, and if so how did you keep going? Thanks!

Yes!!! I absolutely hit plateaus. About every 3 months or so, things would stall or progress would seem to be halted... I anticipated this from all of the research I did though, so I knew that changing things up (with both diet and exercise) was key to get past them. It was during these times that I was forced to try new exercises and work outs and reevaluate my calorie needs.

CJsf1t

reiroome wrote: »

GenElizabeth wrote: »

Amy3935 wrote: »

You look AMAZING! Did you ever hit any plateaus along the way, and if so how did you keep going? Thanks!

Yes!!! I absolutely hit plateaus. About every 3 months or so, things would stall or progress would seem to be halted... I anticipated this from all of the research I did though, so I knew that changing things up (with both diet and exercise) was key to get past them. It was during these times that I was forced to try new exercises and work outs and reevaluate my calorie needs.

Did you do cardio to get past plateaus or only strength training?

47Jacqueline

Great shoulders and calves! I think those two areas are so sexy. People comment about mine all the time. lol

You may also find, in this next year, that you lose another size or so from your activity. I went from a size 8 to a size 4 in the next year after reaching maintenance without losing a pound. I'm 5'3" and 127lb

Lola2248

rayw89 wrote: »

You are the image of health! You didn't just get thin, you got FIT. You look awesome!

Agreed!
You look fab!

SusanKing1981

Wow, I think I have a little crush on you! You have the body I imagine myself having. Oh, and in the last pic on the right you are the image of Alyssa Milano.

SusanKing1981

Wow, I think I have a little crush on you! You have the body I imagine myself having. Oh, and in the last pic on the right you are the image of Alyssa Milano.

GenElizabeth

reiroome wrote: »

Did you do cardio to get past plateaus or only strength training?

No, I didn't use cardio to get past the plateaus. I did run on occasion throughout but not regularly and not to beat plateaus. I was on 1200-1300 calories/day when I lost most of the weight so extra cardio wasn't neseccary for me (not counting the 2 month gym period earlier this year, where I went crazy with workouts (cardio and weights) and food, lol). Just needed to keep going every day!

madparkinson

Wow u look amazing well done

GenElizabeth

47Jacqueline wrote: »

Great shoulders and calves! I think those two areas are so sexy. People comment about mine all the time. lol

You may also find, in this next year, that you lose another size or so from your activity. I went from a size 8 to a size 4 in the next year after reaching maintenance without losing a pound. I'm 5'3" and 127lb

I can't wait to hit the 120's (goal is 120-130) and I would love to lose more inches (which are still currently going down) so that's good to hear!! Currently, I've been eating 1300-1400/day with a high day thrown in once/week for a few months now. I feel like I've been lingering for a bit too long at 140lbs so I'm thinking of adding in running a few times/week now or add an extra 15-30 mins of lifting every day. I don't want to lower my calories back to 1200 like before so I may need to increase my activity instead. We'll see how it goes. Thank you, that's exciting!

GenElizabeth

Thanks so much ladies!

GenElizabeth

faeriesue1 wrote: »

Wow, I think I have a little crush on you! You have the body I imagine myself having. Oh, and in the last pic on the right you are the image of Alyssa Milano.

Not the first time hearing that about Alyssa Milano, yay!! Thank you! Awesome compliments.

Desifreckle

Omg... So inspirational!! Size 8 is the size im striving for!

Juicy_G_83

Thank you so much for sharing! I am a size 18/20 and I would like to be a size 10 (I got booty lol), but I'm seriously struggling. I hope that I can pull through and have awesome results like you.

GenElizabeth

Thanks ladies. Size 8-10 is 100% doable. You both can do it!!

taliasometimes

how you get your bum like that! xx

GenElizabeth

taliasometimes wrote: »

how you get your bum like that! xx

A ton of squats and step ups!!

GenElizabeth

I just made my very own, first ever, website!!! I started it last night and finished it (for the most part) this morning. I used to dabble in website building several years so this was really fun to do!

I hope you guys check it out. It's under construction a bit still so bear with me regarding content and any spelling errors, lol..

http://genesiaelizabeth.wix.com/journey-to-fitness

jnyhart

You are such an inspiration to me! I have a hard time with clean eating! I have started back to the gym and am loving it. Now I just need to get my nutrition in check! Thanks for your motivation!

1crvygrl

I was directed to this post yesterday and I have to say, I'm inspired. I feel like this is possibly exactly what I need. I'm 52, so (a lot) older than you but will be starting in a few days when I can get the necessary equipment together. I'm starting from a very similar point, I'm 5ft4, 212 lbs and size 16 is pretty tight. I have a UGW in the 135-145 range , though that may change as I go along.

1crvygrl

I was directed to this post yesterday and I have to say, I'm inspired. I feel like this is possibly exactly what I need. I'm 52, so (a lot) older than you but will be starting in a few days when I can get the necessary equipment together. I'm starting from a very similar point, I'm 5ft4, 212 lbs and size 16 is pretty tight. I have a UGW in the 135-145 range , though that may change as I go along.

praksindiafit

GenElizabeth wrote: »

Hello MFPers!

I am 33 years old and 5'3". I started this difficult journey in Jan of 2014 at 205lbs and I had JUST hit a size 20!!! In Dec 2014, I got down to a size 8 and around 135lbs! I feel great and am loving who I am becoming now! I'm learning a TON and meeting a lot of great people in the process.

I came across MFP in June of last year. I have kept a moderate calorie deficit pretty consistently (500 or so each day), with my carbs and protein around 100g each while lifting weights regularly (in my home with my own collected equipment), 5-6 times/week. I didn't do much cardio, as I don't enjoy it. I do run on occasion though. I feel empowered now and I absolutely LOVE strength training! Planning to take new progress pics at the end of June so I'm looking forward to that.

Here is my story so far on realbodiesrealresults.com. Feel free to check it out!
realbodiesrealresults.com/gen.html

Best wishes to you all, anything is possible if you don't give up!

Wow..is all i can say

BleuBerryS

Wow!! You look amazing !!

Csy4242

Wow!! Amazing transformation!

GenElizabeth

Love it!! ^^^ Lol, thank you.

Night everyone.