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
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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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So I had a little fun going through some old pictures and decided I have a few more comparison pics to add to this thread. Enjoy
Halloween 2014 and the costume now:
Dress I bought in October 2014 and how it fit's now (a little big, but I think I can still get away with wearing it):
Halloween 2013 and the costume now:
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Gorgeous!1
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1
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Wow - you look amazing. How tall are you? I feel like you have a very similar body to mine (very similar at different weights) and I find that really inspiring. I started at 222, am now around 210 (also use trendweight) and would like to get down to 140. To be honest, your photos at 194 and 170 make me feel so much better because those weights, especially 194, are within reach and I think you already look so much better at those weights. You can really see that you lost fat, not muscle, and that you must work out and that makes a real difference in looking good so quickly. Of course, I want to hit my ultimate goal, but even getting down below 200 I think will make a real difference and help motivate. Also, I have to say that you look AMAZING through your second pregnancy. You clearly kept in good shape and your legs have so much strength and it's very cool that you carried good habits through your pregnancy even when you had to put weight loss on hold. Congratulations!1
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newyorkcitymom wrote: »Wow - you look amazing. How tall are you? I feel like you have a very similar body to mine (very similar at different weights) and I find that really inspiring. I started at 222, am now around 210 (also use trendweight) and would like to get down to 140. To be honest, your photos at 194 and 170 make me feel so much better because those weights, especially 194, are within reach and I think you already look so much better at those weights. You can really see that you lost fat, not muscle, and that you must work out and that makes a real difference in looking good so quickly. Of course, I want to hit my ultimate goal, but even getting down below 200 I think will make a real difference and help motivate. Also, I have to say that you look AMAZING through your second pregnancy. You clearly kept in good shape and your legs have so much strength and it's very cool that you carried good habits through your pregnancy even when you had to put weight loss on hold. Congratulations!
@newyorkcitymom - Thank you for the kind words. Your so sweet. :flowerforyou:
I'm 5' 4.5".0 -
Wow! Excellent progess1
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bump0
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You go girl ! It takes dedication and its a life time change of mind and our body will follow you are what you eat is very true !!0
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This was exactly what I needed to read this morning! Thank you!1
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This is awesome! I think it is so great that you had the healthy mindset to take the approach you did. Very inspiring.1
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