Size 20 to size 2! 145 lbs GONE!
vixtris
Posts: 688 Member
When I started my weight loss journey using MFP, I viewed the success stories forum almost every day. I couldn’t wait to post my own success story the moment I hit my goal weight. It’s been about 3 months since then. What was I waiting for?
Here I am in 2009. This isn’t me when I initially started, but it is me at my heaviest weight, approximately 250 lbs at 5’4” size 20 pants/2XL shirts.
I started my journey In January 2015 at 200 lbs. I lost the first 50 lbs over a long period of time unintentionally by eating less. I began by counting my calories using the diary. I didn’t have a food scale when I started, but I quickly got one soon after. I set a target of no more than 1,400 calories a day, but most days would typically be about 1,200-1,300. At this point, I hadn’t made much change to my diet. I was eating frozen, pre-cooked/processed foods, little vegetables, non-diet soda, etc. I started partaking in light exercise. I already owned an elliptical, so I used that for about 15 minutes every day. I did not take many break days, because I was afraid a break would put me out of the swing of things. I also did some walking around the neighborhood a few days a week, and introduced light lifting 2-3 times a week about a month into it.
Here I am on July 2nd 2015, 6 months into my weight loss journey. I had lost 30 lbs since the beginning of the year at this point (170 lbs, 5’4”). I was still on track with eating approximately 1,300 calories a day, but by this time I had purchased a new elliptical with an incline (which I love dearly and still use to this day) and increased the workout time to 60 minutes, while still lifting and walking regularly.
This is me on October 30th, 2015, almost 10 months into my journey and down 55 lbs (145 lbs, 5’4”). By this time, I had increased my exercise time to 90 minutes, with lifting and walking regularly throughout the week. I worked very hard and was very determined to get to my goal.
Me on December 27th, 2015, 75 lbs from the beginning of the year (125 lbs, 5’4”). I admit that by this point I was obsessed with hitting my goal and was exercising on my elliptical for 180 minutes every day, running a half marathon each time. I was eating about 1,300-1,500 calories a day, and lifting about once a week.
It was March 2016 when I finally hit my final goal weight of 105 lbs, approximately 145 lbs lost from my highest weight, 95 lbs lost from January 2015 when I started with MFP. And here I am now…
So why was I waiting so long to make this success story post? In the first picture, I was at a botanical garden with my husband and mother. Just this past weekend we went back to that garden because I wanted to retake these photos for a proper before and after comparison.
Now my maintenance calorie goal is about 1,500 without exercise factored in (so about 1,900-2,000 calories daily to maintain). I exercise 5-6 times a week using my elliptical for an hour. Sometimes I do bike riding, jogging, walking, swimming, and gym time at my university, and I am still lifting regularly, about 2 times a week. My diet is much cleaner than it was when I started. Now my diet consists mostly of unprocessed meats, whole grains, and lots of fruits and vegetables. I do, however, drink diet soda, some pre-packaged snacks and treats (but I try to go for the more ‘healthy’ ones - Triscuits are one of my favorites) and go out to eat about 2-3 times a month (be it fast food or restaurant). I have been learning more at-home cooking, where I can control the calorie amount and still have a great tasting meal, so going out to eat has actually became less appetizing for me anyway.
To wrap things up here, I’d just like to add that losing weight was the most challenging thing I’ve ever done. It took serious commitment, dedication, and especially discipline over all. It was hard to lace up my shoes every day and workout, even when I didn’t want to. It wasn’t easy declining the free doughnuts and pizza offered to me plenty of times at work. But I was rewarded in the end. I couldn’t be happier and more proud of myself for following through. It is a life changer. It has changed me in more aspects than just my size and weight, it has introduced me to a new way of living and enjoying life. Thanks for reading my story!
Here I am in 2009. This isn’t me when I initially started, but it is me at my heaviest weight, approximately 250 lbs at 5’4” size 20 pants/2XL shirts.
I started my journey In January 2015 at 200 lbs. I lost the first 50 lbs over a long period of time unintentionally by eating less. I began by counting my calories using the diary. I didn’t have a food scale when I started, but I quickly got one soon after. I set a target of no more than 1,400 calories a day, but most days would typically be about 1,200-1,300. At this point, I hadn’t made much change to my diet. I was eating frozen, pre-cooked/processed foods, little vegetables, non-diet soda, etc. I started partaking in light exercise. I already owned an elliptical, so I used that for about 15 minutes every day. I did not take many break days, because I was afraid a break would put me out of the swing of things. I also did some walking around the neighborhood a few days a week, and introduced light lifting 2-3 times a week about a month into it.
Here I am on July 2nd 2015, 6 months into my weight loss journey. I had lost 30 lbs since the beginning of the year at this point (170 lbs, 5’4”). I was still on track with eating approximately 1,300 calories a day, but by this time I had purchased a new elliptical with an incline (which I love dearly and still use to this day) and increased the workout time to 60 minutes, while still lifting and walking regularly.
This is me on October 30th, 2015, almost 10 months into my journey and down 55 lbs (145 lbs, 5’4”). By this time, I had increased my exercise time to 90 minutes, with lifting and walking regularly throughout the week. I worked very hard and was very determined to get to my goal.
Me on December 27th, 2015, 75 lbs from the beginning of the year (125 lbs, 5’4”). I admit that by this point I was obsessed with hitting my goal and was exercising on my elliptical for 180 minutes every day, running a half marathon each time. I was eating about 1,300-1,500 calories a day, and lifting about once a week.
It was March 2016 when I finally hit my final goal weight of 105 lbs, approximately 145 lbs lost from my highest weight, 95 lbs lost from January 2015 when I started with MFP. And here I am now…
So why was I waiting so long to make this success story post? In the first picture, I was at a botanical garden with my husband and mother. Just this past weekend we went back to that garden because I wanted to retake these photos for a proper before and after comparison.
Now my maintenance calorie goal is about 1,500 without exercise factored in (so about 1,900-2,000 calories daily to maintain). I exercise 5-6 times a week using my elliptical for an hour. Sometimes I do bike riding, jogging, walking, swimming, and gym time at my university, and I am still lifting regularly, about 2 times a week. My diet is much cleaner than it was when I started. Now my diet consists mostly of unprocessed meats, whole grains, and lots of fruits and vegetables. I do, however, drink diet soda, some pre-packaged snacks and treats (but I try to go for the more ‘healthy’ ones - Triscuits are one of my favorites) and go out to eat about 2-3 times a month (be it fast food or restaurant). I have been learning more at-home cooking, where I can control the calorie amount and still have a great tasting meal, so going out to eat has actually became less appetizing for me anyway.
To wrap things up here, I’d just like to add that losing weight was the most challenging thing I’ve ever done. It took serious commitment, dedication, and especially discipline over all. It was hard to lace up my shoes every day and workout, even when I didn’t want to. It wasn’t easy declining the free doughnuts and pizza offered to me plenty of times at work. But I was rewarded in the end. I couldn’t be happier and more proud of myself for following through. It is a life changer. It has changed me in more aspects than just my size and weight, it has introduced me to a new way of living and enjoying life. Thanks for reading my story!
297
Replies
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GREAT JOB!!!!!
You look great
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Wow, absolutely incredible. Congratulations!2
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AMAZING!!!! This gives me perspective on my goals. I am starting a little heavier than you did (same height) and my goal weight is 110lbs.. and so many people keep telling me that 110lbs will look horrible. You look fantastic.6
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Well done you !!1
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You look wonderful and that maxi skirt crop top you're rocking in one of your current photos- love. I'm recreating that somehow!2
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Wow. I want to thank you! I am shorter than you and thought 110 was out of my reach but obviously that isn't true. You look amazing!5
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Wow, Congratulations! You look really good!! Thank you for sharing your your post! It encourages me to keep going and I can achieve my goal! I know I'm only on day 8, but I've done "diets" before and they worked for a little while, or I'd start one and then it would just go down hill from there. Again, I just want to say thank you and I know that I can do this, I just can't fall like the last times.4
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Brilliant! So inspiring and you look wonderful! Congrats!2
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Awesome Congrats on your transformation! You look great!1
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GREAT job!
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I'm so happy for you!! I think it's awesome that you achieved your goals... The healthy long lasting way! You should be very proud of yourself. I'm just starting my journey in Feb and have lost 35 lbs so far. I started at 220 lbs and I'm 185 now. I'm only 5 ft nothing and majority of my weight is in my middle. I was wearing size 22 jeans edging into size 24. I'm down to a size 18/16. Like you, I look for inspiration here. And I can't wait until I can post my finished before and after pics. Thank you for sharing your story. You have given me, and I'm sure many others, a renewed hope.
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You look fantastic and your style is awesome!2
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Amazing! Thanks for sharing!1
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Beautiful story and congratulations !1
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Super cool!!!! Can't wait do get there my self
))) well done!! 1 -
Awesome. You look great! I'm 5'4" as well and never thought about going as low as you did but hey, you never know. Great job and great inspiration! Thank you for sharing!1
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Wow! I am just starting out and this has really inspired me! Well done, you look amazing2
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You look great. Congratulations on your successful weight loss.2
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You really do look healthy, well done for all your dedication and hard work3
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You look amazing! And your legs are BEAST, I am so jealous! I would wear skirts and shorts pretty much everyday if I had those legs!
Congrats on your hard work! It's very impressive that you were able to change your diet and level of activity so radically AND maintain it.4 -
Thanks for sharing! Your hard work and dedication are clear. Congrats on reaching your goal!1
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Congrats! Your story is very inspirational. Thanks for sharing it.1
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Fantastic results, well done 1
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What a wonderful story and journey. Thanks for sharing and congratulations1
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Wow!!! Amazing!!! Congrats!!! Thank you for keeping the rest of us motivated and inspired by sharing your success.1
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Awesome post -- thank you for sharing your story. Your legs are awsome1
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When I started my weight loss journey using MFP, I viewed the success stories forum almost every day. I couldn’t wait to post my own success story the moment I hit my goal weight. It’s been about 3 months since then. What was I waiting for?
Here I am in 2009. This isn’t me when I initially started, but it is me at my heaviest weight, approximately 250 lbs at 5’4” size 20 pants/2XL shirts.
I started my journey In January 2015 at 200 lbs. I lost the first 50 lbs over a long period of time unintentionally by eating less. I began by counting my calories using the diary. I didn’t have a food scale when I started, but I quickly got one soon after. I set a target of no more than 1,400 calories a day, but most days would typically be about 1,200-1,300. At this point, I hadn’t made much change to my diet. I was eating frozen, pre-cooked/processed foods, little vegetables, non-diet soda, etc. I started partaking in light exercise. I already owned an elliptical, so I used that for about 15 minutes every day. I did not take many break days, because I was afraid a break would put me out of the swing of things. I also did some walking around the neighborhood a few days a week, and introduced light lifting 2-3 times a week about a month into it.
Here I am on July 2nd 2015, 6 months into my weight loss journey. I had lost 30 lbs since the beginning of the year at this point (170 lbs, 5’4”). I was still on track with eating approximately 1,300 calories a day, but by this time I had purchased a new elliptical with an incline (which I love dearly and still use to this day) and increased the workout time to 60 minutes, while still lifting and walking regularly.
This is me on October 30th, 2015, almost 10 months into my journey and down 55 lbs (145 lbs, 5’4”). By this time, I had increased my exercise time to 90 minutes, with lifting and walking regularly throughout the week. I worked very hard and was very determined to get to my goal.
Me on December 27th, 2015, 75 lbs from the beginning of the year (125 lbs, 5’4”). I admit that by this point I was obsessed with hitting my goal and was exercising on my elliptical for 180 minutes every day, running a half marathon each time. I was eating about 1,300-1,500 calories a day, and lifting about once a week.
It was March 2016 when I finally hit my final goal weight of 105 lbs, approximately 145 lbs lost from my highest weight, 95 lbs lost from January 2015 when I started with MFP. And here I am now…
So why was I waiting so long to make this success story post? In the first picture, I was at a botanical garden with my husband and mother. Just this past weekend we went back to that garden because I wanted to retake these photos for a proper before and after comparison.
Now my maintenance calorie goal is about 1,500 without exercise factored in (so about 1,900-2,000 calories daily to maintain). I exercise 5-6 times a week using my elliptical for an hour. Sometimes I do bike riding, jogging, walking, swimming, and gym time at my university, and I am still lifting regularly, about 2 times a week. My diet is much cleaner than it was when I started. Now my diet consists mostly of unprocessed meats, whole grains, and lots of fruits and vegetables. I do, however, drink diet soda, some pre-packaged snacks and treats (but I try to go for the more ‘healthy’ ones - Triscuits are one of my favorites) and go out to eat about 2-3 times a month (be it fast food or restaurant). I have been learning more at-home cooking, where I can control the calorie amount and still have a great tasting meal, so going out to eat has actually became less appetizing for me anyway.
To wrap things up here, I’d just like to add that losing weight was the most challenging thing I’ve ever done. It took serious commitment, dedication, and especially discipline over all. It was hard to lace up my shoes every day and workout, even when I didn’t want to. It wasn’t easy declining the free doughnuts and pizza offered to me plenty of times at work. But I was rewarded in the end. I couldn’t be happier and more proud of myself for following through. It is a life changer. It has changed me in more aspects than just my size and weight, it has introduced me to a new way of living and enjoying life. Thanks for reading my story!
Great job! I would like you to post a pic every two years. Losing weight is an in process goal for me. So far I've lost 21 pounds, 27 more to go. I'm proud you lost your weight while you're still young. I'm older and it is harder to lose. Keep it up girl!!4 -
Wow, you look phenomenal!1
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Thank you for sharing your success story and photos....your story reflects such honesty and inspires me to work harder than I have been. I know many others will be inspired as well! You look amazing and so much happier!!1
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What a wonderful success you have been! Thank you for sharing your story and your photos. Your down to earth story gives each of us more encouragement to stick with it day after day.3
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