My Turn!

sgriska

I’ve been fighting my weight since puberty. My first big weight loss was on the Cambridge Diet (kind of a proto-Slim Fast pyramid scheme) back in the early 80s. I was 16 years old, and managed to get down to 140 from a high of about 180, and managed to squeeze into a size 12 (nowadays, a size 6). Dipped maybe ten pounds lower for a couple of weeks, but never did manage to get down into the 10s and 8s my friends were wearing. And by the time I got to college, the weight was back again. Junior year, Spring semester, I completely stopped eating and lived on Diet Jolt (which briefly was a thing) for I’m thinking about six weeks, and got back down to 140ish again, but by graduation I had yoyo’d up to 200. So, I joined Weight Watchers when I was in grad school, but dropped out before reaching my goal (I believe somewhere in the mid 160s). Up to around 250 by my early thirties, when I starved myself again back down to about 170, then back up to 300 or so in my early 40s. Dieted down to around 175 in my late 40s, and by my start date with MFP in October 2017, I was back up to 285. And now, a year and a quarter later, I’m all the way back down to my healthy starting weight, the first time I’ve actually hit goal since I was sixteen years old.

This is the END of the rollercoaster, because my attitude has completely changed. Every other “diet” I was just waiting to get low enough I could “eat like a normal person”, but I had no bloody idea what my actual maintenance caloric level was, so “like a normal person” to me meant “eat whatever you want whenever you want,” and the cycle would start again. I’d start not looking at the scale for longer and longer, and before you’d know it I was huge again. And the health issues just keep piling on — hypertension, diabetes, kidney disease...

But there’s the key for me — I’ve decided to approach my obesity as a chronic disease that will need a lifetime’s management, just like all the conditions its caused. Right now, it’s in remission, and I intend to keep it that way. Between MFP and Fitbit, I have all the tools I need to maintain my weight for the rest of my life. Maintenance is really no different than weight loss — same habits, just slightly bigger numbers.

I’m very optimistic for the future, and feel a world better than I did in forever.

lorabelllee

Congrats! You look fantastic! What a testament to never giving up and learning how to manage your diet in maintenance. Quite inspiring!

justlosingit4

I love this post! You go girl!

seaturtle7

You look fabulous! 💃🏻💃🏻

Ringbearer2

What an incredible story! You look fantastic. Thanks for sharing. (And I love your top).

reboot1818

I am so impressed. Great job!

13ecca4

Wow!
Such an incredible transformation and your story is so inspiring a relatable. I am also a yoyo dieter. Anything between 172 and 304!
It’s amazing how many success stories are on here with just MFP and a fit bit.
You should be so proud of yourself!

neugebauer52

There is a lot to learn from your story. Thank you!

sdewey415

First, congrats on making it! Second, I love your top!!! Yoyoing is something I known for, I have a mildly similar story. I did weight watchers when I was a 17(doctor approved) and ended up falling out of it. In college I put the pounds back on and then back off. It's, as you put it, been a roller coaster. I have been more dedicated in the begging this time and hope that with inspiration like yourself, I make it to my goal. Thank you for being you and showing me that it is possible!

kgb6days

WOW - you look amazing!

sgriska

The top was 75¢ at Salvation Army! LOL! Thrift stores for the win!

Thanks everybody! I’m thrilled to finally be at a place to have a success story at goal! I contemplated trying for 125, but realized what’s standing between me and size 4 slacks is actual pelvis bone, just as it kept me out of size 10s when I was a teen. So, sure, I could keep going and get loose waistbands I need to wear belts on and baggy pant legs, or I can accept reality that my sturdy Baltic peasant stock ain’t gonna let me shrink into Twiggy this lifetime. Bones just are what they are.

trailjunkey

Wow! Way to Go! Definitely is "Your Turn". Just Awesome!

dsboohead

The best part is that you fought for your life and won

dhiammarath

Wow! Congrats! Your story is inspiring.

puffbrat

You have a great story to share and you look fantastic!

bobsburgersfan

Amazing story!!! Thank you for sharing it, and being such an inspiration!

YadaYadaYada64

One of my favorite success stories! We’re around the same age, you are incredibly inspiring! What an accomplishment.

sgriska

YadaYadaYada64 wrote: »

One of my favorite success stories! We’re around the same age, you are incredibly inspiring! What an accomplishment.

Thanks so much, YadaYadaYada64! And everybody else. The support folks give in these forums is so, so valuable!

MomtoFran

This is such an amazing accomplishment!!! You should be very proud of yourself. You are very beautiful!!

daklock

You look fantastic. Congratulations

tattoomary

WOW. That is all, just WOW

Emi1974

CONGRATULATIONS You look amazing

cinrn68

Congrats! It truly is a lifelong battle. Your story is all too familiar. It's my turn to bite the bullet as well. Keep up the great work!

jennifer_417

You look fantastic! Great work!

DanerTee

Thank you SO much for sharing your roller coaster experience. I completely relate to it and like you, I have finally realised that this is a disease more than anything and if I treat it as such, the success just comes. THANK YOU! And CONGRATS!

Sew3rin

Awesome attitude! You look fabulous!

Sew3rin

Congratulations!!

girlwithcurls2

Fantastic! Throw away that yo-yo. You've got this

LittleLightShine

That's terrific. Good for you and you look great!

babysaffy

Congratulations!

sytchequeen

Wow. Just wow. You don't even look like the same person!