Women 200lb+, Let's Double Down This December!!!

Aerohead21

@bluffgirl67 hope you feel better soon!

mmdeveau

So great to hear everyone who has posted that they are at least at peace with their overall progress or plan for handling Christmas.

I'm managing to get a mid-week message out for once!

Very happy to hear about those losses! @HurleyHurley - I won't say I knew you would do it, but I guess I kind of did know. Congratulations! @bluffgirl67 - so sorry to hear you're not feeling well. Hopefully just a temporary phenomenon. Congrats on your weight loss - a plan for the week well-executed! @BrownSugar174 - you are so close to goal, you can do it! Loved the pictures on the beach! But um, the Squatty Potty? I'm sure it works, better out than in is what I say, but man those were some of the most interesting/disturbing Facebook ads I've ever seen. I'm not making any name change suggestions based on the Squatty Potty! @aliciap0116 - you must be the queen of consistency! Always a moderate, steady loss no matter what else is going on, congrats on your loss this week! Like you I had the Christmas miracle of reaching goal during my morning weigh in...

Then the very next day I was up 3.8 pounds!! That's the largest one-day increase in weight I've seen since I started tracking again in September! I'm down 1.6 lbs today, hopefully I'll be back down further tomorrow morning. I blame the cheese, I ate lots of cheese on Christmas day. So much sodium! I did get a great compliment on Christmas day from my mom, who hadn't seen me in two months - she said I lost a lot of weight! I also got a new pair of pants from my sister, who said "I can't have you losing your pants in the middle of the street!"

Like many of you a am truly grateful that I have lost more than 40 pounds this year. I don't know exactly how high my weight was, but a friend of mine recently said she thought I'd gotten bigger than she is - and she's about 270 lbs, and I've got about 3 inches of height on her. My best guess would be 60 pounds lost since I started walking again in May. It's just hard today, having jumped so much in one day then not seeing the weight drop like a stone the following day. I'm actually feeling pretty run-down and blah right now. Thank goodness it's my last work day leading into a week's vacation. I really need it!

Thanks to all who share their triumphs and their setbacks on this thread. It is nice to know that for better or worse you are not alone on this journey.

harmonialpenguin

Sooo I lost 3lbs then Christmas happened, now I’ve got to reduce my daily calorie limit drastically for the next 3 days or so to stay on track

torih941

Hi all! The holiday season is mostly over. I definitely fell off the wagon, but I just need to get my head back in the game and start tracking again. I was very kind to myself over the holidays as that is a time where my depression/anxiety can be at full force, so I was trying to prevent that. Overall, it worked, but I’ve been a little quiet here. Great losses everyone, I’m sorry I can’t reply individually at the moment but I’m proud of you all, losses or not.

Here’s to getting back in the tracking game

BrownSugar174

@mmdeveau You are too funny! The first time a dear friend told me about the Squatty Potty I was like what the heck! But it really works. We so enjoyed our time with our daughter. She had a really hard semester and really needed this time to decompress. She flew out to Philadelphia yesterday for an EDM concert and heads to Louisville, Kentucky for the next concert (she's also a music journalist/blogger for two EDM outlets).

BrownSugar174

@speyerj Thank you so much! The food was very good and I'm trying to eat the leftovers by serving size...we will see how that goes!

BrownSugar174

@bluffgirl67 I hope you feel better soon! Thank you! We so love the beach! My teeth were so cold but it was fun!

BrownSugar174

I have got to say this! I am so so happy to be on MFP and in this group specifically! Before finding MFP I'd shed pounds but was starting to feel that feeling...you know that feeling of loosing focus and motivation. That feeling is gone! Completely gone! Being able to pick up my phone/get on my computer and reach out to all of you all each day, being held accountable because I know others are so lovingly looking over my shoulder..cheering me on.. is the best feeling in the world! Yes, my sweet hubby is absolutely so so supportive but you all are the best! I feel like we are all rowing in the same direction which is awesome! Blessings to you all!!

I wanted to share this because I almost had a little accident the other day which would have turned out much differently had I not been 45+ pounds lighter. During my bike ride I stopped at Starbucks. As I pulled my bike up to place it in the bike rack I simultaneously went to swing my right leg over it to get off. Now the part of the bike rack I was using was right in front of the window which means everyone could see me. As I swung my right leg over my right heal caught the bike seat! The first thing I thought was "oh dear god please help me!" Then I instantly balanced myself, hopped three times on my left foot and caught myself! I was so surprised I yelled out "THANK YOU JESUS!" Now everyone in the drive through could see me! I slowly put my right foot on the grand and yelled WOW THAT WAS AWESOME as I did a happy dance! The people in the drive through were clapping! Now I go to this Starbucks often so everyone who work's there knows me. They've watched my body transform from 288 pounds (when I was drinking a venti caramel macchiotto five days a week) to now. Since I live on a vacation/retirement island, there are many regulars there who know me and the place was packed. When I walked in they all started cheering and high-fiving me! It was wonderful! I was so happy I cried tears of joy!

What did I learn? My body deals better with the shock of stress when it is fit/fitter. Had I been at my heavier weight I would have, more than likely, fallen back and broken bones. While we never know what tomorrow holds for us WE WILL ALL STRIVE TOWARDS OUR GOAL OF LIVING A MORE FIT LIFE FULL OF LOVE AND LAUGHTER! AMEN? AAAAAAMMMMMEN!

Aerohead21

Thank you for the happy story I’m struggling today. Eating was my self medicating for depression. I don’t want to eat, which is great, but the depression is so heavy right now. I am finding no joy in anything. 😭 I need more joyous stories like that

speyerj

Week 4 Update:
Height: 5' 9''
SW: 286.5 (June 3, 2019)
11/30/19: 221.6 lbs
12/7/19: 220.5
12/14/19: 218.9
12/21/19: 219
12/28/19:216.4
12/31/19:
GW: 180

Goals for December:
Strength train 3 x week: 10/12
5K training 3 x week: 12/12
Get 10000 steps a day: 25/27
Eat no more than 100 grams of net carbs (Carbs - fiber): 17/27
Eat more than 100 grams of protein a day: 17/27
Drink 150 oz of water a day: 19/27
Log accurately every day: 25/27 (gave up logging Christmas Eve's feast)
Lose 8 pounds: 5.2/8

So, not my best week in terms of sticking with my food and water goals. But it was the week of Christmas, and I did manage to score a net loss for the week so I'm calling it a win.

I'm not going to hit my weight loss goal for the month. It's interesting, now that I am exercising more, it's harder to lose weight. I simply cannot limit myself to 1200 calories when I'm running. I'm burning more, but eating more too. When I was fairly sedentary it was easier to eat at a larger deficit and shed pounds faster. Don't get me wrong - I'm not giving up exercising. Linda's great story about being able to balance herself after a near fall is evidence enough on the importance of strength training. But I think my fitness goals need to evolve with my fitness level. I wondered if anyone else has had a similar experience.

Aerohead21

@speyerj have you considered taking measurements as an alternative to the scale? Building muscle creates fluid retention and a buildup of lactic acid as muscles recover from exercise. This won’t cause a gain, per se, and shouldn’t cause a stall in loss when your weight is significant enough that you have enough to lose, however, it might be why you feel like things are moving more slowly. It takes time to build muscle and muscle burns more energy so it’s worth it! By taking measurements you might see loss in inches or centimeters rather than by pounds. It might help get you through when the scale isn’t your friend.

Sanriohippie

Met some of my goals for this month so yay!!
Reached my one year mark with a 75lbs loss in total.
I must say this group has really been a driving force behind my commitment!
I didn’t gain any weight nor did I lose any,but I lost 2” off my waist!!
Again thank you for the inspiration♥️
Cheers to the new year ladies!!!

HurleyHurley

Gah, lost a whole big long post....short short version:

My accomplishment this am, yummy smoked chicken, salami, and egg drop soup with veggies. 650 calories for the whole pot! Woot.

torih941

@speyerj, I definitely noticed that. When I first started strength training/cardio it took my body a solid 5-6 weeks before I actually lost anything. I could feel my body changing, I was smaller according to my clothes and glasses slipping off my face, but the scale wasn’t moving. I did some research (because that’s what makes me feel better) and I found a lot of similar articles that said it takes your body 4-6 weeks to adjust to a new workout regime and during that time it'll retain more water from being sore and healing muscles.

Then at the end, I had lost 3% body fat and inches all around.

It really was just continuing to push through until that loss appeared, and it eventually did.

I hope that helps!

Also, @BrownSugar174, what an accomplishment! Go you!

@Aerohead21, I’m in the same boat, but we can do this. Sometimes when I start to feel discouraged I head over to the “success stories” forum and scroll through.

@bluffgirl67, feel better soon! The flu/cold seems to be horrible this season.

speyerj

@Sanriohippie, congratulations on your milestone loss and one year anniversary! Your pics really show it!

@Aerohead21 , yes, I do measure my waist. I see improvement on the scale and the measuring tape. I'm not discouraged. I just need to set better goals. Losing an average 2 to 3 pounds a week isn't going to happen anymore - the home stretch is going to go slower now. I need to readjust to the new normal, which is likely 1 to 1.5 pounds a week.

seximama2017

Hey my peeps!! So I think it’s been a good run so far during the holidays 😊

In 12 days...see pic.

aliciap0116

@bluffgirl67 hope you feel better soon. About 5 people in my family were sick with something that was a cold/flu and it was brutal. Fingers crossed; no one in my immediate family has gotten it despite spending Christmas Day with lots of sick people.

@Sanriohippie congratulations on your huge milestone! That is fantastic and the change is dramatic.

@brownsugar174 thank you for the uplifting and funny story. Happy you are stronger and healthier and could not agree with you more - this group is the glue that makes me keep sticking to it! Love checking in with you all each day.

@Aerohead21 sorry you are struggling. I have been so amazed and inspired by your recent progress. Hang in there.

@torihudson6 you as well; I’m sorry the holidays are hard. Totally with you on the research - a passion for me too. I am so impressed the commitment to your exercise routine - you have got this!!

@speyerj you have done a tremendous job! I think your new rate of loss is very normal as you come down in size and start adding more muscle.

It’s been quite a week, with the holidays and a surprise visit from our older son in the Air Force overseas. Right now, my husband and the big kids are out at a concert, the little one is in bed, and I am chilling by myself for the first time in weeks without the craze of Christmas.

I have noticed a few things, having been off work for one week. First, I wouldn’t give up this holiday and family time for anything. But I also love my routine when I am working. I really got intermittent fasting and meals down well, and had a good exercise schedule. It is a lot harder to constantly manage these family meals and special events.

Second, we are still overrun by Christmas cookies of all kinds, cakes, chocolates, maple candy, cheese, scalloped potatoes and other treats. I am trying to track but have not idea whether much of it is accurate. I also find myself mindlessly snacking on these things. I think my mentality in the past has been to eat them all (“clean house”). But these things aren’t going anywhere for a long time. I need to send/give/throw them away. Mindless eating is a big issue for me.

Third, I have been checking myself out in the mirror lately. I’m still curvy and bumpy but I can see a difference in my measurements. Sharing a before and now photo with you all. Funny story about the “before” - that is my first day at the gym in forever and I packed a bag, including that shirt, not realizing the shirt did not fit me at all!! But It shows my shape well, so I am going to keep using it for progress photos.

Hugs to everyone out there who has had a hard week. Kudos to all of you who are staying within your limits and for the workouts I am seeing on my daily feed. You all inspire and motivate me every day!

speyerj

Alicia, what a difference! Thanks for sharing!

Yes, I want all the yummy munchies out of the house too.

lindamtuck2018

@aliciap0116 great progress! Well done!

torih941

@aliciap0116, thank you for the sweet words. Seeing everyone’s positivity in here motivated me to go to the gym tonight. I didn’t stay as long as I wanted as I’ve been fighting a bad migraine, but I still got something in. Also, you look amazing! What a great comparison shot to have.