385 days - my progress
Lietchi
Posts: 6,841 Member
Today is day 385 of my streak on MFP.
I’m a 37-year-old woman from Belgium, 166cm/5’5”, and I had been gaining weight steadily ever since my early twenties.
Last year, something finally ‘clicked’ in my head: I started a free trial on Noom and then quickly switched to MFP.
So here’s my journey so far, in numbers:
- 385 days of logging everything I eat on MFP
- I’ve lost 20.5 kg (45 lbs) from a starting weight of 94.2 kg (207.6 lbs) to my current weight of 73.7 kg (162.5 lbs),
- I’ve lost 22 % of my original bodyweight
- I’m down from a BMI of 34.2 to my current BMI of 26.75
- I’ve logged a daily deficit of 336 calories on average: I chose a weight loss rate of 0.25kg (0.5lbs) per week, but occasionally stayed slightly below my calorie goal.
My strategy?
Calories in (MFP) versus calories out (my fitness tracker)
+ slow and steady wins the race
+ no foods are off limits
Behind the numbers:
- For all of my life, I have heard my mother say weight loss is impossible, I’ve heard her complain how she gains weight after every family dinner party, etc. Her favorite motto: “A moment on the lips, a lifetime on the hips”. I thought I was doomed to follow in her footsteps, gaining weight gradually through the years. But after discovering MFP, what a revelation: I had no idea weight loss could be so easy. If I had known 10-15 years ago, I never would have ballooned to 90+ kg and I would have saved myself a lot of stretchmarks.
- I’m not at my (first) goal yet, a normal BMI, but I am no longer (by far) the fattest person in the room in most of my social circles. I can look in the mirror (clothed) and feel quite happy with my figure. I no longer need to shop ‘plus size’. A lot of my wardrobe is no longer wearable, and the clothes that are still wearable (because they were too small
) look a lot better on me.
- I feel a lot fitter. I haven’t been hiking in proper mountains yet (the real test) but I can hike a lot further and faster on flat terrain and moderate inclines than before. I can also jog for 1h30 non-stop (although there is still lots of room for improvement where my speed is concerned
). Only now do I fully realize how unfit I was and how my weight was holding me back and making simple things, like tying my shoelaces, harder than necessary.
- I feel much better about myself. I have lots of self-discipline and concentration issues, but this success has shown me that there is a disciplined person hidden deep within me
Some images to illustrate my journey:
1) August 6th 2019 – July 31st 2020:
2) August 22nd 2020:
3) My weight loss graph:
4) My step count, which has increased dramatically since last year:
And now? I’m slowing down my weight loss rate a bit, to give my skin some time to recover, and focusing more on strength training while continuing to jog/run. Still 6kg/13.25lbs to go to get to a normal BMI, but I’m in no rush, I’ll get there when I get there.
I’m a 37-year-old woman from Belgium, 166cm/5’5”, and I had been gaining weight steadily ever since my early twenties.
Last year, something finally ‘clicked’ in my head: I started a free trial on Noom and then quickly switched to MFP.
So here’s my journey so far, in numbers:
- 385 days of logging everything I eat on MFP
- I’ve lost 20.5 kg (45 lbs) from a starting weight of 94.2 kg (207.6 lbs) to my current weight of 73.7 kg (162.5 lbs),
- I’ve lost 22 % of my original bodyweight
- I’m down from a BMI of 34.2 to my current BMI of 26.75
- I’ve logged a daily deficit of 336 calories on average: I chose a weight loss rate of 0.25kg (0.5lbs) per week, but occasionally stayed slightly below my calorie goal.
My strategy?
Calories in (MFP) versus calories out (my fitness tracker)
+ slow and steady wins the race
+ no foods are off limits
Behind the numbers:
- For all of my life, I have heard my mother say weight loss is impossible, I’ve heard her complain how she gains weight after every family dinner party, etc. Her favorite motto: “A moment on the lips, a lifetime on the hips”. I thought I was doomed to follow in her footsteps, gaining weight gradually through the years. But after discovering MFP, what a revelation: I had no idea weight loss could be so easy. If I had known 10-15 years ago, I never would have ballooned to 90+ kg and I would have saved myself a lot of stretchmarks.
- I’m not at my (first) goal yet, a normal BMI, but I am no longer (by far) the fattest person in the room in most of my social circles. I can look in the mirror (clothed) and feel quite happy with my figure. I no longer need to shop ‘plus size’. A lot of my wardrobe is no longer wearable, and the clothes that are still wearable (because they were too small
) look a lot better on me.- I feel a lot fitter. I haven’t been hiking in proper mountains yet (the real test) but I can hike a lot further and faster on flat terrain and moderate inclines than before. I can also jog for 1h30 non-stop (although there is still lots of room for improvement where my speed is concerned
). Only now do I fully realize how unfit I was and how my weight was holding me back and making simple things, like tying my shoelaces, harder than necessary.- I feel much better about myself. I have lots of self-discipline and concentration issues, but this success has shown me that there is a disciplined person hidden deep within me
Some images to illustrate my journey:
1) August 6th 2019 – July 31st 2020:
2) August 22nd 2020:
3) My weight loss graph:
4) My step count, which has increased dramatically since last year:
And now? I’m slowing down my weight loss rate a bit, to give my skin some time to recover, and focusing more on strength training while continuing to jog/run. Still 6kg/13.25lbs to go to get to a normal BMI, but I’m in no rush, I’ll get there when I get there.
112
Replies
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Great job!1
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Fantastic job and what a great attitude!1
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Great job! My mom was exactly the same. It was always about weight and food. Glad to hear I am not the only one who experienced this!2
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Thank you for your post.1
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Great job!!1
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💪👌1
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Congratulations, keep at it. My journey is so similar except I lost control of my weight in my mid 30's and finally at 68 decided to get my body back in shape. I started in October of 2019 and have lost 44 lbs. MFP has been such a huge part of my success, keeps me accountable to myself.
Good luck in getting fitter and enjoying life more.3 -
Wow! Look at that straight line. If I got to posting my line it looks like a mountain range2
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So true, lol. When you've chosen a slow rate of loss, the fluctuations really do hide the downward trend.
My journey only looks like a straight line from afar.
Up close it's quite the roller-coaster!
These past three months:
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Excellent! I love your approach and realistic life style change. You are a inspiration.1
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Excellent progress, congratulations on both your weight loss and your insightful approach. Best of luck on reaching all your goals! 2
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Congratulations! I love what you said about slow and steady wins the race. I also like that no foods are off limits That is my approach, I know the weight will come off as long as I make good choices most of the time. You are an inspiration!
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Inspiring - well done and thank you!1
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You look great!!2
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Thanks for sharing your story! I started about 6 weeks ago and have lost 13lbs so far. I have a long road to my goal of 70lbs but am hoping I keep the pace I am currently one and get there in 7-8 months. I need to add more exercise. I am in AZ and with record highs it is way to hot to do anything outside. I put my bike on an indoor stationary unit so I just need to commit to doing more of that. Thanks for those that shared their graphs. I weigh every day but have only been logging when I have lost past the previous entry. I of course fluctuate which was discouraging but glad to see it is pretty normal to lose and then regain a lb or two and still continue the downward trend long term. The biggest eye opener to me so far using MFP is the amount of sodium in everything! It is very hard to stay around the 2300mg but I am doing my best.3
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A little update:
Only 26 days later and my weight loss has caught up (I was slightly stalled) to reach 22.7kg.
I live in a decimal country, but this time I prefer looking at it in lbs: 50lbs lost!
And at a BMI of 25.9, my goal of a normal BMI is so close.
I've also been on a 2 week holiday in the French Alps and I did hikes/climbs I haven't been capable of doing in probably 10 years (and even then I was out of breath faster).
The views were awesome:
18 -
Love this! And congratulations to Lietchi on continued progress. This is day 1727 for me, and I've lost 114 lbs. My current BMI is 26.2, and while I'd love to get to 25 or lower, I'm maintaining well where I am.
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A little update:
Only 26 days later and my weight loss has caught up (I was slightly stalled) to reach 22.7kg.
I live in a decimal country, but this time I prefer looking at it in lbs: 50lbs lost!
And at a BMI of 25.9, my goal of a normal BMI is so close.
I've also been on a 2 week holiday in the French Alps and I did hikes/climbs I haven't been capable of doing in probably 10 years (and even then I was out of breath faster).
So you have achieved your mountain walks as well as the 50lbs! Fantastic! Good luck for reaching normal bmi. From your photos you look as though you are there already, so this will hopefully not be too long now.
And thank you for the fabulous mountain photo! I am experiencing mountain envy... (I have not been away from home since the end of March, though to be fair i have been in two different homes.)
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Congratulations on fantastic progress!1
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Absolutely inspiring!! Thanks for sharing 1
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Your story is so inspiring! Especially your recent accomplishment of hiking in the beautiful French Alps. I hiked there 30 years ago and your photo of the mountains brought back a happy memory. Congratulations on all your hard work!1
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Wow! Great job!1
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Great job!
1 -
Thank you for sharing your journey! 👏🙌💐
Good call on taking it slower as you tread down into the lower weight range! 👍🏻1 -
Wow!! Well done you!!!! This is so inspiring and very similar to my story and we are the same age too I am 37 on Saturday, I'm not Belgium though - I am Swedish Keep going and I look forward to seeing more of your updates x 2
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Thanks so much for sharing! Great work!
Very inspiring 1 -
Great work1
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Absolutely INSPIRING! I have always felt slower was way more safer anyway. I am going to change MY goals to .5 lbs a week and see what changes for me. This is a journey... and honestly, I just want to enjoy living and breathing another day. This post makes me smile BIG! CONGRATULATIONS!!!! 1
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High time for another update!
My journey so far, in numbers:
- 642 days of logging everything I eat
- I've lost 28kg so far (nearly 62lbs) from a starting weight of 94.2kg (207.6lbs)
- I'm down from a BMI of 34.2 to a BMI of 24 (yay, no longer overweight!)
An updated weight graph:
And updated before and after pictures:
My first goal was to reach a normal BMI. Having reached that, I'm not fully happy yet with how I look, still some flab hiding under those clothes.
So I've revised my weight goal downwards a bit, probably another 2 to 4kg (5 to 10lbs), and I plan to continue weight training, to improve my body composition. Some of the flab is loose skin probably, but I'll just see how far I can improve. Slow and steady 🙂20
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