The Last 20 lbs Progress Photo Thread

JessBbody

I wanted to start a photo progress thread for losing the last 20 (or so) lbs, so we could see the subtle changes in the body from being at a healthy weight to being fit and/or at goal weight.

I thought it would be cool to show what 10 lbs of progress looks like.

Just a little back story, I was around 184 lbs for several years leading up to March 2019, when I bought a gym membership and started lifting 4-5x a week. During this time I was not watching my diet except to cut out sugar and sweets. I lost 20 lbs by August (first 2 photos).

Since the start of Covid in March 2020 I've been doing YouTube workouts at home 4-5 days per week, but was not counting calories, and I lost about 5 lbs.

I started counting calories on 9/24/20 and have been losing 1-2 lbs a week.

My deficit is 280 cals and I workout 30 minutes 4-6 x per week. Some days I do hard workouts like Heather Robertson and more often I do easy workouts like HASFIT or walk at home with Leslie Sansone.

My goal weight is 135 so I've got 10 lbs to go! Wish me luck trying to lose weight during the holidays!

When I started counting calories I decided to take pictures for every 5 lbs lost.

Please share your pics of the last 20 (or so) lbs of losing if you have them!

JaneClara

I'm 184 right now. Down from 225 and my goal weight is in the 140's. How tall are you?

JessBbody

I'm 5"7

JaneClara

JessBbody wrote: »

I'm 5"7

So am I.

Congrats on your weight loss you look amazing.

JessBbody

Thank you! Congrats on your weight loss too. You will make it to the 140s!

Diatonic12

@JessBbody Stunning results. I know how hard you've worked for all of this. Zowza, sister. You look so beautiful and I'm hoping one day that I'll get to see your head.

slimgirljo15

Wow, well done girl .. 👏👏

JessBbody

Diatonic12 wrote: »

@JessBbody Stunning results. I know how hard you've worked for all of this. Zowza, sister. You look so beautiful and I'm hoping one day that I'll get to see your head.

@Diatonic12 Thank ya kindly cowgirl. You are a sweetheart.

DancingMoosie

You look so good in your 165/striped suit pic!

JessBbody

@DancingMoosie Thank you! For that one I was actually posing for the camera instead of standing there like I'm having my moles examined.

jiujitsudad15118

You look amazing! Happy you decided to post!!!

Miz_Owl

Congratulations 🎊🎉

Beautyofdreams

Thanks for posting. This is really helpful to me as I am just starting work on the last 30 lbs. and was feeling like there has been no real change in my body despite lifting weights and using the treadmill.
You look great, your consistent work is showing.

JessBbody

Thank you so much @slimgirljo15 @jiujitsudad15118 @Miz_Owl!

@Beautyofdreams I'm glad this helped. I encourage you to keep going and to take pictures because I can tell you that looking at my stomach in the mirror every morning for the past month and a half didn't give me an indication of the kind of progress I was making. I'm actually much more satisfied looking at the 10 lbs apart picture side by side. Thank you for the compliment.

Jacq_qui

Congrats, you look really great! We are actually the same height and weight (I've been stuck here for weeks now!), but wow you look so much slimmer than me! Your legs are amazing

I really wish I had taken photos on the way it's very good advice, I've got pics from the start, but nothing since. Maybe I should take some pics now ...I just hate photos of myself generally!

ReenieHJ

Phew, made it before you deleted it. You look mahhhvelous!! You should be proud of all the hard work.

nexangelus

Way to go @JessBbody ! Great idea...

I am in the process of losing the last 20 lbs. I have my before photos. I can update monthly as that is when I take progress pics for my coach. She programmes my nutrition and training (masters strongwoman athlete here).




I have been training strongwoman since 2018. I have been strength training for many years (so am classed as an advanced lifter) on and off. I started out changing my lifestyle back in my late 30s with running and the gym. I have even done a sprint triathlon in 2013.

During the two UK lockdowns this year I have been training at home on zoom with fellow strongwomen. We have been using what equipment we have. I only have up to 60.5 kg in weights on a barbell (including the bar) and can use a single dumbbell loaded to 30 kg max (one arm rows) and two dumbbells can be loaded to 25 kg ish each (RDLs and other accessories). I have resistance bands, hip band, and a yoke I am using as my rack for squats and overhead pressing. I do floor presses instead of benching.

I am trying to lose more bodyfat (I am getting stronger too) cos aesthetics and so I have a reasonable base to bulk from. Yes, after I head down to 140 lbs or so I want to gain the last 7 lbs or so lean mass/muscle that I think I am genetically capable of before I turn 50...well that is not set in stone as it gets harder to gain lean mass as one ages and becomes a more efficient and strong lifter.

I am 46, post-menopausal and I cycle 15 - 20 miles a day 6 days a week (work and gym commute). I also work 60 hours a week as a care worker. I am 5 foot 5 and weigh in at 160 lbs. My BMI is 26.6. (It will be 23.3 when I hit my goal of 140 lbs) I am not losing weight rapidly....I am eating 1903 cals per day.

So the next few months and years are about training my behind off and losing more body fat...I would love to podium at a masters competition.

JessBbody

Jacq_qui wrote: »

Congrats, you look really great! We are actually the same height and weight (I've been stuck here for weeks now!), but wow you look so much slimmer than me! Your legs are amazing

I really wish I had taken photos on the way it's very good advice, I've got pics from the start, but nothing since. Maybe I should take some pics now ...I just hate photos of myself generally!

@Jacq_qui thank you! Take the photos for yourself first, and just think of them as very clinical - they're just to show progress, you don't have to look cute!

@nexangelus thank you! You look fantastic. All that lifting, running, and cycling is very impressive. Very inspiring for me as one of my goals is to get more fit beyond just looking fit. Thanks for posting your photos, and I look forward to seeing your progress.

joyanna2016

This is great! Makes me want to document my process better!

urban287

you look terrific...!Great progress!!!

DiscusTank5

The last 20 lbs lost is a great idea for a thread, and you look super! Congrats.

elisa123gal

It is absolutely amazing how the four pounds down from 148 to 144 made such a difference! You wouldn't imagine that. The visual is so inspiring to see exactly how gaining four to five pounds matters! Thanks.

nexangelus

Progress photos due 14 December or so, but in the meantime...I am not a bodybuilder. I am not very lean. But here are some photos of bodyparts that are showing/growing, etc.

The right lighting....well sort of. My traps really are this big!



And here are my delts...am useless at posing, but action shots usually capture some of the lean mass gainz....



And a gun flex of sorts...

robynmac5819

You all are doing such an amazing job! The last 20 or so pounds are sometimes the hardest fought.


I started April 21st(190lbs, 5 foot 2.5 inches @ 37 years old) on my new life style and weight loss journey. I was doing a -2 a week loss for months because my health was just awful when I started and I wanted to get the weight off fast so I could feel better and reverse how close I was to being prediabetic. Sore joints and lack of energy. Just feeling absolutely miserable. I’ve slowed my rate of loss drastically now because I am so close to my original ultimate goal(120 lbs goal). I am at 124 lbs of yesterday morning on my 7 month anniversary. I weigh and measure every month on the 21st. With four pounds left to go, I may get to 120 and then decide 2-3 pounds more to take my % body fat down a little more. So far I’ve mainly just been eating in deficit with walking and running for health. I do pay attention to my protein macro(trying to hit 100 grams but it’s a struggle most days...I get closer to 80-90). I’ve always planned to start doing strength but after I dropped a majority of the extra fluff. I wanted to focus on one thing at a time and strength isn’t my favorite. I have to work at including it much harder than going out for a long walks or run. However as I am getting closer to my goal, I do want to start leaning out/toning up, helping my flexibility and strength. My walking partner and I are going to start an ab challenge next month(December)& then January we are starting a strength program(starting out with body weight, then weights....then I want to eventually be doing some progressive heavy lifting). I’m going to try doing things in baby steps. I want to focus on learning proper form, then adding in weights. This years was the year to drop the pounds and 2021 is the year for incorporating strength& weight lifting into my life. I have this ridiculous goal of being able to do a handstand and be able to do chin-ups by the end of next year. Not sure if it’s too ambitious or not. I literally I have no upper body strength or core lol so maybe. Anyways here’s some of my progress photos.

I included my first progress photos(april 21st at 190 lbs, last month @ 131.2 lbs, and then yesterday at 124.0 lbs), then my face differences from first day/week to this week. And also my measurements.

My walking partner and I are doing progress photos for the Ab challenge we are doing for December and I plan to wear a better fitting set of exercise pants and bra because the ones I have for my usual ones are getting a bit loose and saggy.

JessBbody

@nexangelus
very impressive with the lifting and muscle development. Makes me want to go back to lifting so much!

@robynmac5819
wow! Your weight loss / inches lost is tremendous! Very cool especially to see the changes in your face. You look like a different person!

Thank you ladies for posting. You're doing a fantastic job.

nexangelus

@robynmac5819 BOOYAH!

Strength training will make such a difference. I mean you look awesome now, but bigger lean mass means more shapely....I did strength training even when bigger, as I wanted to maintain the lean mass I already had. I prefer strength training, but do cardio too, cos heart and lung health.

My dream is to be able to do a backflip on the ground like Jujimufu....so cool. Can already do pushups/pressups (graduated to clapping pushups last year), pullups, chinups and most plank variations. Handstands, I am not sure about, these older shoulders of mine might not love the pressure, but might give them a go, handstand pushups look soo hardcore!

Anyroad, seeing all our different body shapes (fascinating how we carry weight differently) is really helping me. I do see it all in the gym and as a strongwoman athlete, but keeping it real for everyone is important I think.

Thanks for posting everyone!

JessBbody

I'm putting in an update since I've lost almost another 5 lbs and dropped below 140.

Very subtle changes with these 5 lbs. Not much is noticeable from the front. Maybe a little more definition in the collarbone, and I decided it's pointless to cover up my chest this time because I'm certainly not in danger of showing too much cleavage! I think this bathing suit is starting to look bigger on me.

From the side, the belly is protruding a little less. I think the changes are most obvious from the back. Lower back fat is diminshed and fat in the behind seems to be shrinking.

I'm pretty pleased with the fat loss overall but I have a lot of work to do with muscle building, especially in the abs and glutes.

For reference I'm still eating 1720 calories a day and doing 20-30 minutes of mostly cardio between 4-6x a week. I know I need to get on a strength training program. I'm only working out at home with limited equipment so all strength & toning is body weight only.

Thank you for the support and encouragement.

ReenieHJ

@JessBbody Wonderful photo progress!!! You are so inspiring

Sailor555

Thank you so much, and congratulations! Amazing accomplishment. And your posting these gradual photos is SO helpful and instructive. I'm considering now documenting my journey more than I thought I might.

elfin168

I want your legs!

elisa123gal

You have taken the best all around before and after photos I've ever seen. Again.. it is amazing to see how four to five pounds makes all the difference at the end of the journey.