😊💪😁3 YRS SUCESSFULLY MAINTAINING 65+lb Weight Loss with the 5% Challenge (Progress Picture Incl.)

Catwmncat

Do you struggle like I do to lose or maintain weight?? Losing is hard and for me maintaining is even harder!!

In all my way too many years of yo-yo dieting I had never managed to maintain any weight loss for more than a month. So after losing 65+lbs, going from over 200lbs down to 135lbs, the struggles to maintain began once again.

This time I was determined it was going to be different and I was able to maintain for 3 or 4 months on my own. I knew that reaching my desired weight was only the beginning of the path on my healthy lifestyle journey and I had to continue, but what to do now??? I knew I needed to continue tracking what I ate and getting exercise but how to stay motivated?? I knew I wasn't going to be able do it alone much longer.

I was a member of Sparkpeople at the time (they have since shut down the site) and kept seeing posts about the 5% Challenges and Success Stories from many of the leaders and members, but thought it was only for those trying to lose weight Not Maintain.

Once learning more about the challenges and how they work to improve health no matter where someone is in their personal journey I decided to give it a try, but didn't really think it would help me as I already knew how to lose weight. Boy was I wrong!!! With the help of my team I have been able to successfully maintain within a 10lb healthy range even through the trials and tribulations and ups downs of life. I learn something new each challenge and get to help others along the way. Maintenance has been an absolute rollercoaster ride always going up and down a few lbs, but 3yrs later I'm still within 10lbs of my lowest weight thanks to the 5% Challenges, the Leaders I have the pleasure of working with & learning from and the support of my Awesome Teammates!!!

There is a great sense of comradery among the teammates who motivate, support and encourage each other while having FUN. We cheer each other on celebrating the many victories, both on and off the scale, and share our experiences of what has worked and what has not for us when someone is struggling. We are all working together to achieve our individual, team and community goals in a judgement free positive atmosphere.

If you are ready to write your own Success Story with lots of support, won't you join us on the 2023 Summer 5% Challenge which begins on July 1st for Practice Week and then takes off for 8 weeks of Fun and Adventure on July 8th!

Plz join and have fun as we lose 5% of our weight, improve our health and make new friends. Race to Fascinating Places for 8 Weeks. Now you can write your own success story! Have a chat or post questions in the Airport Lounge Discussion. Your friends are welcome too.
https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/group/144897-2023-summer-5-community-team-plz-join-us

Don't Forget to hit the JOIN button and then in the Announcements click on 💡💡Start Here - You Must Choose a Team💡💡 to Read About and Select A Team.

Why not do the Pre-Challenge Activities while waiting for the Summer Challenge to begin. They Are NOT REQUIRED, but those that choose to do them tend to achieve greater success.

Dianedoessmiles1

I LOVE LOVE this Cat!! Three years and maintaining it speaks volumes! TY TY for helping us with the 5% Challenge!!! We've got this!!

Please do join us, it'll be worth it.

Catwmncat

@Dianedoessmiles1 Thank you for believing in me and giving me the opportunity to step up and help others by becoming a Baggage Handler (aka Weigh-In Leader) with the 5% Challenge and an Overall Co-Leader with the In-Between 5% Challenge.

melissaaridgeway

I'm just shy of a 60lb loss and the 5% challenge crew helped me lose all of it. I happened to find out about this challenge right after I joined this app and have been a member of the 5% challenge groups ever since. I'm definitely not close to goal weight yet, but I'm chugging along!

Catwmncat

@melissaaridgeway WOO HOO, GREAT JOB!!! CONGRATS!!🥳🎉🙌🏻 It takes Dedication and Determination, but with the 5% Challenges and Team Support it is so much easier! Be Proud of how far you have come and keep taking one step forward!

DNjoys

Congratulations on your continued success of keeping those pounds off! I love that the 5% has something for everyone willing to participate, regardless of where they're at in their journey or their current physical abilities.

Catwmncat

Thank You @DNJoys! I have learned so much from you, you are a great role model.

peppikaye

@Catwmncat Thank you for posting your story. I love the Living The Good Life (LTGL) challenges that we do on our 5% weight loss challenges as they teach new healthy habits which I've maintained and continually do after first starting the challenges many years ago on SP. I love being part of my 5% challenge team it gives me incentive to move and to log in daily but most of all I've got support, encouragement and I'm not on my weight loss journey alone.

Catwmncat

@peppikaye The LGTL'S taech us so much. The recent LTGL (Healthy Habit) for Freggies has brought to my attention that I have not been eating enough Freggies, even though I am a slef described Veggie Queen. It is great that we revisit and learn something each Challenge, when we take the time to look You are not alone, we are all in this together!

Kateljm

Way to go, Cat! I have learned so many tips from different members, especially those who have conquered much more difficult obstacles than I have faced. They have taught me to be flexible and to keep adapting to new challenges.

Sparkuvu

The LGTL's help me notice where and when I'm lacking and slipping back into bad habits so that I can put those in check and stop the re-gain. Feeling responsible for doing my part on my team has helped keep me going when I'm ready to throw in the towel. Congratulations on your sucessful weight loss journey, @Catwmncat!

Catwmncat

@Kateljm Like you, being a part of both the 5% Community and Positively Strong 4 Life team I have learned so much. It is amazing how much we learn when we participate in the team chat. We get advice and sometimes give it, but we also just pick things up through the everyday communication

Catwmncat

@Sparkuvu TY, TY, TY! I learn something new with each challenge as well. During the Spring Challenge Wk 7-8 Freggie LTGL was quite eye opening... I realized that, although I'm a self appointed Freggie Queen, I had not been even meeting the minimum requirements (5-8 daily).

amyrob117

Thank you for posting this. It helps me make it through the day.

Catwmncat

@amyrob117 Thank you for commenting! I see you have joined the Spring/Summer In-Between Challenge so you will get a lot of support from the Koalas! You Got This!!

danismom3000

@Catwmncat Super inspiring. Just joined the challenge

Catwmncat

@danismom3000 Woo Hoo! Welcome Aboard! You Can Do Do This!

vtoria3

Congratulations! on your weight loss journey! I've lost and gained, too, and agree that weight loss maintenance is a really hard challenge in and of itself. I love the 5% Challenges. I was so hesitant to try one, fearing failure, but I am so glad I took that first step. I had nothing to fear....the Challenges are doable, the teams interactive and fun. All I had to do is post my weight once weekly and post some exercise minutes twice a week. Who can't do that for themselves? Something new can feel intimadating at first, and my anxiety over that went away the first week, and I got to work on creating a better, healthier new me. Soon, I was posting exercise minutes daily and building healthier ways of taking care of myself. I'm already looking forward to doing the upcoming 5% Summer Challenge!

Catwmncat

@vtoria3 TY! Congrats to you as well for taking that first step and joining the 5% Challenges then stepping up to become a leader and help others.

nateserranodagreat

congrats!!!

Catwmncat

@nateserranodagreat TY, TY, TY!

MawMaw1941

Congratulations on keeping on your healthy path. 🎉

Catwmncat

@MawMaw1941 Thank you!

PaulaKNW

Congratulations on your loss, and maintenance. I love the pictures - you look healthy, and happy! I totally agree about the 5% challenges helping us no matter where we are. Without the focus on healthy habits, and the wonderful team support, I know I would find it much easier to slide back into old bad habits. I give a lot of credit for my successful maintenance to these challenges.

Catwmncat

@PaulaKNW Congrats on your successful maintenance as well. The 5% Challenges keeps us focused and always reminded to keep working on the healthy habits.

Lolinloggen

Great story and way to maintain. You are so right that maintaining is really quite hard and means mindset lifestyle changes There is no going back to the life you had before loosing the weight.

I have been in maintenance for 5 years and a bit and still I have to catch myself when the weight starts creeping up (or I think it does) My lifestyle is not even close to before I started my journey. I have learned to enjoy exercise, I have learned to embrace the needs of maintenance. And yes I still log and I am still here. Not one for the 5% challenge but do need the support of like minded people.

Catwmncat

@Lolinloggen Congratulations on maintaining your loss for over 5 yrs! That is a great accomplishment as many have a hard time maintaining for 3 years.

The 5% Challenge is for those in maintenance as well as those trying to lose and offers so much support no matter where one is in their journey. We had three members in maintenance and another couple that are very close to it on our Spring team.

If you would like to give it a try I am happy to answer any questions to do with the 5% Team that you might have and if I can't answer I can put you in touch with someone who can.

dsypher001

Amazing i hope to achieve this one day!
Congrats

LindieMaeP

@Catwmncat - well done!! Thank you for posting your success story, it helps all those who want to be in maintenance one day. It also helps to know that it can be a struggle, but dispite the struggle you kept up. Love being on the PS4L team with you ( Positively Strong 4 Life ) and your advise and guidance to the team. I have learnt a lot from you and the 5% community members who are loving, kind, and helpful in many ways. Thank you Thank you!!

Catwmncat

dsypher001 wrote: »

Amazing i hope to achieve this one day!
Congrats

You Can Do It! Join the Summer 5% Challenge to write your own success story.
https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/group/144897-2023-summer-5-community-team-plz-join-us
Don't Forget to hit the JOIN button and then in the Announcements click on 💺Need a Seat on a Team? Post ONLY Here! to be placed on a team.

Catwmncat

LindieMaeP wrote: »

@Catwmncat - well done!! Thank you for posting your success story, it helps all those who want to be in maintenance one day. It also helps to know that it can be a struggle, but dispite the struggle you kept up. Love being on the PS4L team with you ( Positively Strong 4 Life ) and your advise and guidance to the team. I have learnt a lot from you and the 5% community members who are loving, kind, and helpful in many ways. Thank you Thank you!!

Lindie that is the great thing about the 5% Challenges, along with learning healthy habits and exercising we also get so much support whether it be with losing weight, maintaining, exercising or just life in general. Being involved with the team and joining in on the chat keeps us motivated and reminds us that we are not doing this alone. I am so glad that you reconnected with PS4L and share your insights with us.