I've lost 56.6% of my total body wt in 26 months :)
allison_ortiz
Posts: 75 Member
What Healthy accomplishment have I completed?
I started my weight loss journey Sept 2011 weighing in at 350lbs. Over the last 2 years I have lost more than half my body weight and I currently weigh 151.7lbs. I am only 1.7lbs away from losing 200lbs total. I was able to accomplish this by committing to a complete lifestyle change that included both a very fresh and health diet and regular exercise. No, I did not have surgery. I started out with a BMI of 54.8 and now my BMI is 23.07. My waist was 60.25" around, now it is 25.00" I have lost over 55% of my total body weight; just by eating healthy and working out!
What did I learn along the way?
The #1 thing that I have learned is that losing weight is a little different for everyone, and not one thing will work for everyone. I feel that if everyone dedicated themselves to eating healthy and a minimum amount of exercise each week, it can be easier accomplished.
What was my most difficult part of this experience?
I feel every day is somewhat of a challenge. Yes, it does get easier, but now that I am a normal sized person, people assume I have always been thin and do not understand why I eat such a health, well as they see it "restricted" diet; so I end up having to explain my history to a lot of people. In many ways this is good because I love to motivate those around me, but in other ways it can become a challenge as then I also become the friend that "cant" participate in their eyes. I have learned to tailor what I eat just about anywhere I go, and I do not ever feel deprived.
How did I feel during and after?
I feel that during I was really motivated to see how much weight I had lost. I tracked my food, exercise, and body measurements along the way, which was a great way to be able to look back and see how much I had accomplished. There were better days than others, but I just kept telling myself that even if I had a bad day I just had to keep moving forward. When I would be tired and not want to work out after a long day of work and being a mom, I would just repeat "hard work and dedication" I knew that if I wanted to be alive to see my grandchildren I would have to keep working every day. Since losing the weight I feel like I am a better-rounded person. I never wanted to leave the house when I was heavy, I hated going anywhere with my friends (all thinner than I) and I really disliked shopping because it forced me to really see myself and how heavy I had become. Now, I am able to do all of those things and much, much more. I am a runner now so I participate in a lot of local running events for charity. I live in Central Oregon so we have so much opportunity for outdoors activities; and now that I don't have to hide anymore, I want to experience life!
How has my life changed since this event?
I feel I am more confident and happy. I feel like I finally found the women, mother, sister, daughter, and friend that I was supposed to be in this life.
What are my three top tips for someone trying to reach the same goal?
#1. Never give up, and never think one bad decision is a good enough excuse to give up or to stop trying. Just because you have one bad day does not mean you have to keep reliving that day over and over.
#2. Track Everything. If you want to see what is going to work or not work for you, you have to track it. Not to mention, mentally 3 months, 6 months, and 12 months from now, you will be able to look back and see just how far you’ve come.
#3. Drink Lots of water! Water is the best hunger killer I’ve found. If I’ve eaten and I still feel hungry, I reach for a large glass or bottle of water. I’ve noticed a lot of the time my brain thinks I’m still hungry, I’m really just thirsty. Also, it is needed for just about every function our body does, and without it you will not succeed at your weight loss.
Stats:
Height: 5’8”
Before Weight: 350 pounds
Current Weight: 151.7 pounds
Time frame of loss: 9/2011 – 11/2013.
How/Why did I gain weight?
In my family that is just how we spent quality time, around a table. It’s how we showed our appreciation for one another with a meal, and those meals were not the best health wise. As a teen I did not really have anyone to motivate me athletically and when you eat a lot and are not active you start to get depressed and feel like no one cares, so I sat at home and ate my emotions. Then I had children so that added to my weight gain, and then while being a parent to two small children, a wife, an employee, and a full time student, I didn’t have any time for me and I spent a lot of time sitting behind a computer studying or working, so the weight gain continued. As a severely obese adult I did not want to be the person everyone stared at in public, so I stopped going out. I would go to work, the grocery store or order in food, and sit at home doing nothing besides watching tv and playing on the internet. The worst of all of that is how much I ignored my children. They were always wanting for my attention, but the things they wanted to do were not things I could manage at my weight: going to the park, the fair, swimming, hiking, there were all things that involved movement, which at 350lbs was not easy or being in public; something that was also not easy for me.
what was my weight-loss wakeup call. What motivated me to slim down?
About six months before I started my weight-loss journey I lost my grandmother to renal failure. She had been struggling with her weight and Type 2 Diabetes for over 40 years and never made the lifestyle changes she needed to in order to be healthy. I became very depressed and unhappy after she passed, I could not believe she would let herself go the way she had and that her family was not a good enough reason for her to want to live. Then I realized I was doing the same thing to my children and I just decided enough was enough and I was not allowed to fail anymore, and I started tracking my food and exercise daily and before I knew it the weight just started coming off.
I started my weight loss journey Sept 2011 weighing in at 350lbs. Over the last 2 years I have lost more than half my body weight and I currently weigh 151.7lbs. I am only 1.7lbs away from losing 200lbs total. I was able to accomplish this by committing to a complete lifestyle change that included both a very fresh and health diet and regular exercise. No, I did not have surgery. I started out with a BMI of 54.8 and now my BMI is 23.07. My waist was 60.25" around, now it is 25.00" I have lost over 55% of my total body weight; just by eating healthy and working out!
What did I learn along the way?
The #1 thing that I have learned is that losing weight is a little different for everyone, and not one thing will work for everyone. I feel that if everyone dedicated themselves to eating healthy and a minimum amount of exercise each week, it can be easier accomplished.
What was my most difficult part of this experience?
I feel every day is somewhat of a challenge. Yes, it does get easier, but now that I am a normal sized person, people assume I have always been thin and do not understand why I eat such a health, well as they see it "restricted" diet; so I end up having to explain my history to a lot of people. In many ways this is good because I love to motivate those around me, but in other ways it can become a challenge as then I also become the friend that "cant" participate in their eyes. I have learned to tailor what I eat just about anywhere I go, and I do not ever feel deprived.
How did I feel during and after?
I feel that during I was really motivated to see how much weight I had lost. I tracked my food, exercise, and body measurements along the way, which was a great way to be able to look back and see how much I had accomplished. There were better days than others, but I just kept telling myself that even if I had a bad day I just had to keep moving forward. When I would be tired and not want to work out after a long day of work and being a mom, I would just repeat "hard work and dedication" I knew that if I wanted to be alive to see my grandchildren I would have to keep working every day. Since losing the weight I feel like I am a better-rounded person. I never wanted to leave the house when I was heavy, I hated going anywhere with my friends (all thinner than I) and I really disliked shopping because it forced me to really see myself and how heavy I had become. Now, I am able to do all of those things and much, much more. I am a runner now so I participate in a lot of local running events for charity. I live in Central Oregon so we have so much opportunity for outdoors activities; and now that I don't have to hide anymore, I want to experience life!
How has my life changed since this event?
I feel I am more confident and happy. I feel like I finally found the women, mother, sister, daughter, and friend that I was supposed to be in this life.
What are my three top tips for someone trying to reach the same goal?
#1. Never give up, and never think one bad decision is a good enough excuse to give up or to stop trying. Just because you have one bad day does not mean you have to keep reliving that day over and over.
#2. Track Everything. If you want to see what is going to work or not work for you, you have to track it. Not to mention, mentally 3 months, 6 months, and 12 months from now, you will be able to look back and see just how far you’ve come.
#3. Drink Lots of water! Water is the best hunger killer I’ve found. If I’ve eaten and I still feel hungry, I reach for a large glass or bottle of water. I’ve noticed a lot of the time my brain thinks I’m still hungry, I’m really just thirsty. Also, it is needed for just about every function our body does, and without it you will not succeed at your weight loss.
Stats:
Height: 5’8”
Before Weight: 350 pounds
Current Weight: 151.7 pounds
Time frame of loss: 9/2011 – 11/2013.
How/Why did I gain weight?
In my family that is just how we spent quality time, around a table. It’s how we showed our appreciation for one another with a meal, and those meals were not the best health wise. As a teen I did not really have anyone to motivate me athletically and when you eat a lot and are not active you start to get depressed and feel like no one cares, so I sat at home and ate my emotions. Then I had children so that added to my weight gain, and then while being a parent to two small children, a wife, an employee, and a full time student, I didn’t have any time for me and I spent a lot of time sitting behind a computer studying or working, so the weight gain continued. As a severely obese adult I did not want to be the person everyone stared at in public, so I stopped going out. I would go to work, the grocery store or order in food, and sit at home doing nothing besides watching tv and playing on the internet. The worst of all of that is how much I ignored my children. They were always wanting for my attention, but the things they wanted to do were not things I could manage at my weight: going to the park, the fair, swimming, hiking, there were all things that involved movement, which at 350lbs was not easy or being in public; something that was also not easy for me.
what was my weight-loss wakeup call. What motivated me to slim down?
About six months before I started my weight-loss journey I lost my grandmother to renal failure. She had been struggling with her weight and Type 2 Diabetes for over 40 years and never made the lifestyle changes she needed to in order to be healthy. I became very depressed and unhappy after she passed, I could not believe she would let herself go the way she had and that her family was not a good enough reason for her to want to live. Then I realized I was doing the same thing to my children and I just decided enough was enough and I was not allowed to fail anymore, and I started tracking my food and exercise daily and before I knew it the weight just started coming off.
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Replies
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a great story, congrats!0
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WOW!!! Excellent work girl :flowerforyou: !0
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this made me cry, mostly for joy for you and your loved ones. Amazing transformation!!!!!!!!!0
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you look awesome, and that's a great story. good tips too
congrats and be well 0 -
wow
thank-you for sharing you have done amazing and inspire me to keep to my goal i to want to be able to share a similar story in the future, wont be for a while but i will do it.0 -
That is so fantastically amazing! Congratulations on your loss and thank you so much for sharing!0
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You look amazing, and such a great story behind your motivation 0
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Wow! What an amazing accomplishment. Congratulations girl - you look wonderful!0
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Great story! Thanks for sharing. You look wonderful!0
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Congratulations! You look amazing and should be so proud of what you've accomplished!0
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Awesome! So happy for you that you will not miss the fun part of parenting...playing with your kids and watching their activities... Thanks for sharing! Hug...0
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Holy smokes.... WOW!!!
You are inspirational!!!!
So touching to hear about your relationship with your children! I got kinda teary eyed over here.
Do you find that now you have lost weight, you get to participate more actively in their lives?
Also, (just because I am always curious about this) would you mind sharing how many calories you are eating?0 -
i love success stories without surgery. great job lady!0
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Thank you for sharing. Wonderful job!0
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Awesome, Awesome work! What a great example you are for your kids!0
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wow what a transformation!! Well done :flowerforyou:0
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great story0
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Great story! Thank you for sharing.0
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You are fantastic.0
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I related so much to the part of your children.
Thank you for being honest - for sharing - & today for becoming an MFP friend; an inspiration!! Your tips are wonderful and will carry.
You are rocking it – FABULOUS
Love your story0 -
Wonderful pose, wonderful story! You are such an amazing inspiration!0
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you look fantastic! your story such an inspiration. good for you!0
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Wow! So inspiring! So sorry for the loss of your grandma. My husband is in end stage renal failure and has diabetes (he is only 27 yrs old and is not very overwieght) and he and I just started on our weight loss journey together. I can relate to your story because his illness was a wake up call for me to want to start living a healthier life. Congrats on your weight loss! You look fantastic!0
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Amazing!! Thanks for sharing. 0
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WOW!!! You look fantastic, and even more importantly, you're so very right in all of your advise. What a great job you've done. Nice work!!!0
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Wow impressive! You look lovely :flowerforyou:0
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Amazing!!!0
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I am a newbie here... Ur hard work and determination is inspiring... Well done you look amazing! And I bet u feel it too x0
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You look wonderful!!!0
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You are amazing! I lost my weight with surgery but I am always so inspired by people who do it without. Congrats!!!!0
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