Feeling Better Than This Time Last Year?

padams2359

This is the time of the year most people are kicking themselves for the condition they are in. The weight loss commercials are about to go into over drive. We many not be where we want to be, but 90+% of us are better than where we were at this time last year. I think many people are dwelling on the 2 to 5 lbs gained over the 2013 holidays, but not thinking about where they were at this time last year.

I'm down 40lbs from this time last year. Not in shape like I want to be, but a hell of a lot better than where I was at this time last year.

Your 1 year progress? Go.

CynthiaT60

Hey, good topic! I'm down about 5 kg from my highest weight. Started really working on it in early fall, so it's not a huge amount. The biggest reason I feel better than this time last year is that I have confidence. I have tried losing weight so often. Sometimes I've lost a reasonable amount, but I've always gained again. During the last couple of years I've just felt despondent about being able to make a significant and lasting change.
I started in early fall with a trainer, and really had to get used to working harder at the gym. That was a bit of a hurdle. Then I got a Fitbit, which really got the ball rolling. I'm one of those people who has to actually see the numbers, so this was good for me. A few weeks later I started on MFP.
I'm having to work for this (well, who isn't?), but I've gained confidence that I can do it. That's a big change for me. So yes, I'm feeling better than this time last year! :drinker:

zyxst

Weight loss doesn't change my mental problems for the better.

editorgrrl

90+% of us are better than where we were at this time last year. I think many people are dwelling on the 2 to 5 lbs gained over the 2013 holidays, but not thinking about where they were at this time last year.

Great point! I'm 20 lbs. lighter than I was last year. Next year, I want to be stronger than I am today. To get there, I want to try new exercises & activities. Hopefully one or more will stick.

GiveMeCoffee

1 year progress:

I was just discharged from the hospital after my 4th week long stay of the year. Since then I've accomplished the following:

Dropped 93 lbs
Was taken off 8 prescriptions totally and the ones I am still on have been reduced by half
Resting heart rate dropped from average 140-150 to 60-80
I've worked up to biking over 200 miles per week (from not being able to stand for 5 minutes at a time)
I've begun lifting weights (from not being allowed to lift anything over 10 lbs) - still a long way to go here but I get stronger every day
I can run up to 6 miles at a time (on a very good day)
I have learned to have a better mental relationship with food, and that I don't need to be miserable to get healthier!
I've also learned that I am worth investing my time

I've learned a lot in 2013, and will apply all of that to 2014 and look forward to more progress and challenges.

ktsmom430

OP, a great positive topic!

Better than the weight loss, is my improved mobility over the past year. Due to my exercising, I am in better shape than I have been in decades.

dawnmcneil10

My favorite commercial on TV is the Special K......what will you gain when you lose? From Christmas eve last year to Christmas eve this year I've lost 39lbs and gained not only muscle and strength but confidence and comfort in my own skin. I surpassed my goals at the scale and clothing size as well as hit my fitness and BMI goals for 2013 and am excited to see where living a healthier lifestyle will take me in 2014 and beyond.

JamieG8991

Before pic was Christmas last year, I had just started MFP a month before so I was still a work in progress. I weighed 170 and I wanted to dress up and feel good about myself, but all of my clothes were still snug and since I was in the process of losing weight, I didn't want to buy anything new. I cried because I felt so bad about myself and I DIDN'T want my picture taken.
My after pic is Christmas this year and I have now lost 35 pounds and I was wearing a new outfit, make up and even took the time to curl my hair!! lol and I felt SO great about myself!!! :bigsmile:

Therealobi1

Hiyah, deffo in much better shape then i was this time last year. Gone from obese to overweight, but really giving up on my bmi now. I have lost weight, dropped a few dress sizes and i am stronger. This year will concentrate on getting stronger and reducing body fat and learning how to eat just one or two treats and then stop.

DianneP6772

So much better this year!
Down about 30 lbs. I have not been at this weight since my early 20's - i am 68 - and have so much more energy now.
I have always been fairly active, now i am insane!
I usually do two sports a day and still have energy.
I love the fact that the sizes i now wear are 4's and 6's - not 12 - 14. Its so much fun!
For 2014 i want to get stronger and maintain this weight.

brown46545

Before pic was Christmas last year, I had just started MFP a month before so I was still a work in progress. I weighed 170 and I wanted to dress up and feel good about myself, but all of my clothes were still snug and since I was in the process of losing weight, I didn't want to buy anything new. I cried because I felt so bad about myself and I DIDN'T want my picture taken.
My after pic is Christmas this year and I have now lost 35 pounds and I was wearing a new outfit, make up and even took the time to curl my hair!! lol and I felt SO great about myself!!! :bigsmile:

You look great. I LOVE your hair.

Spiderkeys

This time last year I was living in a small apartment, I weighed about 266 pounds.

Today I live in a big house and I weigh 187 Pounds.

I like to think I left my excess weight behind at my old house.

FabulouslyMade

Congrats to you. Such a positive post. I'm just starting out so I pray this time next year I can have a one year later post!!

brown46545

This is a great thread. Awesome losses by everyone.

I have lost 25 pounds and am so much happier than I was last year. My goal this coming year (and all the rest too) will be to continue to be mindful of how I treat my body and not get back into the bad routines.

Xenophonica

Only down 20 pounds and it was with a lot of yo-yo-ing due to, well, life happening. However, I did a lot of internal work this year. Forgiving people that I was dwelling on anger with, started meditating, learned to stop hating myself and love who I am at whatever stage of life I am at, and learning to see food for what it is. Not a comfort thing, but as energy and fuel. I think these changes will make 2014 much more successful for me.

brown46545

This is in response to the poster "Mad" above who is brand new:

Oh you definitely can. Keep logging into MFP, add friends who will give you daily encouragement, and set small goals so you won't be overwhelmed.

At the end of the day, eating less and moving more will make you lose weight. That simple.

justaloozer

I have dropped over 65lbs since Mother's Day this year. I still have a loooooooooong way to go, but I feel much better about myself today than I did at this time last year!

dietonthego

This time last year I was living in a small apartment, I weighed about 266 pounds.

Today I live in a big house and I weigh 187 Pounds.

I like to think I left my excess weight behind at my old house.

dietonthego

I absolutely love that comment! I live in a huge house and I feel huge lately. My husbands a Real Estate Broker. Maybe we should scale down! Friend me if you like! Maryann

TheVimFuego

Before pic was Christmas last year, I had just started MFP a month before so I was still a work in progress. I weighed 170 and I wanted to dress up and feel good about myself, but all of my clothes were still snug and since I was in the process of losing weight, I didn't want to buy anything new. I cried because I felt so bad about myself and I DIDN'T want my picture taken.
My after pic is Christmas this year and I have now lost 35 pounds and I was wearing a new outfit, make up and even took the time to curl my hair!! lol and I felt SO great about myself!!! :bigsmile:

I just wanted to say that you looked good before and after.

FabulouslyMade

This is in response to the poster "Mad" above who is brand new:

Oh you definitely can. Keep logging into MFP, add friends who will give you daily encouragement, and set small goals so you won't be overwhelmed.

At the end of the day, eating less and moving more will make you lose weight. That simple.

Thank you!

pianolover2012

This is a great thread. Awesome losses by everyone.

I have lost 25 pounds and am so much happier than I was last year. My goal this coming year (and all the rest too) will be to continue to be mindful of how I treat my body and not get back into the bad routines.

** down 27 pounds and have a different attitude about food and health! Keep it up!

PinkNinjaLaura

Down just over 70 pounds from this point last year, and healthier in so many ways.

February 2013:



October 2013 (I'm the one in yellow):



I've lost another 10 pounds since the October photo but that's the most recent one I've got.

amcsouth

Definitely! Started seriously lifting and have seen huge gains in strength. My self-confidence has also improved so much. I haven't really lost any weight this year but I'm a lot smaller (losing cm's). I've also started developing a very positive relationship with food, it's no longer a treat but fuel for my body

GardenGirlie

I love this topic!

I am down 60 pounds from this time last year, and technically I am down that weight from July 5th of this year. I have a lot more work to do but for today I will focus on 60 pounds lost and increased mobility and comfortableness in my own skin. The way I am feeling now makes me so excited to see how I feel with another 100 pounds gone!!

I have been struggling a bit with the 3 pound gain from the last week....but I have been back on track for a few days now and this thread is reminding me what to focus on. I am so ready for 2014 and changes coming the likes of which I have never seen before. Bring it!!! :-)

edg6strings

I will always remember 2013 as the year I turned my health around & I'm very thankful for that. The 1st pic is from New Years Eve a year ago, I was at about 243. 2nd pic is from Christmas Eve, this past week. Just over 70 lbs lighter & feeling A LOT better than I did a year ago. Only have about 7-8 lbs left to reach my goal. Happy 2014 to everyone & it's never too late to turn it around!

karmstg

Great topic!

I joined Feb 2013. Started at 170 (my highest weight ever) and am now 132. I'd like to lose a few more pounds from belly and thighs, but mainly so I can see the strength-training results better That's my focus now--pumping up the training, which I've been doing throughout.

The weight crept up over the last 5 years, mainly job stress--I have an amazing job, but it's sedentary & stressful. I kept telling myself I was okay with it. I'm middle-aged, I've had kids, I can't expect to weigh what I did at 20 and so on. The truth was that it bugged me more than I let on. I get my picture taken a lot (comes with the job) and I started cringing seeing people posting them online. I'd blame the lighting or the outfit or... You get the idea. Finally, I had to say "It's me & I'm not happy with it."

I'm back to my "normal" weight, and that means I'm much happier with my physical self than I was at this time last year. Losing the weight has reduced my job stress more than the comfort food ever did--the exercise makes me feel physically better and the success makes me more confident in tackling other challenges.

editorgrrl

Happy 2014 to everyone & it's never too late to turn it around!

I totally agree. (And you look amazing. Congratulations on a year of hard work.)

00NL

Hell yes !! i want 2014 to be like a blast

jeninthed

I'm better than I felt a year ago but with some health set backs (it took 2-3 mons to diagnose my fibromyalgia which left me pretty weak) I have not reached my goal.

I have a renewed sense of self and am committed to making this continue to happen!

Jericha1992

I'm 20 pounds lighter than this time last year, and 35 pounds lighter than I was in August of this year (I gained weight between January and August, and then joined MFP).

This time last year, I was experiencing awful backaches and fatigue as a result of my weight, at the ripe old age of 20.

Now 21, I ran my first 5k on Thanksgiving morning, and wasn't even at the very back of the pack! I've gone from "running" a 17:40 mile to a 12:18 mile in the last few months.

I've gone from feeling sore and lethargic to energetic.

My shirts have gone from a 2x to a Large.

Two days ago, I ran (jogged) a mile without stopping to walk for the first time in my life.

Thanks, OP, for making me think about how far I've come. I gained a couple pounds over the holidays and was feeling like a failure. This helped me regain my motivation. I hope to reach my goal weight in 2014.