50 lbs off in 4.5 months and How I did it with Pics

Sarah101010

So awesome and inspiring, you actually made me tear up a bit! So happy to have "met" you here. I know you will continue to inspire many, including me!

starstealing

wow. you look SO much younger.

thanks for your post; you're super inspiring!!

sgirl29

Amazing!!! Very inspiring... Keep up the awesome work!

cparter

Thanks Sgirl, Starstealing, Sarah and Erika. I was just bumping this back to the top of my topics for a healthy reminder. I great appreciate the added comments and I pray that you all find your strength within as you continue on this journey to a healthy life style.

jsg8tor

Wow!! What an inspiring journey.

cparter

Wow!! What an inspiring journey.

Thanks. It just breaks my heart when I read about people losing weight fast due to severely reduced calories and extreme exercising. They do not realize that if they do not learn and choose to accept the idea of control now that all they will see is a return and increase of all they have lost. It is sad with all the yo yo weight gains/losses but that is the nature of man wanting the quick fix. Educating yourself, control, and accepting change is the only way to make it a life time success.

This journey is not mine alone. God has given me a compass and a mission. I pray that He will maintain me and keep me focused on His purpose in this journey. I am thankful for those who know my story locally and come to me for advice. I had the neatest thing happen last night; a 16 year personal trainer heard my story and asked that I call him so he can set up a meeting with his clients and me so I can give them a motivational speech about my journey.

SylvieJacques

So very true and the problem with anything extreme is that you cannot sustain it and this is when you go back to where you came from and gain the weight back... just because you haven't learned to eat healthier and be in control.

This new you has to be part of your life and this may mean that you have to make some slight adjustment in your life to make this happen but it is sooooo worth it.

Good luck with the marathon training and everything else.

cparter

So very true and the problem with anything extreme is that you cannot sustain it and this is when you go back to where you came from and gain the weight back... just because you haven't learned to eat healthier and be in control.

This new you has to be part of your life and this may mean that you have to make some slight adjustment in your life to make this happen but it is sooooo worth it.

Good luck with the marathon training and everything else.

Appreciate it. Will be running 15 miles this weekend. Just testing the boundaries for now but will be back off on my training soon to allow more time to work on technique prior to the marathon next March.

Amy_B

You look SO much younger!!! Way to go!

cparter

Amy,

Sorry about getting back to you so late but I am nothing compared to your victory. You look awesome and to say 91 lbs down. Awesome! Way to go. Keep up the good work. Wow.

HYeliab

Dude, thanks for everything. No need to respond just accept the fact that your encouragement and accomplishment really help to push the rest of us. We are all striving for healthier lifestyles and self-approval. I will not wish you luck but continued success.
-HB

erica79

Carlos what an awesome job! thanks for sharing your story

Vmcd

Way to go, Carlos! I will definitely be adding you as a friend to stay motivated. I am in no way a trainer, but my sister called me the "health nut" the other day, and was asking for suggestions on what to eat for breakfast. Me . . . a health nut! That was awesome to hear. I have all of this healthy knowledge in my head about what's good and what to stay away from, and a lot of it comes from this site. You look amazing, and I agree with the other comments about how young you look! Keep up the good work!

MAbbate

Carlos, you are really an inspiration to so many of us here on MFP. I love to read your posts and I always find such motivation in them. I appreciate your encouragement and support. Best of luck to you in your marathon training...I am sure you WILL succeed! Have a great day!
Marlene

cparter

Way to go, Carlos! I will definitely be adding you as a friend to stay motivated. I am in no way a trainer, but my sister called me the "health nut" the other day, and was asking for suggestions on what to eat for breakfast. Me . . . a health nut! That was awesome to hear. I have all of this healthy knowledge in my head about what's good and what to stay away from, and a lot of it comes from this site. You look amazing, and I agree with the other comments about how young you look! Keep up the good work!

That is a testament to the change you have made in your life. I also learned how it felt again from being a trainer and then getting into the situation I allowed myself to fall into. Now people who know me first comment on how amazing I look now and then ask for advice. It is first a wonderful feeling when people notice the positive change and a greater testament when they want to get advice from you because they know you are succeeding in your journey.

cparter

Carlos, you are really an inspiration to so many of us here on MFP. I love to read your posts and I always find such motivation in them. I appreciate your encouragement and support. Best of luck to you in your marathon training...I am sure you WILL succeed! Have a great day!
Marlene

Thanks My special friend. I am doing great in the training and just passed 115 miles for the month of September with 3 six milers and a 17 miler still pending before the end of the month.

Life is so much more energetic and it feels good to sleep well since the sleep apnea is no more. I can not wait to see my doctor in October after 6 months. I already saw my nutritionist as a walk in visit to say hi and fell over laughing when she did recognize me. She said to me that she usually don't see fit people and lauded over how amazing I looked. That is always a good feeling when professionals recognize the change and see it as a fitness change vice a rush in while neglecting vital food groups or allowing your body time to adjust. The testament within itself is allowing time. I do get impatient at times because I am so close to my goal that I can taste it but I refuse to give in and take any short cuts. I am enjoying this journey.

May God bless you and keep you focused.

cparter

Carlos what an awesome job! thanks for sharing your story

You are welcome and I hope you can draw something you can use from my story.

Essence320

You look amazing! Thanks for sharing!

cparter

You look amazing! Thanks for sharing!

You are doing a great job as well. I can see the joy in your eyes that God is blessing you on this journey. I see we live close to one another. Continue to do what you are doing and the world is yours. Allow the positive aspects of this journey be the fruit of your motivation to continue this journey and teach others so they can achieve the victory.

nurse_jenie

That is awesome! Here's to the healthy you~!:drinker:

cparter

That is awesome! Here's to the healthy you~!:drinker:

Thanks Jenie and I wish you the best in your journey. I pray that God will keep you safe and that your focus on the prize will be unyielding as you maintain the determination and motivation to succeed on this venture.

daniellesite

Thank you for sharing your story but I am writing for clarification. Did you mean that when we burn off calories with exercising, we should NOT eat to make up for those additional calories burned? :huh:

cparter

Danielle,

No, the mentality should not be I exercise to eat more. What I am stating is you need to eat enough so your body will have energy. I typically eat the majority of my exercise calories because I believe based on this type of formula:

If my goal is to lose 1 lb a week based on MFP goal standard and I have 1500 calories allotted a day and I am burning 1500 calories a day that would put me at 0 if I eat 1500 and burn 1500 which is below my goal. So, to make up for that difference I will eat 1200 of my exercise calories to 1400 to ensure my deficit (of allowed + burned - consumed) stays in a reasonable range.

I do not exercise to eat but when I replenish my energy levels I do it with healthy choices (not junk/fat) and I eat 5 to 7 times a day. 5 times a day on non run days and 6 to 7 on run days.

mama050709

AWESOME!!! WAY TO GO!:drinker:

cparter

AWESOME!!! WAY TO GO!:drinker:

Wow! You look awesome as well. What a difference and even changed your hair color. Keep up the good work. :drinker:

cparter

Got to update this soon and show a new pic. Coming soon. I embrace every ounce and inch.

jennylynn84

You look great! What a transformation!

This is the same reason my brother put on weight - from football player to coach. One involves a lot more watching the game rather than playing it! I also put on some weight when I quit dancing, but I won't even pretend it wasn't also due to being stupid.

Congrats on all the progress. Keep on leadin' the way!

cparter

You look great! What a transformation!

This is the same reason my brother put on weight - from football player to coach. One involves a lot more watching the game rather than playing it! I also put on some weight when I quit dancing, but I won't even pretend it wasn't also due to being stupid.

Congrats on all the progress. Keep on leadin' the way!

You are doing a fantastic job now though Jenny and you are looking great. I look forward to hitting the 67 lb lost zone although it is quite a bit away.

lepetitpumpkinesque

You are an inspiration! Good luck on all your future successes and congratulations on all your past ones!

cparter

Thanks lepetit,

It has been a brilliant ride so far. I will be updating my weigh-in on Sunday morning and I am sure it will be another joyous adventure. The joy is that I had to change belt sizes today for the third time. I was wearing a size 42 belt riding low with the belly overhanging and now I am wearing a size 34 belt across the navel where it suppose to be :blushing: