1 Year, 100 Pounds (Almost)
echofm1
Posts: 471 Member
I’ve been on MFP for just over one year now, and while I’m not done losing yet, I definitely consider what I’ve accomplished to be a success: nearly 100 pounds in the last year. I’ve done this entirely by using MFP, the way it was designed. I’ve been adding exercise in over time, but it’s more because it feels good to feel fit rather than to help me with my weight loss.
Stats: 5’9”, Female, 24, Start: 343 pounds, Current: 243 pounds, Goal: 170 pounds. I started at a size 26 US and I’m currently a size 18 US.
I’ve been the fat girl my whole life. In elementary and high school I was the biggest girl in a class of about 100 people. Throughout my childhood I always told myself that I’d get taller and it would get better, but that’s not how things work. As I got older, I just got bigger, primarily because of family eating habits. I really looked up to my dad and I got a lot of his eating habits; what I didn’t get was his activity level. By the time I graduated high school, I was just about 300 pounds.
This got a little higher in college, up to 315, but then after college when I worked in an office and wasn’t walking to and from classes everyday, my weight quickly hopped up to 340.
While I never really avoided the camera, as time went on I just sort of didn’t aim to be in the picture. There are only 14 pictures of me from when I graduated college in June 2012 to when I started MFP in July 2013, so finding a before picture is a bit of a challenge. I’ve got a few though:
Despite being morbidly obese for most of my life, it was never a source of deep depression or self-loathing or anything. If anything, I consider myself almost aggravatingly happy and optimistic. My reason for losing weight was primarily for tangible health reasons (versus theoretical health reasons like I might one day get diabetes or have a heart attack). There’s a history of weight-related infertility in my family. Last July I had reasons to start being concerned about this, so I went to the doctor. The first thing she did was hound me about my weight before she even knew why I was there and told me to walk half an hour a day (I walked 3-5 miles a day in college and was still 300 pounds), then offered to refer me to a free nutritionist. I got a different doctor next time, but still decided to see the nutritionist because of the general concern that my weight would make it impossible to have kids. In preparation for this visit I was told to log my food, which led me to My Fitness Pal. I haven’t looked back since.
And to top it off, a few similar pictures to show off the changes:
This is my favorite. Just after starting to lose weight I spent a lot of money on a lovely corset. When I wore it in the “before” picture it was as open as we could make it, and I still could have used an extra inch or so. Recently we took a picture of the corset on me now:
Perhaps the most common question I get about my weight loss is “Do you feel different now? Better?” This is a complicated question. On the one hand, I do feel better. Because I’ve been exercising I can run, go up stairs without dread, and I’m pretty strong too. Not to mention I don’t have this awful fear that I’ll break a ladder if I stand on it, or that I won’t fit in the seats when I go to the fair in a couple weeks. Those bits are nice. I also have collarbones for the first time in my life; I can feel them. That still weirds me out a little.
Do I feel different though? Not really. I didn’t feel like I was fat when I started, though it’s clear in the pictures and by the numbers that I was. Now that I’m 100 pounds lighter, I still feel the same. Every time I go shopping I hesitantly grab the size that I theoretically am (18 right now), and still can’t believe it when the clothes fit. When I look in the mirror, I’m still the same general shape, simply smaller, and I can’t tell that I’m smaller without comparing it to something. I’ve also been taking mostly-naked pictures every month this year, and every time I have to look back at the beginning to remind myself that I really am a much smaller person. So in short, take pictures, because it’s hard to notice the changes. They take so long that you forget what you used to look like, and the new you is just the normal you.
:drinker: Here’s to the last 70 pounds and a new me that I’ve never seen before. I couldn’t have done it without MFP.
Bonus commentary: I know I wondered about it when I first started, and I’m sure lots of other people are. Loose skin. So far, I don’t really have any. I do have some skin that’s loose, but I don’t notice it on a regular basis and I definitely can’t see it when I’m looking in the mirror. We’ll see what happens in the next 70 pounds, but I’ve been lucky so far.
Stats: 5’9”, Female, 24, Start: 343 pounds, Current: 243 pounds, Goal: 170 pounds. I started at a size 26 US and I’m currently a size 18 US.
I’ve been the fat girl my whole life. In elementary and high school I was the biggest girl in a class of about 100 people. Throughout my childhood I always told myself that I’d get taller and it would get better, but that’s not how things work. As I got older, I just got bigger, primarily because of family eating habits. I really looked up to my dad and I got a lot of his eating habits; what I didn’t get was his activity level. By the time I graduated high school, I was just about 300 pounds.
This got a little higher in college, up to 315, but then after college when I worked in an office and wasn’t walking to and from classes everyday, my weight quickly hopped up to 340.
While I never really avoided the camera, as time went on I just sort of didn’t aim to be in the picture. There are only 14 pictures of me from when I graduated college in June 2012 to when I started MFP in July 2013, so finding a before picture is a bit of a challenge. I’ve got a few though:
Despite being morbidly obese for most of my life, it was never a source of deep depression or self-loathing or anything. If anything, I consider myself almost aggravatingly happy and optimistic. My reason for losing weight was primarily for tangible health reasons (versus theoretical health reasons like I might one day get diabetes or have a heart attack). There’s a history of weight-related infertility in my family. Last July I had reasons to start being concerned about this, so I went to the doctor. The first thing she did was hound me about my weight before she even knew why I was there and told me to walk half an hour a day (I walked 3-5 miles a day in college and was still 300 pounds), then offered to refer me to a free nutritionist. I got a different doctor next time, but still decided to see the nutritionist because of the general concern that my weight would make it impossible to have kids. In preparation for this visit I was told to log my food, which led me to My Fitness Pal. I haven’t looked back since.
And to top it off, a few similar pictures to show off the changes:
This is my favorite. Just after starting to lose weight I spent a lot of money on a lovely corset. When I wore it in the “before” picture it was as open as we could make it, and I still could have used an extra inch or so. Recently we took a picture of the corset on me now:
Perhaps the most common question I get about my weight loss is “Do you feel different now? Better?” This is a complicated question. On the one hand, I do feel better. Because I’ve been exercising I can run, go up stairs without dread, and I’m pretty strong too. Not to mention I don’t have this awful fear that I’ll break a ladder if I stand on it, or that I won’t fit in the seats when I go to the fair in a couple weeks. Those bits are nice. I also have collarbones for the first time in my life; I can feel them. That still weirds me out a little.
Do I feel different though? Not really. I didn’t feel like I was fat when I started, though it’s clear in the pictures and by the numbers that I was. Now that I’m 100 pounds lighter, I still feel the same. Every time I go shopping I hesitantly grab the size that I theoretically am (18 right now), and still can’t believe it when the clothes fit. When I look in the mirror, I’m still the same general shape, simply smaller, and I can’t tell that I’m smaller without comparing it to something. I’ve also been taking mostly-naked pictures every month this year, and every time I have to look back at the beginning to remind myself that I really am a much smaller person. So in short, take pictures, because it’s hard to notice the changes. They take so long that you forget what you used to look like, and the new you is just the normal you.
:drinker: Here’s to the last 70 pounds and a new me that I’ve never seen before. I couldn’t have done it without MFP.
Bonus commentary: I know I wondered about it when I first started, and I’m sure lots of other people are. Loose skin. So far, I don’t really have any. I do have some skin that’s loose, but I don’t notice it on a regular basis and I definitely can’t see it when I’m looking in the mirror. We’ll see what happens in the next 70 pounds, but I’ve been lucky so far.
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Replies
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Oh dang it. Of course my pictures wouldn't cooperate. Give me a moment.
Edit: There. Got my pictures working. For some reason, Photobucket didn't want to show off pictures in the album I made.0 -
Wow. :flowerforyou: :flowerforyou:
And although it is now FAR to big for you, but I absolutly LOVE that mediaeval dress!!!0 -
Awesome!!0
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Thanks for sharing. A joy to read your story. Keep on, keepin' on!0
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Wow you have done a great job!0
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Congratulations and keep up the good work. Thanks so much for sharing your story and your pictures. Seeing success stories like yours help keep me motivated!0
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Congratulations! So happy for you! Amazing transformation.0
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AMAZING journey!!!
PS. LOVE that medieval dress!! You should totally splurge when you hit your goal weight and get another one!! :drinker:0 -
Amazing job!
My weight wasn't a source of depression until I lost and gained back. I think it's amazing you have always loved yourself! Can't wait to see you go further!0 -
Thank you for sharing this! Your story-and pictures! is so very inspiring. Especially as I am at the beginning of my journey, which is very close to where you started. Please share any advice you might have to someone just getting started.0
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Great job! You look fantastic!!0
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Wow! That's an amazing transformation I am also trying to lose 100 pounds in a year but I'm not sure how I will look because I carry my weight well I am currently 240 pounds. This is such great motivation I'm glad you posted this.0
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You look great! And so much happier!
Keep going! We're all rooting for you!0 -
:flowerforyou:
:drinker: :flowerforyou: :drinker: :flowerforyou: 
:flowerforyou: 0 -
Enjoyed reading your story! Very inspirational! I have 70lbs to loose so it's nice to see someone who has achieved that and more. You're awesome. ^_^0
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Thanks for the story and inspiration! Keep up the good work! You look terrific and I love your explanation about how you feel now vs before - pretty similar here and it is kind of weird when people expect me to respond differently.0
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You look amazing! Congrats on your success...keep going! You can do it!0
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Ecky, I'm so freaking proud of you. I'm seriously tearing up at work. I'm so excited to see you tomorrow and pass on some size 16 clothes (if you want them). I've got a whole box!
You are my bestie and inspiration, and I love you!0 -
Awesome. That's all I have to say 0
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wow great job! you still look amazing. Keep up the good work 0
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way to go!!! you look amazing!0
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Thank you so much everyone for the support. It's really exciting to be able to post these pictures, and I can't wait for next year to do my goal weight success story.Please share any advice you might have to someone just getting started.
My best bit of advice is to take it easy on yourself. Some people dive in head first and that's just how they work, but I needed to take it a step at a time. If it feels like a huge chore to track calories and exercise 5 times a week, it's probably not sustainable. Start with something that feels manageable to you, do that until it becomes second nature, then add on a little more. At first I was just focusing on eating. Now I'm exercising 3 times a week and in September I'll be adding weight training at least twice a week. I couldn't have just jumped into doing that when I first started MFP though or I would have felt like everything was way too hard.AMAZING journey!!!
PS. LOVE that medieval dress!! You should totally splurge when you hit your goal weight and get another one!! :drinker:
Don't worry, I totally intend to get a new dress when I get to goal. I'm still so sad that it doesn't fit anymore, because Ren Fest comes next week!Ecky, I'm so freaking proud of you. I'm seriously tearing up at work. I'm so excited to see you tomorrow and pass on some size 16 clothes (if you want them). I've got a whole box!
You are my bestie and inspiration, and I love you!
Awww, thank you Emmy! I totally want your clothes 0 -
Great story, you look so good and have a wonderful outlook. Best of luck meeting your utimate goal!0
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Awesome!0
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i love that flower dress! you are amazing0
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What a beautiful and inspiring woman you are :flowerforyou:0
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Wow wow wow. :flowerforyou:0
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Such wonderful progress!
I'm about where you were a year ago. I'm also 5'9... and I started at 330. It's definitely inspiring to see the success that other people in similar situations have had to prove to me that it can be done!
Great job, and good luck on the next 70! :drinker:0 -
Awesome progress and dedication Echo! Congratulations!0
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Congratulations! I have roughly the same goal and same starting weight, so it's nice to see where I can end up in a year. I've been at it since May. I wish you success with the next 70.0
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