My success story, with pictures!!!
otm25
Posts: 106 Member
Well, I am happy to say it is time for me to post a success story, so here it goes.
My name is Autumn, and I am a 31 year old housewife and mother of a 5 year old and a 3 year old. I have been happily married for 7 ½ years to my perfect match but have been unhappy with my weight for more than 80% of my adult life. Between August 2010 and February 2011, I believe I was close to the heaviest I have been (save being pregnant). I was about 180-185lbs, but I was too afraid of the scale to weigh myself. They say ignorance is bliss, but the denial was a huge part of the problem. Something had to change. The first pic is me in September 2010 for a family picture, I was so disappointed in how fat I looked that I actually scheduled a re-shoot and then wore a corset to minimize myself in on the re-dos. They still weren’t pretty. The second is me at my friend’s wedding in October. I was again wearing a corset/girdle to hold myself into the dress.
So for the last 8 ½ weeks I have been on a mission to create the very best me. I had a trip coming up and didn’t want to be camera shy because of how heavy I look in pictures. So I set a goal of losing 10 lbs in 2 months. I created a blog (http://otm25.blogspot.com/) and posted a link on Facebook, listing my starting weight of 177.9lbs. I knew that once it was out there, on the pages of all 283 of my FB friends (frenemies and ex boyfriends included), I would really be accountable. I also started a Biggest Loser Competition with some close mommy friends to give myself additional motivation. One of my friends suggested MyFitnessPal.com and I immediately signed up. I dutifully logged everything that passed my lips including vitamins, breath mints and even the occasional splurge! I lost 4 lbs the first week and knew that I was addicted. I have since urged everyone I know to sign up, and I personally claim responsibility for at least 7 new members who have in turn lost a ton of weight and told their friends!
So here I am. 18 lbs lighter at 159 lbs and 5’9. I have lost 10.17% of my body weight and finished 2nd in my Biggest Loser Competition. I have lost a total of 5 inches from my waist and hips, and fit comfortably in a size 10 jean. I feel healthier and stronger than I ever have, and look forward to my daily exercise which I had dreaded in the beginning. I feel absolutely in control of my weight and my life. The first shot is a couple of weeks ago at the end of March, the following is me today.
The biggest surprise was how easy it was. I have been overweight most of my adult life and despite saying that I had to lose weight, felt completely powerless. This site gave me the tools to educate myself on nutrition, provided motivation with every before and after pic, and basically gave me the power to make the right choices. I started out not really understanding the science behind it, and ended up eating way less net calories than was healthy. After scouring the message boards and learning what I could, I chose to keep my net calories between 1200 and 1500, and am still consistently losing at least a pound a week, not to mention several inches. I never deprived myself, and can’t remember feeling hungry. If I wanted a cocktail or a Cadbury Crème Egg (my favorite seasonal treat) I just rationed out my calories. I have never gone over my net calories, but if I do, I will know that I am allowed a splurge and that it is no excuse to spiral out of control again. I know myself, and if I were to deprive myself of anything I would not stick with this.
So I am heading to Ireland this week for the big vacation that prompted my weight loss. I will keep my phone with me and continue to log my foods, but not deprive myself at all. I have learned portion sizes which have helped tremendously with the stomach aches I used to have every day after dinner, running to the bathroom. I am lucky that my husband never thought I needed to lose weight, but he is lucky that I have gained confidence with every pound that I have lost. My kids have learned a lot in these past two months about nutrition and exercise, and I sincerely hope that they way that I live and the example I set in this “after stage” will be an efficient tool for them to use in their lives so they won’t struggle with their weight as I had.
So I am not “done” but almost. I lost the 10 lbs I had set out to lose only 4 weeks into my journey, and then continued to lose another 8 lbs the next 4 ½ weeks. Now that I have the tools, I will continue to live this new healthy lifestyle, possibly down to a toned 155 lbs. Then I plan to go into maintenance mode. This is my new life and I love every minute of it. I love the way my clothes fit, I never shy from the camera, and I have gained so much confidence. I hope my story will help as many of you as fellow MFPers have helped to motivate me. Thank you.
My name is Autumn, and I am a 31 year old housewife and mother of a 5 year old and a 3 year old. I have been happily married for 7 ½ years to my perfect match but have been unhappy with my weight for more than 80% of my adult life. Between August 2010 and February 2011, I believe I was close to the heaviest I have been (save being pregnant). I was about 180-185lbs, but I was too afraid of the scale to weigh myself. They say ignorance is bliss, but the denial was a huge part of the problem. Something had to change. The first pic is me in September 2010 for a family picture, I was so disappointed in how fat I looked that I actually scheduled a re-shoot and then wore a corset to minimize myself in on the re-dos. They still weren’t pretty. The second is me at my friend’s wedding in October. I was again wearing a corset/girdle to hold myself into the dress.
So for the last 8 ½ weeks I have been on a mission to create the very best me. I had a trip coming up and didn’t want to be camera shy because of how heavy I look in pictures. So I set a goal of losing 10 lbs in 2 months. I created a blog (http://otm25.blogspot.com/) and posted a link on Facebook, listing my starting weight of 177.9lbs. I knew that once it was out there, on the pages of all 283 of my FB friends (frenemies and ex boyfriends included), I would really be accountable. I also started a Biggest Loser Competition with some close mommy friends to give myself additional motivation. One of my friends suggested MyFitnessPal.com and I immediately signed up. I dutifully logged everything that passed my lips including vitamins, breath mints and even the occasional splurge! I lost 4 lbs the first week and knew that I was addicted. I have since urged everyone I know to sign up, and I personally claim responsibility for at least 7 new members who have in turn lost a ton of weight and told their friends!
So here I am. 18 lbs lighter at 159 lbs and 5’9. I have lost 10.17% of my body weight and finished 2nd in my Biggest Loser Competition. I have lost a total of 5 inches from my waist and hips, and fit comfortably in a size 10 jean. I feel healthier and stronger than I ever have, and look forward to my daily exercise which I had dreaded in the beginning. I feel absolutely in control of my weight and my life. The first shot is a couple of weeks ago at the end of March, the following is me today.
The biggest surprise was how easy it was. I have been overweight most of my adult life and despite saying that I had to lose weight, felt completely powerless. This site gave me the tools to educate myself on nutrition, provided motivation with every before and after pic, and basically gave me the power to make the right choices. I started out not really understanding the science behind it, and ended up eating way less net calories than was healthy. After scouring the message boards and learning what I could, I chose to keep my net calories between 1200 and 1500, and am still consistently losing at least a pound a week, not to mention several inches. I never deprived myself, and can’t remember feeling hungry. If I wanted a cocktail or a Cadbury Crème Egg (my favorite seasonal treat) I just rationed out my calories. I have never gone over my net calories, but if I do, I will know that I am allowed a splurge and that it is no excuse to spiral out of control again. I know myself, and if I were to deprive myself of anything I would not stick with this.
So I am heading to Ireland this week for the big vacation that prompted my weight loss. I will keep my phone with me and continue to log my foods, but not deprive myself at all. I have learned portion sizes which have helped tremendously with the stomach aches I used to have every day after dinner, running to the bathroom. I am lucky that my husband never thought I needed to lose weight, but he is lucky that I have gained confidence with every pound that I have lost. My kids have learned a lot in these past two months about nutrition and exercise, and I sincerely hope that they way that I live and the example I set in this “after stage” will be an efficient tool for them to use in their lives so they won’t struggle with their weight as I had.
So I am not “done” but almost. I lost the 10 lbs I had set out to lose only 4 weeks into my journey, and then continued to lose another 8 lbs the next 4 ½ weeks. Now that I have the tools, I will continue to live this new healthy lifestyle, possibly down to a toned 155 lbs. Then I plan to go into maintenance mode. This is my new life and I love every minute of it. I love the way my clothes fit, I never shy from the camera, and I have gained so much confidence. I hope my story will help as many of you as fellow MFPers have helped to motivate me. Thank you.
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Replies
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You look amazing! Great job!0
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You look AMAZING!!! Hot momma!0
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Congrats! YOU look FANTABULOUS!
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You look amazing! Very inspiring 0
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You have done awsome.
You look great!0 -
You look awesome! Congratulations!0
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Well, you are passing on the inspiration, as I have just started on here, and loved reading about your success story! Thank you and amazing job! Enjoy Ireland!!!0
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Well, you are passing on the inspiration, as I have just started on here, and loved reading about your success story! Thank you and amazing job! Enjoy Ireland!!!
Thanks so much, and best of luck on here! You can do it!0 -
You are 5'9 in those pictures and still 159 lbs? I'm 5'9 myself and haven't been 159 lbs since junior year of high school. I can't believe that's what it looks like on someone as tall as us. You look WAY thinner than 159. You look amazing. What a motivation for myself!! THANK YOU for sharing and have fun in Ireland, lucky!0
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Great job!!!0
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YOU DID AN AMAZING JOB!!!0
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Thanks for sharing your inspiring story! You look amazing, and so happy! 0
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Thanks for sharing! You look fabulous! Great job!!!!!0
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Thanks so much for the good info! Especially about where you kept your net calories. I'm having a hard time committing to eating more to get the scale FINALLY moving! I'm creeping up to the 1200 net and will surely be there this weekend as we are going out of town all weekend.
Congratulations!
Danielle0 -
wowza! wonderful work - congrats to you!0
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You look fabulous! That was a bold move--posting your starting weight on Facebook. Most people wait until they've reached their goal to reveal how much weight was lost! Congrats and awesome job!0
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Thanks for sharing your journey with us. It is very inspirational. I hope that you enjoy Ireland. You look awesome!! 0
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You look great!!! Have fun in Ireland!0
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Thanks for sharing. You look fab!!!!!0
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Great Job you look fabulous!0
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You look fabulous!!!0
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You are my inspiration for today!!! Congratulations - you look great. I joined 2 weeks ago and am also feeling very much in control and loving it. Hope to have the same success as you.
Have a blast overseas.0 -
congratulations! you look fabulous (though I think you look pretty good in your before pictures too - you are really very photogenic) enjoy your trip to Ireland!0
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Wow!! What an inspirational story! You look great! I'm 5' 9" too and have a similar goal. I want to get down to 150 lbs. It's great to see what that will look like!! thanks for sharing.0
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Thank you so much for sharing your story. It hits close to home for me. Was just in a wedding being the heaviest girl wearing all the "suck me in" clothes I could find and I still look at the pictures disgusted. Thank for the motivation. You look amazing and should be so proud of yourself. Thank you!0
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Wow, that's amazing! You look great and take pride to know that you are an inspiration!!!! Keep up the good work 0
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You look great I love pictures they inspire me.....your face looks so happy too keep it up0
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You do look fabulous! Enjoy your trip you deserve it!!!0
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You look REALLY great!!!!! Congrats!!!0
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WOW.... you look amazing.. Thank you for sharing your story... Keep up the awesome work....!0
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