a long way to go... but i love what i see so far (pics)

mbalaguer1

I've only lost 8 lbs so far since I joined MFP about 2 weeks ago. I started at 216 lbs and at my current 208 so I know that there is still a long road ahead of me. Already I've had a few days where I've felt very discouraged with my progress. But today I found an old camera of mine from 2007-08 and I saw something I hadn't seen in a very long time (and honestly hoped I would never see again)... pictures of me at my heaviest weight, 235 lbs. I cried when I saw these because I remembered how depressed and miserable I was at the time. And now here I am: almost 30 lbs lighter and about 30x happier than I ever was before. I know these "before" pics are from before I joined MFP but I thought I'd share my progress with you guys anyway. I hope these can serve as some encouragement to all of you who still have a long way to go.



235 lbs in 2007-08




208 lbs present

chanstriste13

lovely! such a difference, and i can feel your confidence and sex appeal oozing through my computer screen! CONGRATS to you! keep it up!

MelissaE27

What a great accomplishment!!! You look amazzzing!!

jenilla1

:flowerforyou:

iambayd

You look great!! Wtg!

lap1970

You are such a pretty young lady...you looked pretty in all your pictures....but I can see your happiness in the most recent ones. Congrats!

JennaLee1486

Great job! It gets easier to keep going. This is a lifestyle change, eventually it doesn't feel like a diet. You look great!

lilwashee

you look amazing!

noworry87

hey good job...self confidence really helps keep up the good work and keep posting pics

SandraMay1982

not to sound like a lesbian. But damn. you look hawt! haha.

awesome job

VixFit2011

What a beautiful success! Thank you for showing the progress,

smoonygirl

You can definitely see it!! Looking good! I am so glad you shared!.

I am about where you were (235) but I USED to be about 290 after my son! I have been smaller then I am now, so I know I can get there again, but sometimes you forget how far you have already come from where you started.

Looking at old pictures reminds you that "YES YOU CAN DO IT!" You've already come this far, just got to keep going.

denisebee

WOW! Way to go!

jamr1019

WOW! You look great.

mbalaguer1

thanks so much everyone, this is exactly why i joined mfp... you all are such a great support system and so encouraging. It was sad to see these old pics but i think i shall put them to good use. Gonna print these out and put them in my wallet, next time I reach in there for cash to buy fast food i want to remember why i've decided to eat healther and change my lifestyle

lovemyhellokitty

awesome job! I LOVE your tattoos!!!!

Staceslim

You look so great. I can totally see a difference in your face, you seem so much happier. Good luck to you on your life change.:flowerforyou:

virgz_fox

you look really amazing!

hgmoore44

You look fab. Keep up the good work!

smoonygirl

thanks so much everyone, this is exactly why i joined mfp... you all are such a great support system and so encouraging. It was sad to see these old pics but i think i shall put them to good use. Gonna print these out and put them in my wallet, next time I reach in there for cash to buy fast food i want to remember why i've decided to eat healther and change my lifestyle

Thats a great idea!!!!

ilovecisco22

go girl u did it u look good

sabyars

OoOoOoOo!!!!!!!!! GET IT GIRL!!!! NOTHING is stopping you now!!

mirapaigew

Way to go, girl! You look fabulous!

Noonoo757

girl you look wonderful!!! and its written all over your face the new confidence good job!!

marysloosinglbs11

Girl u look AMAZING FOR REAL!! KUtgw

Reesecup77

WTG!!!!! I am trying so hard to lose weight and my scale doesn't budge. Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr
My trainer says I'm not taking in enough calories for all the exercise I do??? Now how can this be?

mbalaguer1

WTG!!!!! I am trying so hard to lose weight and my scale doesn't budge. Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr
My trainer says I'm not taking in enough calories for all the exercise I do??? Now how can this be?

There's always been alot of discussion on this site regarding calorie deficits or "eating back" whatever calories you burn working out. I think the general concensus is that you you should eat them but here is my little secret... I don't! Somebody posted a great link with lots of info: http://shouldieatmyexercisecalories.com/
Check it out. Here is an excerpt from the article that explains why I do choose to not eat them:

"If you have a high initial body fat percentage, then you are going to lose more fat relative to lean, so you will need a larger deficit to lose the same amount of weight as compared to a lean person. That means that eating at a lower calorie level will work better for you than for a relatively lean individual.

Creating a calorie deficit once at the beginning of a diet (e.g., a 750 calorie deficit per day) and maintaining that same caloric intake for the duration of the diet and after major weight loss fails to account for how your body decreases energy expenditure with reduced body weight. Your dietary needs will change as you lose weight. As you get lighter, your daily caloric need will diminish as will your body's ability to tolerate a too low calorie intake (consequence? you'll begin to lose more lean and hang onto the fat, thereby getting lighter but "fatter")."


so basically I take it to mean that while I am obese (which I still am) I can getting away with creating a deficit and still lose alot of weight. Once you become leaner though you run the risk of losing muscle instead of fat when you burn much more calories than you eat. But when it all comes down to it... to each his own

marianne_s

WOW....! You look like you lost more than 30 lbs.... more like 60 lbs....!

You look good.... !

traceywaugh

glad you shared the transformation is staggering you look amazing

Okmoose

Wow. You look great, and there is no way I would have guessed you to weigh over 200 lbs in those HOT pics. keep after it and you will be wearing your sisters clothes before you know it.

sanneh

Awesome change