BEFORE AND AFTER - how diiiiddd you do it?!?

TrophyWifeSass

Bump and well done people! Awesome hard work well paid off!

NikkiTaber

I hit my 1/2 mark today, 50 pounds lost. I started this in Sept 2009 but stopped for a month or 2 due to life issues and what not. Started out at 250 and am at 199 now.

Secret to my success? Well... uh... I started eating right of course. Lean meats, more veggies and fruit, a lot of less fat/sodium items, try to stay away from sugar even though its practically impossible for me, more whole grains, whole wheat, etc. Skinnytaste.com supplies most of my dinner recipes. Love that site! I measure and weigh EVERYTHING that I'm about to eat. If I didn't do that, I know I would way over estimate serving sizes and stuff. I I try to get within 50 calories of my calorie goal but if I'm hungry, I don't force myself to eat just to reach my calorie goal.

I exercise 5 days a week, an hour to an hour and a half. I got a HRM which helps out a TON with calculating my calories burned. Right now I am on a Jillian Michaels kick. I do her 30 day shred, 6 week 6 pack and Banish Fat, Boost Metabolism. My typical week looks like mon, wed, friday. a level from 30ds and banish fat. Then tues and thrus is another 30ds level and 6w6p.

That's pretty much it! Hope it helps :drinker:

Oh and I drink 12 cups of water a day

chevy88grl

I weighed in at my heaviest weight (203lbs) in 2004. I went to the doctor and was informed that the pain I was experiencing in my shoulders was due to the weight of my breasts. She referred me to a plastic surgeon. When I went, he told me that yes I qualified for a medically necessary reduction since I have steel rods in my spine and was experiencing so much pain from the weight of them. However, I HAD to lose 10lbs to have the surgery.

I had the consultation in November and he wanted the weight lost and the reduction done in February 2005. I managed to lose about 13lbs during that time. Had the reduction in Feb 2005. I kept those 13lbs off - mostly because of the amount they reduced my breasts (which was something like 10lbs off!).

I was still very heavy at 190lbs. In late 2005 I got a retail job where I would be on my feet a lot. I had been a stay at home mom before then - so I knew I'd drop a little bit of weight from that. I dropped from 190lbs down to around 180ish within the first 6 months I worked there.
From mid-2006 to early 2010 I weighed in between 175-180lbs.

In April 2010 I saw a woman who was roughly the same size at me walking. I thought to myself "Do I look like that and no one wants to tell me?". I made the decision at that moment to lose the weight. My boyfriend and I joined the gym. I gave up ALL fast food and other junk food. By mid-May I had given up pop too. I was also trying to limit how much "white" products I was eating - I switched from white bread to wheat, white rice to brown, etc. I made small changes in my food choices. I limited how much sugar I ate and tried to stay away from high fructose corn syrup as much as possible.

I hit my original goal weight of 150lbs in Sept 2010. I recently dropped another 5lbs.

For a grand total of 58-59lbs lost since my heaviest weight. I've gone from 175-180lbs a year ago to 144-145lbs now.

How did I lose it? Portion control (What Americans believe is one portion of food is usually more like 2-3). I read labels on foods. I don't drink pop. Don't eat fast food. I work very hard to find healthier alternatives to a lot of foods I like. I TRY and eat at least two servings of fruits and veggies a day. I eat my body weight in protein everyday. I drink between 80-100oz of water in a day.

Honestly? I'm not a star. I didn't do anything special to lose the weight.

Debkam

bump bump badump

LorinaLynn

Twenty five pounds in six months of pizza, video games and a lot of running.



Details: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/261282-mission-thin-possible-6-months-of-weekly-pizza

becalee26

I've always wanted to know how many calories you ate and if you guys ate your excercise? You guys awsome and so encouraging!

chevy88grl

I've always wanted to know how many calories you ate and if you guys ate your excercise? You guys awsome and so encouraging!

I eat between 2200-2500 NET calories (On days I work, but don't workout -- I aim for around 2300. For days I don't work and don't workout, I aim for around 2200. For days I work out, I never eat less than 2500 - again.. these are NET calories).

I always eat my exercise calories back.

LorinaLynn

I eat back most of them most of the time.

I started at 1200, but barely lost 1# a week. Then I bumped it up to 1350 and lost between 1 to 1.5 a week. Stayed there until I got within 5 pounds of goal, then upped it to 1500, and there I stay. At least Mon thru Fri, and I eat what I want on weekends. I'm not sure if I want to go on maintenance yet, or maybe see about losing a little more.

Trollcifer

Great stories. Nice job guys.

mauryr

90 pounds and 73+ inches in 9 months -

Eat nutritious, well-balanced meals and snacks (including the dreaded "carb," which isn't so bad as long as you choose healthy versions like whole grains and fresh fruits), drink LOTS of water, and move your body.

That's what I've done. No magic pill, no crazy diet, just practice a sensible, healthy, active lifestyle.

Holy smokes! That is truly amazing. 10 lbs a month average for 9 months!

anume08

bump to read through for later, I wanted to know the same things!

LuluGirl140

Bump

AdGalicia

bump for later

bjohs

My success story and blog on how I did it are included in my signature (with photos). I love reading everyone's success stories and seeing their progress photos. It keeps me inspired... even though I'm almost to my goal. It keeps me from going back to old habits.

MeganD2004

bump

TerryLynn66

that is so awsome. great job, keep motivated

TerryLynn66

great job

Solly123

You are all stars.. And the rest of us will be stars soon!! We are on the way to being stars...

Just need to boost the exercise..

Thanks for the tips everyone!!

bnewnam

bump

Dhathri

Bump

brittaney10811

I don't know if I'm really considered an all star... but here is my story.

5ft 4

SW 295.5
CW 197

Took me since 4-19-11 to go from 275.5 to current weight.

What did I do? Read the Rosedale Diet by Ron Rosedale and Mastering Leptin by Byron Richards. Followed their suggestions of meal timing and foods to avoid.

I take karate, kickboxing and do p90x.

HOLY COW!!!! you lost around 80lbs in 2 months?!?!?! is that right??

if so, that's UNBELIEVEABLE!!! Great Job!!

and even if it's a typo, that's an incredible amount of weight to loose, keep it up girl!!!

I wish.... That was a typo.... 4-19-10 was the right date.

you've still done GREAT!!! Fabulous job, what an inspiration!

ShellyKay67

In the Spring of 2009 I finally joined a local La Fitness, signed up for Weight Watchers for Men online and bought a Polar FT7 HR monitor.

On 4/27/09, I weighed a bit over 275 lbs. (at 5’ 4”) and had stopped any regular exercise routine. My health was a major issue and I had problems ranging from borderline (essentially there) Type 2 Diabetes, neck pain, back pain, knee pain, constant heartburn & poor liver tests.

I feel that Polar HR systems, La Fitness, WW and now MFP.com have literally saved my life! Today, 2 years after the start of this journey, I am less than 175 lbs. and feeling great!

Today, I do not and will not skip any daily workouts. I use Polar products to focus on Zone 2 (Fat Burn) and Zone 3 (Intensity) training. The first time I got on an elliptical I ran 2 miles in 25 minutes. Now, I average over 345 visits to the gym each year (I just completed my second year), my routine is an 60 minutes+ (8-9 mi./day) every day on the elliptical and 4-5 hours of tennis a week!

I am now in the BEST shape I have been since high school (25 years ago). I have dropped over 100 pounds! I have lost 14 sizes on my waist (from a 48 to approaching a 34), 5 sizes on my neck – a 22 to below a 17 and 4 shirt sizes – a 4X to L. I believe the program has worked for me because this time I started with exercise not fad dieting.

I am now in Phase 2 of monitoring/tracking my workouts. In April this year, I graduated to using a Polar FT 80 watch. I now load all of my strength training workouts & AB workouts into it. Initially, I only wanted only to focus on Fat Burn and Recovery. Now that I am below a 30 BMI, I can push it!

I am addicted to polarpersonaltrainer.com (Drew 2010) and am regularly in 8-10 Challenges all the time The community provides great support! I pore over the charts/graphs and they are a great source of pride and motivation. I post milestones on fb and now inspire many others. I am starting to get quite a following of people that are participating and using the same methodology I have adopted.

I feel great. I have 0 health issues. Recent lab reports show normal glucose, great liver, a cessation of my chronic neck, knee and back pain and I don’t take ANYTHING for meds.

MFP has been a great new substitute for WW online. Thank you Marlane! I did not like the changes to WW last year and MFP let's me eat the way I was eating (when I was successful with my weight loss)...and watch that portion control! I know what to eat...just never how much. Great IPhone app and my whole family is now on MFP! I am hooked on MFP (85 days in a row today). MFP helped me lose that last 10 (after a 14 month plateau)!

congrats to you for taking control and becoming the best you that you can be! great job!

poppet86

Wow some people have put in a lot of effort!

NovemberJune

well i've lost 20 lbs so far and want to lose 60 more. my strategy is really simple. i track what i eat and try to meet the 2 lbs per week calorie goal on here (after exercise). i exercise almost everyday for 30+ minutes.

dawnstl

Bump

JenL0690

Bump

jkuhn71

In the Spring of 2009 I finally joined a local La Fitness, signed up for Weight Watchers for Men online and bought a Polar FT7 HR monitor.

On 4/27/09, I weighed a bit over 275 lbs. (at 5’ 4”) and had stopped any regular exercise routine. My health was a major issue and I had problems ranging from borderline (essentially there) Type 2 Diabetes, neck pain, back pain, knee pain, constant heartburn & poor liver tests.

I feel that Polar HR systems, La Fitness, WW and now MFP.com have literally saved my life! Today, 2 years after the start of this journey, I am less than 175 lbs. and feeling great!

Today, I do not and will not skip any daily workouts. I use Polar products to focus on Zone 2 (Fat Burn) and Zone 3 (Intensity) training. The first time I got on an elliptical I ran 2 miles in 25 minutes. Now, I average over 345 visits to the gym each year (I just completed my second year), my routine is an 60 minutes+ (8-9 mi./day) every day on the elliptical and 4-5 hours of tennis a week!

I am now in the BEST shape I have been since high school (25 years ago). I have dropped over 100 pounds! I have lost 14 sizes on my waist (from a 48 to approaching a 34), 5 sizes on my neck – a 22 to below a 17 and 4 shirt sizes – a 4X to L. I believe the program has worked for me because this time I started with exercise not fad dieting.

I am now in Phase 2 of monitoring/tracking my workouts. In April this year, I graduated to using a Polar FT 80 watch. I now load all of my strength training workouts & AB workouts into it. Initially, I only wanted only to focus on Fat Burn and Recovery. Now that I am below a 30 BMI, I can push it!

I am addicted to polarpersonaltrainer.com (Drew 2010) and am regularly in 8-10 Challenges all the time The community provides great support! I pore over the charts/graphs and they are a great source of pride and motivation. I post milestones on fb and now inspire many others. I am starting to get quite a following of people that are participating and using the same methodology I have adopted.

I feel great. I have 0 health issues. Recent lab reports show normal glucose, great liver, a cessation of my chronic neck, knee and back pain and I don’t take ANYTHING for meds.

MFP has been a great new substitute for WW online. Thank you Marlane! I did not like the changes to WW last year and MFP let's me eat the way I was eating (when I was successful with my weight loss)...and watch that portion control! I know what to eat...just never how much. Great IPhone app and my whole family is now on MFP! I am hooked on MFP (85 days in a row today). MFP helped me lose that last 10 (after a 14 month plateau)!

WOW! Congrats on your achievements and your continuing drive to maintain your healthy lifestyle You truly ARE an inspiration!

Shineonme06

U all are all awesome!! Great job

Madiann

bump

sbn13

I had gained about 60 pounds in about 5-6 years, in part due to a knee injury, then a spinal cord problem that I had been unaware of. I was very active even so, yet my calorie intake had clearly gotten away from me. It was easier to gain in part because I am very tall and could carry it to some degree. Friends didn't so much think I was fat until they saw what I looked like slim again. I started somewhere between 225-230 lbs.

In light of impending spine (neck) surgery and the thought that I could do very little for a few months and only walk for 4 weeks after the surgery, the thought of just sitting and getting fatter was just too much. I needed to heal and grow bone for my surgery, so I planned a diet that was low in calories, high in all the nutrients that I required to heal correctly. The mindfulness was all I needed to get started. Simply putting thought back into my diet was huge.

I limited my daily intake to about 1250-1500 calories/day and I walked every single day with a friend, sometimes twice. We walked any where from 20-30 miles/week, mostly level ground. Once I was stronger my walks were on the very very hilly/ mountainous roads where I live.

In 6 months, I averaged about 10 pounds/month. I was strict. I kept to the diet without cheating at all in 6 months. In retrospect now, I can't believe I did it. Everything that passed my lips had to have something to contribute to my health. I did indulge in 50 calories of dark chocolate every singe night for my very sweet tooth. Over the major holidays, I would plan out what I was going to eat ahead of the the meal, and in that way I could decide how I wanted to spend my budgeted calories. I treated it like I would cash- is that gross cookie really worth 150 calories of my daily allowance?? It rarely was. But that homemade pie was, and I would either cut down somewhere else or make up for it the next day.

I never ever went below 1250 calories/day. If I had been very good all day and found myself under 1250, then I would just eat what ever my heart desired to make it up.

I prepared fresh meals and used my favorite ingredients. I sacrificed carbs- they are very "expensive" and don't help me feel full. I gave up wine and cocktails for most of the 6 months. My diet was very high in fruits, vegetables, lean meats. fish. yogurt, nuts and legumes. At work I had prepared rescue packs- if I had a starving and hungry day, I had a highly nutritious and filling snack to rescue me. It was not necessarily low calorie, but at least it was valuable!

I trade sweets now for carbs like bread and rice as I am an avid baker and just can't resist anymore now that I am on maintenance. What I make is always both far better and lower in calorie than anything eaten out.

I still track my calories as it is just so easy to go far off for me with our lifestyle and social gatherings with friends. I find that I seem to be able to naturally keep with the food calories, but if we are out or having wine with dinner, it is soo easy to go far over my intended calories. Bummer. So it keeps me honest if I track everything.

If we are going out for dinner, I try to look at the menu ahead of time and plan what I will order that is both what I want and a reasonable calorie amount. If I know I am going to my favorite restaurant with that amazing heavy pasta with a cream sauce and great wine..... well I will try to make up for it during that day and the day immediately after. It has been working.

I am now down under 170 lbs, which for my tall stature is very slim. The most accurate description of how I feel is unbelievable RELIEF!

Good luck and hang in there.