Won my work weight loss challenge! (with in-progress pics)

emuhawk

Around the same time I got serious about losing weight in early February of this year, my office started a biggest-loser-esque challenge. I figured I would sign up as some extra motivation to keep me on track. About 10 weeks later, we had our final weigh in, and it turns out that I had the highest percentage of weight lost in the group at right around 11%. The competitive part of me loved winning (plus the free gym membership that came with it!), but more importantly, for the first time it made me feel like this is really happening and I can actually accomplish my goals. I know the scale has been going down for the past few months, but somehow in my head it just seemed like a fluke. This finally made me see that it was for real, and I am more determined than ever now to get to my goal and make it stick.

I was going through some photos on my phone recently and saw that I had taken a picture of myself right around the time I started losing weight. I did my best to re-create it today (same clothes, etc.), and I was surprised at what a difference there was. It isn't really obvious in the photo, but those jeans that were probably a size too small in the first picture are now literally falling off. I've never been so happy to need a belt :happy:



(also, this is my first attempt at posting a photo, so my apologies if this doesn't work!)

jpbrk

Wow, you look amazing and that is such an achievement in only 2 months. What were the main things you did differently?

bm99

You look AMAZING

JediMaster_intraining

wow you look great! congrats!

TheDoctorDana

Awesome results! Congrats on your win

MallyPie

You can totally see a difference! You look wonderful.

aliciagetshealthy

Outstanding job! You look fantastic!

dvisser1

Wow...cute! Congrats on such good success in a relatively short time! Isn't it great when you realize you need new clothes because your current ones won't stay on anymore? :happy:

Crazy4Healthy

You look great.... and I can definitely tell those jeans are smaller (ooops bigger). What a great feeling.... congrats. :happy:

2FattyXFatty4

You are amazing and you look fantastic!

I can totally relate to this part: "I know the scale has been going down for the past few months, but somehow in my head it just seemed like a fluke."

Someone once told me that you can lose weight over the course of a year but it takes your mind another year to lose weighty thoughts!

Congrats, you've done well!

mnmfum

You look great! Id love to know how you lost that tummy so fast!!! wow!

Lachiesmum

you look great

caseydimples

Congratulations on your success - you look AMAZING!!! Your hard work and dedication has paid off.

lilpe5512

WTG! Congrats on your win:happy:

cranford_s

Wow, looking good!

Astephens1984

Amazing job! you didnt look bad before, but you look great now! Would like to know what you did to lose in 2 months?

MollyDukes

You look awesome and you can definately see a difference, way to go girl, enjoy your free gym membership.

lorierin22

You look amazing! Great job...all your hard work has really paid off!!

love22step

A winner and a loser at the same time! Can't beat that. Congratulations!

frosty73

You can definitely see the difference! Great job, congrats!

Ralstonk2

Wow, you look amazing and that is such an achievement in only 2 months. What were the main things you did differently?

^This! What did you do?

lrob100

Awesome! You look beautiful, fit and healthy!

gnat45

Your waist is tiny!

emuhawk

Thanks everyone!! I really appreciate all your support!

The biggest change I made was tracking everything I eat, and I mean *everything.* I definitely have days when I go over my calorie goal, but I track every last delicious, terrible bite of those days too. And then I feel so bad when I have to track all that indulgent food, I don't want to do it again for a while. I do my best to stay right around my goal each day, but I really focus on the weekly totals and make sure I'm not hugely over (or under) for the week. I've also started making a lot more food at home, WEIGHING out my portions (that is a big one) and bringing my lunches in to work rather than eating out every day like I had done for years. It's probably a lot healthier all around (not to mention cheaper), but I started doing it simply because I wanted to know exactly what was in the food I was eating so my tracking could be accurate. Now I eat out for lunch maybe 2-3 times a month at most. Really, it all boils down to being accurate and honest with myself about what I'm eating, and making sure I'm within my goal on a weekly basis.

For the first month I was healing from a stress fracture in my leg, so I didn't really exercise at all. Now I'm trying to get into a routine, and my next goal is to start seriously lifting weights. The gym membership should be a big help with that one!

jillybean

Great job! Your hard work and dedication paid off! Thanks for sharing your sucess, now go enjoy that free gym membership! And kudos to your workplace for being health conscious:)

emuhawk

Someone once told me that you can lose weight over the course of a year but it takes your mind another year to lose weighty thoughts!

I love this! So true!