A bit of encouragement for those with lots to lose...

CoryIda

Today I saw someone post a question and she was right at the beginning of her (I know some people hate this word but I'm using it anyway) journey to get healthy. It can be really, really daunting, especially when you have such a long way to go.

Losing any amount of weight can be a challenge, but when you are morbidly obese, the task can seem insurmountable.

It isn't impossible, though. You CAN do it. I'm living proof of that.
If I can do it, anyone can.

All it takes is hard work, dedication, and patience.

Here's a sort of pictorial of my progress from the beginning (September 2010) until now.

From mid 2005 until September of 2010, I bounced around between 270-290 pounds, topping out at my heaviest at 294 pounds on my 5'10" frame.
I was a Size 24W in pants, XXL in shirts, and a 20-22W in dresses.


Fall of 2010. The first 10-25 pounds were really not that noticeable.
I got down to around a 20-22 in pants and XL shirts, 18 in dresses


Winter of 2010/2011 - it starts to become quite a bit more noticeable finally!
Size 18 in pants, Large (occasionally XL still) in shirts, Size 16-18 in dresses


Spring of 2011 - I finally started to get some shape!
Size 16-18 in pants, Medium or Large in shirts, Size 12-14 dresses


Summer of 2011 - ONEderland and I reached my original goal weight of 180 pounds!
Size 12-14 in pants, mostly Small in shirts with an occasional medium, and an 8 in dresses


Happy to end the last couple of months of 2011 at (and beyond) my goal weight and size:
I was a Size 12 in pants and a S (occasionally XS) in shirts, a 6-8 in dresses


The beginning of 2012 - past my goal weight and happy with my size, I decided to cut back on my cardio and start really working on strength training.
Down to a Size 10 in pants, everything else the same


Thanks to a couple of months of the wonders of strength training:
Now a Size 6 (sometimes 8) in pants, S or XS in shirts, and a Size 4 in dresses


So, from September of 2010 until now, I have done this:
24W pants to 6 pants, 56% body fat to 21(ish)% body fat. I topped out at close to 300 pounds, and now I sit somewhere around 155-160 pounds.

HEATHERMRLS25

Awesome job. You look great

Kityngirl

:flowerforyou:

Elizabeth_C34

This is why I love you so much Cory. You are amazing.

downsizinghoss

freakin awesome Cory!

emilyk000

Wow. Very inspirational! And congratulations! You look amazing!

mamamudbug

Very inspiring. Thank you.

Eta: LOVE the backbend!

saustin201

Good job.

Candi_land

Thank you so much for posting! You look AMAZING and truly are an inspiration. Just today I was tempted to give up and start binging because I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror, after a shower and at this point in time it just seems utterly IMPOSSIBLE for me to get my severely morbidly obese body, into ANY semblance of a shape. I have over 200lbs to lose on a 5'2" frame, I started my journey with MFP March 5th but my WL journey really began in July 2012 when I finally bit the bullet, bought a high capacity scale and weighed myself. Only to find I was living my worst nightmare of weighing over 500lbs. That much weight on my frame is very painful as I'm sure you can imagine. I've lost about 75lbs to date, 57 of those with MFP.

Sometimes knowing that I still have such a long way to go is daunting, and it's hard to not feel discouraged especially when I look at all the damage this weight has done physically (stretching the skin, belly etc.) to my body. I bookmarked your post and will refer to it any time I need to be inspired.

Congrats to you for your success!

theartichoke

Thank you for taking the time to post this! What an awesome transformation! This is so encouraging to me right now. Do you use NROLW? I'm doing Body Revolution right now but my goal is to start lifting once I'm done. Your arms and back are gorgeous!

CoryIda

Thank you for taking the time to post this! What an awesome transformation! This is so encouraging to me right now. Do you use NROLW? I'm doing Body Revolution right now but my goal is to start lifting once I'm done. Your arms and back are gorgeous!

Thank you!

I don't use NROLW - to be honest I just do whatever I feel like doing (don't follow my lead please - most people will do much better if they have some sort of plan to follow - in fact, I probably would, too). I've also heard great things about Stronglifts 5x5 and Starting Strength, but - as I said - I don't actually follow any of them.

ajball90

Wow, you look amazing! Thanks for posting this

BeautyFromPain

you look amazing,

Karalopolous

Nice work!! It's amazing how much different you look. Your smile says it all

anawhatsme

thanks so much for posting this!
i have lots to lose and i also really really want to be as fit as i can possibly be.
you are proof that i can reach my goals - thanks for sharing your success!!

tethomas73

I love reading your story!! You look amazing!!

wheezybreezy

AWESOME! It seriously looks like you went back in time and got younger as the posts went along! Do you know if you're considered to have a "large frame" or small frame? I'm 5'10" as well, and when I told my doctor I wanted to hit about 155, he said that I would look too thin at that weight.

jenj1313

Awesome job! You look great... and I love the way you took us through how long it took and noted the fact that it wasn't noticeable at first. Good MFPer!

All the best as you continue your "journey"!
Jen

Rosa1213

You are the most amazing person ever.
This is absolutely admirable, and I'm sure it took so much work and so much commitment. You are definitely an inspiration to everyone, not just people with a lot to lose.

I don't even think I can say anything that you don't already know and are proud of. You look amazing :flowerforyou:

Vixen0113

Wow you look amazing..it gives me hope that one day I can look that good!! awesome work

jenj1313

Your profile pic just made me try to do a backbend. I should stretch more ;-p

CoryIda

AWESOME! It seriously looks like you went back in time and got younger as the posts went along! Do you know if you're considered to have a "large frame" or small frame? I'm 5'10" as well, and when I told my doctor I wanted to hit about 155, he said that I would look too thin at that weight.

Technically, I have a large frame, but it's not too far off from being a medium frame. I definitely don't want to get any lower weight-wise than I am now regardless.

I actually am not weighing for a while - I'm working on increasing my strength and am actually eating above maintenance to fill in those ribs a bit. I never wanted to be skinny - just fit and healthy.

gailosborne

Glorious progress and achievement!! Clever and gorgeous girl - well done!!!

connie_messina

wow!!! u look amazing!!! so inspiring!!! thank you!!

happypath101

Holy Moly! What an inspiring post. Thanks for sharing! (BTW: You look beautiful in every single one of those pictures. You have an amazing smile!)

CoryIda

Holy Moly! What an inspiring post. Thanks for sharing! (BTW: You look beautiful in every single one of those pictures. You have an amazing smile!)

Awwww thank you so much!

_Bob_

it's awesome. and you look great. I would have chilled with the bigger you also btw

clarebrad

That is amazing, thanks for sharing, very effective, of the time it takes and to keep working on it. Have you also gone down in age, as you look alot younger as well Great inspiration thank you again

dg09

Definitely amazing! Great job, you look great!

CoryIda

That is amazing, thanks for sharing, very effective, of the time it takes and to keep working on it. Have you also gone down in age, as you look alot younger as well Great inspiration thank you again

Ha! Thanks. I was 26 when I started on here, and I just turned 28 a few weeks ago.
In the very first picture, where I'm holding a bouquet, I was 23.

IamJacksColdSweat

You look gorgeous! Thanks so much for posting this- it IS very encouraging and inspirational to me