98 Inches GONE

Katanthus

Day 227

When I start a post off like that, I feel like I am Sir Edmund Hillary writing in his journal on the first climb to the summit of Mount Everest. I guess in a way, it is kind of like that journey. We start off on flatter ground, where we can keep up a decent pace, then as time goes by, it gets steeper as we get nearer to our goals. The nearer we get, the harder it becomes. It didn't stop Hillary, and it won't stop me. I intend to get to my goal. I know it is a long way off, but I know the summit of Everest appeared so far too.

Well, I started back on 31st March this year, and I believed I was around 238.8lb. I say "around 238.8lb", because that is what my Wii balance board told me. I later found out that the figure was out by quite a bit, so your guess is as good as mine as to what weight I was. I shudder to think the actual number. Well, I injured my knee (a fall) September 2011, damaging the cartilage (osteochondral deffect), basically, I have potholes in my cartilage of my right knee. The pain was excruciating, and could barely walk with crutches. I had to get the weight off the knee.

I have not been overweight all my life, though my mother told me I was. Here is me at 16

This is what my mother called "fat".

Anway, I moved to the US 13 years ago, US size 6, UK size 8-10. I pretty much stopped eating. I lived on a granola bar or two a day and coffee. The weight started to pile on. For me at least, I found, if I ate 5-6 times a day, I lost weight, but life was just so hectic, I had no time for ME. When I started MFP, I was size 22/24 US.

Over a year ago, we moved to Florida, and back to city life. I started physio, and that was a painful and long process, but I stuck to my exercises, and added swimming (with ONE leg as my right was too painful to swim with). I added a few steps a day more each day. On rainy days, I used Wii Walk it Out. By April, physio sessions were over, and I was on my own. I was walking more, and swimming still.

May, I see a girl wearing odd looking boots on her feet running, or I should say "bouncing" along the road. I had to find out what they were, as they looked like they were easier on the joints. I did some research, and found out, I was right. They are easier on the joints, over 60% less compression and impact on joints. They are called Kangoo Jumps (KJs). They weren't exactly cheap ($250), but they could work for me. I mulled it over, and decided to invest in a pair.



I put them on, and was bouncing around in them. I must add, I can't jump without them.

I started off walking in them, and then running. Up until a few weeks ago, I was running up to 6 miles in 30 minutes in them. The workout is pretty intense, as they work every muscle group. I say a few weeks ago, as my knee has been painful, not due to the KJs, but to hormone changes affecting my ligaments, but that is another story. I was running 5K in 17 minutes, which is great, considering I never was a runner before. I MUST get back to running, as I miss it so much.

Well, here we are, day 227, here are my stats ( I keep all of them on Excel, so I can see where I was, and where I am) so far:

Inches lost
Around my ribs 5.5"
Each calf 5.5"
Bust 13" < and very happy
Neck 5"
Each forearm 3"
Each Upper arm 5"
Waist 14"
Hips 16"
Each thigh 9"

A total of 98.5"

I am 5' 2" with a small frame

My current weight is :193.8lb. That is 45lb gone, as of today.

Now a few photographs. I don't have any of me at my highest weight, as I was never in front of the camera. I told my friends, that they can take a photograph of me in my running gear when I am nearer my goal, I won't care if I am covered in sweat.


This one is my starting weight t shirt, and one of my more recent ones. I hope to add a new one to the pile soon.


This one is of me in September. Wearing size 12 jeans for the first time in a long time.


I hope to add another photo soon, as I have just put on size 10 jeans. People wonder how someone weighing 193lb can wear a size 10 jeans. I have lost over 51% of my inches from my waist down, and have a tiny frame, just a LOT of padding :laugh:

For those of you just starting the journey, a bit of advice:

IF you are just starting your journey...

1. measure yourself as soon as you can, and keep track of it. If I had not done so, I would have lost my mind, because I was not seeing
weight coming off, but the inches were.

2. log everything you eat or drink.

3. There is NO such thing as a "cheat day". "Cheating" is a shortcut to a goal... you will not get to your goal by any shortcut, therefore,
you are NOT "cheating"... you are lapsing. I do not have a lapse day. IF I want to eat something, decide... do I want that particular
thing, or do I want to lose weight? I am not saying you have to deprive yourself, but at the beginning you need to evaluate things.

4. Don't just go for hundreds of MFP friends.. quality over quantity... support each other. Don't expect support and not give it.

5. Remember.. despite how accurate your bathroom scales are.. THEY LIE!

6. Use measuring cups and kitchen scales. Your idea of a serving, is probably more than it should be.

7. Keep active!

8. Do DRINK THE WATER! It really does make a difference.

9. Make small changes at first...and add more. They will become habits. Believe me.

10. Remember... you have choices. How badly do you WANT it? NO EXCUSES! To quote Yoda "Do or not, there is no try".

Believe in yourself, you are stronger than you think.

I wish you all the very best on your journey to a healthier happier you.

ALW65

What a nice post - Thanks for taking the time to include all the detail and information! You've done a beautiful job taking control of your health and your life and are very inspiring. I am TOTALLY impressed by that 5K time even if you are wearing those groovy boots. That's probably about my time on rollerblades - not running

Much continued success to you!

fit_librarian

I totally understand about the pant size thing. I weigh 149lbs and wear size 6 jeans comfortably. I think I just have a small frame as well, so my weight distributes differently.

Awesome job though! You've worked so hard and accomplished so much!

MindyG150

Great Job! Keep it up!

Goddesskat

Thanks for sharing this success story. It certainly motivates people like me starting out on MFP to see that there can be fantastic results by staying the course. Choices, Choices, Choices !!! Truth is that they are in our own hands and you are making the right choices for you. I want to make the right choices for myself too.

Katanthus

What a nice post - Thanks for taking the time to include all the detail and information! You've done a beautiful job taking control of your health and your life and are very inspiring. I am TOTALLY impressed by that 5K time even if you are wearing those groovy boots. That's probably about my time on rollerblades - not running

Much continued success to you!

Thank you so much.

Katanthus

I totally understand about the pant size thing. I weigh 149lbs and wear size 6 jeans comfortably. I think I just have a small frame as well, so my weight distributes differently.

Awesome job though! You've worked so hard and accomplished so much!

Thank you, friend.

Keep up your fabulous work!

Katanthus

Thanks for sharing this success story. It certainly motivates people like me starting out on MFP to see that there can be fantastic results by staying the course. Choices, Choices, Choices !!! Truth is that they are in our own hands and you are making the right choices for you. I want to make the right choices for myself too.

You are quite right "choices, choices, choices". It has taken time, but I have started to "listen" to my body, and eat when I need to, not when I want to.

All the best on your journey.