A year of lifestyle changes

cmm7303

So, last December, I decided I just couldn't handle it anymore. I just couldn't handle being sick, carrying so much fat, and feeling like death all the time. In a year that was, for us, relatively calm I started this whole weight-loss/health journey for what I knew would be the last time. If I failed, or if I did everything I was supposed to and still couldn't lose, I was just going to give in to the misery.

Turns out, MFP is customizable and flexible enough that it can work. In a year, I've lost (and maintained a loss of) about 44 lbs. Some days it's higher, some days it's lower, but that's the average.

I've gone from a size 18/20 to a 10/12. Some things are an 8.

Also, my measurements have sure changed:

Neck: from 15 inches to 13.5 (1.5 inch loss)

Waist: from 38 inches to 31 inches (7 inch loss)

Hips: from 47.5 inches to 38.5 inches (9 inch loss)

Forearm: from 10.5 to 10 inches (.5 inch loss)

Bicep: 13 inches to 11 inches (2 inch loss)

Thigh: 26 inches to 22.5 inches (3.5 inches) per thigh

My body-fat percentage has gone from 47.48& to 31%, which puts me *just* this side of obese.

My BMI dropped from 36.8 to 29. Again, now I'm just chubby, not morbidly obese.

Numbers don't really do this justice, though. So, let me show you what a year of lifestyle change looks like.



About October, I got an ulcer, my favorite trainer got fired and I got a job that played hell on my schedule. I stopped logging like I should, and I plateaued. However, this kind of plateau is far, FAR better than the one at 190, or the one in the 170s.

In my quest to drop another 15ish lbs, I don't need to make any huge resolutions, or any big goals. I need to keep eating like I do, I need to log it. I need to get out to bootcamp more often, and I need to take my little online challenges more seriously. I need to drink more water. If I'm going to add dancing until the wee hours of the night on Tuesdays, I need to take Wednesdays totally off. This month I'm doing a daily squats/sit-up/push-up/lunge challenge on top of my regular work-outs, and next month I'll see about repeating that in February if it helps.

So, while I missed my loss goal by 4 lbs, I've decided to call this a success. I started out having to force myself to eat 2 servings of veggies a day, and could barely walk around the block. Now, I can carry my son on my back on a multiple mile walk...of course he weighs less than what I've lost this year.

LetsGetFitMama

Thank you so much for sharing your story! Look look amazing and did an awesome job! Hoping 2013 will be my year to drop the weight! So tired of carrying around the useless extra weight

cmm7303

Thank you so much for sharing your story! Look look amazing and did an awesome job! Hoping 2013 will be my year to drop the weight! So tired of carrying around the useless extra weight

It wasn't easy, especially at the start, but it got much better. Now I know, roughly, what I can and can't eat just by eye-balling it if there's no good way to log it. I just find something similar and over estimate the calories.

cmm7303

I'm sort of shocked. I shared this and the photo on my facebook, and had a couple friends who have also has injuries and setbacks decide to join MFP...and a few friends who do their own sites/whatever decided to join me in the squat/situp challenge. I'm touched that my story made a difference, and happy that it did so.

TheLittleLebowski

That's brilliant! Well done, you should be so proud!

cmm7303

That's brilliant! Well done, you should be so proud!

Thank you! How long did your loss take, if you don't mind my asking?

Mel2626

I don't know how I missed this!!! Congrats on your changes~ they are surely paying off!!! You look so incredible~ check out that booty!!! ::whistle whistle:: :flowerforyou: :flowerforyou:

SexyLovinmeCook

Girl you look good...Keep going....Your hard work definitely speaks for itself.....

cmm7303

I don't know how I missed this!!! Congrats on your changes~ they are surely paying off!!! You look so incredible~ check out that booty!!! ::whistle whistle:: :flowerforyou: :flowerforyou:

Aw, thanks, pretty lady! I'm working. Slowly but effing surely.

craignev

That's an amazing transformation and shows what perseverance can do! Well done.

samsteve2012

Thats brilliant, well done, the hard work has def paid off for you, keep going

cmm7303

That's an amazing transformation and shows what perseverance can do! Well done.

Thank you. I'm close to where I feel comfortable, but not there yet. Still, it's been quite the year. And I was always told being stubborn was a bad thing!

cmm7303

Thats brilliant, well done, the hard work has def paid off for you, keep going

I've got less than 5 lbs before I hit goal, and then I'm going to try to lose 5 more before I start maintenance in earnest. I like lifting, so I'll stick with that, but it'll be nice to not focus so hard on the cardio.

Superchas

Congratulations on your success to date

pseudomuffin

You look amazing!

cmm7303

Congratulations on your success to date

Thanks, but wow, look at yours! That is quite the motivation!

cmm7303

You look amazing!

Gracias. Work, work, work, right?