For the newbies: here is what losing 80 pounds is like

dmj28 · January 2013

Thanks for keeping it real! I have 120 yet to go ( how I let myself get so bad, still boggles my mind!) Thanks for sharing how it goes...slowly! I stayed the same my third week, but still plugging away..before this I hardly even made three days! So, I'm pleased with having MFP and those that are willing to support one another on this journey to better health! I do feel better already, love that!

tjl2329 · January 2013

I like your post but I'm curious. I started sometime in October by halloween. Not sure exactly when. Only cut out fast food soda and in between meal snacks. Gave up fries and chips before that. Got sick in Nov. Went to doctor and he asked me to try walking 10 min a day and quit fast food. I lost 5 lbs. Didn't know if id lose any more. Went to dietician and she said I should only eat 45 grams of Caribs per meal and 30 grams for snack. I lost 2 lbs on this visit. Went back about a month later and I had lost 12 lbs. My goal weightiest is 230 for my Jan 28 app. I know weigh 25 give or take a few lbs because my scale Sucks. I got sick again but I still tried to work out. I believe I was probably at 268 or so. Didn't really keep track off my weight so well. I am now a size 16 reg and wear Xl in shirts. I wore a Xl and 20-24 pant. I was really big. Lots of people tell me ive lost really fast. I eat a lot and try to exercise daily. I don't feel its too fast what do you think. First time I ever lost or tried too thanks

dmorales99 · January 2013

Congratulations!

Starting the process, wanted to lose 60lbs, so far have lost only 5lbs. It’s hard with all the temptations, but i am being pretty good. Is hard to find time to exercise, I work very long hours, but am walking to every place I am able to, and all kinds of crazy movements to stay as active as I can. I work all day sitting, lots of stress and that does not help.

Confident I will make it to the goal even if is little by little.

wendybird5 · January 2013

So ... when you say you started to LOVE exercise, what exactly was it that flipped that switch for you?

What I loved were the results - not the weight loss, but how good I felt after working out. I work out in the morning and the rest of the day I'm so energized. When I'm having a bad day, 30-60 minutes of hiking in the sunshine help me turn that frown upside down. And there are some classes at the gym with instructors I enjoy so much that I can't wait to workout with them again. (I live for my Saturday morning Spin class with Gayle who plays awesome music and pumps me up for the rest of the weekend.) And I love a long bike ride with friends to go downtown for lunch or across the city to hang out at the beach.

If you view exercise as a chore then you won't enjoy it, but if you find an activity you love and make time for it, then it is so easy to enjoy it.

JP4LQR · January 2013

Bump

wendybird5 · January 2013

Wow!!! Thank you so much! I really needed to read this. I have 170 pounds to lose so this is great. I really appreciate this post. You will probley never know what it has ment to me./
Thanks

So glad my little post was what you needed. Good luck. I look forward to you posting your success story here some day.

Fit_Mel422 · January 2013

Bump- This is exactly how the journal goes it's really a roller coaster....Congrats!!!!

wendybird5 · January 2013

Thanks, fabulous. And congratulations!

One question: When you say "BMR and TDEE all the way!" does this mean your calorie intake was at/above your BMR? MFP has my daily allowance at about 200 cals less than my BMR and I'm wondering what to do...

I used to let MFP choose my calorie limit, but after I learned about BMR and TDEE, I manually changed my calorie limit to the BMR of my goal weight. I try to eat most if not all of my exercise calories depending on how hungry I am, but aim to stay below my TDEE.

MyChocolateDiet · January 2013

Bump. cause that's exactly my weight loss goal, and also to check if I have a ticker now....(why can't I see my ticker?:explode: )

agoofynut · January 2013

Love it! It's all so true!

Jennaissance · January 2013

Awesome post! Thanks.

artickb22 · January 2013

yep...that's pretty much how it goes!

Great post!!

Dianak005 · January 2013

Love it!!! I dont no how I did it the first time when I lost 100lbs in 10 months but I just stayed motivated and pushed really hard. For the last few years I have been the one who has stopped everytime I mess up. Well not this time. I have my right mindset back again. This site has been a real motivator! You really inspire me! Thanks for the post!!

wendybird5 · January 2013

I like your post but I'm curious. I started sometime in October by halloween. Not sure exactly when. Only cut out fast food soda and in between meal snacks. Gave up fries and chips before that. Got sick in Nov. Went to doctor and he asked me to try walking 10 min a day and quit fast food. I lost 5 lbs. Didn't know if id lose any more. Went to dietician and she said I should only eat 45 grams of Caribs per meal and 30 grams for snack. I lost 2 lbs on this visit. Went back about a month later and I had lost 12 lbs. My goal weightiest is 230 for my Jan 28 app. I know weigh 25 give or take a few lbs because my scale Sucks. I got sick again but I still tried to work out. I believe I was probably at 268 or so. Didn't really keep track off my weight so well. I am now a size 16 reg and wear Xl in shirts. I wore a Xl and 20-24 pant. I was really big. Lots of people tell me ive lost really fast. I eat a lot and try to exercise daily. I don't feel its too fast what do you think. First time I ever lost or tried too thanks

If your doctor says it's too fast, then you should be concerned. Otherwise, just call yourself Speedy and keep on keeping on. You are doing great!

yodacho · January 2013

Thanks for this - I copied it so I can give myself reality checks with it.

wendybird5 · January 2013

Congratulations!

Starting the process, wanted to lose 60lbs, so far have lost only 5lbs. It’s hard with all the temptations, but i am being pretty good. Is hard to find time to exercise, I work very long hours, but am walking to every place I am able to, and all kinds of crazy movements to stay as active as I can. I work all day sitting, lots of stress and that does not help.

Confident I will make it to the goal even if is little by little.

Just remember that 90% of weight loss is what and how much you eat. So try to get 30 minutes of some sort of exercise three times a week, but focus primarily on your nutrition for now. The first six months, I didn't work out regularly. I just focused on counting calories and I lost 30 pounds. Gradually as you get used to managing your nutrition, you'll find ways to add in more exercise.

MissingLinke · January 2013

Thank you for this. I've gone through it so many times when I had 10 to lose, then 20, then 40, the 80 and now 110, I almost always gave up at that stupid 2 month plateau. It's encouraging to know if I stick with it, it will (eventually) start dropping again. I'll be bookmarking this post and coming back to it any time I feel discouraged.

GiGiBeans · January 2013

Too funny and way too familiar sounding! Great post

sew2much · January 2013

This is so awesome! Congratulations! I have another 100 lbs to go. I plan to go all the way this time. This would take me below my high school days. Wish me Godspeed!

fitnessyeoja · January 2013

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Vickiesings · January 2013

This is awesome! I need to read this over and over again!

emma7437 · January 2013

Aaagghhahahaaaaaa. So funny and yet so true. How did you know that is just what it is like for me?!?!?!?!??!?!

I love that you are at a point that you can see it. I would not have been able to voice it but can read it and love it cause it is is true. Thanks for a very big laugh. I think this should be compuslory reading for everyone who starts on MFP.

Well done :laugh:

kdeaux1959 · January 2013

While each journey is different, I will say at one point or another most of us hit these thoughts at one point or another. In my case, I have lost some each month... At first, I actuallylost a bit more than 2 pounds per week (I was morbidly obese at the time)... As I got closer to goal, it got frustrating because it got harder. However, it did continue to come off and now I am within .4 lbs of meeting my initial goal. There will be other goals as I fine tune my body fat percentage but the key is to keep going without regard to setbacks and plateaus.

peterdt · January 2013

awesome! thanks! I can relate to many of your observations. Just starting month 9 now, and losing at a similar pace as yours.

bookworm_847 · January 2013

This is great. I'll be hitting the 1 month mark in 3 days. I'll have to refer back to this when I get frustrated. I didn't lose anything this past week, but my friends pointed out that even though the scale didn't move, the half inch on my waist and the inch on my hips that I lost still counts as a win.

brookehe · January 2013

BMR and TDEE ???????? Yep, I'm a newbie and trying to get schooled on all the acronyms - - translation please? I really loved this post, it keeps it real but shows that patience and focus WILL prevail. I started 23 days ago and have lost six pounds, didn't start with my measurements taken but will take them in the a.m. (when I find my darn measuring tape!). Thanks again. :happy:

Minnesnowtagurl · January 2013

LOL! Wow you just summed up my life. I hope to take a change in directions becaus I am at the ...crap I need a trainer because I must not know what i am doing anymore. Thank you for sharing this is awesome!