101 lbs Down & In Maintenance (w Pics)

Cre8veLifeR · May 2013

Wow what an inspiration you are! You look so fantastic!! I am thrilled with your progress -- congrats and share those abs all you want girl! You earned them!

butterfli7o · May 2013

Omg, look at you!! What a transformation, you look great.

LuvtheCubs · May 2013

Such a positive approach to your health. You are incredible looking to boot! Congratulations on all your success.

DShipp8597 · May 2013

I am just in my second week and you give me hope. You look great by the way.

RholeModel1922 · May 2013

Awesome Results!!!!

susanjmcgann · May 2013

You're story has inspired me! I'm a similar body type as you and seeing your pictures I know I can do this! You look fantastic and congratulations!

hayley9914 · May 2013

Wow!! An outstanding success!! Well done you!

AlliBarlik · May 2013

Fantastic! As long as you feel good about yourself! That's the most important part!

AlliBarlik · May 2013

Fantastic! As long as you feel good about yourself! That's the most important part! You do look awesome!

knitwit0704 · May 2013

Wow. I'm large framed too, so I am glad to know it can be done!

jinjin8 · May 2013

You look amazing! Congratulations. I am about the same height and larger framed so you are an inspiration. I'm getting close to your weight (and my goal) but my stomach looks nothing like that! Tips???

Thanks. I didn't do anything in particular but I've always been smaller around the waist/hourglass shaped - even when I was a much larger hourglass

I do find yoga great for trimming my waistline - TRX exercises are also good which I used to do a fair bit of these with my trainer. Planks and building strength in your core will really help too.

mamaleftwich · May 2013

You look fabulous girlfriend!!! Excellent story!!!

april522 · May 2013

You look amazing! What an inspiring story!

harleenarang · May 2013

WOW !! This is so inspiring. You have done an awesome job and you look great.
Congratulations :flowerforyou:

rocket_ace · May 2013

so inspiring - thank you!

gabegrammy · May 2013

wow you look great. congrats

kdcshesback · May 2013

What an AWESOME job!! Congratulations! You look FABULOUS!

lauramcconnell7535 · May 2013

You look stunning! Don't let anyone tell you that you are big. You are healthy and have a great attitude and that's what's most important. You have a wonderful story, thanks for sharing it.

amez1974 · May 2013

You look amazing and tiny!!

JenHol79 · May 2013

Congrats on your determination and dedication. You look amazing. Happy maintaining!

BubblyMelodite · May 2013

I haven't been on here as much as usual since I am now in maintenance but thought I would post my story to date. I know I love reading other's stories and seeing their pics.

Here's a bit about me and my journey....

I'm 5'9 and quite large framed. I started at 277.2 pounds. My original goal was160-165 pounds but that was revised based on how my size/weight/health/fitness has aligned during my weight loss journey (and also on advice from my doctor).

I am 101 pounds down (which took around 16 months) and maintaining my own "happy and healthy" weight of 176 pounds. I am still noticing changes in my body composition but am currently at 27% body fat and measurements of 36, 29.5 and 41.5 (chest/waist/hips). I realise this may still seem "big" to some but it is the right size for me personally and have come to realise that's all that matters (and that I am in perfect health, which I am lucky enough to enjoy).

As I neared the end of my weight loss journey, I started to care less about the scale and more about my body fat and measurements. I do weigh occassionally (once a month) just to make sure I am on track but to be honest, I can feel it within myself and do think I will eventually give up on using the scale and rely solely on measurements. Thankfully, I have found maintenance (surprisingly) easy to date. I think this is because I have focused on real lifestyle changes in relation to my diet and fitness - that I am more than ready and happy to maintain forever.

Diet-wise, I tended to keep my calories on the higher side (averaging 2000 per day) while losing. I also focused (and continue to focus) on whole foods - plenty of fruit, veg, nuts, seeds, meat, dairy - trying to avoid or minimise processed food. I also tried (and continue to try) to truly listen to my body and what it needs to function at its prime - this definitely includes at least one meal out per week and a treat or two - it tends to fall into an 80/20 approach. I now generally maintain a calorie level of approximately 2300-2400 but don't count calories on a day to day basis - I instead check in every now and then just to confirm guestimations and listening to my body is keeping me on track).

Fitness-wise, while actively losing I worked out 4 to 6 times per week (generally 5) at the gym - performing a mix of HIIT/heavy weights with my personal trainer, spin classes, jogging, cross trainer and circuit training. As I have come to be more motivated by the mental and physical enjoyment I get from exercise (rather than weight loss) I now focus more so on outdoor running, bikram yoga (LOVE LOVE LOVE both of these) and just visit the gym once a week at most.

Anyway, sorry for the blather....on to the pics....

Starting out...

Now...

Sorry for the midrift pics, I was so excited to spy my abs starting to come through after a yoga class :P

Omg! I have the same stats and a VERY similar body frame!! YOU LOOK AMAZZINNGGG!!!!!!

Thank you SO SO much for posting this, it's a huge inspiration to me because I am currently where you once were! WOW!!! I can hardly wait! I will look at this every day I feel unmodivated! :flowerforyou: :happy: