Mother's Day, 133 pounds difference

viridianasan

Your story is truly motivational and just amazing! Thank you for sharing! I needed this today

svgarcia

Thank u for answering......I ended up reading some of ur blogs....it was interesting....tnx for sharing ur tips n ur journey....would love to have u as a friend...
I got confused as well with the tdee n eating exercise cals....
I calculated my tdee on the Internet with sedentary n eat exercise cals back? Should I change it lightly active or moderate? I'm a stay at home mom, home school my 2 boys n take care of my 1 yr old. I lift 2-3 days a wk, non lifting days, I try to do the c25K or Jillian michaels ripped in 30 or Jnl fusion workout...I'm 37, 5'4".
Tnx in advance
Job well done????

joleenl

That's so inspirational! Thanks for sharing!

staceypunk

You look amazing, and the fact that you are in maintenance for so long makes it even more hardcore! I think maintenance is the hardest part in many ways.

kmcosgrove115

Love the story and you look amazing!

lcfairbairn74

What a beautifully written post, from beginning to end! Congratulations on everything you have achieved! I am inspired by you and am uplifted by your positive attitude.

It must be an odd feeling when all the accomplishments seem a bit distant, and the new aims seem a bit small compared to losing all of that weight. But the knowledge that you accomplished a whole body (and mind) transformation will be one you carry with you for the rest of your life. Even if the new people in your life don't know, you always will!

Be proud! You look amazing and sound so fit! Thank you for sharing :flowerforyou:

pajomu

You are so inspiring, Shannon! As suggested somewhere along the line, you really should write a book about your experiences, success, challenges. You deserve all the accolades here and more!

I will be cheering for you at the marathon in 2014!

mjhelton

Shannon, You are amazing....
I've been following your progress since January 2012, you are such an inspiration! And I know what you mean when the newness of it wears off and you no longer get all those great compliments. But maybe that is what we on MFP are for! For the once in a while "Damn Girl you look great" LOL... Well it is the truth. You look amazing and I can't agree with you more on the fact that you want you child to grow up in a healthy, happy home! I want the exact same for my kids. It was always my worst fear of having my children be over weight. I was a "chunky" kid, never really got made fun of, but Just was never truely happy with my body and I'm finally getting there and I want my kids to see that healthy is fun and amazing!
~Meg :0)

NutellaAddict

Incredible Job..

kmp327

You look amazing! You should be so proud of the work you have done and continue to do to stay healthy and be a good role model for your son. I've heard that the hardest part about losing weight is actually keeping it off, and I would bet that this feeling of complacency is a big part of that! I would recommend setting up a reward system for yourself to help keep yourself on track. Like for every month that you stay in your healthy range, you get a massage, or something that pampers you without it being food related. Just because you've hit your goal doesn't mean you don't deserve just as much credit for staying there!

Stay strong, sister, and keep tracking on MFP, that will help keep you honest, too

lgreen37

I'm in awe. I enjoyed reading your post and I am grateful that you posted. You will FOREVER be an encourager to many.

Thank you and God bless you*

mathera26

Thats a great way to put it in perspecitve! I'll be thinking about my little one's future all day now!

A_Warrior_Princess

Very inspiring! You look FANTASTIC!!!! You gave your son back his mom! Congrats!

salcha76

sometimes yiddish expresses things best.....and when I read your stuff....I think shayna madel.....it means precious pretty girl:)
You're an absolute gem. It's a pleasure and a relief to have someone real out there say it as it is....the first post of yours I ever saw was squats, squats, and for good measure, try some squats....hahaha:) you my dear are a shayna madel :happy:

Bere4ever

Amazing job! Keep it up

tlvasa

You may not get the daily "wows" but now are an inspiration to others. Many of us are still working on it. I am very close to my goal and need to decide if I want to "settle" there or keep going. There is definitely highs to losing along with frustrations. Its all part of the process. I do know I worry about "maintenance" mode because I have lost it before and gained it back. I don't want that to happen this time.

So your post is timely and important because we want to continue to be successful once we have completed our loss.

Congrats. You look great!!

goldnfoxy

Well, please accept my written response of “WOW, you look freaking awesome!!!” Pretend that I knew you when you were “HUGE.” & I am sending you words of encouragement to Stick with it! Then…go buy a pair of new earrings or something cute for your hair, just because…
What a blessing you are to all reading your story, thank you for sharing….that’s all I stopped by to say…:flowerforyou:

turkeyhunter60

Same smile, same happy person within, but so healthy! Great job, and please enjoy a lifetime with your son.

drvvork

Well I have to give a 'Wow! You look Great!!' because it is true. Obviously you got addicted to the goal obtaining - maybe set new goals. A biking trip - a marathon - triathlon. JAS
:flowerforyou: You really do look Wonderful!! Stay healthy and keep on keeping on!!! :drinker:

haroon_awan

Great story

sigalsirkin

Well done! You should place a before and after picture on the fridge as a reminder as to how far you have come. And that you will not be going back there again.

jessicamruth

Great job on your loss. But how did you do when you first started losing the weight, not now. Like make people don't start with strength training and lifting weights. They build up to that. What were you eating and how were you working out in the first few months?

laceylucas86

awesome! good for you!!! so inspired!

ChristinMielke

I love how you've captured the shift in emotions. And, OMG, are you wearing WHITE pants in this year's mother's day pic? White pants that look flattering (or any light colored pants) is another 'milestone' of getting fit. You look strong and lean. Thanks again for sharing your perspective. How do we get you in Shape magazine to share your success story? I like reading your stuff more than the other weight loss diaries they publish.

Pepper2185

I love your story and a lot of what you wrote really hit home with me.

I want to be that kind of mom, too!

Congrats on all you have achieved! You look amazing!

worldsbestauntie

You look wonderful! I can imagine that it probably wasn't easy for you. Keep up the good work of teaching your son on how to eat well and to keep active!

Footballgirl83

you and your little boy are beautiful! kudos to you on your amazing weight loss!

ShannonMpls

Great job on your loss. But how did you do when you first started losing the weight, not now. Like make people don't start with strength training and lifting weights. They build up to that. What were you eating and how were you working out in the first few months?

I lifted weights starting week 1!

The only difference between how I exercise then versus now is that I did more cardio at the beginning (I aimed for 60 minutes twice a week then, now I'm cool with 30-40). In the weight room I started with a lot of bodyweight work and lighter weights, but always free weights and barbells - I literally haven't used a weight machine other than a cablecross or pulley machine in years. Now I lift heavier plates, my form is strong, I can do serious compound lifts and plyos. I couldn't do HIIT and I couldn't run then, but I could elliptical I was too self-conscious to go group ex classes then; now I get asked if I'm an instructor! So, while my workouts look different now, the fundamentals are the same. My 300 pound self barged into the free weights area (don't call it the men's weight room!) and never left. I made it my home and did the work to transform my body. It wasn't something I saved for when I had lost fat because it was a big part of losing fat - and maintaining my lean body mass.

But that was me. For you, your first steps might be taking the stairs instead of the elevator, going on a walk every morning, adding little activity whenever you can. That is totally great. Any movement is better than none, and if you're not ready to do what I did or simply don't want to? No problem. It's not required. It might change the path of your weight loss, but who says my path is best? Health takes many forms and you can arrive at it from infinite paths.

As for eating? I eat more now, because I don't build in a deficit anymore really. I calculate my calories on a weekly basis instead of daily (slight deficit weekdays, overage weekends). I still eat the same, just a bit more. There are a lot of little changes I implemented at the beginning though, habits that stay with me now. I use my kitchen scale to measure virtually everything. I use it every single day. You'd be amazed at the difference between a weighed serving of peanut butter and one measured with a measuring spoon. I cut out a lot of refined carbs and crap. I don't consider a bagel a healthy breakfast or a bag of pretzels a good snack anymore. Treats became what they're meant to be: occasional indulgences. I eat crappy food every day, but it's a smaller portion of my diet. I eat more vegetables. I stopped buying baguette and eating it with 3-4 meals a week. We cook basically everything ourselves (though we've always done that). I'm obsessed with awesome food and I work it into my calorie allowances. I still make the same recipes I made before, but now I eat a more reasonable portion along with a huge salad dressed with olive oil and balsamic. Or sometimes ranch, because I love ranch (the real stuff!).

But honestly, the great thing about how I lost weight is that I didn't go on a diet or make any temporary changes. I still do what I did then. I didn't have to go "off a diet" or learn to eat real food anymore, because I was never on a diet in the first place. I changed how I ate and became a beast in the gym. I never intended those changes to be short-term.

Healthy_4_Life2

Wow!! You look amazing!!! Thanks for sharing!!!

Minnesnowtagurl

This truelly is impressive! What an outstanding job you have done. Your smiles beams a million bucks! WTG x 100