56 pounds lost in 3 Months - Still going

I started using MFP on May 17th and I weighed 295lbs - the most I've ever weighed.
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I set a goal to make it to 250 (45lbs lost) by the end of August, and managed to reach that goal on July 23rd - six weeks ahead of schedule!
...this is a very cheesy before/after picure, but hey, it was rather motivating having the template sitting on my computer in photoshop just waiting for an "after" shot to be pasted in there.
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Today, exactly three months after I began, I weighed in at 239lbs - haven't been under 240 in nearly a decade - for a total of 56lbs lost. My new goal is to reach 220 by early November, and with only 19lbs to go, I'm confident I'll reach it. Ideally, I would like to be at or under 200lbs by the time I graduate from University in the spring.
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EDIT**
I totally forgot to describe what I've been doing!
I got a summer job at a company that has its own fitness centre, so I signed up and try to go for an hour after work every day, monday to friday, although, being a busy university student, I have to admit that I occasionally skip the gym, but in those cases I make an effort to hit the treadmill at home on those days.
When I started, I kept it simple with 30 minutes on the elliptical and 30 minutes on the treadmill and a resistance and pace I could manage. As the days went on, I gradually increased the resistance and speed, continuing to push myself that little bit more instead of just getting comfortable.
After the first 6 weeks or so, I began the couch 2 5k program (active.com's app is great!). I've also worked in weight lifting into my routine to maintain my muscle mass (my dad lost over 100lbs many years ago, but it was all diet and no exercise so he really thinned out, and I wanted to avoid that).
I am still trying to hit the gym every day after work, generally 30 minutes of cardio (elliptical or treadmill or couch 2 5k), and 10-20 minutes of weights.
In terms of diet, I've been doing with the MFP app has been telling me. Staying under my limit, trying not to eat my exercise calories. It was reeeeaaaalllly hard at first, but after a couple weeks, I realized that I really wasn't ever all that hungry, I just ate out of boredom, so it became very easy to stay under my limit. It also helps that I've basically sworn off fast food and have made every effor to avoid high fat/sugar/carb foods. Lots and lots of meat and veggies. My typical daily meals are: some combination of cottage cheest/friuit/eggs for breakfast, lots of coffee (caffiene to keep the heart rate/metabolism pumping - I also started drinking it black); lunch would generally be some combination of veggies/protien/dairy (and if I don't bring a lunch to work, subway is across the street; dinners have always been late, again because I'm a busy university student and my evenings are generally booked, but I would try to have small healthy snacks throughout the evening until I get home so that I would either skip dinner entirely, or just have a small meal, usually just a sandwich or bowl of soup or something.
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Replies

  • kcpsu18
    kcpsu18 Posts: 36 Member
    Wow, you look great!! Good job!
  • jayceesmom512
    jayceesmom512 Posts: 36 Member
    Wow great Success Story ! Keep up the great work !
  • aliric
    aliric Posts: 69
    Wow, you look great and such dedication..Keep it up.
  • LosetheCrumbs
    LosetheCrumbs Posts: 6 Member
    Congratulations!! Keep up the good work :o)
  • Juliejustsaying
    Juliejustsaying Posts: 2,332 Member
    You do look great. Keep up the good work...you'll reach your goals, easy peasy.
  • JNadon
    JNadon Posts: 3
    Congrats!! Way to go on your progress so far! It must have felt great hitting your first major goal weeks ahead of schedule and it will feel even better hitting your next goal by November... keep us posted! Nice job!
  • bassmanlarry
    bassmanlarry Posts: 117 Member
    Way to go! You're looking great.
  • faengel
    faengel Posts: 14
    Congrats, keep it up. You look great
  • Raven413
    Raven413 Posts: 86
    Good job!!!! Keep up the good work and keep being an inpiration to others!:bigsmile:
  • baylor110311
    baylor110311 Posts: 15 Member
    Great job!
  • WritePaintDance
    WritePaintDance Posts: 20 Member
    that's great! very inspiring!!
  • What are you doing to lose so much weight so quick? Details, details, details..........

    BTW- nice job!
  • Miss_dannii
    Miss_dannii Posts: 1,351 Member
    Wow, you are looking great!!! Serious dedication from you. Well done!
  • KAR1959
    KAR1959 Posts: 4,334 Member
    Congrats good job!
  • reggie2run
    reggie2run Posts: 477 Member
    You look fabulous! Great job...onward and downward!
  • August_1958
    August_1958 Posts: 110 Member
    You look great and I can tell you feel great, just by your post.
    It's great hearing that you are motivated and sure of your success!!
    Keep up the good work!
    :flowerforyou:
  • tbellamy1
    tbellamy1 Posts: 353
    That is an awesome transformation! :flowerforyou:
  • I've updated my original post to explain what i've been doing.
  • tship74
    tship74 Posts: 48
    A true motivator you are my friend!
  • hpettenger
    hpettenger Posts: 27 Member
    Impressive!
  • Awesome job man!
  • lesliefb
    lesliefb Posts: 88 Member
    Wow, thanks for sharing your success story. You look great! I love how your "how to" is totally do-able, too. Nothing earth shattering, just common sense and dedication. Awesome!
  • hydelaa
    hydelaa Posts: 184
    RIGHT ON!!!!!!
  • verptwerp
    verptwerp Posts: 3,659 Member
    I'm totally gobsmacked ...... you look like an entirely different person ....... a healthy, happy person !

    Thanks for sharing :drinker:
  • lorettaasmith
    lorettaasmith Posts: 418 Member
    Let's hear it for the amazing shrinking man! What an amazing transformation! I predict the remainder of your weight loss journey will be a piece of cake....uhm.... a low fat, low carb, low calories piece of cake!
  • MindyG150
    MindyG150 Posts: 1,296 Member
    WOW, you go 'University Guy', you should be very proud of yourself, keep it up!
  • Fishingdivaht
    Fishingdivaht Posts: 4 Member
    This is amazing and so encouraging!! You look awesome, keep it up :)
  • You look awesome!!!! Keep up the great work!!!!
  • Kathysjourney
    Kathysjourney Posts: 13 Member
    Wonderful Job...you did the work..congratulations!!!!
  • Curvimami
    Curvimami Posts: 1,851 Member
    Awesome work! You look great!
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