A reminder of how much I've changed

I wasn't going to bother posting a success story but I've just been looking at my stats since I joined here and started dieting/working out 18 months ago and am pretty pleased. I'm also surprised it was only 18 months ago that I was fat and unfit. It seems like such a long time ago! It has also made me realise taht I'm not "stuck" and actually don't have far to go before hitting my goal weight.

I should mention that I took 4 months off from here because of a serious back injury, without which I'm sure I'd have hit my goal weight by now. I actually put on about 5lbs during that time (I was always aware of what was happening and never used it as an excuse to put on weight, but I was very disappointed to loose my fitness/muscle tone due to inactivity). I should have stuck with mfp to keep my calories in check during that time I guess. Lesson learned.


Anyway seeing these stats it suddenly makes it all real:

I've lost 35lbs in weight.

My BMI has dropped from 28 to 23 taking me from overweight to healthy weight

My bodyfat % has gone from 25.2% to 22.1%.
This I am a bit disappointed with as I hoped for more, and I still want it to drop lower. My taget was a reduction of 10% and I'm working hard towards that now.

Muscle has increased from 40.8% to 43.8%. I don't lift big, just bodyweight stuff mostly, shows you can gain muscle in a deficit and without lifting big though

I have saved the best, and most surprising bit, until last though...

My waist has dropped 7". Yes SEVEN INCHES! I don't remember it ever been that big!


Anyway, my point is, I thought I was "stuck" and not loosing weight (which I was for a few months). But looking at the long-term picture for the first time since I started, it's hit home that actually I'm not "stuck" and have come a long way. I'm pretty pleased actually, and this has given me a fresh spurt to kick the last 5kgs and another 5% body fat off before easter

So if you are a bit stuck, just go back and have a look at your "starting" stats and compare them to today. You may be doing better than you think!