81 Pounds is so much to lose, but 45 are gone so far

I am always inspired by posts here with amazing success; since my final success story will not occur for many months I thought I’d share a little more then halfway success. Feel free to skip my endless post, pics are below

Stats:
5’ 7”
SW: 231 – that I know, think it was a bit higher
CW: 186.2
GW: 150 – and perhaps 10-15 beyond that, will see when I get there

I have lost a about 23 inches, from bust, hips, waist, arms, legs and neck. The weight loss so far has mostly been from my thighs to my stomach (below the bust area) and now I feel like it is coming off my bust, arms, legs.

My biggest challenges and changes, number one portion control and random snacking. My portions had become epic, even healthier meals became huge eating fests, I could make a meal that serves 8-10 and my husband, small child and I would eat it all, plus bread, salad, etc. Snacking, mainly salty snacks like chips, I could eat a family bag size of chips in a day if I really felt like it. The other weakness was cereal, any kind, I could eat ½ a box in a sitting any time of day, even before dinner. Sweets and chocolate while I like then they are not my weakness, they could rot in the house before I eat them all. I’d rather eat a plate of nachos then chocolate. In addition to all this drinking a ton of Diet Pepsi, which for me went hand in hand with overeating.

What I do and have done, portion control via weighing and measuring, though more and more I am weighing in grams. I keep salty snacks to a minimum in the house and actually allow for some along the way, or work to find healthier alternatives to satisfy this. I eat more or less the same, everything in moderation. Add to this plain old willpower and determination, and the desire to cut off any health issues that can arise to obesity, as I am now over 40 reducing this risk is hugely motivating. This is also day 10 of no diet soda/carbonated beverages, started reducing after the first of the year.

In the beginning I blindly followed calorie recommendations from MFP for losing 2 pounds a week, I knew this would be attainable in the early few weeks/months of losing. As calories readjusted down to a point in the 1200’s this was no longer satisfying, losses were slowing and I was hungry all the time. This coincided with the holidays so I used “In Place Of a Road Map” and calculated (many times to get it right) my TDEE and ate “around” that during the holidays with the goal to cut from that after the holidays, I am actually still playing with calories usually around 1400-1700 though I am losing still, more slowly then the early days.

I lost the first 30-38 pounds with very little exercise, just trying to simply move more, walks, roller skating, some home workouts, yoga, 30DS. I have joined the YMCA and now taking a deep water exercise class 3x a week and spinning 1x a week. I will be working with a trainer to learn weights over the next 8-10 weeks. Tomorrow I will go solo to do on the weight machines with a routine that was worked out for me. I have done some practice for two sessions, so adding lifting 2-3x a week. Combining still with walking, roller skating and home workouts, This is mix and match as I continue to find things I like and can stick with, I feel open to try many things and hope to switch it up along the way.







So that is me so far, I am always up for new pals, if you think you are on a similar path feel free to add me, I have an open diary for friends make most meals and avoid drama. Thanks for looking, every single day I am glad to be on this quest, and thankful I found MFP!