So glad to hear that everyone did so well! Congratulations to all!!

Thank you! your group really helped me get there! You should create another!

Weight Loss Story After Winning the Valentine’s Day Contest:

Fredda asked me to tell my weight loss story. I want to first thank Fredda for hosting this challenge! You were terrific and I hope you will consider doing it again in the future. Secondly, I never expected to win this contest. I really didn't pay a lot of attention to how much everyone was losing, but I could tell that most of us were losing weight and achieving goals as we went along. Congratulations to EVERYONE in the contest and best of luck in your future weight loss process!!! I think we ALL are winners when we lose weight, learn to eat better, and feel better about ourselves!!!

About me...My name is June and I live in North Central Missouri. I am 59 years old and a retired elementary teacher. I have been heavy all of my adult life except for one brief period when I was about 30 years old. I went on a starvation diet (I didn't think of it as starvation then) and lost weight drastically. I lost around 80 pounds (down to 145 pounds from 225) in under 6 months. However, I couldn't maintain it and I gained it all back and then some more very quickly. My rapid weight loss/gain caused me serious problems with my monthly cycle as it totally stopped. I wound up going to the doctor to get straightened out. After that, I kind of gave up on the diet thing and said I would just have to be happy with myself as I was. I married about 6 years ago and continued to gain even more weight as I went through menopause. By May of 2012, I could not even use my scales, because they stopped reading weight at 303. I am not sure how much over 303 I was, yet it was too much weight.:brokenheart: I was having lots of problems climbing stairs and just walking due to my excess weight. I was wearing size 22/24 jeans and 4X blouses. :embarassed: My knees were giving out on me, my blood pressure and cholesterol was way too high, and I was so stiff and was having major pain in both my low back and both knees. I was taking 8 or more Ibuprofen's daily. I am also sure I was headed for diabetes as it is in my family and I was addicted to SUGAR.!!:noway:

In May, 2012, the family went to a Zoo in Des Moines, IA. This is a small zoo, but I could hardly walk around the couple hours we were there. I kept sitting at every opportunity and I was exhausted by the time we arrived home. I decided then and there, to lose my weight and get healthier. So I sat down at the computer and started to look up weight loss management systems. I ran across a nutritionist for Beyond Diet.com. I ordered her weight loss manuals and liked what I read. She suggested to make SMALL changes in my eating habits at first. She also said to eventually eliminate all refined sugars, processed foods, canola and margarine oils, and refined flour as much as possible as these feed the fat on our bodies. She suggested to eat salad greens/fresh vegetables, lean meats (fish, chicken, pork and some lean beef) and fresh fruits. So, I began my LIFE STYLE CHANGE of eating differently and I stopped drinking regular Mountain Dew sodas.( I was consuming 4 or 5 sodas a day). I knew just that small change alone would pull off lots of pounds!!!

On June 1, 2012, I weighed and was 303 pounds. I was happy my scales now read my weight but was horrified in the number that it was showing me!!!:sad: :mad: At this point, I was not counting calories, but eating clean. I lost 20 pounds by mid-August when I was told about Myfitnesspal.com. One of my step-daughters was using it and said that it might help me realize what I was eating and how much I was eating. I quickly became hooked on this site!! I found lots of people who were in the same boat as I was and was struggling with that demon called Hunger!! I leaned more about eating properly and I began to make myself move more by walking. My husband and I own a farm ( we are living in town till our house we are building is finished) and we go out there everyday to feed and do chores. We walk up and down hills for exercise. My husband is slender and can out walk me in a heartbeat (even now) but he accompanies me and encourages me to keep moving. I also have a "dreadmill" that I work out on when I can't walk at the farm. In addition, I have Zumba tapes to exercise with since Dec.

I have been averaging around 9 to 10 pounds of weight loss per month since I started in June, 2012. I haven't hit a long plateau of no weight loss (except for a few times when I hadn't lost weight in a couple weeks, but I would then lose 3 or 4 pounds in the following week). It averages out to be nearly 2 pounds per week. I eat between 1250 and 1500 calories a day and I exercise at least an hour per day, if not more. I eat lots of lean meats on my salads, fresh vegetables, and fresh fruits. I drink only water~~about 4 to 5- 16 oz water bottles a day or more. I DO NO EAT/DRINK: Mountain Dew or any diet pop, breads, refined sugars, white potatoes, corn, peas, fatty meats, canola or margarine oils~~(I use Olive and coconut oil or if I have to..real butter), and very little processed foods. I eat Special K and/or Cheerios for breakfast with 1% milk and Stevia to sweeten it. I plan to start using skim milk when I next buy some~~~ if I can tolerate it..lol!! I know that this is a permanent life style change and I can never go back to eating whatever is in front of me without bad consequences!!!:noway:

As of today, I am at 214 ~~down 89 total pounds (only 15 pounds from ONEderland). I wear a size 16 jeans and L to XL blouses/coat. ( I still have lots on top..:blushing: ). I don't feel that I have yet accomplished my FIRST major goal, because I am not below 200 pounds at this point!!... So in some ways, my story is not much more than half way written. I still want to: #1) make it to ONEderland... hopefully by early April, #2) get out of Obese category at around 185, #3) get out of Over-weight category at around 155, and #4) arrive at my final weight goal. I will then feel like celebrating when I reach each of these goals in turn. I don't know what my ultimate goal weight will be...130, 140, 150???? I will go until I feel I am at a nice size and I feel/look good (I don't look great anyway, but for me it will be an improvement!!:laugh: ). At that point I WILL maintain the weight loss and not ever go back to where I was in May, 2012. I am shooting for a size 8/10 or somewhere near that. I would like to have the rest of my weight off by the end of this year. However, it may take longer and if it does, so be it. I am healthier now than I have been in a long...long time and that makes me smile.:bigsmile: I no longer need any medicines for pain nor am I as stiff as I was at the beginning of this journey. I don't crave sweets now and that is a major accomplishment.

Fredda asked that I post some before and after pictures of my weight loss. That would generally not be a problem, but my computer went down in Oct. and it had to be worked on. When I got it back, all my pictures were gone. Now, I have to find them to re-enter them and get them posted for you. Plus, enter the ones on my camera that I have taken recently. I will do so as soon as I can. I wanted to get this story out regardless of the lack of pictures so that the group will know a little about me. My profile picture of me is with my (baby), Peaches. I am at 303 or more in this picture. I didn't take any before pictures with posting them in mind. Guess I didn't want to jinx myself from losing weight and I HATED to have my picture taken. I didn't like the way I looked and didn't want any reminders around to show me. Have you felt that way????

Again, thank you for the challenge group and the rewards. My (real) reward was losing this weight!!:drinker: :drinker: I will post those before and current pictures as soon as possible, so keep watching for them. Best of luck to each of you and remember... YOU ALL ARE WINNERS!!!!

P.S. Sorry this was so-o-o-o long winded!!!
June / junerbooner

Congratulations!!! You're definitely an inspirtation. Keep doing what you're doing!

Thank you so much for taking the time to write up your story! I've been struggling lately and reading about your success has inspired me again. Congratulations and best of luck to you in your continued journey!

You sure are an inspiration June! Many people need to hear your story. Thanks for sharing

congratz june.......wish u all d best for ur fitness journey ahead.........:flowerforyou: