101 lbs Down & In Maintenance (w Pics)

I haven't been on here as much as usual since I am now in maintenance but thought I would post my story to date. I know I love reading other's stories and seeing their pics.

Here's a bit about me and my journey....

I'm 5'9 and quite large framed. I started at 277.2 pounds. My original goal was160-165 pounds but that was revised based on how my size/weight/health/fitness has aligned during my weight loss journey (and also on advice from my doctor).

I am 101 pounds down (which took around 16 months) and maintaining my own "happy and healthy" weight of 176 pounds. I am still noticing changes in my body composition but am currently at 27% body fat and measurements of 36, 29.5 and 41.5 (chest/waist/hips). I realise this may still seem "big" to some but it is the right size for me personally and have come to realise that's all that matters (and that I am in perfect health, which I am lucky enough to enjoy).

As I neared the end of my weight loss journey, I started to care less about the scale and more about my body fat and measurements. I do weigh occassionally (once a month) just to make sure I am on track but to be honest, I can feel it within myself and do think I will eventually give up on using the scale and rely solely on measurements. Thankfully, I have found maintenance (surprisingly) easy to date. I think this is because I have focused on real lifestyle changes in relation to my diet and fitness - that I am more than ready and happy to maintain forever.

Diet-wise, I tended to keep my calories on the higher side (averaging 2000 per day) while losing. I also focused (and continue to focus) on whole foods - plenty of fruit, veg, nuts, seeds, meat, dairy - trying to avoid or minimise processed food. I also tried (and continue to try) to truly listen to my body and what it needs to function at its prime - this definitely includes at least one meal out per week and a treat or two - it tends to fall into an 80/20 approach. I now generally maintain a calorie level of approximately 2300-2400 but don't count calories on a day to day basis - I instead check in every now and then just to confirm guestimations and listening to my body is keeping me on track).

Fitness-wise, while actively losing I worked out 4 to 6 times per week (generally 5) at the gym - performing a mix of HIIT/heavy weights with my personal trainer, spin classes, jogging, cross trainer and circuit training. As I have come to be more motivated by the mental and physical enjoyment I get from exercise (rather than weight loss) I now focus more so on outdoor running, bikram yoga (LOVE LOVE LOVE both of these) and just visit the gym once a week at most.

Anyway, sorry for the blather....on to the pics....

Starting out...





Now...





Sorry for the midrift pics, I was so excited to spy my abs starting to come through after a yoga class :P