Any Success Stories for Women about 300 Pounds??

In 2008 I was well over 300 pounds. I don't know how much over because I refused to get on a scale. Over the next three years I gradually lost weight until last spring I was at 227. This is when I joined MFP and, in the last four months I've lost more than 40 pounds. I have about 50 more to go.

My tips? 1. Be kind to yourself. Don't beat yourself up for any slips you make. 2. Be patient. Time is going to pass whether or not you lose weight. 3. Find what works for you. For me, this means finding ways to still eat the foods I love best in healthier ways. For example, I don't want to eat white pasta, but I didn't like the taste of whole wheat pasta either so now I put my spaghetti sauce on sauted zucchini slices. I don't eat foods that are healthy but which I hate. I don't eat yogurt. I do eat sardines. 4. Find an exercise or more than one that you like and can and will do.

Good luck! Believe you can lose weight and then do what you know you need to do to succeed.

Interesting how many people here have PCOS. I have it too. I am 297 lbs and it's a fight to lose every single pound. My weight is constantly up/down. It was definitely inspiring to read some of the stories in this thread!

I'm 5'8" or so and I was over 300 when I started. I've probably lost a lot slower than most, but it was never a race for me. I started off by walking and just increased gradually over time. Later, I added biking, hiking, running intervals, circuit, strength, etc. I just keep finding new/different things to add or try and do a little bit of everything to keep it fresh. And I log every day even if I have a bad day where I go way over. I just start new tomorrow.

I am 38, 5'6+, and started my journey a little over a year ago at 321 lbs. I am now about ready to break through my 100 lbs lost goal. I still will have about 60 lbs to lose to be at my ultimate goal, 49% of my body weight (down 165 lbs). I would be happy to answer any questions you have. Feel free to inbox me!

I started at 314, and am down to 248 ... sort of. I lost pretty steadily to 253, and then have really struggled to take any weight off since May of this year. I am not sure what is going on --- I am sticking to my calories reasonably well, have added exercise, etc. My next step is to get a BodyMedia Fit so that I can figure out how many calories I'm really burning --- I am not sure if I'm not eating enough, or if I'm eating too much, or if there is something else going on. But I am sticking to it one day at a time, and constantly telling myself not to get discouraged.

Here is what has worked for me:

1. Log everything. Everything --- even little bites here and there, or samples from Costco, or whatever.
2. Get a scale. I weigh most things to try to get as accurate a measurement as possible.
3. I don't deprive myself of anything that I really want. I just eat less of it. Whereas I used to just take a big bag of chips and eat them mindlessly, now I measure out a serving and eat that. If I want more, I repeat. And I log the calories, and fit them in to my daily allotment. Same with ice cream, candy, etc. I still do have treats --- I do not do deprivation well, and it will not work for me. I also have a couple relatively low calorie but filling meals I have developed that I work in to days when I've eaten extra treats, so that I can still make my calorie goal and not be starving (grape nuts mixed with greek yogurt is my favorite).
4. Exercise if you can, even if it is just a little bit at a time. I started out walking --- started with a goal of doing it twice a week, and then worked up to four times a week. Then I mixed in the exercise bike. I have also (very intermittently) done things like the 100 sit ups/100 push ups apps. I don't have a ton of extra time (very demanding job, and I'm a mom), but I fit it in where I can. No excuses -- if I didn't do it, it's because I chose to do something else instead.
5. Don't beat yourself up. If you have a bad day, move on. I went on a cruise earlier this summer and ate pretty much whatever I wanted, though I did try to control the portions, limit myself to two courses at dinner rather than 5, etc. When I came back, I hadn't gained, and I even lost a few pounds (finally) shortly after I got back.
6. Don't get discouraged. This is for the long haul. Just stick with it. It took people literally months to notice that I lost weight. And months and months before I needed new clothes. I still wear some of the same clothes that I wore before (though I fit in to a lot of smaller stuff now, too). Just keep going, every day.
7. It's not a diet, it's a lifestyle change. Whenever anyone says that I'm on a diet, I correct them. This is not temporary for me, it is a permanent change to my lifestyle. I want to be healthier and more active as I get older, and that's the reason I'm changing the path that I was on.
8. Know that you're worth it. It's a lot of effort, and requires a lot of stamina. I think things changed for me when I realized that I have the willpower --- I'm one of the most stubborn people I know --- I just needed to apply that willpower in the direction of making my lifestyle better and healthier. Once I realized that, it's really all math (which MFP does for you!)
9. Get rid of your old clothes along the way. Not all of them, maybe, but on the whole I have been ditching stuff. I don't ever want to go back to needing those clothes. I shop at thrift shops for smaller stuff, and also get some stuff on sale. It hasn't been too bad cost-wise.
10. Set smaller goals. "I need to lose 140 pounds" is overwhelming. "I need to lose 15 pounds to get below 300," (my first goal) is less so. My next "real" goal is to get to my halfway point (only a few pounds to go), and then after that to get out of the "obese" BMI range. I've had others along the way, also.

MFP is a great tool. But it's just that. The rest has to come from you. But you're worth it. Best of luck to all on your journeys.

I started at 371, I'm 6'0 tall. As of today I am down to 228. EXCITING!! My goal is to be under 200, whatever feels best on my body.

For me, I cut out bread, pasta, rice. I still eat potatoes. Green protein smoothies in the morning. High protein sensible meals. I also exercise (swimming laps) 5-6 times a week. Exercise is the key for me. I also try to stay at about 1200 calories a day.

Feel free to add as a friend!

I started at 348 just under three months ago and I have lost the first forty. I just posted in this category today a thread called "So much to be thankful for" if there's anything there you find useful.

But really, I don't think what works for us is any different. If anything the early weight probably comes off a little easier and we get to eat more. lol Not a bad gig if you can get it.

Eat at a deficit. Move more. Trying to make generally healthier choices is nice for the big picture.

Hang in there. Eat food. Don't beat yourself up. Every day is new.

I recommend a little whiskey where you can work it in, but maybe that's just me.

Take care!

I started at 277 lbs but i'm only 5'5. Today i'm 153 lbs. It CAN be done. You have to want it so bad that nothing is going to stop you. There is no secret. Eat less, move more. Log all of your food. Dont make excuses. Prove to yourself that you can do it. It is worth every second. I still think i'm dreaming.

Ad me as a friend if you would like; I'm a consistent logger I started out at 327 been here since May and have lost 19lbs. I workout regular each week and log everything (even the bad). I don't beat myself up, I've already been mean enough to let myself get this way. Slow and steady always wins! =D

Hatersgonnahate......Whooohooooo!!!! Congrats on Onederland....that is AWESOME!!!

All beautiful success stories. Congratulations!

Well I am a woman (36 yrs old) 5'8" and my all time high weight was 307 so I guess I fit the bill.

However I did not start MFP at 300. I started at 262 in March of this year.

I am now at 214, definitely wanting to get down to 180 eventually but not sure how much lower I'll go than that.

It took me about 3 years to get from 307 to 270. I had previously hovered around 260-270 for all of my twenties so that was my 'comfortable to me' weight. I did not really "diet" at all or even change my eating habits much but just started exercising (mostly LONG speedy walks) daily and that got me down to 270, although slowly.

Getting from 270 to 262 was more of a pain. I unintentionally starved myself a lot of the time, thinking that I didn't need to eat very much and should NEVER eat treats, etc. So of course then I'd wind up caving and eating some bad stuff. I finally got smart at the end of 2012 when my boyfriend, now husband, started helping me learn how to eat healthy and eat enough food. But I still wasn't losing very quickly. I even went pescetarian and still saw a very minimal loss.

So in March I joined MFP and started logging 100% honestly and completely. It really seems to work well for me, as since then the weight has slowly dropped off quite steadily. I do eat very healthy and stay under my calories but I also have REGULAR "splurges" that I work into my days. That is what works for me. I wish you luck!!!!

<--- When I started in Oct 2012 I weighed 279, I'm now 188, working towards 150 It will happen if you motivate and be very determined. Good luck!

I started at 319, and hit 199 today. You can ask me stuff if you'd like

Curious how long it took you and what you ate.

When I post it will show I am down 106 but the true number is 116 b/c I moved the scale and gain 10 overnight and had that to lose in the middle of my journey.

For me carbs are an enemy, they make me want to eat none stop. I began with watching calories as I watched and listened to my body and read more I cut carbs to 120 and upped protein to 75. As I continued losing I re-evaluated and am now at 100 or less carbs and 100 or more proteins per day. Does it have to be exact numbers ? No but I try and stay close every day.

I drink btw 12 - 24 cups of water a day. Also there is no food off limits though I do try and work it into my plan so that it doesn't make me go over my daily limits.

I started at 310 I thought but it must have been 320 and I am now 4 lbs from "onederland" I am under the lie that has been on my driver's license forever, I am smaller than when I graduated high school, got married, or had children.

I start each day fresh and focus on my accomplishments rather than on how far I have to go. This is lifestyle journey and not the dreaded d word "diet" b/c it is not something I will NOT be going off and returning to my old ways.