I did it - I lost half my weight

I can't believe this as I write it but I have lost exactly half my size.
In May 2012 I had some blood work done and the Dr. came back and said the test result for likelihood of a heart attack was extremely high. In that second I knew I had to lose weight. I had high blood pressure, was borderline diabetic, and had borderline high cholesterol, and I was only 36.
So I started a modified version of Optifast with specialist supervision. I did a modified version because the full program was too much for me, I knew in order to succeed I needed to be able to eat food. So I started on two shakes a day, a meal and a snack all for 1100 calories. Please hold the criticism on the 1100 calories, it is what I needed to do and I am not recommending this to everyone. I was supervised by the Dr. and met with him weekly to start and did weekly blood work to make sure things weren't going wonky.
I did that from May 28, 2012 until Nov 29, 2012 and in that time I lost 83lbs. Starting Nov 29 I went to one shake a day, two meals and a snack and did that until Dec 16 when I switched to all food (no more shakes), at which point I had lost 93lbs.
At that point I upped my calorie intake to 1200 calories and day.
I started introducing exercise in the form of walking almost immediately (in June 2012) and gradually increased my speed and distance. I just did walking from June 2013-Nov 2013 (yes you can lose weight with just walking, I am living proof).
In Nov I got a personal trainer and see him twice a week. At first I dreaded the thought of the gym but now I love it, I still go twice a week with my trainer.
So now I am at 1250 calories a day, I do strength training twice a week with a trainer and run 6km 4 days a week.
When I started my only goals were to get healthy, lower my blood pressure and not have a heart attack. I never had a goal weight in mind. As I started losing I did start to set goals and came up with 160lbs as my goal weight, once I got there, I thought, I could do a little bit more and kept going and ultimately ended up losing 139lbs. Now that I am at my goal I am going to up my calories to 1300, give that a try for a while and see how it goes.
I was an unhealthy, overweight, unmotivated person who loved food and eating, it was my form of entertainment. But with an amazing willpower (which I still don't know where it came from) and hard work, I did it. I am now smaller, and in the best shape of my life and all of my blood work comes back normal! If I can do this anyone can, you just have to want it bad enough.
SW 278 - size 26/28 (4x) shirt, size 24 pants, size 44DDD bra
GW 160
UGW 139
CW 139 - size S shirts, size 4 pants, size 34D bra (sad but true, the girls left me LOL)
Starting BMI 42.3 (morbidly obese)
Current BMI 21.1 (normal)
I hope this picture upload works (I am not good at this stuff). If it doesn't you can go to my profile and see my pics.

compare_zps2ef2c804.jpg
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Replies

  • Crap, sorry, I can't figure out this image thing. I even read the how to???
    Sorry, I am a spaz. One last try
    compare_zps2ef2c804.jpg
  • jessieleah
    jessieleah Posts: 204 Member
    Congratulations! You look fantastic now & so happy in your pictures!
  • heatherc369
    heatherc369 Posts: 1,555 Member
    Crap, sorry, I can't figure out this image thing. I even read the how to???
    Sorry, I am a spaz. One last try

    [img][/img]compare_zps2ef2c804.jpg
  • :drinker: I'm happy for you! What sucks is that for some of us our health is at risk before we make changes; I am one, but you have made an awesome change for yourself! Kudos:drinker:
  • adlace
    adlace Posts: 375 Member
    congratulations to you
  • enkmom
    enkmom Posts: 61 Member
    WOW! You look absolutely amazing. You are a huge inspiration. Thanks for sharing :flowerforyou:
  • Ok, one last try

    compare_zps2ef2c804.jpgurgh, very frustrated. I can lose 139lbs but can't post a picture LOL!. In my entry is shows theat the begining and end but when I hit post it does not show.
  • MrsFowler1069
    MrsFowler1069 Posts: 657 Member
    You look fantastic. Congratulations on your great progress to date. :)
  • HelllYeaHH
    HelllYeaHH Posts: 56 Member
    Good job!
  • mjgrin
    mjgrin Posts: 883 Member
    Congratulations! Your words are inspiring and you look fantastic!
    I hope to one day be in your shoes!
  • sarapopefitness
    sarapopefitness Posts: 52 Member
    Crap, sorry, I can't figure out this image thing. I even read the how to???
    Sorry, I am a spaz. One last try
    compare_zps2ef2c804.jpg

    compare_zps2ef2c804.jpg

    Something is wrong with your picture. I'd put it on photobucket again and retry.
  • teresamwhite
    teresamwhite Posts: 947 Member
    Congratulations! Its a phenomenal accomplishment and you should be very, very proud of yourself!
  • Weight%i can't figure out why the bracket img bracket on the ends won't show up, they are in my post at the begining and end. I also reloaded the photo to photobucket. Ok now I really give up.
  • mem50
    mem50 Posts: 1,384 Member
    speaking as another who lost half herself I know exactly how you feel...biggest high 5 and kudos to you! you look amazing!
  • Christieson
    Christieson Posts: 36 Member
    What an amazing story....well done. I wouldn't worry too much about your picture-posting skills, bask in the glory of your health-management skills instead!!
  • This content has been removed.
  • Annette_rose
    Annette_rose Posts: 427 Member
    Woohoo my good friend, I am so proud of you!!!! I love your story and accomplishments!
  • UsaJewels05
    UsaJewels05 Posts: 229 Member
    compare_zps2ef2c804.jpgTrying to help, hope this works!
  • fpelletier
    fpelletier Posts: 365 Member
    Great job!
  • fpelletier
    fpelletier Posts: 365 Member
    Double
  • happieharpie
    happieharpie Posts: 229 Member
    I think a little judiciously applied fear can be a grreat source of motivation. I'm about 1/3 finished on my way to that goal. I was also well into the "pres"- pre- diabetic, pre-hypertensive, pre-very unfashionable.

    Your accomplishment is wonderful incentive for me. Thanks very much for posting!
  • brown46545
    brown46545 Posts: 81 Member
    Wow. Awesome!

    At the end of the day when I really want a snack after dinner I come on to this forum for my inspiration. Success stories! Excellent.
  • bathsheba24
    bathsheba24 Posts: 18 Member
    You look awesome!! So happy for your accomplishment!!
  • missbp
    missbp Posts: 601 Member
    Sorry. Tried to help you out, but looks like you deleted the pic. Congrats on your success nonetheless!!!
  • FourIsCompany
    FourIsCompany Posts: 269 Member
    You look great! Congratulations!

    The ONLY way I can get pictures to work on here is to load them up to my profile here and then use the img tags to post them. From photobucket, they just don't work...
  • QuietBloom
    QuietBloom Posts: 5,413 Member
    You look fantastic. GREAT JOB!!!
  • sunflowerhippi
    sunflowerhippi Posts: 1,099 Member
    ti is % sign in your link. that is why the image won't show.

    But great job on the loss!
  • floop1207
    floop1207 Posts: 194 Member
    amazing :smile:
  • jailbirdjubie
    jailbirdjubie Posts: 22 Member
    Great job! You look great!
  • Congratulations!!!:bigsmile:
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