Half way there (pics)

Starting weight: 258
Current weight: 207
Goal Weight: 158

Lengthy post: feel free to skip to the pics!

I’ve been overweight my whole life, or at least since puberty. I lost weight once before, toward the end of college/beginning of grad school. It didn’t last. I met my husband, and went right back to gaining weight. It didn’t stop, and it certainly wasn’t going to stop unless I took deliberate action. I am a food addict. I love food, and I love to stuff my face to the point that my stomach hurts from being so full.

How I was at 258: Typical work day~~~ I would stop by the gas station on the way to work and get one of their delicious sausage rolls, and a chocolate milk to wash it down. I would snack on the assorted chocolates and skittles I kept in my desk drawer. Then for lunch I’d splurge on sonic. Love the cheeseburger with MAYO! Lots of it! Tater tots, of course, and a large coke, then, because I was a fatty, I might get an order of chicken bites with extra ranch for good measure. I’d continue snacking at work, then come home, eat a large dinner (hamburger helper and the like), and then make some chocolate chip cookies for dessert.

I did work out at this time. Not always consistently, but I was a 258lb runner, and bicycler, and boot camper. I like to be active and I have been for years, but I was completely unwilling to change my eating habits. I just loved food too much. I didn’t lose a pound, even during the times I was exercising very regularly.

Unfortunate truth: You will not lose weight without changing your diet. Period.

I joined MFP in May of 2012, after having quit weight watchers for the second time. I didn’t start fully participating in MFP until January 2, 2013. I was lucky enough to have the “click” that people often describe. On January 2, 2013, I decided that I was ready to do what it took to lose this weight, and align the person in the inside with the person on the outside. I always felt like a stranger in my body. I would look at my reflection, and realize that the person I saw (and that other people saw) was definitely not the person I felt like on the inside.

How I am today: Typical work day~~~ Wake up at 4:15, get ready, go to the gym, work out. Go to work, eat oatmeal for breakfast. Snack on two apples and a hot chocolate (because I still need chocolate in my life). For lunch, I have a packet of premade tuna salad and 4 club crackers. In the afternoon, I might make a small bag of popcorn or have some fruit or carrots. I make little contests with myself to drink more water than the day before. I drink no less than 16 oz of water every hour during the work day. Then I come home, chill, and eat dinner. Dinner is easily the trickiest meal of the day, because husband is involved in that, and he has not joined me in any way on my healthy voyage.

I am hardcore. I do believe that anyone can make the necessary changes, but it is not for the weak. You have to want it, you have to be dedicated, and you have to EARN it. It will not be handed over to you.

As I said, my husband has not participated in any way. I have had to do this completely on my own. For the first 10 months I did not even have a gym membership. I used online workout videos in my living room for strength training, and I ran around my neighborhood for cardio. This app is free. Nothing else is required, but your dedicated effort! (if you need workout videos... go to FitnessBlender.com --- LOVE LOVE LOVE Daniel and Kelly! great workouts for FREE)

Things that work for me:
I exercise 6-7 days a week
I log my calories Monday thru Friday afternoon. –I keep it completely clean, and stay very close to my goal-
If I go over a little on my goal, I am not worried about it. Anything under 1600 is doing good for me.
I take weekends off of logging, and I splurge to my heart’s delight. Booze, grease, chocolate- No holds barred. -- on Monday, its back to business! (and I'm usually very ready for it!)
I drink an obscene amount of water. 18-24 cups during the work day.
I eat as little processed foods as possible.


~also, I thought that if I stuck to the plan, I wouldn't plateau. I sincerely thought I wouldn't plateau! That was not the case. Plateaus happen despite your best efforts. You have just push through and not let it get you down!

Recommendations:
RESEARCH!!! Google the **** out of EVERYTHING, then decipher the legit stuff from the garbage. Learn which foods keep you fuller longer, learn what a true balanced diet looks like.
I never thought I’d be the type of person that would be all “I don’t eat processed foods,” but I am a strong proponent of logic. And logic tells me that artificial preservatives/flavors aren’t natural, and can’t be good for you.
Read the message boards of MFP, and learn from them. I read one that told me to make friends on here, so I posted something and asked people to add me. I was very surprised to find that the support on here really has made a big difference in this process. It is very meaningful to have people here to encourage you every day, and to watch and celebrate their successes, and to gain strength from one another.
Calculate your TDEE. Don’t know what that is? See above recommendation.
Don’t eat less than 1200 calories. –counterproductive-
Set small goals. end of the month, end of the week, end of the day. Set goals that challenge you but that you can conceivably achieve.
EXERCISE! It feels so good to be strong!

Trial and error.
I always heard people talk about almonds, and how good they are for you. I didn’t really care for them, but I was willing to do whatever it takes to lose this weight, so I learned to like them. Then I would have 3-4 servings of them to snack on, because you can’t have too much of a good thing, right? Wrong! That took up a TON of my calories. So I learned the lesson that portion sizes are exactly that. One is all you need. My point- it will take a lot of mistakes to find out what works and what is best for you. Just keep at it.

This has been a total life changer. In my new job (that I started at the beginning of this year) they all think of me as the health nut. I have never ever been the health nut. In fact, I didn’t like the health nuts, the girls who worried about their caloric intake. It annoyed me, and I couldn’t imagine living a life where you had to nickel and dime your way through a meal or a snack. Maybe it really just annoyed me that I wasn’t like that. And I was fat.

I have bra/pantie pics, but I don't have the nerve to post them yet. Maybe when I reach my final goal...

Pics!


Worst picture ever taken!

















I weigh in every day.





First picture ever taken that I didn’t hate my legs!







Out fit compiled almost entirely of cloths my girlfriends have given me. That's right, I can share cloths with my friends!!


Little red riding hooker