Lost over 100lbs w/o dieting or surgery? I need to hear from

Behavior_Modification
Behavior_Modification Posts: 24,482 Member
edited September 26 in Motivation and Support
Dear MFP friends,

I am not seeing the light at the end of the tunnel lately and really need some uplifting successful examples of people who have already achieved what I want to achieve. I would love to hear from some women who have achieved a loss of over 100lbs that did NOT do strict dieting, hormone injections or surgery. I'll catch a glimpse of a ticker of someone who lost a bunch of weight, go into their profile to see how they are doing it only to find disappointment because they had surgery last year or are taking HCG, or have been maintaining a very low caloric intake for someone of their size. Those are all successful ways to lose weight, just not the way that will work for me. I barely ever come across someone who has lost their weight in the same fashion as I seek. I want to hear from people who have been able to incorporate a healthy lifestyle and that is the reason they have been successful at losing and keeping their weight off. Is that you? Please write to me. Please tell me your story. Please reassure me that it can be done.

Thank you,
Diane
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Replies

  • Ditto, I'm on the same boat as you at the moment. I refuse to do some fad diet or any other unhealthy method of getting rid of all of my weight.
  • Charli666
    Charli666 Posts: 407
    I've only lost 43lbs so far, but have a lot more to go, i've upped my exercise ALOT, and watch what i eat, but i refuse to cut things out of my diet completely, i'd always want them, make sensible choices, and slowly it will come off naturally.

    Good luck
  • SheilaS95
    SheilaS95 Posts: 17
    check out Ben Davis's story... he's lost over 100lbs by starting to exercise and trying to watch what he eats... no surgery, hcg, or crazy diet stuff

    http://bendoeslife.tumblr.com/

    he's a real inspiration!
  • justann
    justann Posts: 276 Member
    I don't have that much weight to lose but I just want to say.....LOOK IN THE MIRROR! You have already lost 56 lbs! YOU are the proof it can be done! You should be very proud of yourself. Keep doing what you are doing. It is working!!!!!! Congratulations!!:drinker:
  • bgeer34
    bgeer34 Posts: 135 Member
    I have not lost 100 pounds, but I am at 52 pounds lost since Jan 1. I am not doing a strict diet but have based my choices from the glycemic index. Whole grains, no sugar, fresh fruits/veggies, portion control, 3 meals, 3 snacks a day, and exercise. I will be at over 100 pounds lost sometime this year I hope and I won't do hormone injections or surgery and a strict diet would never work for me... hope this helps you know it's possible because I have proven to myself that it is :)
  • While I haven't yet lost it all, my overall goal is to lose 100 and I have lost 60 on my own with healthier eating (not crazy diet) and working out. So yes, it can be done...but not overnight!!! I have had those times where I didn't feel it was quick enough, and got off track...but in the end, just eating better and doing at least 30 minutes of exercise a day...it did come off. Sometimes it would be a couple weeks before a difference on the scale...but just hang in there!! We didn't put the weight on overnight, so it won't come off overnight!!!

    I just started MFP a couple weeks ago to help with that last 40...as the message boards and motivation you get from the friends is awesome. So hang in there!! There is a light at the end of the tunnel!!!
  • tmaksparkie
    tmaksparkie Posts: 279
    I guess it depends on what you think a fad diet is, me I decided after a lot of research to eat primal for my life style and lost all my weight doing that of course with some cheat days or months in their. But hey we are human.
  • hpsnickers1
    hpsnickers1 Posts: 2,783 Member
    You go!!! Doing great. I just got off "those last 10 pounds" without anything but good healthy food and exercise. But I was in the upper range of healthy when I started.

    Love your Hovercat!!
  • crystaldougherty
    crystaldougherty Posts: 59 Member
    I've not achieved my 200lb lost goal, but I'm 70lbs away! Its been a long rough struggle, I've not have any type of plastic surgery or used Jenny craig or any of that junk, I've done it solely with Walking, Jogging, cleaning and playing in the yard. I'm very proud to say that my starting weight was 240, but when I started a yr ago, I was probably closer to 370, and now I'm down to a whopping 210...Holy cramole I can barely believe it, but now I'm starting to struggle, but not a day goes by that I tell myself to give up. I can honestly tell you from expierence that you can do ANYTHING that you want as long as you set your mind and body to it. Keep up the good work, don't fret you'll get there, it will just take time, like I've heard, no one put this weight on over night, so we can't take it off naturally over night.
  • bloodbank
    bloodbank Posts: 468 Member
    I haven't hit the 100 pound mark yet, but the weight I have lost has been through eating tons of real, fresh food and moving my *kitten* - nothing more, nothing less.
  • GrayJohn
    GrayJohn Posts: 74
    I lost 140lbs last year through exercising and watching what I ate. It can be done, it just takes time. I reached 100lbs around 7 months into it.

    It's hard to maintain though!
  • Behavior_Modification
    Behavior_Modification Posts: 24,482 Member
    I don't have that much weight to lose but I just want to say.....LOOK IN THE MIRROR! You have already lost 56 lbs! YOU are the proof it can be done! You should be very proud of yourself. Keep doing what you are doing. It is working!!!!!! Congratulations!!:drinker:

    Thank you for saying so. :flowerforyou:
  • Melis25Fit
    Melis25Fit Posts: 811 Member
    I have lost 122 by eating right and working out, and it hasn't been easy. I just posted a forum called "Can you believe this girl?" Try searching for it. There are several before and current pictures on there.
    It's hard work, you'll plateau, and you'll want to give up. The thing is, the only way it will work is by being 110% dedicated and honest with what you are eating and how much you are putting into your workouts.
  • hroush
    hroush Posts: 2,073 Member
    When I was 21 I lost 70 lbs (280 - 210) in 7 months (2 lbs / week) only doing 2 spin classes a week with the only diet change being cutting out pop. It's quite possible I was consuming 5000 calories some days (this is eating at home) most days probably 3000+.

    At 210 I still had a stomach, but I think I was just taking in so many calories I couldn't lose any more.
  • kettlewitch
    kettlewitch Posts: 277 Member
    I'm at 50lb since doing this but 78 since 2009. No pills, surgery or any magic. Just 1500 cals a day and walking, swimming and the gym. It's entirely doable if you have the patience a determination. I have no doubts that I will do this as it's become a way of life now
  • med79
    med79 Posts: 288
    I haven't lost 100 pounds yet but I've lost about 31 pounds total and am not going to stop ever. This is a lifestyle change not a quick fix. I've been consistently loosing about 2 pounds each week (some weeks I do stay the same, but it seems to all even out for me in the end) and sometimes I feel like I'm not making any progress but when I look back over the past few months I can see the progress I'm making. You can do it! Just stick with healthy choices one day at a time :happy:
    And yes, I'm doing it the good old fashioned way as well by making healthier choices and getting more active.
  • aflane
    aflane Posts: 625 Member
    Not at 100 lbs lost... yet.... but I'm getting there. Officially, I've lost 66 lbs -- unofficially 68 lbs lost ... Saturday is my weigh-in day. No surgery, hormone injections, pills, etc., in my life. I just work my butt off at the gym 5 days a week (90-120 min sessions), and try to stay within my daily caloric goals. I try to eat healthy foods, but I'm human, so I allow myself planned indulgences. I figure this isn't a diet, it's retraining myself to eat smarter and in moderation for life.
  • cdngirl71
    cdngirl71 Posts: 2,641 Member
    I have lost my weight by eating properly and exercising. Also learning about portion sizes helped me alot!!
  • I actually lost 100 pounds in roughly a year (~320 to ~220) doing a half hour of weight lifting 3 or 4 times a week and a 40 minute workout DVD 2 or 3 times a week. I was averaging 1600 to 2000 calories a day. Just watching what I ate, not over eating and making healthy choices. Low fat, low carb, low calorie etc. I still ate pizza, chinese and the things I Iove but just in moderation. It was a hard year and felt like I was going no where a lot. ( I am actually up about 15 pounds but working it back down) Keep on keeping on and you will make it. Have you tried doing a totally different work out or eating something totally different? I have been running the past few weeks and its great. Good luck.
  • Behavior_Modification
    Behavior_Modification Posts: 24,482 Member
    I have lost 122 by eating right and working out, and it hasn't been easy. I just posted a forum called "Can you believe this girl?" Try searching for it. There are several before and current pictures on there.
    It's hard work, you'll plateau, and you'll want to give up. The thing is, the only way it will work is by being 110% dedicated and honest with what you are eating and how much you are putting into your workouts.

    I did read your forum. A big congratulations is in order! I am by no means trying to take anything away from your success, but you did what I consider strict dieting for someone my size. I would not be able to maintain a calorie count of 1200-1400 every day. That will send me to a binge. That is not something I'd be able to do for life. Your pics looks great, I'm glad you have been successful. :flowerforyou:
  • sinks
    sinks Posts: 14 Member
    I've lost 102lbs so far just exercising and counting the calories. I didn't/haven't drastically cut the calories. I try to net between 1200-1500 a day, but with extra exercise I get to eat way more than that. I go to bed every night satisfied, and I eat whenever I am hungry. I've been working at this for just over a year now. I still have about 30 lbs to go to my goal weight. So, it can be done! I've done nothing crazy, drastic, or unhealthy. I just started making healthy choices.
  • ladyhawk00
    ladyhawk00 Posts: 2,457 Member
    There are many people on the site who have lost significant weight using MFP and/or using a moderate deficit and implementing healthy, sustainable habits.

    A couple that I know of....

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/215063-near-400-to-220ish

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/blog/k2d4p/view/this-is-my-story-of-success-90557

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/168517-100-pounds-down-with-pics
  • pftjill
    pftjill Posts: 488
    Glad you are doing this the right way that is the only way to keep it off. This story is going to start out funny, but just go with me. I have been skinny all my life and I am 35 just had my 3rd child and am back to my pre-pregnancy weight. So here goes my weight loss story. I have been athletic all my life, very competitive. So when I turned 26 and started to gain weight I realized-fun was over and joined the gym. A few years down the road I met my husband and had put on some weight. Moved back home to save some money and lost 20 lbs exercising and watching what I ate with my mom as my fitness buddy. So then I got pregnant pretty quickly. I had my first daughter-to make a long story short she was hospitalized and we had to stay for 9 weeks. I was in there stressed and depressed. My mom, husband, a friend all told me I should try to do some working out. In my mind I was fine and didn't even look that bad. Of course at hospital there are scales all over. So even though I was weighing in at 250 and buying size 18 clothes my stress and depression didn't let me see how out of control I got. We got out and a friend came to visit and we went to lunch with her and my husband took a picture-it is on my page. Anyhow, I gasped in horror when I saw it and looked at my husband and said-why didn't you stop me. Well, like I said-people tried.

    After that wake up call I have never been back there, because I made myself a promise. Two years ago, before this last pregnancy I was less than I was when I got married. I am almost back there. No crazy diets or pills. Just hard work with exercise and watching my diet more carefully. It can be done and it has been done by many.

    With every pregnancy I have promised myself to be better and have gained tons of weight each time. It makes me mad at myself because I know how hard it is to take it off. It does help that I love to exercise. Even though it is hard, I made myself a promise to never get back there-so I keep it up and keep it off. I love my body too much to let it go. Through all of this I now am about to finish school as a personal trainer and I actually work at a bootcamp yelling positive reinforcement to get people through their workouts. You can do this!!!
  • paloma1182
    paloma1182 Posts: 68 Member
    Heres someone that always motivates me!

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/sparklesammy
  • TeamLeela
    TeamLeela Posts: 3,302
    Diane, I came across the picture in my phone. it's not the clearest picture because it was a picture taken with a camera phone and then sent to my phone. but this was me at my heaviest about 10 years ago. I have lost 60 pounds since then.

    untitled.jpg
    Notice I'm trying to hide as much as I can!

    100_3427a-3.jpg
    This is the most recent! (look, I have a neck and no more hiding!)

    sorry the pic is so small!

    here's a few more:
    100_3339-2-1-1.jpg
  • IsMollyReallyHungry
    IsMollyReallyHungry Posts: 15,385 Member
    Well I know it is possible to lose weight without surgery or extreme measures. I did it once from age 24 to 26 or 27. It took me about 3 plus years to lose about 120. I went from 535 to about 415. I never made it to the 300's. I maintained 420 to 440 until I was about 32 or 33 years old. Had some things in life happen and I gradually put the weight back on and some. I remember the one thing that started it was a knee injury or when I found out I had knee arthritis. I could never get my groove back on with consistent exercise and just kind of fell off the wagon.

    I am older now and I learned from that mistake. I had a similar incident with my knee almost 2 years ago and this cause me to regain weight from when I had the WLS. See when you are excercising and stop and have not really got the eating in check you will gain weight quickly for sure.

    That is what I am doing now, getting the eating in check so if and when my knees fail me or I have another LIFE issue, I will have learned how to eat properly so I will not gain or gain much with good eating habits.

    I know you can do this because you are learning good eating habits and I finally get it that eating is 70 to 80 percent of it. I always tell people now if you eat right and don't exercise you will lose weight. If you exercise and do not eat right you will not lose weight. The exericising is good for you and it definitely helps you maintain weight loss and look better while losing weight but it will never replace healthy eating habits.

    In order to be sucessful at any weight loss program or WLS you will need both to maintain a healthy weight.

    You can do it!:flowerforyou: Just continue to be patient, persevere, and be positive as you are already doing! You are at that middle point now and you may have to fight your way thru it but I know you will do. I wish at age 32 I would have continued my journey but I gave up. Success is not giving up.

    The only reason I replied to this post is because I have many friends including yourself who are trying to lose 100 to 200 pounds without the assistance of WLS and I want them to be encouraged if people who have lost over 100 pounds on their own replies.

    I know there will be a lot of negative posts about how horrible WLS is so I will not be looking back on this thread for sure......:-) because that horse has ridden and I can not and will not go down that path for ones who do not have a clue on this matter.
    I really wish MFP had a way for us to delete stuff off our 'My Topics" feed.....:-) Maybe one day.

    Anyways, I hope you find some of those century club members who have done it without assistance! I know they are out there.
  • kanglj65
    kanglj65 Posts: 25
    I had WLS seven years ago. At the time I thought it would be a good thing. I know people who do really well with it. It was a horrible idea for me, for many reasons, but I won't get into those here. After losing over 80 lbs, the weight started coming back. The surgeon I had was new and didn't have a program in place- I never learned the healthy diet. It took me until two months ago to realize- I mean, REALLY realize this can't be about the scale. It can't be about losing weight. It has to be about making healthy choices- in both eating and in exercise. I have to give my body as much time as it needs to shed the weight- until then I keep trying to focus on the energy I have that I didn't have before. It's hard, but I think my way of thinking is really changing.
  • jennys33
    jennys33 Posts: 16
    I am close to that total...I have lost 72 without any surgery, without HCG. I am just eating healthy and excercising when I can.
  • Becca_007
    Becca_007 Posts: 596 Member
    Look up Pinkmoon she's an incredible inspiration! She was gorgeous before and beautiful after. She looks younger now and looks awesome in her bikini! I believe she's lost 100 lbs or very close to that.

    Love you Diane:smooched:
  • immacookie
    immacookie Posts: 7,424 Member
    bumping :smooched:
This discussion has been closed.