Success Pictures and the Stories to Go With Them

This is only a " success so far" story. I'm still in the process of losing. When I started, I wanted to lose 201 pounds. I've lost 87 so far. That's in a 6 month time period. My most immediate short term goal is to reach the halfway point before the year is out.

SW:381
CW: 294 (YAY!)
GW:180 (I'm tall… 180 would look good on me)

I started watching The Biggest Loser mostly out of curiosity because all my co-workers were obsessed with it. It encouraged me to see extremely overweight people lose large amounts of weight through only diet and exercise. I knew I wasn't going to lose weight at BL speed and I was okay with that. It was just encouraging to me to know it was possible to lose it without surgeries or special pills. So, I started looking up specifics of what I would need to do to lose weight (calories I needed to maintain my weight and how much I needed to cut that in order to lose). It surprised me how doable it seemed. I started doing the math about how long it would take me if I could lose 2 pounds a week. 2 years was also very doable to me considering I'd just gone through a different kind of overhaul that took 5 years. When I realized I could do it… it became a "well, why not?" I've never noticed health problems because of my weight… due mostly to good genetics and youth (although there was always the lurking fear in the back of my mind of when my lifestyle would catch up to me). And I was not miserable (either emotionally or physically) because of my weight. So, it really was just a "why not?" moment.

I just made small changes one at a time that I could live with… starting with what I knew would be the easiest change for me to make. And I just went from there. I still eat whatever I want… just less of it. But I have found that "whatever I want" has changed over time. In fact… I found something on Pinterest that I thought was just a good laugh, but now, it's actually become true. To the tune of "My favorite things" from Sound of Music…."Sweat drops on muscles and veggies with chicken. Dumbbells and water and heart rates that quicken. Bright colored running shoes laced up with strings… these are a few of my favorite things."

Anyway… and now for the pictures. This is 87 pounds down. The pic on the right was just taken this past weekend.



The race bib on my shirt tells a story all of it's own. Because the girl on the left would never have even considered a 5k. But the girl on the right not only did it… she loved it. And wants to do more. (FTR: I walked the entire thing… but I was ahead of all the other walkers. Behind the runners, but ahead of the walkers!… Something that the girl on the left could NEVER have done!)

jamieaferguson wrote: »

A picture says a thousand words! I have only lost 23 pounds so far, so my picture is not showing much difference. I can't wait to see what it will be like a month from now, a year from now, and even years from now.

Please share your journey! I would like to hear about how you got to where you are now. Please share any tips for newbies, like myself. Fill free to friend me. I can use all of the friends, and motivation that I can get.

Also, if you could share the beginning weight, and more current weight, along with your height. Thanks!!

I see a change! Keep up the good work!

Also I wore a size 22 at my bravest and am down to a 10/12:)

I had a health scare when I was 16 years old. I wanted to participate in track and field, but my doctor refused to sign off on the physical form because of my weight. We made an agreement that I would get bloodwork done and if it came back ok, she would sign the form. That scared the crap out of me. At 16, I did not want to have weight related diseases affecting me. I decided then and there to lose weight. I originally lost 97 pounds, but the weight I got to was too small for my frame. It was hard for me to maintain and caused me to lose my period. I have since put some weight back on, which sometimes frustrates me. I'm currently working on changing my body composition though, so I do bulk and cut cycles. I'm currently cutting at the moment.

Pic on the left: 5'8, 16 years old, 240 pounds.
Pic on the right: 5'8, 25 years old, 175 pounds.

@xcalygirl you did exactly what you needed to do! You look great!

jamieaferguson wrote: »

@kmarie7 congratulations on becoming healthy! You too are an inspiration.
I do not understand the bulking, and cutting, but I am not near there yet.

Me either

Mybe even less a month lol