My story of 20 lbs of success! (and still 15 more to go)

This is my story with my fitness pal:

At my yearly check-up at the doctors I had to do the dreadful weigh-in. And I was shocked at the scale said. I've gained 25 lbs! Though it was gained gradually in the 3 years since high school, I didn't realize it had gotten so bad. So me and a friend decided to start a couch to 5k. By the end I was very proud of myself for being able to run so far, though I consider myself an athlete, I was not a runner. I felt great, clothes a but looser confidence a little higher, but in those 2 months I barely lost 5 lbs! So I decided to start my fitness pal again but this time be committed. With Trader Joe's next door, a food scale, running 3-4 times a week, and 1400-1500 calories a day I have lost about 20 lbs! Throughout this journey I have learned that losing weight is simply math, which I love (finance major.) 3500 calories = a pound, every time I eat that much less then I burn naturally and through exercise I lose a pound. (I tend to be a bit obsessive with my calculator ap, usually at night while watching tv, and looking at how much I mathematically lost that week/day/month.) My goal is still 15 or so more, but it is and has been an enlightening journey for a healthy lifestyle!

Stats of myself:
I am female, 5' 7.5", large framed, weight before (about) 186, weight now 164. (2 lbs away from being a healthy bmi!)

Things I have learned:
-As much as I hated it, I started to weigh myself everyday. Sure I fluctuated up and down, but over time it was so encouraging to see the downward trend of my weight. Now I can't wait to see what it says in the morning, especially because it goes down! (most of the time)
-PORTION SIZES. I use a food scale when I can, and man did that open my eyes. What I thought was about a serving of food was cut in half by that scale.
-I exercise so I can eat more. Reading some peoples threads about not eating their exercise calories makes me crazy. I think, why exercise then? Ok, well I run for more then just eating more, but it is at least a good 50% of why I do. It's like being able to eat 300 calories more and still lose the same weight!
- Patience. I now know that I am not going to lose 10 lbs in a week (even though I may gain 5 in a day!) Sometimes I lose 1 lb a week, sometimes 3. No matter what, there is a downward trend. And there is at least 5 months till bikini season, so there's not a big rush.
- When I am hungry, I eat. I am not going to starve myself, because if I do I will binge. I can go over a few hundred once in a while and not let it bother me. I am under what I would naturally burn anyways, so who cares?
- Kraft Macncheese, Toppers pizza and sticks, and binge drinking have a lot of calories (classy I know, but I am 22 that's what we live for.) I swear when I reach my goal weight I am soooo doing all three in a weekend. And maybe some ice cream. I will regret it and probably run like 20 miles to get rid of it, but that's not going to stop me!
- Having friends start myfitnesspal is super motivating too. It's nice to have support and little competition too. Someone to completely understand the love/hate relationship you have with it!

So there is my story! Feel free to post any comments, questions, or suggestion you have for me