What a 70lb weight loss looks like on a 5'8" 54yr old female!

1bellringer1 · February 2015

You look wonderful, I really need to see these kinds of pics to keep me motivated. Thanks so much for posting them!

AzWifenMom · February 2015

Thank you for giving me that push I needed.

RunRachelleRun · February 2015

You look incredible. Love the huge smile. Congratulations, and thanks for sharing!

sheliajim · February 2015

You look fantastic. You did an awesome job and I'm so glad you feel better. The kitchen is beautiful too.

fatkidonadiet · February 2015

Nice work! Did your diet/exercise help your autoimmune issues as well?

Sandra_Curtis · February 2015

ABSOLUTELY! I believe the nutritional changes in my diet alone accounted for at least half of my health improvements. Doctors are at least a decade behind in the research for autoimmune disease treatments. Doctors may try to treat the damage that has already occurred with prescriptions, surgery and devices, but they know virtually nothing about how to prevent further damage. That leaves patients to investigate the research on our own. I'm now gluten-free, no added sugars or sweeteners, eat less than 40% carbs, eat lean meats and good fats, and minimize processed foods (including alcohol). I didn't do it all at once. Even if I had known all these changes would help me, it would have been too daunting. I started by using MFP. Once I became 100% gluten free for about a month, I saw huge changes (even a trace spirals me into severe flare ups for weeks). A light went off. I realized these changes were no longer a choice, but a medical necessity. Looking better is nice, but regaining and maintaining my health is priceless.

Barbs2222 · February 2015

You look great! But, more importantly, you look happy

Wonderful even, you're an inspiration!

ojettabrown · February 2015

Fantastic job! Will you be kind enough to tell me what your exercise regime looked like at the beginning and how it has progressed?

chesnity3 · February 2015

Great job!

LisaPrust · February 2015

SO proud of you! What an awesome inspiration for all of us! Thanks for sharing your pix and story-it was just what I needed to see! And the kitchen looks amazing as well!

Sandra_Curtis · February 2015

ojettabrown wrote: »

Fantastic job! Will you be kind enough to tell me what your exercise regime looked like at the beginning and how it has progressed?

I started by walking a couple miles. Few times a week. I hiked routinely, but I struggled with the my lack of strength and endurance. In February 2014 I started a group fitness class focused on weight loss at Lifetime Fitness. This was a huge turning point. It was 3 days per week at a scheduled time. It was a small group with other obese folks, so I wasn't embarrassed by how I looked or how out of shape I was. People would ask me why I had missed a class (so I didn't), I tried new things, worked at my ideal fat burning heart rate (not too slow, not too hard), and I stuck with it religiously until I had a long road trip starting in June. During that weight loss class I lost 35lbs! During my 4 mos road trip of over 12K miles, exercise was difficult. I was also battling a shoulder overuse injury and plantar fasciitis. (We averaged 600 miles per day shuttling across the US to get to graduations, two weddings, caring for parents in MI and OR, dropping our freshman daughter off to Arizona State and a funeral). The best I could do was monitor my calories and walk when I could. I was fortunate that I gained less than 5 lbs and was able to return to my more rigorous exercise when I returned home in Oct 2014. I could no longer afford the weight loss class, so I took the plunge to join "regular" fitness classes, combining cardio and strength. In Feb 2015 I've notched it up again, a core class 3x a week plus 2 60min strength workouts. In an attempt to continue weight loss I also add at least 500 cals of cardio 6 days a week. (I'm not losing weight (yet) using this last strategy but my body fat percentage has dropped from 31% to 25%). I still hike once per week (when it's not too icy), but I'm proud to say I've doubled my speed (from 1.5 to 3 mph), increased my distance and difficulty (usually 6-8 miles), and my endurance gives me hope to be more successful on multi day backpacking trips.
Currently I eat 1500 calories and exercise an average of 600 cals.
My tips are: Stages. Routine. Group classes. Dedication. Variety. Heart rate monitor. MFP!