BEFORE AND AFTER - how diiiiddd you do it?!?

This is the best thread! I needed something to get me back on track!

mauryr- I am stealing your signature quote. It is awesome! I'm going to put it up all around my house!

These are amazing
Bump!

Love this topic. Would like to see more.

Love these stories......

bumping for more inspiration!

Although still working on losing another 27lbs, I started at 252 (5"7) in January 2010 - I started by joining the gym and hiring a personal trainer 2x a week. lost about 25 or so lbs that way, but really did not pay any attention to what I ate. Progress was slow - I continued with my trainer - felt better physically but still had a ways to go. Trainer told me that I could work out all I wanted, if I did not change my eating habits, it will be a very long and hard road.

tried weight watchers ... for about a week.

tried keeping track of my food manually in a journal.... for about three days.....

Then, in November of 2010, my daughter introduced me to this site and it has made the world of difference. Its been 240+ days and still going strong. I keep track of my food - the good, the bad and the ugly. I still eat junk food and drink alcohol, but a lot more responsibly. I promised myself I wanted to still eat the stuff I love, but have learned to include it in a much healthier diet.

By tracking my food, I realized how much I was ACTUALLY eating (3k calories for a holiday lasagna dinner was an extreme eye opener!) ... I learned what a portion really is - and do my best to stick to it... and I go to the gym for 1 - 2hrs a day 4 - 6x a week (depending on how I feel and what other activities I have planned for the week)...

And most of all - the 'secret' I think is that I never thought I needed a support network - and MFP has proved me wrong. It's strange, I don't want friends to go to the gym with - never like calling on my friends for support surrounding my weight loss - but there is something comforting in an online community that keeps me grounded and accountable in ways that my 'every day life' friends don't.