How did you accomplish this amazing transformation?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

Replies

Discipline+patience
note: not done with my transformation, but these two things are the backbone of any success story. Good luck on your journey!

Chadxx

It ain't over yet but as of this morning, I am 87 pounds into it and the answer is 1 day at a time. When I started, it seemed a very daunting task but I was at a point where I felt I had to take responsibility and do something about it. Now, I look back and am somewhat amazed at the progress in have made and honestly, how easy it has been. My only regret is that I didn't do something about my weight sooner. All you have to do is make responsible choices one day at a time and when you eat the right foods, the calories basically take care of themselves. If I eat too many processed carbs like bread, I get hungry. If I stick to lean meats, veggies, fresh fruits, and some whole grains I have no trouble at all staying full. In fact, I often have to add snacks because my calories are a little too low.

There is no secret or magic gimmick to losing weight. You simply need to eat fewer calories than you burn and that is much easier when you eat the right foods. You absolutely can do this if you want to and it is totally worth it.

Eleted

Having a fitbit and a food scale have really helped me be successful. But Chad is correct! One day at a time. Just strive to make TODAY a good one. Soon the days add up and the weight goes down.

Chadxx

I forgot to add that weight loss is not perfectly linear. Your weight will fluctuate a lot due to water weight. Don't worry when you see the scale go up. It is normal and it doesn't mean you gained any fat. Mine went way up last week and peaked at 246 on Sunday and I am not really sure why but now it has come back down and was 233 this morning. Though not that much, I see swings of several pounds all the time. What matters is the trend over time.

cheryldumais

I'm down 65 out of 97 and still on my journey but for me the items below were important:

1. Set a reasonable goal to start - If you have 100 pounds to lose take it in small bites. You can always change it.
2. Find an eating plan you can live with for life with slight modifications for Maintenance.
3. Measure and log all food - daily!
4. Find an exercise plan you can stick to doing something you enjoy. Nevermind what worked for someone else.
5. If you have the occasional - and I do mean occasional - cheat don't throw away the whole day.

I found in the beginning that I would have the odd cheat MEAL. Maybe once a month. As time went by as I saw progress I found I didn't want to do this anymore. I hate to exercise but I love to walk so that's what I did. I got a Vivofit 2 by Garmin and used it daily. I set small goals and increased them over time. I was PATIENT. Nevermind losing lots of weight in a very small length of time. You won't maintain it. Nevermind magic solutions. I tried a Lapband and ended up with nothing but problems (it was removed prior to my weight loss). I'm not knocking those who have been successful just saying it can be done without those things. Good luck kiddo, you can do it.

Spliner1969

Patience is a key for most of us. I lost 115 lbs in a year, then have lost 10 lbs more in recomp over the last six months. I'm still not where I want to be but I'm a whole lot closer than I was in early 2015. I expected my own transformation to take 3 years, and it probably will. I started this journey when I was 45, and promised myself I'd be in the best shape of my life by the time I hit 50. Well.. I'm not done but I'm already in the best shape of my life and I'm still almost 3 years away from my goal date. So just don't expect everything to happen fast. Sure, you can lose the weight fast, but transforming your body into a fit one is going to take some time and patience.

STEVE142142

I'll give you my perspective January 1st 2016 about 288. Current weight is 207. got pissed off at myself and I found this app and I hate to say it but for me it was a piece of cake.

What I tell people is it's real simple and yet the hardest thing you'll ever do to lose the weight. the simple part is eat less calories than your body Burns and you will lose the weight. The tough part is the mental aspect. In my opinion you have to find a personal why. That why has to be all about you it can't be about your significant other it can't be about the kids it totally has to be about you. It has to be selfish. By being selfish and all about you all your other whyswe'll take care of themselves.

Now here comes the easy part, actually physically losing the weight. Get a scale don't try to estimate by size you definitely need a scale. You can basically eat whatever you want you don't have to deny yourself anything. If I had to give up Wendy's hamburgers or pizza or beers on the beach I could have never done this. I have a simple rule everything in moderation.

You're going to have your good days and you're going to have your bad days. learn from the good days but more importantly learn from the bad days. During this weight-loss journey I went on vacation twice, ate too much drink too much. Couple days I probably came close to drinking my calorie limit. You can't deny that your self stuff that you enjoy because it's not going to work this is a long-term Journey it's not a Sprint. Remember you didn't gain all the weight over night and you're not going to lose it all over night.

Trust the mfp app. The numbers work if you follow them. Also use the community section on this website. You'll see and hear other people's perspectives and it'll show you you're not the only one struggling with the issues. Enjoy the journey and much success

Chibike64

I second all that has been said above. Good luck to you as you sail out on this awesome journey of yours.

JDixon852019

Food scale, meal prep Sunday and a schedule that I put the same amount of respect as my work schedule.

HippySkoppy

For me I think the following qualities have been key to me maintaining my 168 lb loss for 4 years despite radically changed health circumstances.

Patience
Persistence and
Flexibility

When I started out at 48 I had a fairly rigid and incorrect way of looking at losing weight - pretty much revolved around deprivation and changing everything all at once. This did not last and I fell back into old habits.

Discovering MFP and logging really carefully was a game changer....Realising that I did not have to alter everything ALL at once was a huge relief. Exercise wise too I was fairly convinced that you either had to go hard or it wasn't going to help but then I discovered the joys and benefits of walking ie: Endorphins and extra calories.

I really got into the walking in a huge way and started tackling longer, harder Bushwalking with Mountains thrown in and for a while it was wonderful. At 50 I was in the best shape of my life. Strong, fearless. Then I got sick with Lupus and other problems.

Walking was out as the UV was a huge issue and I lost so much strength and muscle mass that I now have osteoporosis and have suffered spinal fractures.

I was miserable and defeated for a long time. I am also on meds. that are supposed to put on weight too I worried that ALL the weight I had lost was going to magically settle right back on....it hasn't happened. MFP has been even more important for keeping me accountable for calories and making sure I get the right nutrition.

I got to trying out other forms of movement....Tai Chi, Yoga, stretching and got myself some different sized weights. I now go to the Gym (very new, just signed up this week), I have gotten help from a physio. and an exercise physiologist in the past and have now employed a personal trainer who does remedial massage.

TLDR: Be kind to yourself, set reasonable limits on how you restrict foods and change things and be prepared and willing to embrace change and work with it not against it and you'll emerge victorious.

STEVE142142

HippySkoppy wrote: »

For me I think the following qualities have been key to me maintaining my 168 lb loss for 4 years despite radically changed health circumstances.

Patience
Persistence and
Flexibility

When I started out at 48 I had a fairly rigid and incorrect way of looking at losing weight - pretty much revolved around deprivation and changing everything all at once. This did not last and I fell back into old habits.

Discovering MFP and logging really carefully was a game changer....Realising that I did not have to alter everything ALL at once was a huge relief. Exercise wise too I was fairly convinced that you either had to go hard or it wasn't going to help but then I discovered the joys and benefits of walking ie: Endorphins and extra calories.

I really got into the walking in a huge way and started tackling longer, harder Bushwalking with Mountains thrown in and for a while it was wonderful. At 50 I was in the best shape of my life. Strong, fearless. Then I got sick with Lupus and other problems.

Walking was out as the UV was a huge issue and I lost so much strength and muscle mass that I now have osteoporosis and have suffered spinal fractures.

I was miserable and defeated for a long time. I am also on meds. that are supposed to put on weight too I worried that ALL the weight I had lost was going to magically settle right back on....it hasn't happened. MFP has been even more important for keeping me accountable for calories and making sure I get the right nutrition.

I got to trying out other forms of movement....Tai Chi, Yoga, stretching and got myself some different sized weights. I now go to the Gym (very new, just signed up this week), I have gotten help from a physio. and an exercise physiologist in the past and have now employed a personal trainer who does remedial massage.

TLDR: Be kind to yourself, set reasonable limits on how you restrict foods and change things and be prepared and willing to embrace change and work with it not against it and you'll emerge victorious.

Eloquently said. In a few paragraphs better than most books

ridiculous59

Everything everyone else has said

Food prep is key. Spend a couple of hours on a Sunday making a big salad or pot of soup for your weeks lunches. Cook some ground turkey meatballs and have them in the freezer ready to grab. Cook up a few chicken breasts or pieces of fish to add to your salad each day.

Reading the mfp blogs and community forums keeps me motivated and confirms that i'm doing the right thing. Day in and day out.

lorrpb

Eating less
Moving more
Small daily steps of progress
Goals in many areas like scales, measurements, clothing, steps, exercise, recipes, etc.

workinonit1956

Thank you to everyone who posted in this thread. You're all amazing:)

Pierre_is_a_cat

This is such a great thread.

For me the key was:
1. Pig-headed stubbornness and patience. Don't give up! Not for anything. Especially just because it's slower that you'd like.
2. Get a food scale and really weigh everything -- guaranteed you'll be surprised at portion sizes.
3. Track everything in MFP in advance. I make all my meals for the next week or three on a Sunday and plug them all into MFP in advance so I can see what my calories and macros look like and fix any issues before they happen.

Good luck @workinonit1956 , you've got this and we're all with you.

rachellosesitall85

I agree with others. Discipline and patience for sure. I started walking around my neighborhood, then got a fitbit, then joined a gym and started eating cleaner. Voila!

ttmoore70

Thank you all....you all have given me more motivation and hope! What a wonderful support system, you all are such a blessing, thank yal so much!

christina1d

This is such a great thread.

sadinplaid

Loved reading about everyone's perspectives on successful weight loss. I've lost 42 pounds this year, 122 pounds total in the last 8 years, and I still have about 20 pounds to go, but I think the main thing that clicked this time around is that I just have to keep showing up. I have to keep going to the gym, I have to keep logging my calories, I have to keep sticking to my pre-planned meals, and if I overeat one day, I have to keep working on sticking to my plan. For me, it also helped to keep things fun and new - trying new workout classes - barre, stand-up paddle board yoga, Buti dance yoga - trying a new class and surviving has been so empowering!

Slashnl

sadinplaid wrote: »

Loved reading about everyone's perspectives on successful weight loss. I've lost 42 pounds this year, 122 pounds total in the last 8 years, and I still have about 20 pounds to go, but I think the main thing that clicked this time around is that I just have to keep showing up. I have to keep going to the gym, I have to keep logging my calories, I have to keep sticking to my pre-planned meals, and if I overeat one day, I have to keep working on sticking to my plan. For me, it also helped to keep things fun and new - trying new workout classes - barre, stand-up paddle board yoga, Buti dance yoga - trying a new class and surviving has been so empowering!

This is so well written! It helps so much to read about persistence, to keep going even if it takes a while. And I love the comment "I just have to keep showing up." 122 pounds!!! Awesome!

NancyYale

Letting go of my all or nothing attitude was key for me. In the past I had to be perfect. And when I fell off the wagon, I stayed off. The act of taking quiting off the table no matter what, was the key to success. 118 down and 6 to go.

cheryldumais

NancyYale wrote: »

Letting go of my all or nothing attitude was key for me. In the past I had to be perfect. And when I fell off the wagon, I stayed off. The act of taking quiting off the table no matter what, was the key to success. 118 down and 6 to go.

Thanks for sharing this! I am still on my journey and I can agree that somewhere along the line I gave up the idea of quitting too. Just hadn't realized it. 67 down 30 to go.

rsclause

I had some bloodwork done about five years ago and my daughter looked at it and said this doesn't look so good. The rest of my brothers are on blood pressure meds and I was heading there. My cholesterol was climbing too. One of my sons poke my large beer gut and asked "when is it due". I got a fitbit and found this site. I lost 53 pounds and my beer gut. I am now a runner and enjoy half marathons. I changed my diet and just had my bloodwork done again. Everything is perfect and normal except my good cholesterol was elevated. This is all a change I can live with. When I look back at it, it really wasn't that hard and I am so glad I did it.

Calyse90

Love the advice everyone!!!

ItsyBitsy246

So far I've dropped from 182lbs down to 147 pounds (I'm 5'4")... just had my annual physical and my blood pressure is UP as well as my bad cholesterol. Were always normal before. I eat the same foods, just smaller portions. WTF??? Seriously?

jonjaxmom

Just the words I needed to hear today. Thank you!

cwolfman13

I made a commitment...I followed through with discipline...discipline lead to consistency...I exercised patience and took a realists approach that *kitten* wasn't just going to happen overnight...since losing weight four years ago, I've remained committed to a healthy lifestyle...I'm disciplined...I'm consistent...and I continue to exercise patience where my goals are concerned...they simply shifted from weight loss to other things...really, there is no finish line.

tracypreiss

I have lost 27 lbs since August and as long as you track what you eat it works. You realize how many calories are in things and it really makes you think twice about that third piece of pizza or that second piece of cake. I still eat bad sometimes but most of the time I stay well within my calories. I dont put down my exercise calories because I still have 13 but once I do I will add my exercise calories for maintenance purposes.

Keladelphia

Being patient, being kind to myself when I would mess up, weekly meal preps, accurate tracking and finding fitness activities that I actually LOVE through trial and error.

the_fit_geek

Time. Patience. Self discovery. Open minded. Thinking outside the box. Trying new things. Never giving up. Surround yourself with positivity. Tumblr. Instagram. Facebook. Trash the negativity. say goodbye to it. Byebye DRAMA !!!!!!!!! HELLO SUNSHINE!!!!!!!!!!! And if friends cant accept that fact, then they weren't your friends to begin with. Friends support! They dont nit-pick you! Again, Self Discovery! EDUCATION--NON--STOP--EDUCATION!!!! Take before and after photos.. space them out 2months apart! Maybe 1month, but its pushing it imo. TRACKING--MyFitnessPal. Track everything! Be conservative in your calories. If MyFitnessPal says your Goal is 1800cals per day, make that 1600. This will give yourself a 200 cal buffer zone daily!!!!!! Eat THREE 400 cal meals per day and THREE 100 cal snacks, spaced evenly apart---fires up the metabolism! MAKE YOUR BASAL METABOLIC RATE BURN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! TURN IT INTO A FOREST FIRE! eat metabolic burning foods (simple google search). Do 15 min Metabolic exercises. Again, MAKE YOUR META BURN! Eat right and Eat Clean!!!!!!!!! Support system--real life friends/family AND internet friends (both because someone will always be there at 10pm when you have a crappy day at work, being tooooo hard on yourself, becoming extremely negative, and about to have a nervous breakdown or bingfest).... Doing the best--Not being the best in the world at something--but doing MY best at it. Accepting the fact that im not the cover of GQ magazine nor an Olympian nor a personal trainer with a master's degree with 16 pack abs and a beach body tan with a 90210 hair cut pumped up with steroids doing cardio moves perfectly like i'm living an infomercial. NO! Im gonna do the best I can do and proving it to myself that I can BE the best at what I DO! Understanding that you're not the best and that does NOT make you a failure or pathetic or unwanted. But you're trying. As long as you TRY, you are NOT FAILING!