Women 200lb+, Let's Stay Fired Up This February!!!

snaileatsplants · February 2020

As of this morning, I'm no longer over 200 lbs. I have lost about 23lbs over the course of about a month and a half. It doesn't sound like a lot, but I looked down at my scale this morning and saw a number that started with a 1 instead of a 2, and it troubles me in a way that is difficult to put into words. When I look in the mirror, I feel like this flesh is becoming alien, pulling in around me, constricting, disappearing, and it is deeply unsettling. It is just enough to be visibly noticeable, just enough to create a mismatch between the version of me I think of as myself, and the version I see.

I have a good reason to persist. The endocrinologist I went to about my hypothyroidism discovered that I have insulin resistance. I want to protect my health and avoid diabetes.

But it is changing how I look, and what I see in the mirror feels wrong, like it isn't fully me anymore. I'm wondering, is it possible to develop body dysmorphia from losing weight? Will this get better? Do most people who do this get used to it eventually?

rosefinn17 · February 2020

@theleadmare - very impressed that you keep your eye on the prize even through a rough day! So impressed and proud of you.

AlexandraFindsHerself1971 · February 2020

I had a thought of ice cream, and I said to myself, "No, you're saving calories for a dinner out tonight, whether it's Mexican or barbecue. Do you want this more than that? No? Okay then." And there was no problem then.

But I was very poor for a long time, and I was accustomed to telling myself no, and did I want Y more than X? so it translates decently. And it helps a lot that I'm seeing, and my boyfriend is seeing, a lot of physical changes. So it's not as though I'm doing this for nothing!

mfpphoenixx · February 2020

@Yivs_87 great job for getting back on track! Wishing u a great month and congrats with your success and being so close to onderland

@tjones1360 great job! Awesome progress

@GroverBlue78 u can do it!

@svm569 happy 1 week! Great job!

@mmdeveau very true it all starts with the decision to commit and start our journey. Also I will check out the podcast thanks! Hopefully this month is better for you.

@NoMoreFat1972 it seems like you want to do things to get healthier but u might not be quite ready to start and need to fully commit. Research things u are interested in and then make a decision to follow through. You have access to a great facility when u are ready. Wish u the best!

@mmccloy12 I have made some good progress 8.5inches is quite significant loss. Going to the gym is a challenge for me too. I find using equipment and home is much better but I have to get the motivation to go use it. Good job decreasing the alcohol it really does contribute to not eating so well.

@BrownSugar174 thank u for the quotes!

@acaliforniadreamer Hi! Sounds like u have a good plan to start!

@KeriA You had some great January NSV! Sorry to hear that your mother is in decline. That is very difficult to go through.

@LindseyMaeGroves congrats on your progress with your weight loss journey and running! Great job!

@kim2558 we all can struggle with motivation but it sounds like u have the right mindset!

@theleadmare sorry to hear that u aren’t feeling well. Hopefully you will feel better soon

BrownSugar174 · February 2020

GOD GIVES US THE ABILITY TO VISUALIZE SUCCESS!

I grew up in a family of two alcoholics. I remember sitting in my bedroom looking out the window dreaming about going to college and never coming back. I've been inducted into the Delaware State Track and Field Hall of Fame and the Delaware State African American Hall of Fame..which means that I earned a lot of trophies and medals. One day my stepfather put them all in a steel trash can and set them all a fire because I wouldn't react when he slapped me across the face. What I didn't know at the time is my ability to visualize (by the Grace of God) myself going to off to college helped me stay focused on doing well in school and moving through that mountain of child abuse.

I put myself through college by working during the day, running track and field on a partial scholarship and going to school until 10:30p.m. on most nights. I'd come home from school, go to bed, get up at 3:00a.m. to study and get to work by 7:00a.m. so I could leave early enough to get to my evening classes. I started at one college and had to transfer to another because I learned to late that my stepfather destroyed my financial aid documents which were due back to the school by a certain date. Learning this almost destroyed me but I continued visualizing myself walking across that stage NO MATTER WHAT! God had a plan for me because had I not transferred to the new school I never would have met my accounting teacher, an IRS Revenue Agent, who saw my perseverance and supported me in applying for an IRS internship which changed my life! Twenty-nine years and four months later I retired.

To make it through college I rented rooms in private homes instead of living on campus because I just could not afford to live on campus. I moved five times in college, the first time because I woke up to find the owner's son standing over me as I sleep, the second time because I found some of the owners cigarets in a pull out box I had under my bed for my canned goods, the third time because the husband of the owner was a little too interested in me and the fourth time because I found my own little 350 square foot studio apartment PRAISE GOD!

When I walked across the stage at graduation I was alone...no family members where there to cheer me on. On December 7, 2000 when I dedicated my life to Christ I was given a copy of the poem "Footprints In The Sand" and I knew He was with me.

As we go through our weight loss journey together please know that we have conquered many mountains in our lives. We are all STRONG, FIERCE, BEAUTIFULLY MADE WOMEN! WE SHALL CONQUER THIS MOUNTAIN!

https://www.delawaretrackandfieldhof.org/downing-porter/

orangequilt · February 2020

@snaileatsplants hang on in there, your brain will get used to your new body as it has got used to your body changing over your life. Just keep doing the healthy next right thing, at least most of the time. I can freak out if I lose weight quickly, that's why I set my calories quite high, but as you will see on these forums there are plenty of plateaus out there too so it won't all come off this fast. This is the right thing to do for your health, so don't get too hung up on the scales or the mirror, and I reckon a few months from now when you see those better blood test results you will be glad you kept on going and didn't let the part of you that doesn't like change, sabotage the part
that is trying to get healthy. Sending hugs xx

VictorSmashes · February 2020

Not a woman but afab, that ok?

HW: 226 lb (May 2019)
SW: 201.4 lb (Feb 1 2020)
CW: 201.2 lb
GW1: 194.5 lb by March 1st.
LGW (long term goal 1): 159.2 lb by August 1st.

Goals were adjusted from last year's goals, considering I'm 18.2 lbs higher than I meant to be by this date, but I'm not adjusting my goal at August 1st of -50 lb from August to August.

fitchick37 · February 2020

I need to confess I’m failing miserably at cutting back to 1 Diet Coke a day. I think it was 4 cans yesterday and 3 today.

Emilyestelle1 · February 2020

@fitchick37 The struggle is real. Babysteps maybe? Cut it down by one can a day, adjust to that then repeat?

lbostic89 · February 2020

I've got my husband on my healthy band wagon...he exercised with me this morning and his encouragement pushed me 10 minutes longer than my original planned exercise for today!! I started to give up and he called my kids into the room and they started helping him encourage me!! "Go mommy go!" "You can do it mommy, don't give up!" Made my whole morning!!

Aerohead21 · February 2020

Weigh in day 😓

Nothing to report today because I changed out scales and it actually showed I gained weight. I know it’s not true because my clothes are looser and my old scale shows a 1+ lb loss so I just posted no loss in MFP for now until it balances out.

Goals this month:

1 lb a week = 4 lbs for the month
Eat fewer protein shakes/bars as a way of dieting and rely more on “real” foods and my own knowledge of nutrition. I have to put more work in this way, but I feel like it’s a good time to start. I still have a bunch of protein bars that are quick and easy for school, but I’m out of shakes so no more grab and go there! I have to actually think about it and prepare it!

KeriA · February 2020

66 years old, Height: 5'6
SW: 266 lbs
2/1: 263.6 lbs
CW (2/2): 263.4
February Goal to get into the 250's and keep going in the right direction.
GW: Onderland 1st, maintain for a few weeks then next goal is 150 lbs. then evaluate.

@acaliforniadreamer It is wise to set small achievable steps like you have with exercise. You are making good progress with weight loss.

@LindseyMaeGroves look at all the inspiring buttons hit for your post. I am cheering you on.

@kim2558 when I lost weight I was being consistent and I am struggling with that now too. Good progress.

@theleadmare hope you feel better soon and I am impressed with your response to this hard day.

@snaileatsplants I think you need to figure this out. I think some of us gain weight for other reasons besides just calories etc. Some gain for self protection due to things that have happened in their lives. For them losing weight can be scary. Even so this is a big change. Take time to get used to it. You deserve to be healthy and look fitter. You deserve to enjoy your success. Part of losing weight is imagining yourself without the weight. You have had great success. You need to let your mind and feelings catch up to your body. Congratulations on your weight loss. It is time to transition your self-concept to this change.

@BrownSugar174 Thanks for sharing this story. Very inspiring.

@VictorSmashes the ultimate goal is to lose weight. That is success not how fast we do it or if we meet a certain time line in doing it. Good job in losing. Keep up the progress. It is the direction not the pace. Let’s have a great February.

@fitchick37 I can identify with you here even if for me it is a different drink. I decided to do something akin to what @Emilyestell1 suggests.

I knew when I pushed the post button for my last post when I confessed I had to come up with yet another plan to address my starbucks habit. I came up with a plan to bring something healthier with me and cutback to one Grande Latte a week. I am actually fine with double talls depending on what I am eating with it. So I am bringing something that is gauged to them. Hopefully this will work. I also told my husband that our special Friday breakfasts is too much for me. I admire how some have been open about what is a challenge for them. It isn't as if I haven't been trying to work on this issue it is just that nothing has yet worked enough. I have improved but not enough to really see consistent movement on the scale.

I have made overnight oatmeal and bought healthier breakfasts to bring but it hasn't worked mostly because I do not have the time to prepare breakfast and some things are just not meant to eat in a car. I get up at 6 and get out the door before 7 AM, Yes I can get up even earlier but then I am also trying to get enough sleep. That helps me to lose and be healthy. I don't usually get colds or flue unless I get too little sleep.

I am also going to post my progress when I make it. I have already gone down a bit since yesterday.

For the upcoming week the focus is as follows:

put my weekday breakfast plan in place
log more consistently
check in on this post during the week more
add in at least 15 minutes of exercise on top of Aquafit days ( I have a night meeting on Wednesday so I won't get my 3 days of it this week)

speyerj · February 2020

@snaileatsplants , yes body dysmorphia is a real thing. If you search through discussions on the forum you will find any posting of people who have lost weight and haven't come to terms with their new reality. Sometimes it's just a small thing, like continuing to buy or wear clothes that are too big because the brain hasn't caught up with the recent changes. Sometimes it's a much bigger deal that leads to a crisis of identity that requires professional treatment. If you are not already being treated by a therapist, please do seek treatment.

@BrownSugar174 - Your story is at the same time heartbreaking and inspiring. You are such a role model for perseverance and grit. I am so inspired by you.

kali31337 · February 2020

Hey ladies! Happy Sunday!

The weekend was nice and I'm enjoying these two weeks off from classes. I went grocery shopping on Saturday for the week's meals (should be for Sunday meal prep but I'm a little off on my schedule so I'm just prepping a week's worth lunch or dinner when I run out) and today the pup and I went into town to wander around and get my steps in. I've attached a picture of my girl during our adventures today!

I am also messing with my calorie counts because while my goal is 1200, I'm usually a little under and I don't normally eat my exercise calories back so I'm working on trying to up them. Normally I wouldn't be super concerned as I'm not hungry and actually don't feel deprived but I'm down almost 3lbs since my weigh-in on Friday. This could be due to some hormonal issues (2nd TOM of the month

) but it could also be due to lack of calories so I want to up them a tad to figure it out. Let's see how this goes!

The pup and I are headed to a forest in a little town called Boom to see the Trolls. It's been a place that I've wanted to go to since I moved to Belgium and finding out that I have a direct bus there from my flat is a plus. It's supposed to not rain until tomorrow late afternoon/evening so we'll get up and go see what kind of trouble we can get in to. If interested here is a link to the trolls https://mymodernmet.com/seven-trolls-outdoor-sculptures-thomas-dambo/

Hope everyone has a GREAT week.

Danielle__S · February 2020

Restarted MFP and am completely excited to find this group! Work just started a fitness challenge that'll span the next 3 months with some pretty major incentives. I just joined a new local gym prior to them rolling out the challenge, so now I'm just really excited but nervous about keeping the momentum going.

NOW:
I'm 5'3"
SW: 256.5 lb
CW: 255.5 lb
GW: I don't know. I just really want to be able to move with ease, be fit, and to wear non-plus-sized clothes.

mmdeveau · February 2020

Height: 5' 6"
SW (09/08/2019): 239.2 lbs
February SW (2/1/20): 192.0 lbs
2/2/20: 189.8 lbs
February GW: 186 lbs
GW: 150 lbs (then reconsider)

My goals for February are:

Cardio for 45-60 min, 5-6 times a week, 3 of the sessions Couch-to-5K workouts – did a long C25K workout yesterday.
Increase walking distance to 8.5 miles for one workout a week – did a long, hilly walk this morning, on a trail that’s a treat for me to be able to walk/run. A little over 7 miles! My knees really started aching at the end, but that’s why I need to do these longer walks – and hopefully eventually runs - at least once a week if I’m hoping to finish 10 miles the first weekend in May.
Core exercises at least 3 times a week - check
Take better care of my skin in hopes it will start to regain its shape. Keep on keepin’ on.

Well, shoot. This was a surprise this AM. I haven't been below 190 recently, so it's completely unexpected. I think it’s probably the weekly weekend whoosh and I’ll probably be back up tomorrow morning. I’m going to continue daily weighing for a while because I really want the data. But seriously – last Wednesday I weighed in at 197.4 lbs and today I’m at 189.8? What is that about? I’m guessing water.

Or the 190s really are out to make me lose my mind! If so, I’d be happy not to drift back up into 190 territory again.

@Terytha – so happy for you! It’s an amazing moment when you see that “1” isn’t it?

@mmccloy12 – I’ve seen many stories about people losing inches when the scale doesn’t budge. Having suffered through a horrible plateau before, I’ve got to say the multiple metrics help!

@KeriA – sorry to hear you are facing these issues with your mother. Glad you have sibling support. My parents are both much younger than your mother, have fallen multiple times in the last year, and both live alone. And they both staunchly refuse to get a life alert. Not having one did almost cost one parent their life last year. Whatever you do, decisions made to ensure her safety will always be the right thing, though not always easy.

@theleadmare – I hope your fibro flare is short-lived! Good to see you’ve got that plan to dial back when you need to!

@snailseatplants – so many people who lose weight do have body dysmorphia issues. A lot of people continue to see themselves at the larger size even when much smaller. I still look at my newer clothes and wonder how I’m going to fit into them!

@mfpphoenixx – I will continue to offer a warning about the Phit-n-Phat podcast: Corinne swears a lot. I personally don’t find it to be overly gratuitous but your sensibilities may differ! If you can get around that issue, she really does offer a lot of substantive free help. There’s one major thing about her coaching approach I disagree with; other than that issue I agree or identify with nearly everything else.

@fitchick37 – boy, is there anything more polarizing than soda consumption? First you get criticized for drinking the regular sodas (“all that sugar! No wonder you can’t lose weight!”), then oooh, you drink diet soda with all those artificial sweeteners (“no wonder you can’t lose weight, don’t you know artificial sweeteners interfere with weight loss?”)! I drink one Cherry Coke Zero with my lunch every week day. If I’m only going to have one, it MUST be this drink. I used to drink many a day, and I’d have the Cherry Coke Zero and the Diet Coke with lime. (OK, the Diet Coke with lime is still a solid backup.) I don’t remember how I got there now, but it probably involved increasing water and telling myself I could have soda only after I drank so much water. Soda does leach calcium from your bones, so there’s that.

@brownsugar174 – you have worked so hard to be where you are and you surely have been rewarded. You have a wonderful daughter and a great, supportive husband. Sending you hugs!

Welcome to all the newcomers! One day down, 28 days to go for February!

speyerj · February 2020

@mmdeveau - That really is an incredible loss for one week. I suspect that last night you got a lot of sleep which might have made the difference. Regardless, take the loss. Yeah you might creep back up, but the arc of your progress will continue its downward trend. You've done so well!!

@Danielle__S - I love your goal: " I just really want to be able to move with ease, be fit, and to wear non-plus-sized clothes." I just got to that point myself and I can tell you, it is wonderful. I'm excited to cheer you on.

RavenStCloud · February 2020

💜Hello, ladies!

So I posted the group, but never posted about my own goals. I spent 3 out of 4 weeks of January sick and ended up on a three day binge in the middle. I still managed to lose 8lbs because apart from the bingeing, I was doing pretty well with eating at/under my calorie limit.

However, I am once again sick. Turns out now I have some kind of sinus infection that's causing my chest to hurt. I'm telling you, 2020 has been rough going for me.

So my goals for February are not going to be rigorous:
1. Log all my food.
2. Avoid bingeing (do this by meal planning/prep)
3. Hopefully, make it to the gym after this chest thing clears up next week. I'd like to go at least 8 times total this month.
4. Try to lose 5lbs.

Good luck to everyone! 💜

jguldi11 · February 2020

I'm new to this thread but not new to MFP

I took a bit of a break through the holidays and have been trying to get back on track. I decided to start intermittent fasting today as I read it can be helpful with PCOS and insulin resistance. My goal this week is to go to the gym 3x and follow IF 16:8 at least 6 days.

SW (April 2018) 269lbs
CSW/CW (2/2/20) 235lbs
End of Feb GW: 230lbs
Overall GW: ~175lbs
5'5", 30 years old, PCOS, TTC

fitchick37 · February 2020

Thanks for all the comments on my Diet Coke consumption! I’ve always been a Diet Coke girl, I’ve got full blown diabetes so can’t touch regular stuff. It’s all linked to my sleep, a good night and I only have one can, a bad night and it’s 3 or 4 to get me through the day. I’m trying not to give myself a hard time over it as the bad days were accompanied by very disordered eating and I’ve not done that since starting over at the beginning of January.

Women 200lb+, Let's Stay Fired Up This February!!!

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