I did it before, and I'll do it again! BEFORE Photos

I’m much older than you, and started at a higher weight, but same height. I know all our bodies are shaped differently and respond differently to loss, but two things jump out at me.

I dropped as low as 127. I looked skeletal. I’d tell you to think really carefully about that 130 goal weight. I was trying to reach 125, the weight I got married at three and a half decades ago. It seemed to make sense. Be where I was before, right? Ummmm, nope. I could easily get in my wedding dress by my 140s. 130 now is a completely different 130 than 130 thirty something years ago. When you get into your 130’s,be mindful of how you look. Get a trusted second opinion. Same as our brains continue to see us “fat” when we’re not, they also fool us into thinking we look great when we really look like an escapee from Zombietown.

The second thing is, you plan to become very active. Starting at 1700, and then decreasing from there as you increase activity is going to be brutal. You’re already discussing hunger and you haven’t even started. That should give you immediate pause to reflect.

I started at 1470, went to 1700, then 1900. I’m currently trying to knock off a few pounds of holiday weight, and am losing pretty steadily at 24-2500,and am within half a pound of where I’d like to be back to. I normally maintain at 2700 per day. Again, older, but active. If you plan to do all you state, you must fuel your body.

And btw, even at the 142.4 I reached on Christmas Day, I still fit easily into size 2 and 4s. I’m guessing at 130 you’ll be there, too.

Nope. You can’t spot reduce. I did find that core related exercises helped with my stomach, followed by regular practice of “stomach vacuums”, as suggested by a helpful and prolific poster/trainer here. (Google it. It’s basically holding your abs tight for long periods. Kind of the abs version of a mula bondha pelvic floor tightening in yoga). YMMV, though, I still have a lovely half moon of extra, super stretchy, Floam skin, but I haven’t worn a bikini since I was 15 and besides….old as dirt… so I just don’t care. Good quality leggings and pants rope that in perfectly well. As long as Lycra exists, there’s no way I’m doing a skin reduction. I did a breast reduction many moons ago. Noooooo thanks.

Ignore your sister. She’s fallen for diet voodoo. If something around your waist would thin your waist, everyone would be walking around with them on. You’re too young to remember the era of the silver Hefty bag jogging suits. I hope she’s not gullible enough to be talking about one of those stupid mystical bead necklaces you hang around your waist.

Much success to you. Hugs!