Question: Over 300 lbs and loss with no surgery???

First, good job!!!! I was 302 in Jan. and dropped to 275 in May without a set in stone diet. I dropped to 185 a few weeks ago and I used MFP for the biggest part of that journey. I did a 1200 calories diet which is a very rough diet, but I researched foods I could eat and food that were hurting me with my wieght loss. I did have one day a week I ate out as a reward. I ate Mexican, but I researched low calorie, I should say not as high calories food I could eat. I had them bring me a bowl of salsa with a spoon so I could eat it as everyone else ate chips and salsa. I order the Chicken Fajita fixed with no oil, corn tortillas instead of flour. No sour cream or that green stuff, lol. I gave my refried beans and rice away and eat the peco(lettuce tomato stuff. This put me over my 1200 calories mark but it was something I look forward to still. The only thing I wish I had done different in all of this is I should have been going to a gym lifting weights sooner. I did walk on a treadmill at home 2 maybe 3 times a week.

Good luck to you, you CAN do this

It's totally doable without pills or surgery! I wasn't quite 300 but I was 260 when I started Weight Watchers almost 2 years ago. Quit WW mid 2010, joined MFP March of this year, have managed to lose 80 pounds and have just a little further to go to get to my primary goal of 158 (will put me within normal range per BMI).

The thing with pills and surgery that most people don't realize is they're not the miracle cures that they seem to be - that is, they're not going to truly work if you don't make those lifestyle changes. I know at least 3 people who had gastric bypass or lapband surgery and they lost pretty well for 6 months or so and then stopped losing or even gained back their weight because they didn't make the necessary lifestyle changes. You still need to learn to eat proper portions of healthier foods and get your body moving and none of those folks made those improvements in their lives. The only miracle cure is your own sheer determination and will!

Best of luck to you continuing to get healthy!!!

Hi- there is no easy way. I was 155.4 kg four years this march and was so ill I ended up in ITU. with a determined, positive outlook, a supportive doctor, who prescribed orlistat to help my initial weight loss I have now lost approx 55 kg. For the first year I walked and swam and took orlistat and weight fell off quite quickly. for the past year my weight loss has slowed down but my exercise and fitness levels have exceeded what I could wish for. Keep positive, work hard and don't give up. If you need help take it. the end result is to be happy healthy and have a quality of life you deserve.

well thATS WAT IM TRYING TO DO NOW AND I HOPE IT WORKS. MY MOTHER JUST DIED FROM GASTRIC BYPASS SHE HAD IT FOR 10 YRS AND THE POUCH OPENED AND LEAKED INSIDE HER. 10YRS LATER

Well my friend when I started this new life change I was 303 myself! I was on Blood Pressure Medicine, Cholestrol Medicine and my Dr. told me I needed to go on Blood Sugar Medicine. I told her no give me some time I will turn it around! Six months later I was still in the same boat. The Dr. said just take the medicine you will not be able to lose the weight! Something changed when I heard her say those words. When I went back I was down thrity-eight pounds. She said ok you are getting there. We talked, I set some goals, and she agreed. Six months later I was down to 236 she took me off the blood pressure meds and the cholestrol meds. At the last visit I was 202, and she said eat more, (LOL!) get more protein in your diet and start doing weight training! Today I lift weight 3 days a week and I do cardio a minimum of six days a week for at least an hour! I eat fruits and veggies, chicken and fish! I still treat myself to chicken wings every six to eight weeks along with my favorite fried chicken. I keep M & M's in the house to have something sweet to taste when I get the craving, but I eat no more than 30 and I count it in my calories!

It can be done! Find that one thing in your life that you love more than anything and keep that in your focus at all times! Yes there are days when you will say I DO NOT WANT TO DO THIS! Do it anyway! Once you start you will be happy you did! Take a day a week off if you want! You will add years to your life to be with the ones you love and they will thank you for thinking of them, more than that temporary high of eating out of pure habit! Goodluck and Please stick with it!

Started at 401lbs March of this year. As of this morning 329.8lbs. I'm going all the way down to 200lbs.

No surgery, no pills, no starvation.

The only thing that I'm doing that is "extreme" is following a plant based diet.

I was 350lbs at my heaviest in high school. When I met my wife, I was around 300lbs. With just diet and exercise, I've lost 70 lbs so far (some of it on Weight Watchers before jumping ship for MFP). I've found daily exercise and tracking food on here to be the best way since it sets me up for lifetime habit changes and, unlike with WW, I don't need to figure out the points value of stuff. I'm still losing weight and intend to be at my ideal weight by mid 2012.

Surgery is a bad idea, in my opinion, for several reasons:

1. It's surgery, there are always risks and potential complications.
2. Rapid weight loss is unnatural and I think is way more likely to lead to things like saggy skin problems. I'm 32 and, as I've lost, my skin has sprung back with the lost weight. Your mileage may vary on this but I've heard a lot of people complain about those "skin flaps" as a result of surgery
3. Shortcuts are mere laziness. Sure I'd love to be thin right this instant but I'm not going to do anything crazy and unsustainable. Drugs have side effects (freaking Alli tells you to bring extra pants with you due to anal leakage). Surgery is unnecessary for all but the most extreme cases and can be dangerous. Will power and a good support network are what is key.

In the end, the "secret" to weight loss is to decrease caloric intake and increase calories burned. No fad diets or anything. In fact, I eschew all processed "health" foods and instead try to eat as naturally as possible. I even still eat things like red meat...grass fed, of course.

You can do it. Just remember that the journey of a thousand miles begins with one step.

I've lost 45 in a year with no surgery or diet pills. It is possible. Exercise and portion control work.

I was exactly 300 when I started in February and as of today I am 206. I was hoping to be down to 200 by the end of the year but I am so proud of how far I have come. I didn't take one diet pill or even consider having surgery. Everyone asks me what I am doing, hoping I am going to say some magic formula. I count calories and work out 5 or 6 days a week. I allow myself a treat within my calories almost every day and I have had a few free meals, free days, and free weekends for special events throughout the year. I went to a bbq with a group of friends every friday night all summer and I have still made this progress. My philosophy is eat right and work hard 90% of the time and relax about the other 10%, I still have 55 pounds to go, but I know I will make it there. I am happier than I have been in a long time and can truly say I changed my life in 2011

I started at 337....and am down to the 240's.... it's taken me 2.5 years thus far...BUT it is worth it!!!! YOU CAN DO IT!!!!