1 year later and maintaining my goal weight (55kg) - Before/

My first year anniversary with MFP is coming up in March but I really should have posted my story by November last year - it took me about 8 months to lose 15kg and drop down to my goal weight. Faster than my mind could adapt really!

Before (5' 3", 70kg)

Jan 2011 by CassandraSews, on Flickr

Now (5' 3", 54kg)

Jan 2012 by CassandraSews, on Flickr


Can you believe that that white singlet is too lose around my waist?!

I'd always been overweight, all through my teens and 20s and never dieted but I was quite healthy and worked out at the gym regularly for years. I just never really watched what I ate. But I wasn't particular upset with my body - I think because I didn't have any Skinny Cassandra memories to compare it to!

MFP is my first diet and it has changed how I feel about food. I don't feel guilty about indulging and eating "naughty" foods like cake anymore - I only feel guilty when I eat too much of anything or I start wandering to the pantry to get a snack /slap-over-the-wrist.

Weight Loss Progress Over 1 Year

Weight loss report over 1 year by CassandraSews, on Flickr

I have some NSV to share too:
Wore an Australian size 14 before, now Australian size 8 for tops and dresses and a 6 for pants.
Wore a UK bra size of 34G before, now 30FF/28G (that's a huge difference!) in Australian sizes that's a 12G to 8FF/6G.
In sewing patterns like Vogue I've gone from cutting a size 16 to cutting a size 10.
In modern sewing patterns like Colette I now cut a size 2.

I could run for 10 minutes at a time before.
I can run for an hour now and my furthest running distance is 9k without pause!
I still exercise regularly (that hasn't changed before/after MFP)

A new friend that I met through work said to me "oh but you're naturally skinny... you wouldn't understand..."
Naturally skinny?!! Don't worry I set them straight right away! I get "little lady" comments quite a bit at work and my friends who have known me before and after have surprised me with "you're so ... small! you look great!". So I guess it's the weight and height comment!
Men are more likely to let me get on trains and buses first (quite gentlemanly I think!). But otherwise I don't find people treat me any differently before and after weight loss.

Friends have started diets and stopped while I kept going.
Loved ones have been motivated to watch what they eat and start exercising more. My sister is on MFP and already seeing great results!

When I look at my Before photo I just wish I had taken the step and done this sooner. Please don't wait like I did, be honest with your diary and be strong and you will see great results too!