61 Down and 9 to go

I have been working on this for some time now. I will be honest and didn't think I would actually do it, I am a starter and not much of a finisher with most everything in my life not just this, if I do not get results now I eventually get bored and quit. Anyways, I have been able to see signs of improvement, I have bought pants I am not sure how many times. I started at 22W and 200 lbs, I am now in a 12 and 139 lbs, and thinking it is time to go shopping again. I was fortunate enough to have my dog pants me in my smallest pair of sweat pants on a casual day at home on Friday last week.

I can not see the difference in the mirror, I hate looking in the mirror, but I have been trying since this project started for me. Anyways, I think the first place I really noticed the weigh loss was actually in my wrists, is that strange or normal? My watch that i have worn at the same size and same watch for the last 20-25 years just spins around my wrist and I am going tomorrow to get it adjusted to fit! Yay! That makes me very happy. Annoys me lots when I try to look at it and it is not in the right place.

I also have bones! I knew I had them just didn't know I could feel them. I would rub a pain or itch on my shoulder and I noticed not only could I feel my shoulder bones, but I have a collar bone too! And back to the wrists, I was looking at my watch when I noticed a bone, I actually thought has that one been broken and I don't remember? Then I compare to the other and see that is the same!

I am 9 lbs away from my heaviest, healthy goal, will give me a bmi of 24.6 I think, I am 5' 1" so I was obese to say the least. My doctor challenged me without realizing it. She asked me to try to lose 5 lbs in 3 months! Really I though? 5 lbs? Oh that is a challenge lady, as I see it a healthy weight loss is 1-2 lbs a week so that put me way short of what is possible, so I took her challenge and aimed for 12-24 and I made the 18 lbs, I call to schedule an appointment and she had moved on to a new job! I didn't even get to show her what I did, I was sad but went on working at it.. I didn't know why I continued, but maybe because I had already started and wanted to see how long I could last. I tend to be a perfectionist and a bit ok maybe a lot competitive.

I have started exercising, I am still in the closet when it comes to the exercise, and actually I have a walk in so I am literally in the closet with my machine. I have greatly decreased my portion sizes and actually weigh and measure everything. I do not feel deprived at all, I get to eat the exact same stuff except when we eat out, I usually base that on the budget I have created for my calories, and then I find nutritional information before I go and order what I find that fits my calorie budget. I have actually loved all of the effort I have put into this and my roommate who is older and disabled and really overweight has started the program 3 days ago.

I am very very new to MFP and haven't figured it all out but we are getting there. I still for some reason when I look in the mirror see absolutely no change, but I took a shower the other day and went to find clothes and stumbled across the largest pair of pants I have worn and I though, what the heck lets put them on and see what has happened. I had no clue what I had accomplished! The went on and I really had to hike them up and keep hands on them at all times! I had my roommate take a few pictures and when I saw them, that is when I saw what I had done. For some reason, maybe the mirror is broke, because I still can't see it there, but the pictures kinda excited me. I have 9 to go to my original goal but know I can be healthy and still do 15 more.

I would love to post pictures, but I still can't figure it out, some nice people on here tried to help me, but again I do not feel smart enough to figure it out, I am still working on it I think I have them ready, just don't know exactly how to send them but I will figure it out eventually and maybe be able to post them. I really look forward to learning how, I want to post my roommates pictures as he progresses and he is really motivated now (4 days in) but want to keep him motivated and that would be a great reward.

Thanks everyone! Oh and in the middle of all this, I continued losing weight and quit smoking on September 29 2011