100 lbs in 1 year w/Pics!

ok, so it was 2 weeks over a year...but i came pretty close lol

I started MFP on January 24th, 2011 at 5'6" and 282 lbs. 1 year (and 2 weeks) later, I'm weighing in at 182 lbs :drinker:

oh, AND i quit smoking on May 3rd, on my 100th day of MFP! :glasses:

I started off by totally changing my diet and just eating really healthy. I tried to stay away from processed foods and found healthy alternatives for my favorites like bread and pasta...i even found a non dairy ice cream that was 150 calories for an entire PINT! (arctic zero :happy: ) I ate every few hours and averaged around 1650 calories a day. of course, it took me a while to get used to all of this...I'm not gonna lie and tell you it was easy, I would have to say it took me a good 3 months to get into a solid routine where it became "easiER". then, after I lost around 40lbs, I started exercising. Not much, just walking 2 miles a few days a week. Now I walk almost every day. If I don't walk, it's not the end of the world, I just try to stay active, in general.

whenever I started to fall off the wagon, I would watch documentaries about food, like food inc and food matters, ect. They taught me a lot, plus they motivated me to get back to eating healthy and exercising. If I got too stressed out with counting calories and the whole "dieting thing", I would take a day off and eat whatever I wanted, in moderation, of course, and get right back to it the next day. I logged my food almost every day until I lost about 80lbs, and I've gone without logging since then. of course the weight is coming off slowly now, but I'm in no rush. according to all of the "charts", I have another 30lbs to lose before I'm a "normal" weight, but I'm not sure if I want to go that low yet...I'll see once I get closer

I wish everyone lots of luck on their journey to a healthier lifestyle. stay strong, and "just do it" :happy: