6 Months on MFP – Good Progress (with pics) :)

Hello

So, I originally signed up for MFP in August 2011 but only lasted a couple of weeks before I stopped logging. I decided to start a fresh slate on Wednesday 25th October 2011 and Today is my 6 month anniversary of logging every day! :drinker:

I had tried many times in the past to lose weight but it had always been relatively unsuccessful and always slid into old (bad) eating habits. For some reason I ‘just knew’ that this time would be different and that I would succeed. I think that being positive about it and of course having daily accountability (thanks to MFP), have been the keys to my success, so far.

I was pretty big 6 months ago, at approx 298lbs (135.5Kg) and have lost 102lbs in the six months I have been on here. I realise some people will say that I lost too quickly but I feel good and am lot more energised than before. I am still around 18 lbs from theoretical target but I will make a decision when to switch to maintenance, closer to the time. I can hopefully do this mid-summer. I went from XXL (sometimes XXXL) generic top size to a L, lost 10 inches off my chest, 8 off my waist and 3 off my neck.

My cardio fitness was actually not bad for my size, at the beginning. I do a lot of cycling (anything from 100 – 200 miles per week) and had been riding regularly for over 3 years, when I began on MFP. I decided to join a local gym and started doing weights 3 days per week to help me keep as much muscle mass as possible, while I am in a calorie deficit and losing weight. I also started going to spinning classes around 3 days per week and this has helped my cycling a lot, plus it burns a whole load of calories! I am now addicted to spin and would encourage anybody to try it – such fun and so good for you

Thanks to all my MFP friends who have been a great source of motivation and encouragement for me, in these past months. My advice is simple… be as active as you possibly can be. Push yourself every day and always be honest about what you have consumed. Log all things, even if they are bad and take you way over and into the red. In the long term, providing you stick to your plan, you will all reach your targets. I include myself in this, as I realise I am still not where I want to be, yet.

Cheers!

Right, they say a picture speaks a thousand words, so here are the piccies (excuse the bad quality)…

BEFORE (this was taken in June 2011)


BEFORE (this was taken in June 2011)


NOW (taken Today)


NOW (taken Today)


Not the greatest quality of pics, I admit but you get the idea. I will update this thread when I get more suitable ones and again when I hit targe. Work hard folks and you can get there! :happy: