Let's play "Who is THAT?" after 107 pounds gone!

This is so great everyone - thank you! I'm glad I'm not the only one who is shocked by the transformation and can't see myself in those before pics. :happy:

I wasn't going to post before and after pics, partially because I'm not at after yet (still in the during phase) but also because I didn't think I had any pictures of before. I purposely, like many of you, avoided cameras like the plague. But after going through some old things I found some pics I had forgotten about and decided to share them.

This is not easy for me because I never saw myself as the before person. I mean really, who is THAT person in those pictures? I absolutely see myself in the after/during pics and I'm proud of what I've accomplished, though I have some more to lose. Okay, enough jabber, here's what you voyeurs clicked on this topic for:

July 2006 - about 280


September 2008 - about 280 - Didn't know this was being taken, but of course I'm eating...


July 2011 - about 220, shortly before I joined MFP


May 2012 - my current profile pic, but it shows my face change from July 2006


Today! Shows not only the change from before, but really, how doesn't love a goofy pic of themselves?!


Thanks to my MFPals - some of you have kept me motivated when I wanted to quit and many of you have provided untold amounts of support.

Some people have contacted me asking for advice about I did it so here's what's working for me (disclaimer: may not work for you, but you asked...).

1. Tracking net calories weekly rather than daily. The phone app does this for you. Then I can have a day where I go over and not worry about it. Enchiladas and margaritas FTW!

2. Eat back exercise calories - at least half, sometimes more. But make sure your outgo is accurate (e.g. HRM - MFP overestimates most activities) and your intake is accurate (don't "eyeball" your portions, measure or weigh your food where you can).

3. Customize your goals - especially increasing protein intake. You can change the split of your macros under Goals > Change > Custom.

4. Cardio! I lost most of the weight here doing cardio - machines (Elliptical and Arc Trainer mostly), videos (Jillian Michaels, Bob Harper, Chalene Johnson, Shaun T and Tony Horton are on top of my DVD player) and classes (lots of yoga for the "rest" days).

5. Weights! In the last few months I've added more intense weight training and am doing ChaLean Extreme now - lifting heavier for few reps and I'm seeing definition and feeling muscles. Yay!

Feel free to ask questions if there's something specific, just thought I'd share a few things that I've been focusing on. Good luck MFP community in your goals!