JulieSHelms Member

I determined that based on wrist measurements. One wrist is in the large category and the other is right on the border of large/medium. The other notable thing, although it doesn't show so much in this photo is I have a large rib cage. I have to be careful what shirts I wear, because it can protrude weirdly. Also, I don't…

Not my doctor anymore. :wink:

Thank you everyone for the kind words. :smile: @natajane I think the big thing for me (since obviously I have tried and failed at dieting over the last 3 decades) was when I realized I couldn't go on a diet--this just had to be a complete lifestyle change. Somehow that outlook gave me the determination and success because…

I just discovered that Planet Fitness keeps track of how many days you've come into the gym. I first joined 333 days ago and have shown up there 273 times during that time. Since that was my first time in the gym ever, I wondered if I would actually carry through and show up. I think I did pretty well! (And I'm pretty sure…

You look great! I learned about lifting here on MFP. Never considered it before in my life. But i was told that, especially with my insulin resistance, lifting heavy was the ticket. So I started about 1/3 into my journey. It's been 11 months since I joined the gym, lost 80 more lbs and am a ton stronger. I think it also…

It resembles a stand-up tanning booth, but you are only being radiated with a non-UV light, so it isn't dangerous at all. It has no listed negative side effects. But it makes claims about the good it can do, mostly related to cellular regeneration on the surface of the skin: wound healing, scar reduction, loose skin…

Hey thanks! I lost the first 55 without exercising and the hanging skin was bad. Then I lost the last 80ish while doing weight training (first time in my life in a gym!) and my skin at -132 is better than at -55. I REALLY think the weights helped tighten up something--connective tissue maybe? I still have it--won't be…

Thanks! For skinny stretch jeans, I just got into a size 8. For regular jeans and all other pants, a size 10. Shirts I'm an 8. I started off in a size 24W pants and 26W tops.

132 lbs down (300-->168) I'm 5'8". I'd like to lose another 10 but I'm ok where I am now.

I think I got slim-shamed (does that even exist?). I went to the doctor's office and the nurse asked me to get on the scale. I paused to take of my shoes. She said, "Oh, come on." I looked up at her and she rolled her eyes. She said, " If I had your cute little figure, I wouldn't be worried about my shoes." --in kind of a…

Planet Fitness Pros: -inexpensive ($10 or $20/month) -mine is newly built, so clean and shiny, everything in good working order -tons of cardio equipment--I've never not been able to get right on even during peak hours -attracts older/overweight people so not intimidating -free trainer who I have used a lot -open 24/7 -I…

Because I'm starting to increase calories as I go into maintenance (1200 up to 1800) so I was afraid I might start gaining in muscle mass.

Can you suggest a particular strength program that doesn't bulk (and I don't have access to barbells)?

SW 300 GW 170 5'8" Age 50 Took 2 years to lose 130 lbs. I hit my goal weight and have gone to maintenance now. But I think I could lose a little more around the stomach and thighs--so might get back to it, or just see what I can get done through the gym with tightening things up a bit. I'm dealing with a lot of loose skin,…

No, I think just hard work is what it takes to lose weight. When I first started Metformin 15 years ago, I did drop about 15 lbs initially but I was also battling constant nausea and diarrhea from taking it. We adjusted my dose down and down again to find what I could tolerate--then that lost weight came back on. What…

According to my endocrinologist, I have a 'whopper' of a case of PCOS--for about 25 years now. I had to take fertility meds to conceive, needed a hair transplant for stage 4 male-pattern baldness, and was headed toward diabetes fast. One doctor warned me that women with PCOS cannot lose weight--the best they can hope for…

I took Clomid (for infertility due to PCOS) and gained a ton of weight . I even had a dr. a few years later looking at my records and said--"I can't believe they prescribed you Clomid. Bet you gained weight on that." Yep. But once it's out of your system it won't continue to control your weight. I just lost 130+ lbs (and…

As a beginner, I started with the machines. After a few months I started having some pain with some of them and after talking to people here on MFP and a trainer, learned that it probably meant the fixed path of those particular machines wasn't lining up with my anatomy. So I switched to free weights. The pain was gone…

I definitely liked having mini-goals because they came with rewards! :) I stopped eating pasta, so when I craved it, I would just remind myself it was coming (my reward) as soon as I hit my mini-goal and that eased the craving. Having been obese for 30 years, I didn't even know what my final goal would be. Here in…

I am about the same weight as you, but taller (167, 5'8"). I average about 1400 cals a day but that is an overall average--I learned for me that if I have a several low days (1200ish) followed by several higher days (1600-1800) that I avoid the long plateaus. I lose about 2 lbs/week. Interestingly after I started with the…

Ok, here's an update. I took all your advice to heart and gave intervals and slowing down a try. It felt like I was going VERY slow but I was amazed at how long I lasted. Thanks to everyone for their suggestions. I did an interval of 2 min walk at 3.5 mph/3 min run at 4.3 mph. I did it for 60 minutes. I had planned to stop…

126 lb lost. In the first picture I'm holding Heather as a lamb. In the second picture I'm holding Heather's babies born two days ago!

Oh, look, another woman with PCOS losing weight! I had an endocrinologist tell me that women with PCOS cannot lose weight. The best they can hope for is to maintain. I've lost 126 lbs and would love to go back and show her...but I left her practice years ago. Good job! How much did you lose? You look fantastic. :smile:

Hey thanks everyone--this advice was just what I was looking for. Just to answer a few questions... running shoes: I wear a kind from New Balance that my doctor actually told me to get to deal with my plantar fasciitis. The sales guy mentioned that they were a very good running shoe, too. At the time I didn't care, but for…

How often would you recommend? I had picked twice a week because I have a history with knee and hip joint issues and I don't want to re-injure, but so far no joint pain at all. But it was a random number that I picked.

I started doing HIITs on the elliptical by easing into them. At first I did one or two sprints during my workout till I got stronger. It only took about 2 weeks to get to the set I wanted to do--eight 30 sec sprints in 20 minutes. I probably would have puked if I had done all 8 from the outstart. This doesn't really answer…

Both. The strength training will give you some form to reveal as the fat melts away, and in my case it REALLY helped with tightening up skin. It also made me lose inches much more quickly than with weight loss alone--which of course is what is visible to everyone else and makes your clothes fit better. I do cardio because…

Not so different in my pasture--dodging the ram coming at you, weaving through the flock of goats that INSIST it is feeding time, and I won't even tell you what you're trying not to step in! ;)

Here is a partial NSV and partial me trying to show off my cutie....We have a ewe (mama sheep) whose milk never came in when she gave birth--making me the new baby mama to twins. So now I can crawl into their pen and feed them with mama in there with me. I would have NEVER fit 126 lbs ago, not to mention sitting on the…

This just happened to me too! I get catalogs from Torrids, Woman Within, Roamans, Serengeti...all the plus-sized places. My last order from one of them--I got everything in the smallest sizes they offered and had to return half for being too large. I'm a little at a loss, because I haven't shopped anywhere else...in…