lgriffithschall Member

Many hours of sweat & tears, and never perfection. But...I learned to love myself.

I've lost almost 70 pounds through counting calories, running, and more recently weight lifting. I eat back about 1/2 of my exercise calories -- I've developed a mentality that I 'earn' special treats (desserts, non-diet sodas, etc) through exercise efforts which has really worked for me. I don't eat a special diet - if it…

Here's what 50 pounds did for me. I'm down 10 since this pic, and am trying to conquer the final 15 to get in the mid-130s.

As others have stated, ask your doc before changing things up because everyone's different. I keep my Synthroid on my nightstand with a bottle of water, and take it right before I go to bed. That's usually at least two hours after eating (somtimes less, sometimes more). My thyroid levels have been consistently in the lower…

This^ For me learning that making a not-so healthy choice on occaision isn't going to undo all the progress I've made as long as I pick up the pieces the very next day has been the secret to my success. We can't go haywire all the time, but a day with a hamburger, greasy fries, chocolate covered pretzels, and two 32 oz Dr.…

Thank you. I'm almost 5'7 - all of my extra weight is in my legs, I just keep plugging away at it. I wear a size six pant, but have 17 inch calves :-) They're strong, but unsightly.

You look awesome!

Awesome:-) So happy for you!

I . If I can do it, you can do it!

I was about 240 when I started trying to lose weight, and about 200 when I started MFP. I'm not quite at goal, but getting close. The best advice I can give after years of gaining and losing (and never actually losing past 170 before I started gaining again) is that you have to want it more than ANYTHING else. I had to…

Awesome! ...and you're 100% right - there's going to be a lot of "speed bumps" (at least there have been for me) but it's all about picking up the pieces and keeping at it. Congratulations!

Congrats! You look great!

Purchased jeans in a size 7/8...that fit! Haven't done that since 5th grade!

Congrats on running period (intervals or not)! I went from barely surviving 30 second intervals to over an hour of constant running during the last year and a half. I will echo other posters by confiding that it had more to do with pushing myself mentally than with anything I did physically; although, moderating your pace…

The JCP ones are actually my favorites too! I've had Under Armor, Nike, Addidas, but I always come back to the JCP brand because they seem to offer good compression -- plus they have a waist tie which is a necessity for me.

Pear here too! I sometimes wonder if I don't have lipedema (I weigh just under 170, but my calf circumference is 20 inches) since my bottom half seems to be distorted. Everyone says though that if you're built this way, that is the last place that weight loss occurs. I run 3-5 miles three times a week and do step-aerobics…

Congrats on making the decsion to get started!

You are beautiful! Such an inspiration! Congrats!

Congrats! I used C25K to start running also & it was such an accomplishment to complete that final 30 minute run. I totally second the opinion in the preceeding post -- going slow is the ticket to finishing those runs. My last day of C25K I wasn't actually running a 5K, but I was running 30 minutes. I'm working on a 10K…

Good luck...it's tough to make changes at first, but stick with it because it gets easier as you settle into a new way of looking at food. ...and, this is one time in your life when it's good to be selfish - make yourself a priority not an afterthought :-)

Everyone's built differently, but I'm 5'7" 172 pounds with huge calves, larger thighs, and a long, smaller torso - I wear a 10 on top, a 12 on the bottom (put on the first tight 10 this morning...yay!) and a 10 dress.

I haven't 'banned' anything, but I know now what foods are likely to make me fall off the bandwagon, so I tread carefully around them. Regular soda is first on that list (I was drinking my daily calorie limit just in soda prior to starting MFP)-- I now never drink it through the week, but allow myself one regular soda on…

I started C25K as part of my weight-loss plan becuase I needed an exercise that I would be able to do at home both indoors and outdoors. I've lost almost 40 pounds, but it's because of lifestyle changes that include eating less and moving more. That said, I've found that running (I do 3 miles every evening) curbs my desire…

I gave up drinking regular soda as my 'go-to' drink. I realized I was drinking almost my daily calorie limit in soda! Now I drink mainly zero-calorie flavored water, 1-2 diet sodas per day, and the occaisional fountain non-diet Dr. Pepper on the weekends as a treat.

Glad to see you're doing it the good old-fashioned way! I had a gastric bypass in 2004, but like so many other individuals who have had the operation, I realized it didn't change my relationship with food or my basic unhappiness with myself. Thankfully, I have been able to use MFP and a newfound love of running to work on…

I highly recommend C25K! I'm currently on week 7, but I just ran my first 5k this weekend in 37 minutes using the interval method (run 5 minutes, walk one minute). It's certainly not easy if you're an overweight (40-50 pounds) non-runner like me, but it's rewarding and it will really help with weight loss! My best advice…