mamasyd Member

My husband and I spoke of this not too long ago. Funerals are not for the one who has departed - they are truly a vehicle to help the grieving deal with their loss. To that end, I have given him my blessing to choose whatever songs will comfort his heart should that occasion arise. He said that there is one song that will…

Hi, Jessica, I started my journey in 2008 at more than 385 pounds (that was the last known weight - not many places can actually weigh someone as large as I was). Today I weight 145 pounds. I did not have any kind of surgery. Check out my profile if you want to know more.

I have lost all of my weight by counting calories and maintaining a balanced nutritional intake. I have been on MFP for almost two years, but haven't always gone by their counts. Initially, in the weight loss phase, I made sure that my weekly intake was at or below 10,000 calories. Varying my daily intake through the week…

I started in October of 2008, took some time off to deal with medical issues, and then resumed the 'downward climb'. I reached my goal in March of 2012. Net total time was about 2 1/2 years to lose 240 pounds, or about 2/3 of me!

Nicely done!! Sometimes people's reactions to the 'new you' are the best. I am constantly having to 'reintroduce' myself to people I have known for years!!

While it is true that healthy foods cost more than 'junk' foods, the truth is that they are far more filling and can end up costing about the same overall. My husband and I are on a very tight budget. I could not afford a gym membership, a trainer, any fancy equipment, or any other "help" to losing weight. In fact, we had…

I started at 385. There are pictures on my profile, or you can see more of the story here: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Celebration-of-True-Freedom/230655243670046

Celebrate all the victories along the way!! Good for you - keep up the good work!!!!

I'm 55 and am currently maintaining my weight loss. If there is any way that I can help or encourage you, just send me a message. I don't generally comment on individual friend's posts (because I have way too many to be able to do that), but I do make the effort to answer messages - at least within a few days! LOL

First, let me add my voice to those saying that it would be best to consult your doctor first. I began my journey at 385 pounds and was in very poor cardiac health. I did no exercise at all until I had lost the first 60 pounds and been cleared by my cardiologist to begin. (Actually, I didn't start exercising until I had…

When I began my journey, wearing a size 34W, I could not even wrap my head around the idea of what size I might be when I got to my goal. I had hoped for a 14 and thought that a 12 was pure fantasy on my part. I have now reached goal and wear a size 6 or a size 8. Honestly, if my excess skin were removed I would likely be…

I guess I would fit into your 'big loser' category! Running is not now, nor has it ever been to this point, part of my process. That's not to say I don't one day plan to do some running - - - but only for a very specific reason. My daughter is a runner and I want to run a 5K with her. I am sure I will not run anywhere near…

Let me just say that almost every area of life is impacted by weight. Discrimination is rampant against the overweight/obese/morbidly obese. The higher the scale goes the lower the regard is in society for that individual. No, this should not be the case. Sadly, it is. Having been morbidly obese for most of my adult life…

Your body does tend to get used to a specific calorie intake and see it as the new 'normal'. That's when you hit a plateau. Rather than having a cheat day, I found it worked so much better to vary my intake within any given week. While my average would be whatever my intake should be at that stage, my daily numbers varied…

I started hearing those things when I was about 25-30 pounds out from my goal. At that point, I was wearing a size 12 and it wasn't about what size I was. I, also, wanted a BMI that was in the normal range. Since I have lost so much weight, one of the things that I have to consider is the weight of the excess skin that I…

My problem was that for so many years I existed at 'rock bottom' that it began to feel normal. There were the times similar to most of those that have been listed on this thread. When the scale hit 'barrier' numbers that I thought I would never go past - 250, then 300, then 350, then 385 - I finally stopped looking at a…

My weight loss journey started in October of 2008 and I reached my goal on March 23, 2012. There was a season during that time in which I lost nothing at all - for almost a year - but I did maintain what I had lost to that point. (There were some serious heart issues involved.) I picked it back up again in April of 2010,…

If it's worth trying, it's worth finishing. If I only attempted those things in which I knew I would excel, where would the growth be? If I only tried doing things that I knew I would finish first, I would not have lost the weight that I have because it was definitely an endurance race in which no 'speed records' were set!

Here's mine to add to the list: Before - 385 pounds After - 145 pounds

Well done!! Isn't it fun to see how far you've come?

I do get what you are saying. Clothes shopping used to be the worst chore ever. For me, most of the time, it meant looking online for whatever was on clearance in my size. Style, color, or even me caring for it at all were not prerequisites. The only thing that mattered was whether it would fit and cover my body. Now it is…

I started at 385, but didn't start exercising until I was about 305 or so. My first efforts were spent on the Biggest Loser Jump Start video. They offer a four week plan - - - BUT don't take that literally. Each workout offers the regular ten minutes of exercises as well as showing you modifications of some of them if…

My starting weight was 385 pounds. This was along the road. Here I am with my husband a few weeks ago. What I would encourage you to do is to try to figure out why you are where you are. So many stories involve the yo-yo syndrome and that is what you want to overcome. I am now only two pounds away from my goal. It can be…

Going from this: to this: and realizing that I have gained back about 20 years of life has proven to be pretty motivating for me!

Let me thrown my two cents in as to how much colder I am these days! At my largest (385 pounds) I could go outside in just about any temperature and feel fine - with or without a sweater or jacket. Now I not only need a heavy jacket through the winter, but have learned the joys of long johns!! I found that, even during the…

5' 41/2" and my goal is a normal BMI. For me that will be anything below 148. I'm shooting for 145. My current weight is 151 and I am wearing a size 6 mostly. I don't think I need to get much below 145. Of course, I have a lot of excess skin - probably about 20 lbs - which means I may be closer to 130 pounds of actual…

You can do this!! Please feel free to add me if you would like. I'm not great at making comments (too many friends added to keep up with that), but hopefully seeing someone who has achieved something you are striving to do will be an encouragement.

I started needing to lose 240 pounds. That seemed completely insurmountable. Now I am only six pounds away from my goal!!

I am 5'4.5" and weigh 151. Most of my pants are size 8 or size 6. It depends on the way the legs are cut because I had major cardiac issues when I was at my heaviest. The vessels in my legs are damaged and I am having a difficult time losing the last of my weight from there!

This has been something that I have been dealing with on an ongoing basis. I think it is also important to have a trusted loved one (maybe more than one) who is willing to be very honest with you. My mind is definitely lagging behind my progress, just as it did on the way up in my weight. It took a while before I realized…