Where Are The Pictures???

[mom2allison01]

Kat,
Thanks! I'm in Greensboro, which is about 1.5 hours away from Durham. Does that help? LOL

 

[3DisneyKids]

Melissa--wow! Way to go! You look fabulous! And 55 pounds in just 5 months???? That is amazing! How many calories per day do you eat?

 

[mom2allison01]

The calorie range varies daily but I try to stick between 1200 and 1500/daily. I am also keeping track of fat, sodium, carbs, fiber, and protein. I have found that watching all these along with calories has been key for me, especially watching my sodium. It has been amazing how much better I feel keeping my sodium intake under 2000mg. In short, I have been eating alot of fruits and veggies, along with high protein lean meat/poultry. The other thing that has helped me is tracking every thing I eat. I bought a great digital scale and weigh everything. With the help of online sights like sparkpeople.com and calorieking.com, tracking has become easy and second nature. The weight seemed to pour off me the first two months, it has slowed down alot since then. Thanks for your comments! I have a hard time grasping how far I've come until I've seen a picture!

 

[Eeyores Butterfly]

Melissa, all I can say is wow! You look amazing and I just can't believe you lost 55 lbs in 5 months. You really are a great inspiration!

 

[3DisneyKids]

Wow.

I am feeling REALLY inadequate as a person right now...

I don't have 90 minutes a day... Are you using a time-turner?

Needless to say, I am impressed. All your hard work is certainly paying off!!!

lol--no need to feel inadequate! You are FABULOUS!

And the truth is that I don't have 90 minutes a day either. I work full time (mostly from home) and am home full time with my 3 kids (no day care, etc.), so I am pretty maxed out.

But I just MADE the time. I made fitness a priority. So a lot of other things had to go. Sleep, for one. Seriously. I sleep maybe 6 hours per night. That is on my list to change before the end of the year. I know I am not getting enough rest. Also, things live watching TV are just GONE. Seriously, I don't even watch the news anymore.

Right now it is summer so I am always angling to get my workout in. Sometimes I will do a core work-out at midnight if I haven't gotten it in yet. I am hoping that come fall, when the kids are in school (my youngest heads off this year), I will have more time and not feel so rushed and crazed all the time.

The calorie range varies daily but I try to stick between 1200 and 1500/daily. I am also keeping track of fat, sodium, carbs, fiber, and protein. I have found that watching all these along with calories has been key for me, especially watching my sodium. It has been amazing how much better I feel keeping my sodium intake under 2000mg. In short, I have been eating alot of fruits and veggies, along with high protein lean meat/poultry. The other thing that has helped me is tracking every thing I eat. I bought a great digital scale and weigh everything. With the help of online sights like sparkpeople.com and calorieking.com, tracking has become easy and second nature. The weight seemed to pour off me the first two months, it has slowed down alot since then. Thanks for your comments! I have a hard time grasping how far I've come until I've seen a picture!

See, this is my main problem. TRACKING! I am really struggling to make myself do it. I don't know why it is such a challenge for me, but it is my main obstacle. I can make myself work out tons of hours, but ask me to track and I crumble. So this is another one of my goals so that I can get the last 10 pounds off.

 

[Ms. Heimlich]

Hello mom2allison01!!

Welcome to our little thread!! You look FABULOUS! I truly wish you all the success in the world. You've already made FANTASTIC progress.
55 lbs??? WOW!! Great job.

Keep us informed of your progress!

Ms. H

This is before, family trip to Disney December 2007...
The other pic is current (taken 7/18), 55 pounds lighter

I started my lifestyle change February 5, 2008. I never really thought I was as big as I really was, but I knew that I needed to be more healthy. I have had several motivators, my mothers death being my main reason for a desire to be more healthy. I have two children (dd-6 and ds-4) and although I knew they loved and accepted me for who I was, I didn't want them to feel bad or embarrassed because of the way I looked. I have been counting calories and it is working for me. This is the first time I have lost more than 15 pounds and it feels great! I have 29 more pounds to go to my ultimate goal! I have been a long time lurker of the dis and an infrequent poster. I just wanted to add to the picture thread b/c it has been a big inspiration to me!

PS. You'll also see a before in my siggy pic.

 

[kaf7878]

Everyone looks amazing--keep the pics coming!

 

[clownchk]

I do not have any "older" pix of me on this computer.

I was 128 the day I got married, and for the first time since (9+ years!) I am back to it, and now even below that weight!

I got up to as much as 179 three days before I gave birth to my 3rd child. (WHo was nearly 9 pounds).

THis is where I "thought" I wanted to be

I was happy to be around 137 pounds.

Then in March I got what can only be described as "Death flu" and lost another 11 pounds. THis was me 2 months after that...

And now thanks to eating right and getting the Wii Fit (LOL) I am 10 pounds less than that and oh so very much toned!!

UM my 7 YO took the pix. LOL!

Having a tan helps, too LOL!

 

[soupy11]

Wow guys, you are all awesome! I can't believe the differences. What a motivational thread this is!

I am a dude so feel a bit outta place here LOL!

I am 35, hit the 220lb range and decided that was enough of that. I started the couch to 5k plan and a little computer program called Diet Power. The weight dropped off in bunches. I got down to my current weight and have stagnated here at 175 lbs. I just joined the local gym to get the resistance training started to match my runs. I run about 25 miles per week now and it is my passion at the moment. The gym is nice but it is more of a chore for me where the running is my drug of choice. I could and would run every day, twice a day, if my body didn't need rest.

Some of the differences I noticed; lack of head ache, blood pressure, (I love going to drug stores and taking my blood pressure and seeing the optimal range come up LOL), my 54 beats per minute resting heart rate, 32 inch pant waist, sideways glances from women in the grocery store, compliments from friends and family, and the fact that I can eat a pizza if I want due to the 1000 calories I just burned on my 9 mile run!

Now my goal is to get another 20 lbs of fat off and introduce a 10 lb muscle gain. I also want to qualify for the police department's physical guideline in terms of strength training.

Anyways, here is a before and after pic, its a bit unsightly so beware! LOL

[/IMG]

 

[mom2allison01]

Soupy11 - you look awesome! 9 miles a day - holy cow! Keep up the awesome work!!

 

[Ms. Heimlich]

Hey Soup!

First -- I LOVED your trip report (did you ever finish it?)!! You are one funny guy!

Second -- WOW you really look different! No woman would have EVER posted before pictures as bold as yours!

I must also say that I do not run. Not even when chased. I hate it. I am always amazed at people who find it invigorating and enjoy it. I'd rather have a cookie -(which is why I got myself in the "before" predicament) but anyway, kudos to you and keep it up!! Maybe I will try running --- someday.

ETA ___ Also -- thanks for posting the differences you have noticed... The things people say always make me stop and think. You are no exception! Thanks for POSTING!!!

 

[soupy11]

Hey Soup!

First -- I LOVED your trip report (did you ever finish it?)!! You are one funny guy!

Second -- WOW you really look different! No woman would have EVER posted before pictures as bold as yours!

I must also say that I do not run. Not even when chased. I hate it. I am always amazed at people who find it invigorating and enjoy it. I'd rather have a cookie -(which is why I got myself in the "before" predicament) but anyway, kudos to you and keep it up!! Maybe I will try running --- someday.

ETA ___ Also -- thanks for posting the differences you have noticed... The things people say always make me stop and think. You are no exception! Thanks for POSTING!!!

Thanks! I never did get back to that trip report...at the time I got caught up big time in school work and was literally without a moment of free time.

The thing with running is, it does suck for a long time. It really is a conditioning, mind and body. Once it clicks, it is literally a light switch, and you wake up one day and are suddenly in love with running.

Definitely the opposite of love at first sight.

 

[shane&jakesmom]

Where did everybody go, this is a great place fir inspiration.

 

[nettii]

OP thanks for starting this great thread!
Everyone WOW great job
You all have motivated me beyond belief!
I will be back to post some of my own pics soon!
This is just the motivation I needed-to see real people over come this major obstacle!
Thank you all keep up the good work!

 

[Ms. Heimlich]

 

[Ms. Heimlich]

Okay.....

This thread just..... D i e d

Where'd everybody go?

Any other losers out there?

anyone??

(hollow echoing sound)

Hello...

Somebody!?

 

[DizneeMommy]

I'm 6' tall and here is the before pic when I was at about 308 pounds:

I've lost 77 pounds (35 on my own, then the rest after joining WW online), and here is a pic taken in June:

A little over 50 pounds to go until I'm at goal! I'm happier, healthier, more energetic. . .and determined to lose the rest, then never get over 200 pounds again!!

 

[Ms. Heimlich]

I'm 6' tall and here is the before pic when I was at about 308 pounds:
I've lost 77 pounds (35 on my own, then the rest after joining WW online), and here is a pic taken in June:
A little over 50 pounds to go until I'm at goal! I'm happier, healthier, more energetic. . .and determined to lose the rest, then never get over 200 pounds again!!

Wow... Great work!

We talk all the time about One-derland... The time you get under 200 (to hopefully never go back!). Keep up the good work and keep us "posted' (pun intended!)

Thanks for the pictures...

Care to answer the questions in post 1?

 

[keenercam]

WOW! I am so incredibly impressed with all these pictures and of the efforts people are putting in to get healthy and fit. My journey has been a long one after being overweight (okay, "morbidly obese") since the age of 10. Long story short -- I developed a bizarre, life threatening heart condition at the age of 31.5, suffered for almost 10 years and through 4 heart surgeries until an unexpected cure in January 2005 (after a last-ditch effort surgery). Given a second chance, I decided to lose weight and get fit. Here is a picture of me in July 2004 before I gained many, many more pounds from being sedentary on doctor's orders:

Since January 2005, I've lost 70 pounds and have gone from tight size 24W to 14. I have followed WW the entire time, though I have only recently switched to the core plan in the hopes of budging the scale. I also use sparkpeople to track calorie intake and the breakdown of protein, carbs & fat because I found myself manipulating the WW points system. This is me on our June DCL cruise:

I still have a long way to go, and I've been frustrated at a scale plateau that has lasted well over 14 months (up and down within a 5 pound range the entire time). But, I exercise 7 days a week (2 of them are just my daily 100-150 crunches & 125 pushups), including 3 days of running. And yes, I know exactly what soupy means about catching that bug and wanting to run every day, 2x a day. But I only carve out time to do 2-3 miles 2x/week and a longer run of at least 4 miles on Saturdays. I also work out with a personal trainer 2x/week (about to be 1x/week due to his teaching schedule). I haven't found the formula yet that makes my body drop pounds even after working with my doctor, my personal trainer, WW, and the fitness director at my gym. But, I feel better, I look better, and I LOVE all of the medals I have won doing 1/2 marathons, marathons, and 15ks. I also LOVE doing 5ks for local charities and can appreciate the fact that I am alive and moving.

Thank you so, so much to everyone who posted here. You are all so inspirational.

 

[MadamMim]

I'm 6' tall and here is the before pic when I was at about 308 pounds:

I've lost 77 pounds (35 on my own, then the rest after joining WW online), and here is a pic taken in June:

A little over 50 pounds to go until I'm at goal! I'm happier, healthier, more energetic. . .and determined to lose the rest, then never get over 200 pounds again!!

I'm your 'before'! (Well, minus the kids. ) While all the pics have been great motivation and I've loved hearing from everybody, yours seriously gave me a jolt. I've never met another female 6 footer! And it's so hard to guage when little women say they're heavy and yet when they post their actual numbers they weigh so much less than I do. It always makes me feel worse.

I came to the W.I.S.H. board because of a thread started over on the weddings board (that got closed because losing weight for a Disney Wedding isn't as obviously wedding related as the mods would hope) where someone was lamenting about being a fat bride. Well, I'm nowhere near being a bride yet (although I am open to proposals that begin with those five little words "Fort Wilderness or Grand Floridian?" ) but I am going to be a bridesmaid at my best friend's wedding and I really really don't want to be 'that girl' the fat bridesmaid.

My story's a little complicated due polycystic ovarian syndrome and a previous spinal injury from a car accident, but my UK doctor has refered me to a 'weight management clinic' (fat camp) that will include medication to counteract the pcos and maybe, just maybe, finally allow me to lose weight like normal people on lower caloric intake and increased physical activity.

Thanks everybody for sharing your stories! I can't wait to have an after pic to show you!