How is everyone doing with their weight loss goals?

[Fridays Child]

For any DUers struggling with weight, I am available for a free consultation, as time allows. I've had great success on my own weight loss journey, going from 314 lbs. down to my goal weight of 145 lbs., and even lower. I've kept the weight off for more than a year and a half, now. I can breathe again, my blood pressure has returned to a normal range, I can walk, walk, walk, to my heart's content, and I have so much more energy now that I've had in at least seventeen years. My weight loss has turned my life around in a number of other ways, too, as I build my weight coaching client base. But for my friends at DU, I'm happy to listen to your concerns and provide you with my best advice.

[NMDemDist2]

1. i'm still losing 1/4 to 1/2 pound a week

started March 1, 2010

down from 175 to 141 and still going, from size 18-20 to the latest eBay score of a pair of size 10 linen slacks that fit perfect

18 months ago i puffed going up a flight of stairs, last week i kept up with the young Rangers doing an off trail caving trip not open to the public

i'm 56 years old and headed back to the weight i haven't seen since i hit 35

edit to add, my blood pressure is 110/55 and my cholesterol has dropped back into the normal range too!

[Fridays Child]

2. That must feel great...

...and worth every bit of the effort you've put into it. :fistbump:

I was telling someone else the mantra my WW leader taught me: "Nothing in that refrigerator tastes better than how I feel."

I say it out loud, sometimes daily, substituting "buffet line," "menu," store shelf" or whatever the case may be, for "refrigerator." It really helps to remember that my good choices make me feel great. I'm almost 56, and I haven't been at the weight I'm at now since before junior high school. I'm still in shock and it's been a year and a half since I achieved my weight loss goal.

Congratulations to you! :hi:

[NMDemDist2]

3. thanks!! and to you too!!!

Do you exercise too, or just do WW??? We've done it all with cleaning up the diet and a LOT of exercise.....

I have a serious love/hate relationship with Tony Horton of P90X fame :evilgrin:

[Fridays Child]

4. What works for me is about...

...80-90% diet--counting points--and 10-20% exercise, depending on the season. It's pretty hot here four to six months of the year and, because power-walking is my preferred form of exercise, I go into a sort of hibernation over the long summer. I'm looking forward to when it cools down enough to really get out there and walk again. I'll be able to ease up on myself and not be quite so strict dietarily. Here's to both of us keeping up the good work! :toast: (mythical, zero-calore beer :) )

[WillParkinson]

5. Congrats to you!

I hope to take some inspiration from your journey. :)

[Still Blue in PDX]

6. Good for you, and thanks for asking.

I was just stopping by here for some encouragement. I've started over again on Medifast, which is a lot easier for me than Weight Watchers. I work two jobs and don't cook, and my skinny husband brings crappy food into the house. The portion controlled meal replacements are the only things I can be trusted with! When I did WW I cheated. A lot. Not the fault of the program; totally my inability to make good choices when I'm fatigued and stressed and tempted.

But enough with excuses.

I'm just a week into "behaving" mode, so I can't brag about my weight loss. I'm in the honeymoon phase, and we all know that the first few pounds come off easily. Success stories like yours make me believe this time I WILL do it.

[Fridays Child]

7. You will do it!

I had to chuckle about your "honeymoon phase" comment. My WW leader always says that the "fresh fat" comes right off but the "hard lard" takes a little longer. But you're right. Fatigue makes it so hard to make good choices. I fight it at the end of every day. I'm so tired I just want to lie in bed and eat. So I try to save some extra points for the end of the day. Otherwise, I figure if I eat evenly across the day, I'll just blow it at the end.

Right now, I'm hooked on All Bran Multi-grain Crackers and Fiber One low fat Cottage Cheese. A half cup of the cottage cheese and nine crackers equals two points (I use the old WW Points system). I also eat Bob's Frozen Pickle Pops and Pace Medium Chunky Salsa, and I don't have to count them. Salsa is a freebie and the pickle pops have five calories apiece--nothing worth worrying about.

[murielm99]

8. I've lost a couple more pounds.

It was starting to get discouraging. The weight does not come off easily since my thyroid does not function. I thought I would be at this plateau for the rest of my life. I never had weight issues until I developed Grave's Disease.

I have now lost 37 pounds. It is great.

[noel711]

9. Down 73...pounds that is.

When you lose the initial 30-40 pounds, things slow down measurably,
even when you are meticulous about eating and drinking the healthy way.

I've learned that amping up the exercise helps a lot.
I'm walking up to 6 miles, trying to get that in at least 5 days weekly.
When the weather is bad, its tricky, but it makes a difference not only
in weight loss, no matter how slowly,
but in attitude and general well being.
Walking doesn't get the credit it deserves...

I guess wisdom comes with age, but I've learn that slow and steady
works best for health. When I was younger, I tried every fad diet that
came down the pike, and my health yo-yo'ed as well as my weight.

There are some foods that you just have to live without..
but that's okay. I haven't had junk food/fast food/fried food
since July of 2010.. but I'm just fine.

[supernova]

10. Down about 16 lbs since spring

Don't know how long I can keep it up. I've done a couple of things differently:

1) I'm about 80% vegetarian now. Only one serving of animal protein in a day. Plant proteins mostly.

2) walking the dog for 30 mins 2x/day. I swear puppies are the greatest exercise machines ever invented.

Try not to eat past about 7pm.

Do eat breakfast

Do take all my vitamins/supplements.

[tibbir]

11. As of today I'm down 71 pounds from my highest weight

I'm the worst when it comes to making bad choices when stressed.

I'm having pretty good luck with working out to the BeachBody's Slim Series dvds every morning plus my dog and I go on 4 mile walks almost every day. I'm following a pretty regimented eating plan that I found on the BeachBody web site as well. I had the hardest time learning to cook for just me but the program gives recipes based on one serving.

I'm a member of TOPS (Take Off Pounds Sensibly) and find that it works better for me than Weight Watchers did. I know I'll need the support when I get to the hardest part, which is keeping the weight off, especially when life happens as it's prone to do.

[qanda]

12. I'm still down 20 pounds from my highest weight

Although I have gained 10 since I started maintenance. I am still at a healthy weight but my goal weight was 113 and I hate being anywhere above 120. I have started back to walking two or more miles a day and I'm seriously considering a plant-based diet after watching Forks Over Knives.

Congratulations on your success. What a great story!

[Big Blue Marble]

13. I am in my second year of maintenance.

After losing 60 pounds slowly and achieving a BMI of 20, I am successfully maintaining.
I continue to do what I did to lose, just eat a little more. It is working.

[Broken_Hero]

14. In a word...

Horrible. :S