Hi everyone. I'm semi-new here...have been lurking for a while and have decided to put up a post here. My story begins in October of 2007 when I was looking at photos from my 22nd birthday party a few days before. It was the moment that I said "oh my god..what happened? something needs to change right now

I bought a treadmill and started walking at first because I was very out of shape. That combined with cutting out a few unhealthy meals I would have normally eaten got me down 20 pounds quickly. At 160 I maintained for a while due to stress in my life and no focus on diet or exercise..but I got back on track by going 1 months with no fried foods and playing dance dance revolution 3-4 times a week. At 145 I got stuck in a plateau and tried the Abs diet for women eating plan/exercise plan. Once I got into the 130s i went back to a plain reduced calorie diet with interval workouts on my treadmill.

Now here I am making this post slightly over a year later. It's been a long journey and I still have a little ways to go before I reach my goal, but atleast I am at a healthy weight now and I'm no longer ashamed to share the number on the scale with anyone..so here are some pics!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/0903/toolized/80s.jpg
This is me at my birthday party in 2007. It was an 80s theme party, so I was supposed to look awesomely tacky and stupid...but at 183 pounds this is the most embarassing photo of myself I have ever seen!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/0903/toolized/party1.jpg
Another photo of me with some friends from that night.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/0903/toolized/party2.jpg
and one of me with my boyfriend.

Now for some recents:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/0903/toolized/SANY1024.jpg
When I was around 145.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/0903/toolized/me2.jpg
Down to 135.

http://c4.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/2/l_8cbf7976da57402f963576d68ea40a13.jpg
On Halloween with some friends.

http://c3.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/58/l_397a0e56e82b40b2ae41eae69191e8be.jpg
On my 23rd birthday with my boyfriend.


I'm hoping to get between 120-125, taking things slow from here on. I have been a little off track in recent weeks...with going out to dinners, going to bars for concerts of local bands I know and having a halloween party filled with treats and drinks...lol but hey gotta have a little fun right? I love the posts on this forum, everyone is very encouraging and I hope to someday be able to post some super amazing finished photos like some of the rest of you have!!!

:hurray:OMGOSH!!! You look fantastic, sweetie! All of your hard work has paid off big time! I am so impressed with your transformation - it is hard to even recognize you! Very, very well done.

ABBA

You look fantastic, AND I bet you have got some really incredible DDR skills now.

ABBA- thanks so much! I actually ran into a girl this weekend that I hadnt seen in 6-7 months and she couldnt recognize me..she said it took her 5 mins of looking to figure out who I was between the weight and the new blonde hair, haha I was so flattered!

Rebecca - thank you! and oooh, did I get good at DDR. After just a few weeks I was on expert on a lot of songs. I get out of breath easily though because unfortunately I am a smoker and have yet to kick that habit. I actually put DDR away for a while, because I havent had space in my cluttered room to lay the pad out on the floor..but Im missing it, I want to bring it back. Its so damn addictive!

Amazing job. Tell your boyfriend to smile in pictures.

Amazing job. Tell your boyfriend to smile in pictures.

Her boyfriend is probably too scared to smile cause she looks disproportionatly better than him now. she is way too good looking for someone like him now that she changed herself so much.

Her boyfriend is probably too scared to smile cause she looks disproportionatly better than him now. she is way too good looking for someone like him now that she changed herself so much.

I really don't think that is right to say. But anyway, Girlfriend you look really good. I started at 188 and im trying to get down to 125. this story really inspires me.

Congratulations! You are a pretty girl and you just look so much happier and healthier in your after pictures.

Her boyfriend is probably too scared to smile cause she looks disproportionatly better than him now. she is way too good looking for someone like him now that she changed herself so much.

Wow. That was really frikken rude!

You look amazing! Totally inspiring! You look really great as a blonde too! Hot!

Wow, you look great! Nice job. Amazing transformation :)

Amazing job. Tell your boyfriend to smile in pictures.

Thanks Jeff! I tell him to smile but all he does is smirk! haha.

Healthy I appreciate the compliment but I dont think Im too good for him just because I look different now. he loved me even at my heaviest and still loves me now, and has supported me every step of the way so I'm really grateful for that!

Ania you can do it!! It may seem like a long process but just break it down and stay patient! the slower it goes the more likely you are to keep it off. sometimes it gets discouraging and you'll think "damn, this is gonna take me atleast 6 more months...that's forever" but you have to tell yourself "either I can stick with it and when that 6 months that feels like foreeeeever comes, I will have made progress..or I can give up bc it feels like foreeeever and I will be the same as I am now." Im happy to be giving motivation and I will share any advice I can!!

everyone thanks so much for the compliments :) it makes me feel so accomplished!

You look great! Good job!

Thanks Jeff! I tell him to smile but all he does is smirk! haha.

Healthy I appreciate the compliment but I dont think Im too good for him just because I look different now. he loved me even at my heaviest and still loves me now, and has supported me every step of the way so I'm really grateful for that!

You look GREAT!! Fantastic transformation. Isn't it great to see your hard work paying off?

Big kudos to your boyfriend for being both accepting and supportive. That's a rare gem.

This may be a stupid question, but did you do anything specific to tone up your tummy? I have a similar shape (as in the before picture shape), and i can't believe how flat and toned your tummy is now! Usually even if I lose weight I'll carry a little pudge there since that's where I carry the bulk of my fat.

Thanks!

it's not a transformation... it a total metamorphosis! you look amazing! i was the same weight as you when i started and i can only hope to look that great at the end. great great job!


and i second knoxville's question:-)

You look GREAT!! Fantastic transformation. Isn't it great to see your hard work paying off?

Big kudos to your boyfriend for being both accepting and supportive. That's a rare gem.

Thanks so much!! It is really great...I used to hate shopping because I had to try to find things that fit and then they didnt even look right on my disproportionate body. now I go shopping and try things on like crazy, I just cant let myself spend very much because I know I'm trying to lose more and then they wont fit haha. I usually splurge on a few nice fitting things for dressing up or going out and just kinda bum it in baggy stuff around the house lol

It is really great that hes supportive. i have some girlfriends that want to lose weight and their boyfriends call them fat and try to feed them icecream when they're using their exercise equipment..I cant imagine having to deal with that

This may be a stupid question, but did you do anything specific to tone up your tummy? I have a similar shape (as in the before picture shape), and i can't believe how flat and toned your tummy is now! Usually even if I lose weight I'll carry a little pudge there since that's where I carry the bulk of my fat.

Thanks!

well, I did use the abs diet for women ab routine for about a month and a half, it really made was making a difference but then for no real reason I stopped. believe it or not my tummy is still squishy lol...that's where i'm holding onto a bit of the last bit of weight. you cant really tell if Im standing and wearing a shirt thats fitted but not too tight...but when I sit down in a tfitted shirt you can still see a pudge :( oh well work in progress, atleast the stretch marks i used to have there have faded and are barely noticeable now.

thank you to all the new kind replies :)

and skimmilk wow metamorphasis haha I'm flattered, I like thinkin of it like that :) just remember it is possible, you'll get there!!!

you look soo great! congratulations, you are soo beautiful :D especially now as your new healthier self..
good luck on the rest of the weight, but just know you are gorgeous now
again congrats!!

You look great, im truely inspired.

by the way how tall are you?

You look so incredible! :party:

Sad to say but your start weight is waaaaaay lower than where I am now and I've lost about 36kg (80lb) to get where I am now! But you are a complete inspiration for me to keep going and not give up (got about another 35kg - 77lb to go - whew!!).

I'd also like to find a nice supportive lad like you've got - most guys are so fickle - they see some fat and leg it for the hills :leaving: (sorry to lump all you lovely understanding blokes out there with the rest of the shallow buttholes!) !! :rotflmao:

Amazing difference!! Great acheivement!!!

wow
you look like a whole other person!
and you look amazing!
very inspiring!

how did you change your eating habits?
i find I have the tendency to cave in
which I hate!

wow! :hurray:

Wow wowww simply gorgeous :-)))

I love anyone who plays DDR. You look awesome.

Goodness gracious! What a fantastic transformation. Doesn't even look like the same girl! Congrats on your awesome achievement! :)

:hurray: you look great!

Fabulous! Youve done awesome. You look a lot younger too. Congrats!:party:

What a transformation!:eek2:How long did it take to lose weight?

I have to say, your before and after pics were one of the first ones to inspire me to join this forum. You look like a different person even though you were pretty cute before. You're gorgeous! I know it didn't happen overnight and I really appreciate what it takes to set your goal and stick to it.... bravo!

tnicco: thank you for the kind words and the encouragement for the final bit!! :)

sarah1234: thanks, and I am 5'4"

f@tgirlslim: thank you! 80 pounds is a GREAT success!! don't let yourself forget that! I wish you luck in the rest of your weightloss and new healithier lifestyle :)

kate: one important key for me changing my eating habits was making small changes slowly so I didnt get overwhelmed by restrictions. I also learned ALOT by using the internet on how to manage certain situations. I found low-fat/lower calorie alternatives for my favorite things like pizza, icecream, chips, etc, so that I could still allow myself these things in moderation. I cut calories in any small places I could - diet sodas instead of regular, lite or no mayo on foods, spray salad dressings/butter...the little stuff really adds up! also I'm realistic about my cravings and lifestyle. I still eat out, I just make better choices on restaraunts or what I order..and if Im forced to eat somewhere really bad I'll get just an appetizer or a kids meal to save calories.
I'd be happy to talk with you and share more details of what I did and learned if you have any specific questions you want answered :)

Alleluh: Yay DDR!!!!!!! :D

endurance: Thank you :) So far its been about 13 months since I began. Its a little slow I think, but I lost focus several times due to struggles throughout the year, such as moving and coping with the loss of my mother and all kinds of crazy stuff :(

lise: Im so thrilled to hear I inspired someone :) I know there are people on here that have inspired me and its flattering to be in that position now myself. I wish you the best of luck, you have the right attitude and you will succeed with that :)


everyone thanks so much for the compliments. Im back on track and down another pound as of this week..Im closing in on the final stretch...120s here I come!

I love looking at your post because its cool how different your face looks, you were pretty before, but now your features show so nice and you are a doll!

I love looking at your post because its cool how different your face looks, you were pretty before, but now your features show so nice and you are a doll!


thanks so much sweety! I still feel like I have a chubby face lol or maybe just a broad face is a better description..hehe but I definitely see the difference in my face, my cheeks used to always look puffed I swear..

ok WOW.. i just replied to your post in the Newcomer section.. and then i came here and saw ur transformation... and WOW its inspiring...

i am getting back to my cycle.. i got more weight to loss :p

Lucky guy to have such a beautiful girlfriend from beginning to end of the weight loss :D

Thanks Tawsif! Good luck getting back in the cycle..you can do it!

Megaman such a sweetie :) Thanks for making me smile.



and just a lil-mini update: down another pound!! I am now in the single digit countdown...just 9 more till I reach what was set as my original goal weight, and I'm gettin excited with each single pound now!

Congratulations! Just wanted to let you know you are very inspiring. I, too, am taking a little bit longer than most people at losing the weight, but I agree with you that the longer it takes, the more prepared you are to keep it off. I have really had the time to work on the mental part of my weight loss, which is SO key for me to keep the weight off, so I'm ok with the somewhat slow process and the slip ups. Keep up the good work, and I wish you the best!

hey, could you tell me more about your experience with the Abs Diet? I started yesterday, and just wondering your thoughts / tips or anything?

wow you look beautiful!! GReat JOb!!

You look great

wow, thats totally an inspiration. O:

You look amazing! Great job!

Alison
stuckat180.blogspot.com

lizziemay I totally agree. slow weight loss has allowed me to get over alot of mental issues with food and weight and my body..it also has helped me prepare for the slip ups that just inevitably happen because well thats life and noone's perfect. like now in the holiday season...i'm doing far better about my eating than i have in past year, but they still haven't been what they should be to keep my weightloss going! lol. but everyone has to take things at their own pace, so good luck to you and never give up!

knoxville, I only stayed on the actual diet part of the abs diet for a short while. I'm just too picky about foods and didn't like alot of the recipes...I don't eat fish or red meat so alot of the stuff they reccomended seemed blah to me. I did like the smoothies. They advise you not to count calories but I did..I basically just ate a reduced calorie diet of my own concoctions I made up with the foods they reccomended in there. The workout plan is great though, that was really what I liked about it and I did notice changes in my body in just a couple weeks.

to everyone else who has left me kind words thank you so much!! I'm hoping to stay focus through the holidays and then maybe I'll have some real nice totally finished "after" pics I can post here.

you look great keep up the good work

dam big change girl keep it going

I am so inspired!
I too weigh around 180 and have fought this pudge my entire life.
You look awesome and have kept it off a year? Wow. Maintenance is not my thing, how do you resist everything?
Kudos to you.

Wow, you are VERY inspiring to me. Because that's my starting weight, exactly, and with the same height! AND the same body shape! Where you are now is where I want to be. :)

You look amazing and it sounds like you have a fantastic boyfriend too!

hey your hard work is really paid good return to you.right you are looking very sexy and figure is great.you are the example for weight loser.

You look great! Great job on all that hard work! It has totally paid off.

May I also just say I love the way you look in your avatar. It's a very beautiful and intriguing picture of you ;)

-Sam

Such a pretty girl! you have a nice smile too. what an amazing transformation... I hope I am as successful as you have been !! :hurray:

Wow, you look so different! You look great though! :)

Wow Great job!