140 lbs down - Hit Goal 18 April 2012
 

I did the Ideal Protein diet and lost 140 lbs and a total of 124 inches. These are my before and after...and my weekly stats.

I still can't believe I went a year without a chocolate bar!! :D

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So today I've decided to add to this 'description of me'. I've been over weight most of my life, in fact right now at my maintenance weight, I'm in Grade 7. I remember being in health class and having to weigh myself in front of two of my friends and I was mortified to be 162. I was a size 18 when I graduated high school. I ballooned up to my highest weight of 313 which was in a doctor's office so who knows how high I actually got but I remember sitting down and crying right there.

I don't know why I let myself get that far up, does anyone really know 'why'?? Guaranteed I was in denial...sometimes when I watch hoarders I actually feel a sense of understanding. I almost felt overwhelmed and didn't know where to start so why start at all. Going to the gym I could do but then when you go 19-20 times in a month you see nothing for your efforts it's frustrating.

I was at the end of my rope and was starting to seriously consider surgery. I am highly scared (from past history) of surgery and how I respond to it. I knew I wasn't interested in gastric bypass, I've had friends that have had it and I've seen the scars (free for me where I live with insurance but would have to wait 2 years). WAY to scarey for me, I found out that I could have the lap band surgery but would have to pay for it myself. I spent 1 hour trying to figure out how to pay for lap band surgery ($17000 - :fr:). My BFFL gave me the soup n@zi finger and said "listen here, you've worked hard and I'll grant you that, but you haven't worked hard for long enough".

Approximately three months earlier my mom in her careful and gentle way had mentioned the Ideal Protein Diet (she'd lost 40 lbs on it). I decided I would try Ideal Protein first (although expensive less then $17000) and if it didn't work then I'd re-consider the surgery option. The cost of Ideal Protein is 'HIGH' but again I was willing to pay $17000 if I could. But because it was so expensive I said "self, give this a good shot, you are not allowed to consider surgery unless you give it 110%" So I went on it, originally decided I would be on it for 8 months. When I hit 8 months I thought "ok, well! you've come this far why not finish it".

I started IP on the 19 of April (as a birthday present) and hit my goal on the 18 April (my Birthday). That was AMAZING....and now I'm 'maintaining'.

I didn't get rid of my 'big' clothes right away. I kept them all and when I hit goal I started to sell them off $1-$7 dollars at a time (using a facebook group in my community). I sold enough clothes to pay for my sapphire goal ring which I now use as a measurement tool. If it's tight on my finger I have work to do. Also, love that it's on my right hand, which is the hand that I eat with, so it's always right there in front of me.

There isn't much difference between losing weight and maintaining for me, I'm still as neurotic :D But I refuse to forget what it was like to be 313 lbs and I never EVER want to go there again.



"If you don't look after your body, where will you live?" - Kobi Yamada
http://www.3fatchicks.net/img/tulip-...165/164.6/.png
#1 -12.7 #2 -5.1 #3 -4.2 #4 -2.2 #5 -4.6 #6 -5 #7 -2.2 #8 -4.2 #9 -1.2 #10: -3.8 #11 - 5.6 #12 -.2 #13 -3.5 #14 -1.2. #15 -3 #16 -2.2 #17 -3.2 #18 -3.8 #19 -2.3 #20 -1.6 #21 -3 #22 -2.4 #23&24 -5 #25 -2.4 #26 -2.6 #27 -2 #28&29 -4.8 #30 -1 #31 -4 #32 -1.2 #33 -4 #34 -2.2 #35 -.2 #36 -2.6 #37 -2.6 #38 -2.4 #39 -1.6 #40 -2.2 #41 -1.4 #42 -1.4 #43 0 #44 0 #45 -6.8 (P2) #46 NoWI (P3) #47 (vaca) #48 -1.4 #49 -2.4 #50 -1.6 #51 -2 #52 -3.2 (GOAL!)

Started IP - 19 April 2011
Hit Goal -18 April 2012
Started Phase 2 -19 April 2012 (lost 0)
Started Phase 3 - 3 May 2012 (lost 5)
Started Maintenance - 17 May 2012

Oh my God!! You look amazing! I bet you feel even better. :)

And you did it in one year exactly? Woah. Congrats and thanks for sharing!

You look amazing! Well done!!!And major major CONGRATULATIONS!!!

What an amazing change! You look absolutely FABULOUS! Congratulations and enjoy your new body and health :hug:

wow what a transformation.. you look great and you are a very pretty lady.

wow u look like the daughter of the women you use to be! sooo much younger your beautiful congrats! amazing! :)

Congrats! you look AMAZING!!

amazing!! Congratulations!

You look fantastic!!! You remind me of the beautiful "Elaine" on Seinfeld.

WOW you look fantastic!!! and you don't look as if you were ever anything other than slim and beautiful. Look at your arms!!!! no loose skin...congrats!!!! :cheer2:

love seeing your year's worth of WI there!

OMG!!!! You look fabulous. :bravo::encore::congrat::cheer2::woo:

Amazing and inspirational. Thanks for posting your beautiful pictures.

WOW that is amazing! And in one year! Thank you so much for sharing - truly an amazing inspiration!

Congratulations, you look sooooo good! WTG!

Tripmama--You are doing so great. I'm with you, getting close to half way myself.

Ishbel--Whoa! Inspiring! Know what you mean about not wanting to post pictures, but you look wonderful.

I am soooo excited to see your pictures!!!! I have admired your calm sensible approach to this journey.You look incredible!!!

I'm trying to remember if you did any exercise in the latter stages of your program. You look so lean and don't seem to have loose skin issues.
You have the same climate issues with exercise as we have here further along the road to the west. I am just now getting out for some walking. Did you do anything during the long winter?

I am so happy for you! Goes to show how following the program with no panic pays off.

I also keep thinking of the advice you got from fellow TOPS members on maintenance too.

Pat

Wow, thanks for posting. It is inspirational to the rest of us! You really do look amazing! When I see these pictures I know I can do it even if I cannot picture myself looking that thin.

Ishbel,
You look absolutely gorgeous!! You must be so proud of your journey!

Congratulations! You look great and so young!

You look amazing! I am happy that i have had the opprotunity to lose with you!!!

I think I'm going to post your before and after photos on my fridge for inspiration! You look amazing to say the least!

:carrot:Wow!!! WTG!!!:carrot:

A W E S O M E !!

WOOT! WOOT! You look AHHHHHmazing. Its been great watching you go through this journey. You are such a great role model. Congratulations!!!!!!

Absolutely WONDERFUL...Congrats!!!

I am definitely going to do this - you look fantastic, and what great inspiration!

Hi I am new here:0 ) I have lost 30lbs on Ideal protein since feb,
And just wanted to say you look GORGEOUS!!!!!!

Kat:)

[quote=Ishbel;4304827]
I still can't believe I went a year without a chocolate bar!! :D

Ishbel, I've been watching so many of you that are losing weight make your goal and this is why I'm still here!!! Thank you for posting your before/after pics and letting us travel with you on this journey of discovery!

Congrats for making goal!
~Alaskastarr aka Shelia

Thanks for all your support and comments....it was a heck of a ride and I'm still getting used to my new body. My plan is to try running by the middle of May, can't wait to see hoe long it takes my lungs to burn. I'm used to my body giving out before my lungs, pretty sure my lungs will go faster this time. I won't go so far to hurt myself, just excited to feel the difference.

Could not have come this far without all my friends on 3 fat chicks :)

Woot! Woot! :D

WOW!!! Awesome!! Seeing your pictures now I feel more motivated. Had a let down earlier with my weigh in because I gained instead of a loss. But seeing you? Vavavoom!! I know I just started this journey and this will be a long hard journey with lots of ups and downs. But hey never say never and never ever give up. If you guys can we can!!!
Congratulations again you sexy momma you!! :bravo:

For some reason I missed noticing your pictures before... you look FANTASTIC! Just super! Congratulations.

Wow! Congrats to you!

Just saw this for some reason...YOU LOOK AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! This is sooo inspiring :)

I admire your self-determination, your pictures caught my eye and I knew I wanted to know how you made it happen. Thanks for sharing your story especially because I know I need to lose weight since I'm also thinking about having a baby in the future and I need a healthy body. Thanks for inspiring me not to give up and to keep my eye on the prize!:)

Way to go!!! You look amazing!

You look beautiful! Great job!

you look amazing!!! congratulations

Gosh I could look at transformation photos all day long!! It gives me goosebumps to see how well you've done. You look fab!!!!!