Hi Okie
I originally thought, "I can't share my "success story" with you because I don't fit into your parameters", however with a bit more reflection I would imagine that I have actually lost 180 pounds. My 180 pound loss goes more like this;
1976-lost 15 (starting weight 130)
1981-lost 20 (starting weight 155)
1986-lost 25 (starting weight 183)
1994-lost 15 (starting weight 175)
2003-lost 30 (starting weight 275)
2007-lost 20 (starting weight 250)
2008-lost 16 (starting weight 230)
2009-lost 34 (starting weight 232)
2010-lost 7 (starting weight 198)
I didn't add it up before hand....hmmm...it's 182 pounds total, but my net loss from my high weight is only 84 pounds...I just kept yo-yoing over and over again. An interesting note-at every one of those weights I "felt fat". A really good move would have been to
maintainat 155...or even at 183. I do remember that once the scale hit 199 for the first time that I quit caring....for years.
When I started this final journey in 2003 I decided that however I took the path that I was going to stop the cycle of hard fought losses followed by bigger gains. With that mentality, every time I lose another 5 pounds, I am a maintainer at that weight. I have rules that I follow which assure me that I'm not going back where I came from.
1) I do not engage in binge eating with off plan foods-EVER. I'm talking about full fledged round the clock eating.
2) I post here every single day, and if I'm having a problem I PM a 3FC friend (and I have plenty here).
In retrospect, the pounds I lost between 2003 and 2008 were extremely hard fought. I started SBD, but didn't stick to it. Had I started with SBD and stuck with it in 2003, I have no doubt I would have hit goal years ago. Had I found 3FC in 2003 and committed to daily posting, I think I would have stuck with SBD. The weight I lost when I followed SBD consistently in 2009(with 3FC) was the easiest period of weight loss I have experienced.
Why am I not racing to the finish line(goal)? It's ok today for me to settle into the "new me" and enjoy life a little bit.
Why did I not pick a much lower goal weight? I want this to be about success this time. When I get to my first goal (which is overweight-not obese), I will reevaluate.
The maintainers forum has lots of great info for maintaining. Here is a thread I thought was very powerful. I read it over and over again.
http://www.3fatchicks.com/forum/livi...ver-again.html
I hope any of this helps!
Your friend (maintainer in training),
Deb
PS perhaps by rephrasing your question you would get alot more feedback...just a thought...