This morning, to my surprise, the scale read 179!!!!!!!
3 times!!!!!

For a 5’5” woman, that is technically not obese anymore!!! (Yes, that’s according to the BMI charts. They are flawed, yes, but it was a goal).

I normally weigh on Mondays, and given that this number was a bit of a surprise, I expect that by Monday my weight will be up again. But you know what?? I’m calling this goal DONE. Even if I go up, I’ll go back down again.

So, what’s next? When I first set this goal I never imagined I’d be able to go further, but it turns out I’m not done. I’m just now getting into weight lifting more seriously and can see my body changing more, getting stronger. My next goal is 165… and then we’ll see.

WOW!! That is a GREAT accomplishment! You should be sooo proud of yourself! Way to go. Jelly

Congratulations! That's awesome!

Wow Heather, that is wonderful. Congratulations! I've been watching your progress and it seems like you are still losing at such a steady pace. Good for you! What's your secret?

Tammy -- I am still losing regularly (right now a little over a pound a week).

I think the answer is consistency. I consistently write down everything I eat, and I consistently eat to lose. That doesn't mean I eat nothing! I'm actually averaging still over 1800 calories/day (even though I think it should be lower). I do treat myself from time to time and the calories fluctuate day to day. Most days I don't feel deprived, and I really like the food I eat.

And I am consistently exercising -- including weight lifting. I really think the weight lifting is helping.

I honestly have a different lifestyle now than I did before. It happened gradually. In July 2005 before all this started, I got virtually NO exercise and ate anything that came my way! By last November, I was bringing lunches and snacks to work, cooking more food at home. I exercised an average of 15-20 min a day... cardio only. I watched a lot more TV. Now I have hubby involved too (that was a big key!), cook lots of healthy food on SUndays to eat during the week and average 40 minutes of exercise/day -- not only cardio and weights, but yoga once a week. Cardio is not only walking, but biking and swimming...

This new lifestyle involves a LOT of planning... not just food, but exercise. And I know that if I want to keep this weight off long term (not to mention losing more) that I will probably have to do even more than I'm doing now. But I refuse to let that thought overwhelm me (as it has in the past). Instead, I'm just going to keep on keepin' on. If I think of it as a challenge, and focus on the positives, then I will do it. If I set up all the reasons why I *can't* do it, then it won't happen!

That's awesome. I'm so inspired. I remember when you just started. Look what consistency can achieve

wyllenn, that's WONDERFUL!!!!

I was just looking at a chart this morning and thinking how I can't wait to get out of the obese range. I think I have to get to around 195 for that to happen (I'm 5'9") and I'm 229 right now, so it'll be a little while but I'm getting there!

I'm so impressed and inspired by what you've done!! You should feel so proud of yourself!

Wyllenn, what an accomplishment - good for you!!!

You have done so well, congratulations!! It's amazing what consistency can do!

Awesome, Wyllenn!! It's such a great feeling to be able to say that you're not longer obese.

Congratulations!!!

Congrats, Heather! You're such an inspiration.

Fantastic news! You are doing great. Keep up the good work.

Thats FANTASTIC!!

You are such an inspiration!

That's awesome news!! Congratulations!

Congratulations!