So a few days ago, I realized I'd hit a "normal weight range" for my BMI! It was so thrilling--too--to step on the Wii Fit this morning and not have it call me overweight! I'm only into "normal range" by two pounds, but it's still something! I've realized here lately...as I get closer to my goal, that I've actually *never* been thin in my entire adult life. Granted I'm 24 and not really far into adulthood, I've always been chunky. I was almost considered "thin" around age 12-14, that may have been a growth spurt though cause I put weight on after that.

I wasn't obese until about three years ago--when I somehow miraculously put on 40 lbs in like 6 months--putting me at 211 lbs. 30 lbs of it came off pretty quickly from summer to December 2007, but the past 20 lbs took over a year. As of now, I've lost 53 lbs--when I reach my goal I'll have lost 61!

Any way, so it's been a real journey for me. I actually *like* shopping---that is a real first. I use to get so depressed when shopping--nothing fit. I'd end up buying clothes I didn't really like--just because they fit me and I need more than 2-3 shirts to wear in my entire life! It's also noticable in the way people look at you and treat you. Do you realize it's been over 14 or something years since I've worn a bathing suit? For awhile there, I'd swim, but only in like a shirt and shorts because I didn't want anyone to see me!

Any one else thought about this? I look forward to seeing more and more progress!! Who knows, maybe I'll go swimming *this* summer... lol

I'm in that same boat! I just don't know why it's taken me so long to actually get in the right mindset.... Anyways, better to have started than to put it off longer!!

Congrats!! I've been just waiting for the day that stupid balance board tells me I'm normal instead of sighing, 'that's overweight'. I'm so close! 5 more pounds! Way to go - 53 pounds is absolutely amazing!

In Grade 12 I was a Size 11. When I graduated College two years later I was approx 190 lbs (20 years old) .So basically I've been overweight and/or obese for a whopping 5 years until I decided to finally make a change in my life.

I turn 27 this month and I'm a size 5-6 ( 4 at Old Navy..bigger makes) and I've never felt / looked younger...I cannot remember the last time I was this size..perhaps grade 7-8???.

My original goal was to be a Size 10-12 / 155lbs..and I realized I can do this and I can get to my Ultimate goal (140..which I NEVER in a million years thought posssible).

I guess until we're truly ready to lose this weight we won't...even if it takes us years to realize we have to.

It really is sad how people are treated better because they look smaller/ more normal.

I love shopping too..I look forward to it so much and I love finding clothes with great sales...smaller clothes costs SO much less!

So because I've never been "thin" in my adult life it's been really difficult for me to accept myself as actually being thin. I hear others say it..I see it in pics but sometimes it's surreal.

Keep up the great work!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Congratulations!!! You should be very proud of your progress!

Thank you for sharing (I feel like I post that all the time here, but it really has been overwhelming to meet people who share my life experiences!)

I have always been overweight since about 4th grade! I have a Wii Fit also and I'm waiting for the day when I can see my progress! Unfortunately I'm at the tip top of obese . But you can't change the past, you can only change the future!

We have very similar stats and I SO know what you mean! I still try not to go nuts shopping since I am not quite there yet but it is much more fun to look! I was actually checking out bathing suits today at Target but I didn't buy one because I'm not sure what size I'll be in when I need one. I DID buy a pair of size 8 pants today, thinking that they would be way too small for a while but I want to tell you those suckers almost fit! I didn't even have to struggle to zip them up. They are just a little tighter than I prefer. WOOT!!!! I will be wearing them before the month is over!

I am absolutely in your boat, lady! I'm just barely getting my feet wet in the normal BMI pool for the first time in an obscene number of years.

I'm now a size ten, and I gotta tell you, shopping ROCKS.

Congratulations!

I'm 4 pounds away from not being considered overweight according to BMI charts. I haven't weighed this little since late highschool when I decided I had to be thin for the prom *no matter what* and did some very unhealthy things to get there. Needless to say, the weight came back plus some, so it's good to be able to lose weight the right way this time.

Congrats!!!
I hope to be there one day. I'm 14.4 points away from being 'normal' but 4 points away from not being 'obese' anymore.

jhinako... (Hinako sounds like Japanese name, btw.. lol)
I've always been heavy.. I even have a picture from when I was 6th grade...and I look bigger than I am now. I think I weighed like 150 when I was 5th or 6th grade and I'm a Korean. So That's REALLY big for that age.. I weigh way more than that but feel I look better now because I have more curve now. (I'm pretty much the same height as back then)

You and my stats are really very similar... I still got about 18 lbs to go till "normal"... and I've been in the 170's since like August or September.. Sure, I've been out of the loop for about 3 months...not really paying attention to workout and stuff...but I'm really back this time. I want to reach my goal for sure, not just stop in the middle. I know I will be super excited when I see that 159 but I will be excited when I see anything below 170 because I'm just very sick and tired of that 1 and 7.

Congrats! You are great and Yay!!

Congratulations!!!! Thanks for providing some inspiration for me today - I've never been thin in my adult life, and it's so encouraging when I hear about others who have accomplished it.

I feel like you just told my life story, jhin! I literally can not remember ever feeling thin. I grew up in a family where both of my parents and both of my siblings were short and very thin/petite...my sister is 5" and barely 100 lbs, the tiniest little thing ever! And then there was me....chubby from an early age and 5'9" by the time I hit high school.

I am just starting to take my weight loss seriously so it is so encouraging to see how much success you have had. I have a very similar goal to you and I hope to have the same results! Thank you for sharing :-)

I am definitely in that boat too. I have been overweight since the 3rd grade! I had like one year where I hit a growth spurt and I was at the tippy top of the "healthy range" but then my growth stopped and on came those extra pounds again. However, even when I was at that "healthy weight" I couldn't have been that healthy because I look at pictures of myself back then... and I was as big as I am now (same pants size and everything... even though now I am 20 lbs heavier). I don't think I had an ounce of muscle on my body during that "healthy range" period. But, I can see my body changing... and I am loving every single minute of it. I wouldn't be surprised if, when I finally hit that "healthy range" this time on the BMI charts, I break down and cry. I have always been the token "fat girl" in my group of friends... and I don't want to be that girl anymore.

tara, I'm half Chinese and I was about the same weight in fifth grade; it really sucked. I had all these nicknames--notably "The Tank" because when I ran towards people in basketball or tag they'd be scared they'd get bowled over--plus I matured faster than the other girls and had to hide in the bathroom at recess in the fourth grade because I was on my period and scared to death of leaks.

And like the other chicks here, I have always hated shopping. When you're twelve, you're supposed to be shopping in the girls department, you know? It wasn't until last month that I really enjoyed going to the mall and trying on bras at Victoria Secret and twirling around in the mirror to see no back bulges (unfortunately, on the other side are a pair of A cups, but you can't have it all).