Good Idea Lori!!! You guys, meaning the CC'ers, have helped me so much since September, so I'll add my story & pics.
I originally started with Weight Watchers...probably went from
230lbs (May 08) to 210(Sept. 08)...but then I switched to counting calories, but not religiously...I found 3FC in Sept. 09 and weighed in around 202... as of last Friday, I'm at
173.6...it's been a slow,
but very steady, loss since September, averaging 1lb/week...I started out at 1200cal/day, adjusted to 1350, and again to 1500...and with all of those ranges I still only lost 1lb/week on average (some weeks no loss, very few weeks 2lbs), but on average just a pound a week!!! I haven't exercised like some others do on here, mostly just "in-home" things...treadmill, recumbent bike, videos...most recent favorite DVD is Walk Away The Pounds by Leslie Sansone...not too agressive, but it's easy to follow and it's better than just sittin on my fanny!! I've also just bought 30Day Shred online and I'm patiently waiting for it to arrive...maybe that'll kick my butt into losing 2lb/week!! I started in a size 18, almost 20, and am currently in a loose 14 (but 12's are too tight in the legs for me to be comfortable)...My dream size was 12 just so that I could go into pretty much store & be able to find something that fit...but, my ultimate goal weight would be in the "healthy" BMI range & I'll reach "Healthy" at 154.5...so I'm aiming for 150-154...still around 20lbs to lose, who knows what size I'll be then
I have a bunch of pics on my blog (click link in the side bar to the left)....I am having trouble finding full body pics of me at 230, so it's kinda hard puting a true "Before & After" shot together...I do have a TON of face shots tho, so I'll include those...*Click to enlarge*
Here's some I found of me at 230:
Here's my collage of 175:
I hope this can inspire someone just like many of other "Chickies" on this site have inspired me!!!
ALSO, Counting Calories is SUPER EASY!! There's plenty of sites you can check out for cal. info...I use
www.calorieking.com There's also applications for iPhone/iPod Touch...I use LoseIt!...this allows you to keep an electronic food journal...OR the old fashioned pen & paper works well too!! I used this method until a month or so ago...I'd buy a cute little notebook & keep it in my purse...just write down everything you eat & lookup the calories...CalorieKing also has a book you can buy (got mine on Ebay) it's small and can fit in your purse too! Also, another key to CC is MEASURE MEASURE MEASURE! Measure everything! Eyeballing is not always correct!! And as Lori said,
www.freedieting.com is a great site also!! Their calculator for daily calories is BIG help to figure out how many you should have!!!