A calorie counting anniversary!
 

One year ago today I started counting calories and tracking. I'd tried calorie counting once or twice before, but the difference this time is that I didn't stop! :)

Far from the drudgery I thought it would be, calorie counting has been like a miracle to me. I know that it's not for everyone, but I'm a true CC convert and know that, without this tool, my weight loss journey would have been 1000x more difficult.

Attached are two pics - the first is me last May, when I'd been tracking calories for about 2 weeks. I think I'm around 170 there. The second picture is from yesterday (forgive the pose - I actually took that picture to show off my Seinfeld-esque "Puffy Shirt" :)).

:congrat: You've come along way...glad you found something that's workin for you! I count calories too...problem is I've been counting 1800, 1900, 2500, 2800 calories these days...but yet I still count them!:p

Question...did you workout the entire time? If so, how many days/hours a week? Did you ever go through a period of just watching calories without exercise?

Thanks for any help you can offer.:)

You look great!

Happy Anniversary and Congratulations!!! What a great accomplishment! :cb:

Congrats Jenmusic! To lose 85 pounds is amazing!

My one year is coming up in one month's time and like you I think CC has been my weapon on this journey. It really is something I can do for the rest of my life and the thing is it's easy! And I don't feel deprived at all!

Good luck as you enter maintenance ( I saw your other thread)....I am sure you will do well!

Thanks everyone for the kind words! It feels great to have come this far.

For the record, I definitely had a few times like that! My motto this whole time has been "progress, not perfection" and I just tried to focus on not giving up when times like that came.


Actually, exercise (or at least, physical activity) came first for me. I've known for a while now that being physically active helps me avoid depression/the blues, so I started at the beginning of 2010 with just walking around the block. I wasn't in terrible shape, so I tried to push myself a little (but jogging, when I initially tried it, was completely out of the question for my knees!).

I had been doing that for a couple of months when I started CC'ing. About that time (can't remember quite when) I kicked up the workouts a bit by moving on to Jillian's 30 Day Shred. That kicked my butt but helped with some basic weights and gave me at least a little bit of strength training. A rotation of DVDs was my primary form of exercise from then until the middle of February, when I finally joined a gym. Since then I've been working on the C25K, using the elliptical, and using free weights (but I'm weak!).

My exercise started at 30 minutes 4x a week, and now I'm at 45-60 minutes, 4-6x a week.

Hope this helps, let me know if you have other questions! Your progress isn't too shabby either, you know. :)

Wow! You look amazing!! :bravo:

JenMusic, you look beautiful! Really!

I also enjoy calorie counting. You might enjoy the book Calorie Queens written a few years ago by a mother/daughter team that lost a total of 200 lbs. between them...just counting calories! It's available on amazon.

It's a humorous, wonderful book that puts calorie counting into perspective, comparing it to just balancing a checkbook. Something you just have to do.

You are a true success story!

Jen, this is really just so great to hear. Good for you.

It seems to me that whenever I hear success stories, the person has slowly phased in the changes. I've been on this journey a few times before, and I'm trying really hard to go slow, because I want it to last. Also, this time I'm going to keep counting. I unfortunately do not enjoy it the way you do, and in the past stopped counting calories after a month or so. And I do keep losing...for a while. I'm not giving up this time. I'll record the good, the bad and the ugly and just keep AT IT.

Kudos!

JenMusic, you look fantastic. Congratulations on your transformation.

I'm counting calories on the Rosemary Conley plan (CC combined with low fat) and I really enjoy it. I don't feel deprived because I can work treats into my plan. Well done on reaching maintenance!