1 year and 100 pounds!
 

Well, today is my one-year anniversary of deciding to lose weight (again!!). I began calorie counting on June 22, 2010....and as of today, I've lost 100 pounds. My goal was actually 145 to begin with, and when I got there I decided I wasn't quite done and set it to 135....and at 135 I started upping my calories a bit but have still lost a bit, and am now at 133. Sort of silly but I'm happy to be able to say an even 100 pounds lost, anyways. :)

I've been obese for many years....I'm 33 now and have been battling my weight since my pre-teen years. I hit 200 in first year university and my max, as far as I can tell, was around 280 when I was married in 2001. I managed to lose 60 pounds before I conceived my son, and then had my daughter...and then when she was about 5 months old I finally felt I was ready. Something about having a daughter really got me going...I know my son will look to me as well but I think a daughter will look to me even moreso. I don't want her to struggle as much as I did. It took a while to actually start, but once I did I didn't look back. The results have been wonderful...I've stuck to my plan like glue and my weight went steadily downwards.

My life today is so much different than it was a year ago. I have always been a happy, glass-is-half-full kind of person, and had many wonderful relationships. But losing weight has given me a new lease on everything....things are just easier now. I feel so good in my skin, whereas before I felt uncomfortable and was always hiding behind something to avoid being seen. I avoided reflective surfaces....I worried about the view that people were seeing of me, I worried about the space I took up....everyday things were just harder. Although I'm fairly young, my knees were starting to bother me and pain relievers were becoming an almost daily need.

Now, I can slip on my jeans, and feel awesome. I don't worry about simple things, like the plane trip I took last week, would have in the past been a major cause for anxiety regarding fitting in the seat and "overlapping" on the person next to me. Of course, I fit in the seat easily and had lots of strap left to tighten that seat belt. I love wearing my small clothes...clothes that when I hold them up I can't quite believe they'll go on, but they do and they do up easily....no more laying on the bed and actually hurting my fingers trying to get the zipper to go up since I didn't want to go up another size, yet again. I cross my legs with ease. My husband loves picking me up and carrying me around, an action which of course I protest but secretly love. :)

Anyhow I want to say thank you, I've been on this board almost daily since I started and it is a constant source of inspiration for me. It's a wonderful place and I plan on hanging around for a long time! Maintenance, as far as I can tell, is just as much of a journey as losing weight....and I am in it for the long haul...I plan on weighing daily for quite a while yet...I have no plans of stopping calorie counting - things will continue, just without the downward movement of the scale! :)

This before and after pic is of me at my son's baptism in March 2008, I think I was around 260 in the picture...and the after is in May, this year, I was around 138 at the time.
http://i306.photobucket.com/albums/n...risonPhoto.jpg

Congratulations! you look so happy-- glowing, actually. Well deserved success!

Wow ! I thought the second picture was your younger sister ! Congratulations !

Wow! Liz! You look incredible. Thank you for sharing your story and your photos.

Please join us in the maintenance forums-- they are a great place to hang out! You may have been posting there already and I haven't noticed, but just in case... please join us!

You look fantastic! :)

Congratulations!! Thanks for sharing your story!! :)

Such an inspiration!!! You look FABULOUS!

Congratulations!

And let me say, you're 33?! You look so young!

Well Done!!! You must be so proud of yourself!!!!!! You look great!!!

What a great story, Liz!! I am so happy for you!! :)

Wow! You look amazing! What an inspiring story!

So inspirational, congratulations!

Congratulations; you look fantastic, and I'm sure you feel the same.

I can't wait to be able to post a similar thread!

great story and thanks so much for sharing!!!

Today is my 1 month anniversary and I plan to be here 11 months from now, and be posting my own success story.

What an inspiration! Congratulations!

I was wondering when you were going to post this, since I noticed you made it to goal. Without "formal" exercising, no less. So awesome! Congratulations to you!

Holy cow you look amazing; I'm amazed. How inspiring.

congratulations, what an amazing story!

CONGRATS! :cheer2: you look great!

Oh, my word, I just have to tell you this. On your avatar pic I always thought that was a picture of you and and your children. When I opened up your before and after photo and saw it bigger I thought "but that's the same picture of her and her kids" and THEN I realized it was 2 pics of you!!!!!!! You look fantastic, and since you're 33 it's a compliment to tell you you look about 15!! Congratulations!!!!

Thank you for sharing your story!!! You look amazing.

awesome! congrats on your success! :)

INSPIRATIONAL!!! Now PLEASE share with me your tips, how many cals did you start out at? Ive tried everything and cant seem to get a grasp on staying on plan.

Whao! Simply amazing! When i saw your avatar, i was thinking, it must be you and your daughter not knowing it's your before and after pics. You're simply stunning and you look way younger now.

Congratulations!

Congratulations! And THANK YOU for the inspiration!!

Congratulations! You look amazing! :) How many calories did you restrict yourself to eating daily? I want to replicate your fantastic success!

me too! inquiring minds wanna know ;)

omg you look amazing! You are such an inspiration to me!

Oh my goodness, ladies, thank you so much!! I am tearing up here! And thank you so much on the comments that I look young....my mom was saying the same thing and I didn't believe her, but of course I believe you guys! haha

In terms of my plan, I stuck to 1500 calories everyday. Since hitting maintenance, I've upped it to about 1650-1700. All I can say is that staying on plan is what got me here....maybe it's my numbers nature but once I logged that 1500 in fitday, I was done for the day. And the weight coming off just made me even more determined to continue. If I want treats, I don't go overboard and I plan them in - but generally I decide that it isn't worth it.

Anyhow thanks again the wonderful comments are so nice, I really appreciate it!! :) :)

awww great job!!!!! thats why i love this site sooo much, i love seeing success stories :) congrats!!!!

Well done! You look fantastic--a lot younger!

You are beautiful
 

WOW...I am so inspired by you...I think you are an amazing person with great strength. I have just started my journey of 120lbs. I have lost 21 so far ..Your story is wonderful and I am proud of you. I know how hard it is. Please continue to believe deeply in yourself. Your children must be so proud of their mom. That helps keep me going. Thank you for sharing you story.


Kimmy;)

you are an inspiration to me! Thank you so much for sharing this-congrats!!!

Wow!! You look great!! You should be so proud of yourself.

congrats! i am happy for you :D

Seriously, I looke dat your avatar and thought it was a photo of you and your children. Nicely done girl you look FABULOUS!!!! :D

WOW you look amazing! Congratulations on an awesome accomplishment.

brady - Thank you so much....congrats on starting your journey and WTG on losing 21 pounds!!! :carrot:

Thanks everyone! I can't believe I look that much younger, it is amazing how weight can age us. I remember years ago some guy telling me I looked older because of my weight...I guess he was right but he's still a jerk. :devil: ;)

What an incredible, beautiful story. It's good to be healthy for yourself, but your kids are so fortunate to have you for a mom--wanting to be healthy for them.

Congratulations, sept15!

You look fantastic!!!! You give me hope for my own journey:) Did you exercise along with calorie counting? If so, what did you do?