As others have indicated the time is irrelevant as there is no end. Vigilance means a lifetime of taking care with what you eat. Its taken me over two years to lose 115lbs, I have about 4lbs to lose to reach my initial goal. As I've plateaud for a month I now know that there's a fine line between maintenance and weightloss that I'm going to have to tread from now on.

Kitty

Started Weightwatchers in December 08 and lost the same five to ten pounds a few times, found something that worked better for me in April 09 and despite being a little lax on the exercise part I am still down 25 pounds from December, with a lifetime to go! I want to be down 30 more by Christmas, my ideal is under 200 by then, but honestly any weight permanently gone is a celebration for me .

Though I have been heavy in varying degrees for seven years I wasn't in the right place in my mind to fix it until now.

I just had my 51 week weigh in and I have lost 84.4 lbs. I started on July 22, 2008 with just under 100 lbs to lose. I now have less than 10 lbs to reach my goal. I hope to get there by the end of September, since I have seen a real slow down in the last 10 lbs and expect the next 10 to be even slower. Still, I am ecstatic as I sit here in my size small shirt and size 9 pants. Even if the last 10 lbs takes 6 months, who cares? I am in this for life!

Peace, Heather

I lost 80 lbs in 10 months and have been maintaining for a little over a year. It will last as long as I do because, as others have said, if it doesn't that weight will find me again and I'm not yo yoing anymore.

I've been at it for 10.5 months (so 8.5 pounds per month, when averaged out).

I'm 28 years old so ... only 40-70 years to go!

And yes, I feel your pain! I accepted right away, this time, that it was just going to take awhile. Still, it is not fun being so strict with oneself and yet, still fat. It is easier for me to be patient lately, now that I am feeling 'normal.' (Although of course now I am feeling like I can't wait to be downright thin, not just a-okay -- guess that is how it goes).

The best thing I can think of to tell you is that as long as you plug away it is downright surprising how time passes. My husband even said that to me, that it didn't feel like it had been so long. I instantly said, "I know!" but then remembered how loooong it did feel at times, and how it was such ... dark days feeling circa last fall.

It took me 16 months exactly to go from 333 to 158. I count calories and was/am totally faithful and dedicated 99% of the time. (Meaning I have only "cheated" a handful of times). My way isn't for many, but I have found I can't eat certain foods, or it makes me crazy with cravings. There is no "moderation" in my vocabulary when it comes to sugar. I am an addict plain and simple.

I am on day 11 of maintaince , and I have found it to be very emotional for me. Finding the perfect amount of food vs. calories vs. exercise has been a real challenge. I have a feeling this is going to be more difficult than losing it ever was. BUT, it is SO worth it, as my body feels GREAT! (Even though my mind is a little overwhelmed right now)

I started July 20, 2008 at 330 pounds. Before I stopped utilizing the scale (for personal reasons), I was at 200. I have went from a pant size of 28 and can now wear 16 and sometimes even a 14. So, to answer your question, it will be 1 year in 6 days that I have been getting my life and my health back on track and I'm still chugging along.

Kind of a loaded question. We all celebrate and, well, ENVY the huge weight loss in short timeframe stories and want nothing best for those fortunates amongst us. Others spend a lifetime trying many, many things and lose and regain and lose and regain forEVER. And we want nothing but the best for those turtles amongst us. And we all want to be hares but are frustrated if it turns out that we are turtles. And we get tired. And frustrated....

So perhaps the questions you are REALLY asking are:

1. Will I EVER lose the weight? I've been at it FOREVER and it is just, well, TIRING.
To this I'd have to say YES the weight WILL come off if you are dedicated and on plan and regimented. And in the timeline that your BODY chooses, provided that you stick to an eating and exercise plan.
and
2. IS there an end in sight?
NO the journey NEVER ends, because weight loss like weight GAIN is always, always possible. Sucks, but it's true.

Give that there is NEVER an end in sight, stop worrying about the time it is taking! If you are doing what needs to be done (and not what you THINK needs to be done), it'll happen.

But sometimes it is about the JOURNEY, NOT the DESTINATION...



Kira

2. HA

Good post, Kira!

I changed my life in April of 2008. There are times when things go smoothly and times when things are rough (like now), but I just keep trying to move the ball forward.

I know I'll eventually hit goal and then it'll be on to maintaining. I will always have to be conscious of what I'm eating and how much I'm exercising. Not being conscious of it is how I got to 250 in the first place.

I'll give myself about 10 years from date of birth! ha!

loved your post, Kira.

not to discourage anyone (including myself!), but my experience has been different.

am yo-yo'er here, and have lost many, many lbs over the years since I was a teen. I got serious again in 2002, and slowly dropped my weight, was not a years time for me, and I have not gotten to goal (ah duh, heh heh).

I hung out in the 250s for several years (gulp). I kept with the exercise, and worked on improving it. Started working with a trainer for a few months the beginning of this year. I've recently started tackling the eating more seriously, beginning of June.

I have trouble with consistency with the diet. I'm really happy to be in the lower half of the 240s, will be ecstatic to be in the 230s, 4 lbs to go.

A little over 5 years. I've been losing and maintaining my weight loss since May 2004.

I am not at goal. It took me 12 months to go from 215 to 132.

I started in May 2004 and lost around 30-35 lbs by that October. Pretty much kept it off until this last winter and I'm back to trying to drop back down into my clothes (I haven't weighed myself for fear that I'll throw in the towel for good). Would like to be feeling really good by a trip I have scheduled the end of August. I'm already feeling a lot better and I got back on track just after Memorial Day.

That all said, I'd definitely encourage you to start taking a look at those things you are doing that are chafing and see if you can find another way. Maintenance doesn't look much different as I can attest. I wasn't exactly eating entire chocolate cakes last winter and the weight came back on a whole lot easier than it seemed to come off. You have to find those compromises that work. If you feel comfortable, share a bit about what is 'bugging' you enough for you to wish it was over and maybe there are some alternatives we can suggest.

Peg

I've been on my new journey for 3 years and 10 months; 2 years and 4 months at maintenance weight.

My next big goal is FIVE years on the journey - will then seem to feel like it's here to stay.