This forum has been a huge inspirational/motivational help since I started my little weight loss journey at the beginning of the school year. I am so EXCITED to share that I've lost 30 lbs and I'm still trucking along! I am almost half way to my goal!

Hopefully I can get these pictures to post...


(this weekend... I don't really have any full body... didn't really before either!)


(this summer, a month before I started losing)

Yay 30 lbs gone!!! That's my goal for the end of the year. You MUST share your secrets to success! I started getting serious about my weightloss about 5 weeks ago and have shed 10 lbs thus far. The first 3 weeks I forced myself to the gym every single day just so I could build the habit. It was **** but I did it. This past week has been tuff though! I keep getting cravings for junk and sweets. Fresh Direct has these to-die-for white chocolate and cranberry cookies that are just mmmmm! Okay, I'm getting off-topic. What I really wana know is - how have you managed to be so successful in such a short period of time?

I honestly have yoyo-ed and struggled for so long... I just got this burst of motivation. One thing, is that I changed my all or none attitude. Some days, actually... most days lately... all I do is walk my dog a mile. But, that helps! I used to pull the whole: 'if I can't go to the gym and work out hard, it's not worth it'... obviously, that never stuck... this does. It works! Also... I have been ridiculous about keeping a food log. I write everything in a composition book and count calories: I have the calorie king book and go to calorieking.com as well as restaurant websites before we go out. I started 1000-1300 calories during weekdays and 1300-1800 on weekends. I allow myself more leniency on the weekends... and if I ate a heavier meal, I don't beat myself up... I just stay extra cautious the next day. If you really want, I can give you some great low cal foods that I snack on and eat. I hope this helps... I know my mom wants my food logs!

I'm horrible at counting calories. I mean, I know how to but its SOOO draining! I just kinda guestimate and keep the tally in my head. If I feel I was being bad, I try to compensate by working extra hard at the gym. Thats worked in the begining portion of my 5 weeks but right now I'm tryna stop myself from eating everything in site. Examples of low-cal foods and snacks would definately be helpful. I love food and I know I can never deny myself of eating, especially snacks.

Special K Vanilla Snack bags, apples, baby carrots, dove dark choc (1-2 pcs/day during the work week), light laughing cow cheese on either 100 cal eng muffin or whole wheat tortilla with salsa, beef jerky, baked doritos, light ice cream,peanut butter fiber 1 bars, red peppers, sugar snap peas, dill pickles, 100 cal packs of kettle corn, those new mini microwave cakes in the baking section... they're only 150 cal... I think they are duncan hines, cucumbers, green peppers with laughing cow, low fat graham crackers... these are some of my staple snacks... naturally, I don't have them in stock at the same time... I'd want to eat them all... but I go through a rotation! The key is sticking to the serving size. I'm not going to lie... I was hungry in the beginning... but, as long as I ate enough calories... I stayed hungry until the next day. I had to train myself to eat less bc my body was used to eating a lot. Have to run...

You're so awesome! Im gona start by writing down that list of snacks! Then maybe I can start tracking daily calorie intake. Thanks so much!!

Yay! you look amazing. You can tell what a difference 30 lbs make, hope I join you there soon