I'm brand new here and I seem to have hit a plateau so I thought it would help to share where I am and get some words of wisdom.

As for my diet...I started the WW plan--but have never gone to a meeting and just use the books and weigh myself in weekly. I was 265 when I started doing WW so I've lost 105 there...but 159 is my next goal as that will put me at 40% loss of my body weight.

Before-265 (I don't know that I have pictures of me at 286) ; About 10-15 pounds ago (170-175) ; same time-old pant size (24-currently an 8 or 10)

Wow wow and more wow, you look fantastic!!!!!

Very well done to you, you are an inspiration!

You should be so proud. You look great. I am doing the same thing as you. We started at different spots, but I we want to end up the same place. Keep it up! What do you do for exercise?

When I first started the dieting...I starting doing some cardio and weights and I worked my way up to 50-60 minutes (usually mostly on the elliptical). However, I only did this for a couple months, a few times a week along with bieweekly volleyball games for a month or two.
I moved from Washington to Florida to start my Master's and pretty much just stopped working out, and dieting too for that matter. I tend to do ww for a month or so...stop, gain a few pounds, maintain for a few months, then start the whole process over again.

I've just recently started working out again and I'm trying to do a 2.2 mile walk/jog several times a week. However, this is more walking than jogging due to bad hips and knees apparently. I'm going to start road cycling in the next few weeks as well as I think that will help with the bad joint issue.
I think one of the reasons that I feel stuck is that during this jog last week-some guy yelled "fata$$" out the window at me. Now I'm aware that I've lost a person effectively and I don't really consider myself overweight in the medical sense...but it still got to me.

Sorry for the long response....any workout ideas?

What a jerk! You look phenomenal! What you've done takes a lot of time and energy, and he doesn't deserve any of that.

I take a lot of brisk walks. I don't measure by the distance though; I measure by the time. Your body is probably really used to 2.2 miles. I go for an hour and do as much as I can in that hour.

I also do a workout dvd, Jillian Michaels 30-Day Shred. I bet that is right up your alley. It is awesome! I have seen some definition pop up everywhere. It is only 26 minutes long. It has three levels. My only advice with that is start out at Level I and don't turn the video off when you get to the side lunge/arm raises; you will want to. There is a little thread where fans of the dvd go to cheer each other on under Fitness Videos on the Chick site.

I also play a lot of softball, like three to four games a week. I am an outfield, so I do a lot of running. I think that has helped a lot.

Last, but not least, swimming. I have the luxury of my mom having a pool. i live in Idaho, so I can use it for about three or four months. It is great for no-impact exercises. I have a routine. I run through the pool as hard as I can, I do side leg raises holding on to a float or the edge of the pool. Then there is plain old laps. There are other ideas if you just google pool exercises. I like the ones they do for Navy Seals too.

I think the most important thing is to always be changing it up. I love to take long walks, and I think that coupled with any of these activities is what helps me the most. I try to exercise every day.

By the way, my mom has always had joint problems. She had a total knee replacement in one leg. She went from 330 pounds to 158 in about two years after a gastric bypass, and now she doesn't have to ride around in a cart or even use a cane anymore.

Whenever you hear someone cutting you down, just remember where you started. That guy means nothing. That was just a disgusting display of machismo. I bet he had another guy in there with him. I don't notice guys doing that stuff when they don't have anybody to look like an idiot for.

great job!

Excellent!!! I'm in awe of anyone who is brave enough to post bikini pictures. You are smoking hot chica! Keep up the great work!

Great job, you look WONDERFUL!

That is so awesome! You have done so well, I hope you tell yourself that alot!! You look so good! does this mean one day I'll get to wear a bikini comfortably? It gives me hope!! haha.

I hear you on the plateau, been here for like six months. I want to move on!!

You look GREAT!! And dont listen to that idiot, they'll call anyone who's not a size 0 a fat*ss... because you really really look fantastic!

Inspiring! I wouldn't let the guy get to you - the fact is he probably thought you were HOT and was too scared to show it!

You look great, well done!