I just have to post, because I am so darn excited!! I started my weight loss journey on 8/16/2012, and today I have lost exactly half of the 70.8 lbs that I need to lose!

35.4lbs gone in 10 & 1/2 weeks!! Woohoo! In May 2011, I had lost 28lbs, and had gotten down to 169...then I met my now fiance and somewhere during that year I packed on a dreadful 38lbs

I had set myself the goal of losing all my extra weight before I turn 40 (May 2013), and I was doing well...until I got so sidetracked

But now I am back on track!! I am looking forward to hitting these goals in the next few months:

169 - weight I was when I met my fiance...met 11/08/12
161 - lowest weight since I had my youngest son...8 1/2 years ago
153 - no longer "overweight"
145 - weight I was in college
136 - GOAL!!

Today I feel wonderful!!

Congrats!!!! That must feel so great

Congratulations! 35 pounds is an awesome achievement. Good luck with the other half!

This is so great to see! You are a similar height and with virtually the same start and goals weights, so it is great to see that you have lost the weight so quickly - I am feeling extra motivated now!!! What sort of diet and exercise stuff are you doing? Looking forward to seeing your goal pictures in the not-too-distant-future! :-)

thats great! how did you do it? that's really fast.... good for you!

Loved reading your post & I can feel your excitement. Way to go!

Thanks so much everyone!!

I am using a program called Ideal Protein...sort of lol.

I started using the "IP" program, but after 6 weeks I realized that the cost was really starting to be too expensive...and I found 3FC and one of the forums is on Ideal Protein. Many of the people posting there use the IP formula, but they buy alternative food packets to make it cheaper. The clinic I started with charges $28 for one box of 7 meals...you can buy the equivalent online for about half the price, so I switched.

The program is SUPER easy, basically it is a "ketogenic" diet. There are 4 phases. The first two phases are for weight loss, the 3rd and 4th phase show you how to eat properly so you can maintain your weight. In the 1st phase, you have a total of 3 protein "packets" per day, as well as 2 cups of select veggies for both lunch and dinner. For dinner you have 8oz of select protein. You also need to take vitamins and drink lots of water. I would recommend this diet to anyone, my sister found it last year, she lost 50lbs and has kept it off.

For anyone that is interested in the program check out the thread here on 3FC, there is tonnes of information!

Thanks again for all the kind support and good luck with your weight loss journeys!

That sounds great - I'm pleased to hear you are doing so well... Have you started introducing exercise too?

(Just saw your second ticker - I am getting married next year too!!! It is a good motivator - hey?!)

I have recently started some weight lifting exercises. Cardio isn't necessary on this diet, it can actually stall your weight loss. The idea with Ideal Protein is to keep your lean muscle mass, while burning fat. So I have recently started doing about 1/2 an hour of various weights once or twice a week. I used to try to run my butt off (literally), but I found I would eventually stall out on my weight loss. This is so much easier, and I like that lifting weights will give me tone and definition...I'm not looking for a body builders physique lol, but some tone is fantastic!

My biggest motivation was actually to lose the weight before I turned 40 (May 2013), but the idea of being a good healthy weight for my wedding is VERY appealing!! The only problem is I purchased my dress in January...it is a size 18 and now I will have to get it altered...I'm hoping that they can do it and that it won't cost a small fortune

That's good to know - I have been mainly trying to do cardio - as due to my living situation I am not able to completely control my diet, so if I start to plateau I might rethink things...

Yes, the wedding dress situation can be a nightmare - everyone is telling me I need to buy it early - but I want to get one that fits on the day!

Congrats on your awesome weightloss

I hit my 169 goal today!!!

Thanks for the inspiration. I am on week 7 of IP and have lost 23.8 pounds and 21.75 inches. I have a loooooong way to go to reach my goal of a weight loss of 139 pounds!

That is fantastic! There is so much support on this site, it's really wonderful. IP is a really great program, and it works! Stick with it and you will get there, slow and steady wins the race

Another little update to my progress...I am now down 40lbs!! My official WI isn't til Wednesday, but I'm there! YAY!!