or more without surgery? I ask because I am contemplating surgery, but I want it to be a last resort (I'm SO scared of the complications)...I could really use hints/tips/motivation. As you can see I have a ton of weight to loose and I just want to know if it's possible....

THANKS!!

Meg

Hi Meg! I'm a Meg who's lost more than 120 pounds and kept it off for almost four years now. You bet it's possible! I counted calories and learned to love exercise (and became a personal trainer!) You can read more about my story here.

You can do it -- Meg Power!!

I have! And with no surgical alteration. Only through diet and exercise, like Meg. I've haven't started loving exercise yet, but I do enjoy it most of the time. It's a lot of hard work, but I have changed my entire lifestyle which is IMPERATIVE to losing the weight and KEEPING it off, something that sometimes bariatric procedures fail to teach you. And if you are like me, I know I'll need reconstructive surgery after all is said and done, so I figure I'm saving myself a surgery by doing it on my own.

Can I ask you why are you considering having the surgery? Do you have a difficult time losing weight? My advice to you is that if you find it too overwhelming to diet AND exercise, start with one or the other. Sometimes people find one change to be easier to begin with than both. Another piece of advice I would give you is to find a diet you could live with for the REST of your life, maybe with slight modifications later. Don't follow the fad diets, and don't cut out an entire group of foods. It's nearly impossible to live with. What I did is I went to the library, read ALL of the books on nutrition, weight loss, fitness, so on, incorporated only the aspects I knew I could handle and came up with my own plan. I then tried new plans and failed at them. So now I've completely reverted back to MY original plan. It works best for me.

I suggest for exercise, since it's spring now, to begin walking. A lot of us "big losers" use this as a staple exercise, and it's fairly easy to make a part of your lifestyle.

If you want to know anything more, don't hesitate!!!

Yes.

I was over 300lbs....the scale ground out when it started the 2nd lap. So Im really not sure what my highest weight was.

I started small, walking around the block. Literally around the block because that was about all I could do. Then I hopped on the bike and biked for about 15 min. Everyday, I added a bit more, started a low carb eating plan...once I got going, and seen that I wasnt going to be 300+ forever, I became alot more motivated. Yes, I am still struggling, but surgery or not, it will always be something I have to pay attention to. Im not at my goal yet, but I will get there this year.

I have gained a few lbs back, but those are coming back off. So, it can be done

Hi Meg - welcome to the boards. In response to your question, I haven't lost 100 lbs. - yet, but I sure am planning on being there soon.

I must admit is was quite a daunting task when I started out. What plan was I going to follow, what type of support would I need, what were my expectations and goals? There were so many questions that I needed answered. The only one thing that I knew for sure was that I was ready to change my life and my body and get rid of the weight that was hindering me from living the way I wanted to live.

The first thing I did was search for support. I knew I had the support of my husband and my family. They are all very encouraging and supportive but I needed more than that. I needed to find other people that were experiencing the same things as I was, having the same types of struggles. I started looking around the internet and I happened across 3FC and I've been here ever since. It has provided, and is still providing me, with so much support and encouragement. It's truly an invaluable tool for me in this journey.

The next thing I needed was a good eating plan. I had done WW in the past with excellent results but my heart and head just wasn't into going that route again. I started with just portion control and slowly started counting calories. I'm very comfortable with doing that and I'm positive it's something that I can sustain forever.

My next plan of attack was exercise. I had some equipment in my basement so I dug it out and started trotting away on my treadmill. Going very slowly and not for long periods of time at all. I have a neighbour friend who invited me to go swimming with her so I tagged along and swam almost every day last summer (can't wait for the weather and water to warm up so I can get back at it again). As my fitness level improved, I had to sit and revist my exercise plan. I needed to come up with a strategy that help me to contine improving my health while building up stamina. I set exercise goals for myself and set to work on reaching them. DH purchased more equipment for me because my heart really just wasn't into joining a gym so I can get about the same benefits now at home (I'm not suggesting you go out and purchase all types of pricey equipment or join a gym, just sharing this part of my journey with you). Find something that you like to do and stick with it. It may be very challenging at first but it really does get easier with time. I was skeptical about that saying, but it really does get easier.

While I was doing these things I was contemplating my goals. Where did I want to be? What weight would I stop at? Is this going to be my plan for life? I'm still struggling with some of the answers to these questions. I do have a goal weight in mind as you can see from my ticker. I'm not sure if that will be the right number for me or not, I'll have to see how I feel as I get closer to it. I've chatted with some of the maintainers on this forum and I just now realize that, yes, this is something that I will do forever. I love my new lifestyle, I love my new body, I love me! I'm worth every ounce of sweat and tears that I'm putting into this - AND YOU ARE TOO!!!

I hope that some of this helped you out a bit. I commend you for searching out advice and opinions before heading right into surgery without exploring other avenues (I don't hold anything against those who have decided on that route, but I do beleive that we made our bodies the way they are without surgery, and we can get them back again without it).

Don't be afraid to post any other questions or concerns you may have. You might feel like you're the only one going through some of these things, but I can assure you that there a lots of people here that can chime right in and answer questions on just about any topic you can come up with.

~Dee

By the time June of 2002 rolled around I'd pretty much accepted my fate; I'd be fat and unhealthy for the rest of my life (however short that might be). I was just too overwhelmed by the thought of actually losing over 100lbs. Then a friend took me by the hand to Weight Watchers, where I met women and men who proved to me that it was possible to feel and look better, no matter what weight you were starting at (this was before I discovered 3FC).

The plan sounded reasonable, sensible and doable and with newfound motivation and inspiration, I began. The first week I lost 6 pounds! Sure it was a drop in the bucket, but the next week I lost another 4 and after a month I had lost 20lbs. Yes, it was tough at first and I was almost done in by cravings, but eventually eating healthily and exercising (I started with short walks) became routine. The big weekly losses turned into smaller losses and there were a few plateaus along the way as well, but the support of my WW group and the knowledge that I was heading in the right direction helped me through.

14 months after I started the program, I received my 100lb. loss certificate and truthfully I felt like a completely different person. I was more active, I felt better, I looked better ~ it was like a dream come true, but even better because it was one of my own making. I've certainly had my ups and downs in the three years since that initial loss (its so easy to fall back into bad habits), but being secure in the knowledge that I CAN do it helps me focus.

Good luck!

Yes, I've lost 100lb without surgery

I've even (and whisper it quietly) lost 100lb without calorie counting.

How?

Exercise. Lots of exercise.

First a health warning. This isn't for everyone. A lot of people would rather count calories than do what I've done, but that just goes to show that there is no one size fits all answer to weight loss, and the only thing that will work for you is the thing that is right for you, not what's right for someone else.

I always wanted to run, but never thought I could. I was 260lb and there was probably some merit to that thinking! But I decided that I was going to get fit, and sort myself out. I'd always quite enjoyed sport, but never been any good at it. In my messed up head I shouldn't be doing something if I wasn't good at it. So I couldn't start running because I couldn't run. I didn't consider the possibility of learning to run.

I didn't lose much weight at first, but the fact that my mental attitude had changed and I was more aware of my body and its needs filtered into other parts of my life. I started making healthier and more balanced nutritional choices. I didn't count calories, but I started looking at portion sizes and getting a good range of fruit and vegetables in.

The weight loss picked up, and I really started running. I entered a charity 5k, trained for that and discovered that I really enjoyed it. From there I challenged myself to run a 10k. And then another. And then I took the big leap and realised that I was a runner. I didn't just run to lose weight, I ran to run. What I eat is important because it gives me fuel, and because I don't want to be dragging excess pounds round the course, but if I can run faster or further than I did last week or last month that's a victory, regardless of what the scales say.

Everything escalated a bit, I ran a half marathon in February, will run another next month and am training for a marathon in September. Along the way I've realised that I'm actually pretty fast and come in the top 20% or so of women at most of the races I enter. I never thought that was possible when I was 260lb.

As I said, what I do is a bit extreme for most people. I run 20 - 30 miles most weeks, and I do other exercise too. But I didn't start at this point, I built up from nothing. I didn't think I had this in me, and I very nearly never tried. It may be that this is not for you, but I just wanted to let you know that it can be done.

Me!! ME!!!

Yup - I've done it and kept off 100 lbs for over 15 years now (actually my total loss is 115 lb ) - check my signature.

Nope - didn't have surgery...it's been basically diet and exercise. No magic bullets (although God knows, I've tried my share of them in my life!). As I wrote in My Big Weight Loss Secret - THERE IS NO SECRET - it's lifestyle changes in diet and exercise, PORTION CONTROL (this is SO IMPORTANT!), persistence, consistency, and education.

My opinion on weight loss surgery is (in a nutshell) - it's NOT a magic bullet or 'guarantee' that the weight will come off and stay off. IMO (this is from reading a LOT about the topic on the Internet and in books etc) I think WLS might give people a 'jump start' or 'edge' for the first year or two - but it's up to the patient to make sure they take advantage of that time (called the Honeymoon Period) to RETRAIN themselves in proper eating (portions and food choices) and making exercise a daily habit for a LIFETIME. From what I've read, WLS patients still have to battle "Head hunger" - you know, when you're not physically hungry but your brain is saying you MUST have that candy or ice cream or whatever. (I mean really...did we get to this point from being physically hungry? I mean, stomach growling hungry? Or was it more from 'recreational eating'? I know the answer in MY case.)

I realize that many surgery centers offering WLS are now advising potential patients pre-op of these facts, as well as offering education in proper eating and exercise...but I also know that many people still believe it's a panacea for their obesity issues. Bottom line is that you still will need to retrain yourself to lose and (MORE IMPORTANTLY) keep the weight off!

But rest assured - take it from me - the longer you do this the easier it gets. I would have never imagined 17 years ago that exercise would be FUN for me...but it is. I love trying new classes and new equipment at the gym! There is so much variety - just find activities you enjoy doing. Same with food - healthy food DOES taste good - you just need to retrain your taste buds...and so on...

but it definitely CAN be done!

All of you ladies are such an inspiration!!

I've lost about 125 pounds over the past three years from 286 to 160). I did this mainly through portion control and exercising. When I started, I was 26 years old and had been obese since about age six or seven. I had never really tried to lose weight before. But I finally just got tired of being obese and decided to do something about it.

Anyways, here's a rambling list of tips that I wish someone had told me when I first started:

First, you're not going to lose weight (and you're certainly not going to keep it off!) unless you're fully ready for a change. If you're not doing this for purely selfish reasons, it's not going to work.

Also, exercise is key. See if there's a Curves facility near you. I started out there, and loved it. The atmosphere is friendly and not intimidating for a newcomer, like many other "full-service" gyms can be. If you don't have access to Curves, find some good tennis shoes and start walking! Any kind of physical activity is good.

I've found it very helpful to actually write down every bite of food that goes in my mouth. I'm not so tough on myself on weekend nights - Friday and Saturday are my times to go out and have fun with my friends. But I do track my food intake during the day. When I first started, I carried around a little notebook where I wrote what I ate and when I ate it. Now I use FitDay (www.fitday.com). And pay super-close attention to portions!!!!

Also, be patient. It's taken me three years to lose 125 pounds. It seems soooo slow sometimes, but I know that I've completely changed how I live. And I know that the changes I made were never so drastic that I wouldn't be able to live with them for the rest of my life.

Set mini goals for yourself. You're not going to lose all the weight at once. And it's a whole lot less intimidating when you view the loss in 25 pounds increments than as a big conglomerate.

It's nice to have an ultimate goal weight, but it's likely to change as you approach it. I set my ultimate goal weight at 135 when I started. But I'm starting to think that 135 isn't really necessary, or even realistic. Instead, I'm thinking 145-150 is better for me.

Don't expect yourself to be perfect. You'll mess up along the way. When you do, just start over. If you have a bad day at work and go home and eat a pint of Ben & Jerry's, then you had a bad day. You didn't ruin your entire weight loss effort. And you certainly can't go back and un-eat the ice cream. So, just accept what you did, realize why you did it, and move on. You'll become more disciplined and find it easier to recognize emotional triggers. And then you'll be able to develop a healthier way of dealing with them.

Don't deprive yourself. If you like chocolate, eat chocolate. Just eat one of the little fun-sized bars instead of a king-sized bar. I'm a complete junkie for Cadbury Creme Eggs. I love them and could eat two or three of them at a time. But, instead of buying the big ones, I buy a package of the little ones that are only 50 calories apiece. I keep them in my fridge at home, and whenever I'm craving chocolate, I get one. Just one. I have it with a big glass of water, and it does the trick.

Anyways, those are my random thoughts. I honestly haven't had a hard time with my weight loss. In fact, often I kick myself for not doing this sooner!! I think this is because I've never set restrictions on anything and never deprived myself of anything I've really wanted. Because of that, my weight loss has been slower than most people's. But I have absolutely no doubt that I'll be able to maintain my weight. Anyways, PM me if you want to talk!!!

Whether you've lost all the weight you want, are just starting out, or somewhere in between, you chicas are all awesome!

Thank you all so much for your responses. I guess I'll start at the beginning. I have been overweight since about the age of 7 and I've been made fun of since that time as well. I've been on one diet or another since about the age of 10. I'm 29 years old now and I'm just tired. Tired of ridicule, tired of thunder thighs, arms that wave, butt that stick WAYYY out. I'm just tired of it and I feel completely alone. I'm not sure what to do next, which is why, I guess, I began contemplating surgery. But like MrsJim said, that's a jump start, the head stuff doesn't go away because someone but a band around my stomach. Last year I was at a restaurant and broke the chair, I was with my parents and my child...I have NEVER been so humiliated...

My problem, as far as overeating/not eating the right foods, is mainly at night or on the weekends. Like yesterday here's what I ate:

Breakfast: Lowsugar/carb yogurt & uncle sam cereal mixed in
Snack: orange & one packet weight loss oatmeal
Lunch: chicken, chickpeas, & light italian dressing
Snack: Lowcarb yogurt smoothie
Dinner: chicken breast, carrots/peas (fresh), pasta
Snack: some chips, a peanut butter sandwich, 1/2 pint B&Js Turtle Soup Ice Cream (WHICH I WENT OUT LAST NIGHT AT 8PM TO BUY B/C I "NEEDED" CHOCOLATE)

See, I blow it at night, every night! I've already had the other 1/2 pint tonight. I'm sure soon I'll head for some chips.

I'm just trying to garner up some motivation and feelings of self worth and I'm sure I'll be able to get on track. Any exercise I do will have to be at home, I've called Curves, but they don't have childcare, which is crazy IMHO b/c all the gyms around here (they're too expensive for me) have childcare and Curves would rake in the $$ if they offered 30 minute childcare (kind of like at church). So anything I do has to be at home...

From what I can gather...none of you really "FOLLOWED" a diet strictly, you just started with small changes and eventually they built up...is that right? Maybe I should set small goals for myself, like a list...1) Drink 150oz of water everyday for a week and then after that week add another thing? I don't know, what do you guys think?

I think you've definitely come to the right site for support! When I first started it was super hard to quit snacking in the evenings. But that was a rule I set for myself. No eating after 7pm.

I started out just counting calories and have added in exercise over the past few months. Since May24/05 I've lost 75lbs and in total from my highest I've lost 106 lbs.

Setting small goals and making little changes sounds like a great place to start. Best of luck to you.

I have almost lost 100 pds so far I have 91 pds in 1 year!!! You can read more about my journey at www.myspace.com/myweightloss under My weight loss secret in my blogs!!

Good Luck you can do it!

Oh yes it can be done as you can see by all these responses. I've lost over 40 pounds since October 2005 and I'm still going. I plan on losing more than 100 pounds.. I'm not sure how much yet. I think it takes patience most of all. I wanted it all off at one time even though I knew that wasn't possible but after about 20-30 pounds gone.. I became more patient and know that I *can* do it and I *will* do it because I'm already healthier and happier than I have been in a while!!

By the way, I'm 17 almost 18 and I've been overweight since I was seven or around there. If I can do it anyone can. (I don't even count calories.. portion control is what it's all about.)