With there being so many new members and rejoiners at this time of year its made me reflect what I have achieved in the last year. Let me preface this by saying I started my weightloss journey at 290lbs in May 2007 and by the end of that year I'd lost over 60lbs.

As expected the last year my weightloss has been much slower than the first few months but despite the lack of dramatic results I've kept at it. Plodded on. Couple of little stumbles on the way but always straight back at it. So what have I achieved in that year: a total weightloss of 43lbs.

However at the beginning of 2008 I was still shopping in the plus size women's stores. I'm now a Medium in tops and a 12/14 in bottoms and can shop anywhere. I'm no longer morbidly obese. I reached onderland in August 2008 and 100lbs lost at the end of October 2008, both huge milestones in my journey. My next big milestone is to have normal BMI and to reach the goal I set in May 2007 which I have to lose 13lb to achieve.

I hope this post will inspire those who are struggling to keep on going in the knowledge that the prize is worth the struggle.

Kitty

I started on Feb 1, 2008 and to this day, I have lost 47 lbs and 22 inches (total). Hopefully, on my first anniversary, I will be down 50 pounds.

Congratulations to both of you!! It's inspiring to hear that people are reaching their goals!

I'm working on having a similar story to post next January!

I weighed 142 in January of 2008 and was at the line between my ten and twelve pants. By the end of January I was at about 150, and my twelves were snug. I never exercised and found myself out of breath if I walked up the stairs too fast. I had an elliptical trainer that I got for Christmas 2007 that I had not yet assembled in Jan 2008 and a weight bag that I couldn't use because the base was empty.

Today I weighed 119 and my size 4 pants are a little loose. I've already exercised 737 minutes this month and have done 23.5 miles of my 500 in 2009 challenge. I burned up that cheap elliptical in two months this summer and have already invested in a new one. I've added a stationary bike and a Weider home gym. I've filled up my weight bag and am about to need new boxing gloves. I just got fancy running shoes and can run for 2.5 miles at a time.

I feel like a completely different person than I was this time last year.

ETA: I didn't even think about the health stats side of my diet change. I have no more IBS-like symptoms so I don't drink a bottle of Mylanta each week, my cholesterol is back down into 'normal' range - before I was dangerously close to needing medication, and my BP was described to me by the lab tech at my doctor's office last week as "practically perfect". I did lose enough weight that it revealed a minor heart murmur, but in the testing to learn that was a non-issue I also learned that my V02 level was excellent.

So, a year can make a huge difference!

What amazing accomplishments!!! Thank you for posting! They are such an inspiration.

Started South Beach diet last January. I've lost about 25# in the last year and dropped my cholesterol from 214 to 184. I lost 6 inches in my waist and dropped my body fat to 17%.

Well, let's see:
1. At the beginning, I was wearing Size 28 pants, and my size 26 tops needed safety pins at the bust line. Today, I'm in size 20 - I probably have another year to go, but this isn't bad. Amazing how many more size 20s there are than 26s in discount and reuse stores. And I know that because there are a bunch of larger clothes that I just can't wear out in public any more.

2. My cholesterol is down 37 points, and, while I'm not at target, my doctor is not making noises about statins any more.

3. I lost 8 inches from my waist and 10 from my hips.

4. I exercise at the gym 3-4 times per week, but more importantly, I can climb stairs without sounding like a steam engine, and I can take the dog for a long, satisfying walk that we both enjoy.

5. I love the way my body feels when I work out. It really enjoys being a well-oiled machine.

I like hearing from those at all ends of the spectrum, those who have achieved goal and are fit, and those who are fit, getting fit, and on the way.
I "can" do good exercise, but it wears me out. My goal for the next month is to exercise daily, and have at least 30 min of cardio in there 5 days a week, and do an hour once or twice a week.
I want to be fit like you all, thanks for the inspiration.
And Krista's mom, especially, even before getting to goal, you are SOO much healthier. You have done so much more than lose weight!!!

Thanks for posting. I'm really frustrated after a bad weekend of bad choices and I feel defeated. This gives me hope! Thank you!

I started in late May/early June. I have lost -64 pounds. In some ways, the time has really passed quickly. The work has been consistent though. I would like to emphasize (to the newbies) the importance of baby steps. I started slowly and once I began seeing progress, it motivated to see what else I could do.

Exercise wise, I started by just walking with my kids down to park and actually getting INTO the pool to play with them. Once school started I began walking. I am now running three miles every morning. You can do it too.

This makes me smile, I love this thread.

One year for me has meant 142 pounds, size 22 TIGHT to size 6, a whole slew of health benefits and a great sense of accomplishment. My favorite part (this week anyway) is the weightlifting. It's beautiful, I love it and look forward to it. It feels soooooo good. Makes me look pretty good too.

A year makes an incredible difference. I started my plan and 53 weeks later, I was "normal weight", fit and FABULOUS (oh, and 85 lbs. lighter)

Give your plan a year, and it will change your life forever!

This time last year I was buying bigger clothes. You know, the whole dress the body you've got thing. I was tired of being a slob just because I was fat. Got some nice things that I really enjoyed. Had no plans to lose weight.

This time this year, I've been buying new clothes again. Because I had nothing left that wasn't falling off me

it is very inspiring! thank you for sharing your story! It really hits home because I started out at about the same as you 306 so 16lbs heavier then you were and I too want to be abotu 170ish!

I cant wait for the day that I can go into any store and buy something and I wont need to shop plus sizes! here to that day! and congrats to you! and on coming so far!

Wow one year...
One year and sixty pounds.
Going from huffing at five minutes on a treadmill to doing an extra five after 30.

It feels great.
And let us not forget THAT moment...the one you will never forget.
When my pants were getting loose (After they'd been deathly tight) and fell off walking up the stairs. XD
It took me 20 years to get to 365 pounds, and one and a half to get to 280. I guess it's a fair trade.