Seeking Success Stories from formerly obese people

I started out weighing 245 pounds at 5'8 (female) and have lost 22 pounds. I still struggle to break bad habits. I limit my calories to under a certain amount per day but find that even if I am fairly satisfied with say, one hundred left, I can't stop. I must eat every calorie remaining. How did those of you who used to be obese break bad habits? How did you learn to retrain yourself that food is not a pleasure but simply fuel? I'd like to hear your success stories.

Wed. Oct 17, 7:42am

I started out weighing 370 pounds. I lost 165 on my own.. I have maintained most of that for over six years. . I started flutctuating. I gained 15 pounds putting me at 220. I was surfing for recipes and thats when I found pt..I lost 38 pounds with pt since march. I am now 182.pounds. I am 37 pounds to goal.

I hate the word diets this I decided I had to make a lifestyle change.. I started making small changes dressings at the side.. no butter on my bread.. learning portions. measuring at first until I could eyeball it.

its the little things that make the big differences. small steps=big goals

pt has been amazing.. my group and team members rock.. they support me every step of the way. kick my butt when I need it. and cheer me on with my successes..

I started walking.. I still do walking as my main form of exercise. I also go to the gym , take aquafit classes. I love a good variety.. do something you like. if you enjoy it. its something you will stick with.

I have awhole list of weight loss tips in my profile..

my user name is lynneta..

keep believing in yourself.. be patient. its a long journey, but you are worth it.

your here.. you have allready lost 22 pounds congrats!!! keep going.. only you can choose to do this for you, but you dont have to do it alone,

Wednesday, October 17, 2007, 8:49 AM

Hi, I understand! I started at 240 in August. My eyes were opened at that time due to some family medical problems. So, I started Weight Watchers. That alone though, I don't think, would have gotten me where I am now. I have lost about 35 pounds and am looking forward to being in the 1hundreds by November. YAY!!! Anyway, I constantly look for inspiration, llike you are doing now... I read a great quote and I save it. One of my favorites is something about how It's just food! Tomorrow will you say "I wish I would have eaten more yesterday?" I also think about something I saw on the Golden Girls (see, pull inspiration from anywhere! LOL) The older mom said she was going to school to become a lawyer. Her daughter says "Ma, you'll be 92 when you get done!" She replies, "I'll be 92 anyway!" So, you see, you'll be another year older, you'll be at the reunion, or whatever..., you can be there knowing you did something good for yourself or you can be there full of regret. Look to others to inspire you and use what you need from them to accomplish your goal! You can do it!!!

Wednesday, October 17, 2007, 10:47 AM

OP here: Lynetta or whomever. How do you locate a person's profile? I wasn't aware you could do that.

Wednesday, October 17, 2007, 11:48 AM

I started out at about 185 and am now at about 150 (a 5' 5" woman). It has taken me about 18 MONTHS to lose this weight.

Food for me is still a pleasure. I enjoy eating good food; I enjoy serving good food and presenting it attractively. I enjoy eating out at restaurants and at friends' homes and I enjoy inviting family and friends to my house for wonderful meals. But I have changed many food-related behaviors: I have learned that I can be happy with smaller portions. I have learned to eat really slowly so I can stretch out eating one serving while my husband (and others) eat two or more servings. I have learned that I won't die (!!) if I'm hungry for an hour or two or three. I have learned to appreciate going to bed feeling a bit hungry -- this is a signal that I didn't overeat at dinner.

Every day the process begins again....

Good luck!

Wednesday, October 17, 2007, 12:36 PM

To find her profile go to the top of your page where is says logs/blogs. Click there and then in the search bar type in her name. That should take you to her page. Oh, it is very inspiring, by the way!

Wednesday, October 17, 2007, 1:17 PM

I am no where near my goal yet so I am not sure that it is my story you want but I have lost 123 pounds (just over 6 months)
I think people have different problems. I struggle to make myself eat all the calories I am supposed to for the day. Or if I do I feel guilty for it. I have struggled a lot with different eating disorders over the years. But I have always been really overweight.
The thing that helps me when I really start wanting something, there have been a few times this time around that I have started to eat something as a snack and it ended up as much as a meal. I try and remember that it is only food. That I can't use it to make me feel better. Not anymore. I don't know why it does but food is a great comfort. But it also is a terrible friend. If you think about it. Look how it harms you and because of it people say cruel things to you. And it keeps you from living a life that makes you happy and contented. So I try and change my thoughts and do something to get me and my mind busy.
I also am one that wants a nighttime snack so I save a hundred calories or so for a snack at night. Usually an apple cut up into bite size pieces so I can take time to munch it.
Really I think it is a matter of looking at food and eating in a whole new way.
I also have learned how to remake my favorite foods to make them really low fat and low calorie. The more creative I am with my meals the more satisfied I feel after the meal. We eat with our eyes too.
I wish you great sucess on your journey.

Wednesday, October 17, 2007, 3:36 PM

Six years ago I finally weighed myself and almost died, I hit the scale at 286 pounds and I'm only 5'3. I knew I was heavy but seriously had no idea how obese I had really gotten. Its hard to imagine not realizing your packing on pounds and getting bigger and bigger. I had a wake up call when I had to buy a dress for a special event and realized that the size 18 would never get pass my hips, after trying on a 22 and still not fitting into it I nearly died. It was like I was really seeing myself for the first time, I remember thinking how I didn't even recognize myself, I was working on a 3rd chin and my face was so fat my eyes looked so small, my arms sort of stuck out of my sides because of the fat on my sides instead of hanging down like a normal person, and my belly, well anyone with a serious weight problem knows what happens to the belly, how it just hangs south, its not pretty. How could I not have seen myself for what I really looked like? How did this happen? I refused to try on anything else and of course went home and felt disgusted and sorry for myself. I went into a whole denial phase and packed on another 18 pounds before I did anything about it. So finally at 304 pounds I joined WW and a gym. There was no way I was going to live the rest of my life as this big fat woman and just not care, I was only 26, I had a fear of being one of those people they have to remove from their houses cause they are so big. I didn't feel like what I looked liked, if that makes sense. I found WW to be good for me and it taught me portion sizes and I learned to eat differently. I knew if I didn't want to be that fat I was going to have to really stick to it and really want it, and I really wanted it! After a year at WW I had lost 112 pounds, thats when I summoned enough courage to get my fat ass into the gym. Over the next 2 years I lost another 50 pounds and did a lot of toning. There were times I went up and down but all I had to do was whip out a few pictures of my former fatter self and get the motivation I needed to keep at it. I have been working on the last 15 pounds for a while now, but I have also maintained so that is a good start. Anyone can do it if they really want to. You have to remember that there are going to be good days and bad days the key is is to not beat yourself up over the little slips as long as you get it back under control. And it helps to have pictures. I had pictures of myself all over my house, also pics of women bigger then me to remind me never to go that direction again. It has been hard work and a really tough road but I am so much happier now, and WW motto that helped me to continue "Nothing tastes as good as being thin" is SOO true. I'm not thin yet but I look and feel 100x better. Once I reach my goal I will have to have a tummy tuck to remove the loose skin cause no amount of toning can get rid of that.

Wednesday, October 17, 2007, 4:12 PM

Awesome, inspiring stories! Thanks for sharing.

Wednesday, October 17, 2007, 7:14 PM

Related Content: How To Lose Weight- The Basics Weight Watchers Points System The Fat Smash Diet The Eat To Live Diet The Beck Diet Solution How To Get The Motivation To Lose Weight		How To Be Successful Using PEERtrainer How To Burn Fat Online Weight Loss Support- How It Works Does Green Tea Help You Lose Weight? Tips On Using PEERtrainer Visit The PEERtrainer Community Diet and Fitness Resources
Fitness Weight Watchers Meetings Learning To Inspire Others: You Already Are Writing Down Your Daily Workouts Spending Money On A Personal Trainer? How I Became A Marathon Runner		Preventive Health How To Prevent Injuries During Your Workout Flu Season: Should You Take The Flu Shot? Are You Really Ready To Start PEERtrainer? Super Foods That Can Boost Your Energy Reversing Disease Through Nutrition
New Diet and Fitness Articles: Weight Watchers Points Plus How To Adjust Your Body To Exercise New: Weight Watchers Momentum Program New: PEERtrainer Blog Archive Review Of The New Weight Watchers Momentum Program		Weight Loss Motivation by Joshua Wayne: Why Simple Goal Setting Is Not Enough How To Delay Short Term Gratification How To Stay Motivated How To Exercise With A Busy Schedule
Real World Nutrition and Fitness Questions Can Weight Lifting Help You Lose Weight? Are Protein Drinks Safe? Nutrition As Medicine?		Everyday Weight Loss Tips How To Eat Healthy At A Party How To Eat Out And Still Lose Weight The Three Bite Rule Tips On How To Stop A Binge