Weight Loss - Updates?

[Vasiliki]

Good morning, everyone!

So a short time ago (a few months I believe) there were a good portion of people coming around talking about wanting to lose weight, get back in shape and generally get back into a better active routine. I was one of those people who stopped into those topics, because I was in the same boat. Wanted to make some heavy changes and really jump back into things.

I started seeing a personal trainer a few months ago now. We've had 16 sessions together so far and things have been going swell. Learning a lot from her, and learning how to build my own program. She's been a huge help in getting me over my anxiety of working out at the gym. So much so that I've even been going on my own lately! What a huge difference. Before I could not do my own work-outs, simply due to anxiety with being around so many people.

When I first started my program, I was 158lbs. A scary, scary number for me. Just two years ago I was a comfortable 132lbs. What happened?! Haha. I started a desk job is what happened, leaving my active job for something with better job security.

Well now I'm around 153lbs, which isn't bad at all. I've been doing weight training to tone, so my ratio of body fat to muscle has vastly improved.

When I first started, I couldn't do tricep pull-overs with a 5lb weight! Last night, I was doing them with 12.5lbs, at 25 reps for 4 sets (in a circuit program, not back to back).

I'm so happy with the changes now. My trainer will tell me what we're doing that day, and I can't wait to tackle it. Even if it seems hard, I know my body can handle at least the first 2 sets. Then the push will be the last two sets. But when I first started, I would struggle with even the first set.

I feel like I'm definitely getting there. My joints feel better. My back is stronger. I can do a push-up now, despite my shoulder injury (which has stabilized and no longer gives me chronic pain throughout the day).

Now we're getting more into the fat loss so that I can start showing off this awesome definition. So we're doing super sets and cardio circuits now too. Gosh, those cardio circuits still kick my butt. But I know they're so worth it. Even if a few of them make me want to toss my cookies with the effort, haha.

My goal is to get down to 140-142lbs by November, which I feel is a reasonable goal at this point.

So I guess I'm wondering who else has been pushing it lately like they said they wanted to, and what you've been up to. Results? Changes? Let us know!

Wish I'd taken a 'Before' picture, but to be honest, I was just too embarassed to even do that. So hopefully I'll have a nice 'After' to show off instead

[Kaorte]

Congrats on the weight loss! I'm in a similar boat. Sitting in front of a computer through my 5 years of college made me over 30 pounds heavier than my high school self.

I started the nutrisystem diet about 3 weeks ago and I've lost 7 pounds! I still have a long way to go towards my goal of 135 but its really nice to see some change. I'm hoping with diet and exercise I can loose 10 pounds a month. I've been working on running and I do yoga a couple times a week (intense yoga not sitting and stretching haha).

So far I am really pleased with the results and I can't wait to drop a Jean size. Shopping for clothes has been so depressing. I hate having my picture taken because of my weight. I feel so yucky with all this extra padding and I can't wait to get rid of it!

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2

[sissysnakes]

Thats awesome! Weight doesnt matter as much as how you feel and how you feel you look. I was one of those people talking about loosing weight.. so far I have not pushed myself as much as I would like... still at about 150 size 6 to 8 and want to get back down to 138 size 2 to 4. I did just get a new job which has access to a gym. So here is to hopin ill take advantage of it soon!

Sent from my DROID4 using Tapatalk 2

[Vasiliki]

Kaorte: That’s awesome to hear that you’re making changes. 10lbs is a very hefty goal for a month. Just remember that if it ever starts to not drop off steadily. Initial changes can happen quickly, but then the weight loss tends to taper off. If you weigh more, it’s easier for your body to shed weight. Once you reach a certain point, it gets harder to get those last 5-10lbs off.

I disliked shopping for clothes too. It’s why I wanted to make my changes. I felt so FAT when I went shopping. And even though I don’t weigh much less than before, I’m definitely smaller than before (muscle weighs more than fat, so I can be smaller and still weigh around the same). Went dress shopping last night. Did that ever solidify what I was doing! I was like: “OH yeah! Gotta keep up with this to get even better results!”

Sissysnakes: Weight did become an issue for me, but it’s not my sole focus. It’s more like a facet of something larger. If I lose weight and I’m still being active and using my muscles, then I know I’m dropping the right kind of weight. If I just reduced my calories and didn’t maintain my strength training, I’d worry that the weight I was losing would be fat AND muscle.

The coolest thing I’ve learned about being at the gym is that you can still hate it while still appreciating it. I hated exercising when I first started. And even though I still hate things (Tricep pullovers, or bicep curls! Ohhhh step-ups!) I can appreciate that I’m allowed to hate them, haha. Why? If I go and give it my best for 1 hour, then the other 23 hours of the day I can spend knowing I did the best I could, that it’s over, and I get to enjoy the results 23 hours of the day. So when you approach it like that, 1 hour really doesn’t mean much. I’d much rather spend 1 hour giving it my absolute everything (to the point of huffing and puffing and almost crying) to enjoy spending the next 6-8 hours wearing my favorite pair of jeans. Enjoying those looks from my boyfriend. The way he grabs my waist and says: “I love the way my hands fit on you, pretty girl!” Haha.

Once you start, if you do it for 2 months, you’ll definitely create the habit. Almost like a muscle reflex. I do weights on Tuesday and Thursdays. Cardio on Wednesdays and Saturdays. If I have to re-schedule, it feels weird! Haha. I almost automatically drive to the gym now.

Never thought that would happen

[CatandDiallo]

My weight loss journey has been since around 2008. I am around where I want to stay now, and it seems like you're doing everything completely right to see some big results.
But for you, I wouldn't measure with weight, since you're building muscle mass. Have you been measuring yourself? Losing inches will tell a lot more in your case than weight will.

Also keep in mind that diet is just as (if not more) important as exercise!

Before (170-175 lbs)


Left





In between (130-150 lbs)







Now (110-115 lbs)

When I went out on the weekend.


I cut out sugars as much as I can because I have to, but it helps a lot. No juices, syrups, honey, jams, granulated sugar, etc. Alcohol is a biggie too. I rarely drink now.
I also very rarely eat meat.

It takes a lifestyle change, but it's extremely do-able.

Good luck!

[Vasiliki]

Your results look awesome for sure! Congrats on achieving what you set out to do. You look great, and the fact you did it over time speaks volumes. No yo-yoing for you! Haha.

I do not weigh myself very often at all. Once a week, if that. Even then, I don't base my results on that. Like I said, it's just a facet of what I use to measure success I actually don't measure much about myself, because I use my clothes as my main tool. I have all my clothes from when I was 132lbs, so it's easier for me to say where I'm at by using that method for sure. I have a pair of skinny jeans that are my goal ones, the ones I could wear only when I was in my peak physical condition 2 years ago. I'll get back there, for sure.

Right now my diet is very simplified. Heavy fibre, increased protein for now while I'm doing my weights (because otherwise I end up with horrible muscle cramps), lower carb, increased whole foods, etc. Makes shopping so much easier, I admit. I still love my rice and whatnot, but I set aside one meal a week as a treat for myself, so I block off that impulse to snack. ("Nope. I can have that as my meal later this week. Tonight, I'll be good!") I also find my intolerance of sugar has increased with the simple palette. A soda will give me an instant stomach ache. Sugar makes me sick. I find myself craving a nice dill poached salmon, sweet potatoes and steamed broccoli now more than mac 'n' cheese and all that stuff.

It really does change your outlook once you switch everything over. A lot of subtle problems I had (headaches, muscle cramps, etc) have disappeared with an improved and simplified meal plan. Can't say enough about it.

Thanks for all the awesome tips! Glad it sounds like I'm on the right direction for sure. Jam on toast is still a guilty pleasure, but again, I only give myself one 'guilty' meal a week, so I have to decide which I'll pick as my 'treat'. Haha.

[CatandDiallo]

No, I did go up and down in weight a bit throughout the years, but the overall trend is losing, which is good enough for me.

I had/have an unfortunate metabolism, and last year I got extremely sick, which resulted in me basically not being able to eat for 6 months. That does a number on the body, but I'm still working on getting back to healthy after that sickness. A nutritionist overlooks me.

However, the most recent weight loss has been done willingly and by resisting all the nasty foods!

(But yes - always have a cheat day so binges don't happen!)

[Kaorte]

Yeah I know the loss will taper as time goes on, but I am very determined! If I put my mind to something, I can usually accomplish it!

For me, really any weight loss makes me happy. I think once I can see 150 I'll start feeling better.

Here is my "before" picture. This is about a week into my diet and 172 pounds.. ouch.



Be gone love handles, be gone!!

[shelby9189]

I have read some of yalls reviews and was wondering how yall got started I have been trying to diet for like a year now and I will start a diet and then quit. I loved my body before I got with my husband and then I got happy as everyone says and gained like 20lbs and im on the pill so that dont help me any.. Can someone tell me please how to get started and stick with something. I have a busy schedule. School and Work everyday ( I know not an excuse lol) . any advice is great

[Quantum Constrictors]

I know you remember this thread :

http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...ome-to-lose-it!

Well TL;DR ?

I'll quote my newest post I made on the thread

Well wasnt this all just a big disappointment....

I really didnt think that it would be possible to let everyone down like I said but obviously I did.

3 months later I guess I can say I failed miserably. I only worked on this for about a week and then I got my car accident law suit money and I stopped and never started back up.

I seriously feel so terrible. I got everyone's hopes up and so much support. But thats what happens when you are a huge procrastinator. It doesnt take much to stop something when I get out of the "groove"

Well I got my first tattoo last week! Well this artist has tattooed my mom and my sister and her boyfriend before so I decided it was my turn!! But anyways. After I got my tattoo my mother had another scheduled for a few days after mine. Well I didnt go becuase I had to baby sit my new puppy. Anyways when he sits down my mom to tattoo her he says :

" I really like your son, he seems like a really cool guy and all, but..... I think he is really unhealthy and he is going to have heart attack soon"

Then he continues on... he says " I go to the gym every night after work and I want your son to start coming with me. I will even switch gyms to the one closest to your house and I will even pick him up"

"Best of all I have a friend at that gym who is a personal trainer and will train your son and give him a years gym membership for $200"

That was pretty much the whole convo.

When my mom told me this I was flabbergasted. I was like... really? He said that? No way.

Now one of the reasons I was so shocked is because my tattoo artist is a really hard guy I guess you could say. He has big balls and isnt afraid to speak up and say whats on his mind LOL. He really didnt seem like this type of guy. Like he is a complete stranger to me and cared about me and wants to help me????!!! I was utterly shocked.

Also his wife is a personal trainer and a nutritionist as well.

So yah. I am going to do this. As soon as I get the $200 and gym clothes. It kinda made me realize that this is my last chance and I need to jump on it before I lose it.


Kinda funny how some things work out eh? I go and get my first tattoo and end up with an offer that will change my life.


That and if I dont accept he will probably shun me forever and never tattoo me.

But if I do accept he said he is gunna ride my butt so hard (no homo) so that should be fun lol.

Well yah. Here is to another new beginning! Lets hope this one sticks. Because I really have no choice this time! Cuz if I stop I might get my butt kicked... literally LOL!!

Just waiting for the dang cheque to come in the mail so I can fork over the $200 lol

Here is me right now :

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RLQc1vNE6C...Dayonepic1.png

Not gunna post the image since I am only in my boxers but yah you get the picture I am damn fat.

Sitting at around 420-430 pounds I am guessing. Could be more could be less but I cant find a scale to weigh me.