Losing weight: Sucess Stories

I used to be slender, then not so slender, and then plump, and *sigh* dare I say it, admit it, now fat. No, I'm serious. I'm not happy at all with the way I look. And I finally finally got pissed off enought about it to try to do something about it. Gawd, this hard for me to even talk about! I actually had one of those moments in a clothing store where I caught sight of myself in a mirror and was shocked....like I never realized that was me. I dumped the clothing I was going to try on and left.

So last week I started the Special K Challenge. I'm not even sure now how/why I thought to look into it, but I did. And so far *knock on wood* it's working! Lost 2lbs last week and already a half pound this week! Ok, that's not much in the big picture but I'm very encouraged.

It's not always easy, but it's not killer either.
----1/2 cup Special K cereal for breakfast with 1/2 cup fruit and 2/3 cup skim milk, but I use 2% instead.
----Same for lunch. Ok, that one's tougher.
But you're allowed snacks too. They of course recommend SpecialK cereal bars but also fruits/veggies. I can't make it through the afternoon without something but I find eating green grapes is pretty filling. I have an apple on hand as a backup snack, lol.
----Dinner as usual.

I don't even follow it 7 days a week (Mon-Thurs) but try hard to watch what I eat otherwise, especially portion size. Sooooo, *pat myself on the back* I'm pleased with what I've accomplished so far.

Oh, I do have another cheat. I have been taking an OTC appetite suppressant -- no ephedra though. Still a bit worried about it though. Is there anything safe out there?

Anybody else have a diet/weight loss plan that's working for them?

Beth - I had that same type of moment about 6 years ago! I didn't recognize myself!
The very next day I joined Weight Watchers. I lost a lot of weight and kept most of it off until I got pregnant.... now I'm trying to lose that last 15 pounds of baby weight.

I can't really diet because I'm nursing but I am walking for an hour 3-5 days a week and trying to watch what I eat. Once I stop nursing I plan on getting back on WW and getting this extra weight off!

Good luck to you! Keep us posted on your success!!!!!!!!!!!!

Lou Lou

I lost 40 lbs when I joined culinary school. I think it was a combination of things - more exercise walking around to/from classes, and a much greater awareness of the food I was eating. Another big help was learning how to set goals.

I kept 35 of those lbs off for 5 years. Unfortunately I gained them all back with interest when I quit smoking. I'm now about 70 lb overweight, and 30lb more than I was when I started losing the first time. Now that I'm pregnant I can't really lose weight but I"m still working on being more active, walking more and getting what exercise I can.

So down a total of 3lbs so far. Not exactly setting the world on fire, but I'm ok with it Like I said, I'm not following the plan religiously, strictly. Walked for about 20min at lunch both yesterday and today. Maybe that'll help if I can keep at it.

I've been avoiding the appetite suppressants though which makes me feel better since I was nervous about using them. A friend suggested a bit of protein in the afternoons since that's when I get hungry the most. So I usually have my green grapes but also a SpecialK cereal bar thingy, only 90 calories but 1gram of protein. Seems to help keep me more level.

Nika, you mentioned a diet plan in another thread....so what are you going to do?

Beth!
Congrats on the 3 pounds! I know it feels slow but you ARE making progress!!!
I think that walking could honestly be the best thing you can do for yourself!
I've been walking a ton lately and even though the scale isn't moving as much I have dropped a pant size in just a few weeks!!!! I was shocked when I went to the store the other day!!!!
Keep up the good work!

OT - Myste - I didn't realize you went to culinary school!!! I thought you just liked to cook! I'm so envious! I am not a good cook at all and would like to learn. I have even been looking around town for cooking classes!!

Wow, it's been a month since i started this thread! Well my initial success had not continued at the same rate, but I haven't given up. Finally down 5lbs now. Not much, but I'm still trying. It really has gotten easier to eat less, and i'm trying to make better food choices, but still easy to get tripped out while eating out. Not giving up though.

I think some of the hormonal drugs I've been on for months now have caused some of this weight gain, and hopefully since I'm off everything this month, some more weight will drop off this month.

Losing weight is hard. I use to work as a nutrition educator and have recently just lost the rest of my pregnancy weight. I'm breastfeeding and expected the weight to fall off but I really had to work to get that last 10 lbs. off.

I highly recommend eating lots of veggies and lean protein. Counting calories also really works. There are websites that help with that. But if you do anything make sure you eat lots of fiber, drink water, and consume lean protein with every meal and snack.