Thank you for sharing! Your story is very inspiring.

I lost 45 pounds when husband had to change his eating. Bought books, scales, made grocery lists, looked at labels, saw dietician, kept a log of everything we ate. I guess I only did it because it was for husband who didn't need to lose weight, but to bring cholesterol and blood sugar under control. And he did! And didn't complain! One must spend significantly more time in prep work. The magic is counting carbs!

I lost 42 pounds in 2010 and have kept it off. I was renewing my life insurance and had to have a nurse come by and weigh me, take blood pressure and do a couple of other little things. Anyway my blood pressure was high which I thought was strange. The nurse took it a few minutes later and it was still high. Now, at the time I never weighed myself but I took a peak at what she had noted as my weight and I was shocked! I weighed as much as a man!

At the time I ran 3X a week and went to the gym 3X a week as well which is why I was surprised that my blood pressure was high. Now I knew I couldn't add any more exercise as that obviously wasn't the problem. So I researched what I should weigh, what my BMI should be, analyzed what I was eating and realized that I was rewarding myself for exercising (you know, having that unneeded muffin when having coffee with the girls), having seconds at dinner (for fuel the next for running/gym), etc. Basically just using exercising as an excuse to eat instead of using it to be fit.

So I started researching and the best piece of information for me was learning that 1 pound is equal to 3500 calories so if I wanted to lose weight in order to bring down my blood pressure I would have to find 500 calories a day that I didn't need to eat. That unnecessary muffin at a coffee shop - probably was 500 calories, that extra helping at dinner was probably another 200 calories.

It took me 9 months to lose the weight. I didn't change my exercise regime just what and how much I was eating. I have always been a healthy eater but I was just eating too much. For me, counting calories is the best and easiest way for me to keep track of things. And now I weigh myself every single day.

Running is way easier, moving and doing daily things is easier, clothes fit better and I just feel better. It was well worth the journey.

4 years ago I lost 55 pounds. I've only gained back about 6 or 7, which I will probably lose over the summer when I can get out and walk more.

My weight has always been up and down since high school. In high school I was quite thin but my metabolism changed and I gained a lot of weight. Since then it has always been a struggle (I am 51 yrs old).

4 years ago my sister started losing weight and I thought if she can do it so can I. So I cut out a lot of foods like pasta, bread, rice, potatoes, muffins, etc. I ate lots and lots of fish, chicken and salads. I walked a lot, anywhere from 8 to 10 km a day.

In order to maintain my weight I still have to watch what I eat and exercise but not as much as when I was losing it. I feel much better health-wise and also I'm more confident since before it seemed like I was always the biggest one in the room (not that I was morbidly obese or anything but all my friends and most of my family are not overweight).

Your stories are very inspirational! Thank you so much for sharing.

Not as significant, but my wake up was when I went up a size. My pants were clearly too tight.

But, I want to share that my nephew, he's 32, lost 170 pounds in a two year period. His weight kept creeping up and up and it didn't help that he works in the culinary field.

He luckily has a friend who helps in weight loss and life coaching and they became roommates. With his encouragement and guidance my nephew began this difficult journey.

Although he would talk a little about his situation with my sister, he really didn't share. What his realization was was that he recognized that he had an eating disorder. And owned that. We are really proud of him.

I have always been a healthy weight. However, I am short and now that I am in my 60's I have lost an inch in my height. But, being a healthy weight, doesn't always mean you look good or feel good about yourself.

I have realized too, that I can't discuss weight with over weight people. They think that I magically maintain my weight! But, as Blfenton talks about in her post, it is something that you have to work at everyday.

It's in a way easier to not eat that 500 calorie muffin then it would be to try to exercise 500 calories worth.

only twice... ;) LOL, and not THAT significant.... it was child birth. ;)

Moni

Was the trip ok, sabbath? Edited to add, I found your other post.

Yes, I lost 30 lbs. and kept it off eating less and eating way fewer carbs. No potatoes, no rice, no pasta, open face sandwich (with only one slice of bread).

Back in my 20's I had a boyfriend that beat me up, real bad. Almost didn't survive it. As a result my confidence and everything that was me, was gone. It took a while to get out of the funk but before I did I started to starve myself and saw that I was losing weight. I took dieting seriously, dropped 100 pounds and got to stand in front of him in court and take back everything he took from me. The best part of it was when he said that I attacked him first, the judge looked at me, looked at him and said "oh really" , his reply was "she was a lot bigger then" . He got 6 months and I got my confidence back. I've gained some of it back but I'm a stronger person now and I don't have to hide behind the pounds.

Dropped the carbs! My friend at work had to adjust what she was going to do for a month while her husband was up for bariatric surgery. There's a special diet they must follow in order to make it to the table. She asked me to go on it, and what I noticed is, no carbs. Sure, there was no sugar too, but really low on the carbs. When I eat carbs, I totally gain weight regardless of the calories. Weird, but true. I've been on caloric reduction since March 9th and been steadily losing. Last night, a piece and half of a medium pizza, mushrooms and, ok, I'll admit it, sausage. That was it though. I gained TWO pounds overnight. Nothing else I ate all day long was bad in any way. Fresh fruit, a couple of eggs, a slice of cheese, water, etc. Nothing. Just the pizza. Any way, I went on this pre-bariatric surgery diet with my friend and I lost 35 pounds in one month. Her husband had the surgery and lost a lot of weight, but we did too and it's because we helped each other. Sure, she could do it at home, but having her work environment and a buddy helped.

I think the problem with people who don't have a problem with weight telling those who have a problem with weight how to lose it, is quite akin to me telling a diabetic how to live. My sugar level is always right at 100. Always. If it went up three points and I adjusted something to get it back down pales in comparison to the lengths which they must go to adjust in order to get back to 100.

Rob said, "I think the problem with people who don't have a problem with weight",

Are there really such people out there?

Also not sure if your comment was reaction to me saying I can't discuss weight with over weight people. I don't tell people what to do, just if the topic comes up share what I do. A cousin of mine said, "You don't really understand, since you don't have a problem!" Not that she realizes that I work really hard every day to maintain a healthy weight!

I have lost 100 pounds 4 different times in my life. Always foolishly went back to mindless eating. 74 years old now and know this is it, as far as getting my weight undercontrol. Have taken off 86 pounds in last year. Determined to be able to walk around stores and get around easily. Have nonfixable back problem, but use a cane if going a distance. A mile walk is not possible. Have about 6 pounds to be under 200 , a very big goal for me. I plan to get to 175, not on anyones chart, but know I am not having tissue reduction. Just eat less and avoid bread if possible . Keep fruit and yogurt on hand for munching. My best tip is, if feeling really hungry, have 1TAB of peanut butter. Use a real measuring spoon, it is not alot. That will take that feeling away almost immediately. Have to get used to just one TAB.

I didn't need to lose weight, but my health was suffering from a genetic predisposition for high cholestrol, high blood pressure, and type two diabetes. I took the bull by the horns, altered the types of foods that I eat drastically, and gained control of my health. I still take a mild diuretic once a day, but am off all other meds.

I do eat plenty of carbs, but in the form of fruits, veggies, grains, seeds, and nuts.

I also started low impact exercise....water aerobics, swimming, yoga, and Pilates. My fibromyalgia has been greatly improved with one or more of those activities on a daily basis. Plus, I'm taller, lol!

For most of my life I lost and gained 20-40 lbs. on a more or less regular basis. In my thirties I went to Weight Watchers, and gained the weight back when I (stupidly) went back to eating "normally." In my twenties in NYC, Dr. Robert Atkins was my physician. He diagnosed me as pre-diabetic and insulin-resistant, and I went on his diet, losing weight eating bacon, heavy cream, etc.

Decades later, I lived in PA, cooking three meals a day from scratch every day for my family. We had a big garden and ate well, and my husband and kids were slim, fit, and healthy. But as I went through menopause I was overweight, and my triglycerides were 547, several times normal. My doctor told me I'd have to cut way back on carbs in order to bring the triglycerides down. The carbs I ate were mostly homemade baked goods made with ingredients considered healthy, but they were clearly not healthy for me. I remembered my experience with Dr. Atkins, and went on a modified version of his low-carb diet, this time eliminating saturated fats as much as possible. No more bacon or heavy cream! I was 52, and felt like it was my last chance to do this right.

It worked. I lost 50 lbs. or thereabouts, and have kept most of it off.

I was close to 160 for many years. I weighed about that when I went into the US Navy. When I got out of the service, I weighed 240. Yikes. I had a sit-on-my-butt job and the beer and booze tasted good.

It took about 8 years, but I got it down to 200. Lots of physical activity. I got older and did less and I am back up to 215. Sheesh!

If I could get my muscles to work with me, rather than against me, I am sure that I get back to the 200 level. My doc would really like me to be under 170! No way.

Last May I decided to join Weight Watchers and I have lost 72 pounds since then. I had made some goals before I started: I want to wear t-shirts, go on a roller coaster, walk my dd across the field on senior night and feel good and finally I want to be at a healthy weight when my children get married,. Along with WW, I started walking more and going to the gym. I want to lose a total of 100 pounds.

Not a large amount, but I've always struggled with 10 lbs, though it was probably vanity more than anything. But as soon as I reached menopause two years ago the 10 turned overnight to 20! I'm on WW now and while it is coming off slowly, it is coming off. The 20 lbs really was a wake-call as it all went to a big roll around my waist and into my thighs. Hate that look :)

Other things that really helped me lose weight are keeping a food journal, counting calories and weighing myself every day. I even had an Excel spreadsheet to record my weights and created a line graph so I could see "in living color" how my weight was going down. A huge reward to losing the weight was fitting into some clothes that I had from my slimmer days - like getting a whole new wardrobe. I also happened to see a photo of myself when I was at my heaviest, so I had a photo taken to compare the before and after. It was totally amazing and so gratifying to see the change!

After my husband died almost 12 years ago, I realized that my weight had just kept creeping up - 5-6 pounds a year for many years. When I topped 200, I knew I HAD to do something or in a few years I'd be 250 and then 300 and then...dead!

I really didn't eat "bad" food, or snack or drink soft drinks. My portions were WAY too large, and I did love ice cream from time to time - too big a serving of ice cream. So, I upped my exercise at pulmonary rehab, cut my portions way down and before I knew it, I had lost 20 pounds. I continued and over a period of 2 years, lost 70 pounds. I was in great shape and felt better than I had in years! I had my life back!

Then, my prescription plan quit covering a needed drug and I ended up with a chronic infection in my lungs that I will never totally rid myself of, nor of the damage it did to my lungs. I cannot exercise as vigorously as I could so I've re-gained 20 pounds. That was several years ago and I have stayed at that weight and it's probably as good as it's going to get, due to my age and health problems. I'd love to be 20 pounds lighter, but that would involve eating about 800 calories daily for the rest of my life, and at my age, I'd be too weak to get out of bed if I did that.

Ones body fights keeping the weight off. It's not at all unusual for ones metabolism going into starvation mode after significant weight loss - it just grinds to a halt and one gains on a diet on which one once lost weight.

The key to being slender is to NEVER gain that weight in the first place, as once one has, it will be a battle and not easy to sustain.

THANKS for this thread and all the posts related to it, I read it early this am and it has been on my mind since.

Fall of 2009 DH one day said come first of Oct I am going to loose some weight, I thought about it...told him next day I would go along with a diet....I needed to loose 20 pounds.....I lost the 20 ...then realized I needed another 20 off. Eight month later I had lost 42lbs and he had lost 55 lbs.

i did the cooking...planned the menus....lot of veggies, fruits (fresh and no sugar canned) almost no bread...stopped baking all the sweets.....counted calories....weighed once a week....Sunday dinners were healthy but with beef steak, pork, or chicken. Once a week we treated ourself to a meal "out" from a reasonable healthy menu. We continued our exercise routine at The Y....we were never hungry..this all worked for us...

When stopping I had my weight down to 144 lbs..DH down to 182...he looked great...I looked sick....for my height it was 10 lbs to much, face to thin and it showed up the wrinkles..lol...really aged me.....so I put 10 back on...155 and I was happy...gradually another ten went on.....and since Christmas another five...OUCH.....DH has only put on a total of 6 to 8 lbs...and you cannot tell it....he says he knows it....

So the story is ......I am back to the diet cooking and DH is going along with me. Hopefully by the middle of summer I will be back to goal of 155.....it is a matter of exercise, diet, food portions, a life style change and dedication....

I constantly read any and everything on diets.....I keep a food/calorie count and exercise daily journal.....anything that will remind me, "too much food is not good."

anything that will remind me, "too much food is not good." shirl36

Exactly. I was eating healthy, no chips or cheezies or cookies or candy but I was eating too much food. When you eat too much food the pounds pile on regardless of the quality of food.

I must get back on my threadmill, I must get back on my threadmill, If I say this alot maybe I will start exercising again.

Do you know why getting enough sleep helps weight loss?

Because when you are sleeping, you are not eating!