Another (almost) Success Story

[Snowangel81598]

I just posted this in my blog and thought that people here might like to see it, too.

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Well, it’s official. I’ve had suspicions for the past couple of weeks, but didn’t really know until today that it is true. I almost can’t believe it.

So what’s the big news, you ask? No, I’m not pregnant. No, my husband isn’t cheating on me. No, I haven’t been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for blogging. The news is that as of today, I wear a size 8. Yes, a size 8, as in a single digit on the tag in my jeans. I tried on 8’s in three different brands at Macy’s, just to be sure. For me, this is an occasion for celebration! I haven’t been able to wear this size since I was a freshman in high school.

For those who don’t know me personally, I’ve spent the last year and a half working hard to lose weight. Low carbing is my method of choice. (If you are interested in learning more, ask, and I’ll point you in the right direction.) In October of 2005 I weighed in at a little over 200 lbs. I count my starting weight as 205, but I don’t really know for sure what it was, since I didn’t have a scale and only weighed at other people’s houses. I was growing out of my size 16 stretch jeans. I knew it was getting bad because I didn’t like to get down on the floor to play with my daughter because all my belly fat squished my lungs when I leaned over and made it hard to breathe. I preferred to wear slip-on shoes because tying my shoelaces was so uncomfortable. I had very little energy and tried not to stand up and sit down too much because my knees were starting to hurt. All these things should have clued me in that I needed to make a change, but somehow I just kept telling myself that it wasn’t that bad. The person I saw in the mirror needed to lose some weight, but certainly wasn’t obese.

Then I saw a picture taken of me at my birthday dinner. I actually really saw myself. I don’t know why it’s so much different to see it in a picture rather than the mirror, but it was different. I could no longer deny that my weight was out of control. Something clicked in my mind and I decided at that moment, “This is it. I have to lose this weight. I’m done being fat.” I knew that the Atkins plan worked for me because I had lost around 40 pounds a few years earlier on that plan. (The weight came back because of a lot of drama in my life that took my focus off my eating plan as well as having and nursing two babies.)
I changed the way I was eating that day and I haven’t looked back since. I certainly haven’t been perfect, but I have been consistent and I think that that is the one of the primary things that has gotten me to where I am now.

Along the way, I met a very special group of ladies on LowCarbFriends.com that have helped me to be accountable and stick with this thing when it got hard. Actually, there was one lady in particular who has been with me through it all. Pri17cess, I don’t think I ever said “Thank You”. I hope you know how much I appreciate you.

So, back to my original topic. Size 8. I actually thought that it was not possible. I really believed that size 10 was probably as small as I could go. If you had told me two years ago that I could get down to an 8 and even think about trying for a 6, I probably would have thought that you were making some kind of cruel joke at my expense. All my life I’ve been told that I have what are affectionately referred to as “good birthing hips”. My mom told me that I was a “pear-shape” when I was a teenager, since I carried most of my weight in my hips and thighs. This was true, but it led me to believe that it was a condition that would never change. I was told many times that I “carried my weight well” which was supposed to be a compliment, I know, but told me that I was just meant to be on the heavy side. Imagine my surprise, then, to discover that I’m not as big-boned as I thought. My hips aren’t forever doomed to stay size 10 or larger.

I still have a little bit of weight to lose. Maybe 10 or 15 lbs. I don’t really know for sure because I’ve never been at this weight as an adult. I’m just going to have to get there and see how it looks on me. I think that I’ll know if I ever get past the point of looking slim to emaciated. If not, my husband loves me and will tell me if he thinks I’ve lost too much.

It’s funny for me to talk about the possibility of losing too much. I’ve been at least slightly overweight since I started puberty. I spent several years trying to convince myself that I should just accept that I was overweight because I didn’t want to spend the rest of my life loathing my body because it wouldn’t function like others and be naturally slim on the typical American diet of pasta, donuts and french fries. Being too skinny was not something that could happen to me. But here I am, trying to make sure that not only do I get myself to a healthy weight, but keep myself in a healthy mindset about it, too. It’s a paradigm shift, to be sure.

It didn’t happen overnight, and I think I’m glad it didn’t. I’ve had a few stalls, (and actually am in the middle of a long one right now) but I think those times have helped give me time to adjust to my smaller body as well as the changes in the way people interact with me as a result of it.

I’m not ready to say that I’m at my goal weight, yet. But this is a big milestone for me, and I couldn’t help but share it with anyone who would listen (or read, as the case may be).

[lisa89]

YAY!!! ..i think i will be the first to comment(woohoo!!!)...im VERY proud and Encouraged by you!...That is alot of weight lost girl! ...I really wish you the very best. I stories Like this one...Please post pics Soon.

-T.T.

[Diana]

ISn't it the best feeling in the world? Keep it up!!!

[Rory8343]

Great post and I love the line:

"I certainly haven’t been perfect, but I have been consistent"

I think that is what we need to strive for. Consistency.
Well said!

[Sarajewel]

Great post! Congratulations!

[LeanLioness]

Congratulations!!!!

[pooticus]

Congratulations girl!!! That's awesome!!!

[HealthyQ]

Thanks Snowangel for posting! I came on the boards today for some inspiration to believe in myself. Thanks for being a great example of focus and determination and Belief!

[Thin4me]

WOW! What a great testiment to this WOE! I needed to read your story. I can't seem to get it into my mind that this weight isn't coming off by the end of next week or even next month! SLOW is better (from what I have read). I am in the middle of a stall. Please tell me how long you have been on your average stalls?
You are such an inspiration! I look forward to being where you are and seeing where you go from here! Great job!

[JennyJ]

From one San Jose girl (grew up there) to the next ~ CONGRATULATIONS!!! What an amazing post. To be successful with weight loss having an attitude like yours ("I changed the way I was eating that day and I haven’t looked back since") is an absolute MUST. You should be so very proud of yourself!!!!

[sugarless4life]

WHAT A TERRIFIC POST!! Congratulations on taking CHARGE of your body and your health!!!


Betty

[ceceee8935]

WOW Great job. I cant wait to be in those size 8's. Im getting there soon. I love great success stories. They truly keep me motivated.

[WATCH-ME-SHRINK]

Great post. Very inspiring. It's posts like this that keep us all focused and motivated toward our goals.

Most importantly, you've been consistent -- even in the times when you didn't seem to be making as much progress.

Bottom line: You've never quit. You kept pedaling.

Congratulations on your accomplishments!

[CurlyGirly]

Thanks for sharing your story.KUTGW!

[dietsprite]

Originally Posted by Snowangel81598

It didn’t happen overnight, and I think I’m glad it didn’t. I’ve had a few stalls, (and actually am in the middle of a long one right now) but I think those times have helped give me time to adjust to my smaller body as well as the changes in the way people interact with me as a result of it.

First of all, Congratulations! And this is a great post, thanks for sharing!
I feel the same way. It's taken me just under five years to lose almost 100lbs, which is longer than I wanted it to take when I started, but I'm glad now that it took this long because I feel like it's helped me to adjust better in the same ways.

[Snowangel81598]

Originally Posted by Thin4me

WOW! What a great testiment to this WOE! I needed to read your story. I can't seem to get it into my mind that this weight isn't coming off by the end of next week or even next month! SLOW is better (from what I have read). I am in the middle of a stall. Please tell me how long you have been on your average stalls?
You are such an inspiration! I look forward to being where you are and seeing where you go from here! Great job!

I have certainly had those times, especially at the beginning. Once I decided that I was finally ready to do it, I wanted the weight off NOW. It can be really easy to not see the changes that are happening. The way we see ourselves in the mirror is such a funny thing. Even though I'm down nearly 60 lbs, I still sometimes look in the mirror and see my old 205 lb self. It's still a work in progress.

I don't really consider it a "stall" until it's been 3 weeks or more. Often when I stopped losing for a while, I realized that I had been allowing too many "free" meals or not being as aware of hidden carbs.

My current stall has lasted about 2 months. I'm not at all concerned about it right now for a few reasons.
1) Being under 150 has been a bigger thing emotionally for me than I expected. I'm trying to take some time to adjust my brain to the fact that I'm almost at goal and still have the same problem areas as always (though they are quite a bit smaller than they were).
2) I spent quite a bit of time at 148 when I was a teenager, and most of my stalls have happened at other "set points". 191. 175. 160.
3) I have upped my carbs in preparation for maintanence, so a slow-down is bound to happen.
4) Apparantly things are still changing because I've gone down a size in the last few weeks even though the scale has stayed the same.

Just keep on keepin' on, and you'll be here before you know it.

Originally Posted by JennyJ

From one San Jose girl (grew up there) to the next ~ CONGRATULATIONS!!! What an amazing post. To be successful with weight loss having an attitude like yours ("I changed the way I was eating that day and I haven’t looked back since") is an absolute MUST. You should be so very proud of yourself!!!!

I am very proud of myself. It's not something that I'm comfortable saying most of the time because people can take it the wrong way and I'm not really a "Hey! Look at me! I'm so great!" kind of person. I've only recently started realizing that it's ok to appreciate my own accomplishment. Saying it here is different because I know that success stories helped me when I first started and also when I was having a hard time or feeling depressed.

Originally Posted by dietsprite

First of all, Congratulations! And this is a great post, thanks for sharing!
I feel the same way. It's taken me just under five years to lose almost 100lbs, which is longer than I wanted it to take when I started, but I'm glad now that it took this long because I feel like it's helped me to adjust better in the same ways.

Congrats to you too!

I really have been amazed how much emotional adjusting was involved in this whole weight loss thing. For all my angst in the beginning about not losing faster, I am glad that I didn't lose 50 lbs in 3 months, as I've seen occasionally here. I don't know that I could have sustained it. I think it would have been too much for me to handle, too fast, and I probably would have freaked out and gained it all back. I definately think, in my case, slow loss has been beneficial.

[pri17cess72]

Yay Angel! You are truly amazing and You have been and inspiration to me as well. I am so happy to have known you through this journey. You are a good friend of mine and I look forward to writing my own celebration blog and thanking you!!!!!!!!!!

Congratulations!

[SA_Momma]

An inspiring post~thanks for posting and congrats on the transformation

[hummingbird11]

this is an AWESOME post and I just pasted it in my Blog!

GREAT SENTENCE:
I changed the way I was eating that day and I haven’t looked back since. I certainly haven’t been perfect, but I have been consistent and I think that that is the one of the primary things that has gotten me to where I am now.

YAY ANGEL !!!!!

XO,
HB

[LoraJR72]

Wow!

[thindreams2reality]

AMAZING!!!! AWESOME!!!!

[jgw]

Congrats!

[sunflowerintx]

What an inspirational post!

I've only lost about 4 lbs in 3.5 weeks and I'm getting frustrated. I also walk pretty often so it's doubly frustrating.

I'm just wondering how long I should wait before I decide this isn't working.

[Snowangel81598]

Originally Posted by sunflowerintx

What an inspirational post!

I've only lost about 4 lbs in 3.5 weeks and I'm getting frustrated. I also walk pretty often so it's doubly frustrating.

I'm just wondering how long I should wait before I decide this isn't working.

It is working. You've lost more than a pound a week! That's great! Now, I know it's not the huge results that people sometimes get with Low Carb diets, but you are losing. If you decide that it's not working for you, what are you going to do? Quit? Go back to eating the way you used to? The way you gained your weight? What will that accomplish?

Slow loss is still loss and it tends to stay off longer than fast loss. If you don't feel like you are losing fast enough, post your typical menu, and the experts around here can take a look at it and see if there might be something there that is slowing you down.

I do know that it is frustrating when you aren't losing as quickly as you'd like, but you have to look at the big picture. If you continue losing at this rate, in one year, you'll be down more than 50 lbs! That's more than I lost in a year.

[GGWilson]

"I certainly haven’t been perfect, but I have been consistent and I think that that is the one of the primary things that has gotten me to where I am now."

I agree, probably some of the best words of wisdom I've heard in a while! Great Job and Congrats!

[Snowangel81598]

Originally Posted by hummingbird11

this is an AWESOME post and I just pasted it in my Blog!

GREAT SENTENCE:
I changed the way I was eating that day and I haven’t looked back since. I certainly haven’t been perfect, but I have been consistent and I think that that is the one of the primary things that has gotten me to where I am now.

YAY ANGEL !!!!!

XO,
HB

Thanks HB! I appreciate your encouragement.