Weight loss and fitness sucess stories?

Pablodreamsofnew

Forgive me if this thread already exists but I thought it would be good motivation if people posted their success stories. How much have you lost? How long did it take? How do you feel?

Fitness how unfit were you? How fit are you now?

What differences do you notice?

I am just at the beginning of my story but I will post with update in a few months.

Mods can you fix the title please? I don't know how to edit it

fussyonion

MrsYelnekoff wrote: »

Forgive me if this thread already exists but I thought it would be good motivation if people posted their success stories. How much have you lost? How long did it take? How do you feel?

Fitness how unfit were you? How fit are you now?

What differences do you notice?

I am just at the beginning of my story but I will post with update in a few months.

Mods can you fix the title please? I don't know how to edit it

I have lost a little over 4 stone since July 2015.
I feel amazing.

I was extremely unfit before I started on this journey but now my fitness levels are improving no end.
I can actually RUN; I used to think I'd be one of those people who just can't do it, but I can.
I can walk long distances, at a brisk pace, without feeling breathless and tired.

I feel generally my health is better; I have lots more energy and I'm so much happier in myself.
I think back to before this and how unhappy and miserable I was.
I don't know why I didn't do this sooner.

I find eating healthily makes me feel well. I didn't notice before but when I ate bad, I felt bad. I never felt 100%.
It's the best thing I ever did for myself.

Macy0161

Lost over 7 stone - was pushing 20 stone, now down between 12 stone 4 and 12 stone 6 over the last 3 years.

Diet wise, arsed around for a year or so with Weight Watchers and the likes, but it was using the sticky on here to work out maintenance, cutting that to a 500 calorie deficit and then (honestly) calorie counting using myfitnesspal. Always kept a night for beer and crisps and socialising - you have to make sustainable changes and look after your mental health too!

Exercise wise, started off walking and cycling on a cheap and nasty bike. My aim was to "earn" 500 calories a day from exercise (brought a garmin with HRM). Cycling wise I used to have to stop several times on the 10km loop I started with. Once I could do that loop, I started commuting a few days a week, and then up to most days a week of a similar distance (driving so far and cycling the rest). My cycling is now up to 100km plus spins at the weekend. Walking has become running - mainly trail running if I can possibly help it. Completed my first sprint triathlon yesterday.

I would say that tracking the way I did made me make smaller, incremental diet changes - but that turned out to be sustainable rather than a big bang of unhealthy to healthy. I am happy with my diet now. However, I am finding the transition away from counting hard tbh. I'm not sure there's a way around that. There has to be some degree of calorie counting to lose weight imo, even for portion control.

Feel 100% better. Only regret is not doing it sooner to be honest - all those wasted years. No point kidding anyone, it is hard. Not particularly complicated but hard. Harder and longer than giving up the smokes in my experience (no one comes around the office pushing cigs on you like they do with cake/ biscuits/ sweets!).

metamorphosis

I lost a tad over 6 stone and have kept it off ticking on close to 8 years this summer.

I did zero activity and honest to god had a terrible diet. A typical day was a breakfast roll, a few fizzy drinks, a chicken fillet roll with chocolate and crisps, then home to mammy for dinner and I would continue to eat away for the night until bed.

The first two changes I made was to cut out all fizzy drinks and walk to and from my part time college job (1.5 miles each way). The first stone flew off and then it was a simple case of making small changes as I learned more (boards was a haven for me in those days). I went the the gym and gradually increased my activity. Started going to the odd fitness class or two when my confidence permitted, then tried a little running and cycling and got big into those sports. This weight loss happened over a 2 year time frame. When I had lost the weight, I began doing some duathlons, got a few marathons under the belt and shorter races and now work in fitness.

The crux was small changes, surrounding yourself with supportive people and NOT beating yourself up. It will be hard and some days you will feel you are going backwards. When I first lost all the weight, I became a little 'too' involved in food and exercise. it took me a while to form a really healthy and positive relationship with food and exercise and life in general. My advice on the training part - get a good coach. It makes ALL the difference. Good coaches are hard to come by and cost more money - but are worth every single penny.

The difference between now and then in unthinkable. A stronger (both physically and emotionally), confident person.

LCD

Bloody hell, some amazing stories here. Chapeau to the posters!!