I really needed to read this today, having stepped on the scale last night after about 6 months and being mildly horrified. This is very inspiring. Congratulations!!

Thank you for sharing this!!! So inspiring! And joyful!

Well done! I have about 100 to lose too, but I’ve lost 8 so...only 92 more to go? Sometimes I’m depressed about it, like I’m doing all this work to get below 200 but when I get there I will still have such a long road back under 150. I’m losing around a pound a week and it’s slowww going. Anyway I applaud you op! Needed the inspiration today!

Congratulations OP!!! Thanks for the update...so inspiring.

Well done, OP! So inspiring. I am happy for you.

Hello, OP here again!!

I just wanted to come back with an update. All of you were so kind and encouraging, thank you again for all your encouragement!! I read a post about someone else on a weight loss journey, so I wanted to update mine.

I’m now down 100 pounds. It’s been incredibly difficult not to go back to my old unhealthy eating habits during lockdown, but even in isolation I continued to lose- but it definitely hasn’t been easy!

I had planned to celebrate my weight loss with a trip to Africa to go gorilla trekking this summer, but obviously coronavirus has changed things. I still keep my gorillas on the wall by my treadmill as motivation, because I will go there next year when it’s safe. My eye is still on the prize.

Lockdown for me was the best time to lose weight, because I was able to control my environment. If I didn’t bring unhealthy food in the house, I couldn’t eat it. When I got sad or stressed, I had to eat an apple or carrots because that’s all I had for snacks. That’s not fun, so I didn’t eat my feelings.

I didn’t have food to be my friend or keep me company or make me feel better, so I had to be creative. I live alone, so the loneliness was intense. I have been doing a lot of art projects, organising and zoom calls.

Weight watchers!! I cannot express how grateful I am for this program. They saved me, in quarantine. The meetings went virtual, so I could go to a meeting anytime and anywhere. In the beginning, I did 3-4 a day. Now I do 3-4 a week. Instead of travelling, I ‘travelled’ with WW on zoom and did meetings in New Zealand, the uk, Canada and Australia. I also ‘went’ to nyc, LA, Alaska and hawaiii! It was so helpful to just talk to people who understood how I was feeling. Plus there are so many great tips from members!!

My treadmill is now in front of my TV, so I just walk and watch Netflix since right now many of us are watching more tv! I made it a rule that if I wanted to watch tv, I first had to except use in front of the tv. I do an hour a day. I also took advantage of the 90 peloton trial (it’s back to only 30 days) and did all their non-bike classes. Amazon prime also has fin videos for aerobics, Zumba, and toning.

Goals. Early on in this journey I made myself little achievable goals. Every week I chose something small, and then week after week the goals became habits and now it’s like I have all these layers of a new lifestyle. The key is to make them achievable goals. Every Sunday I write my goal for the week. I also made big goals, my latest is 15,000 steps a day (m-f) which isn’t easy on lockdown! As long as I do treadmill for an hour a day, I am almost there. Some day I don’t get there, and that’s okay. Maybe my knee hurt or I was tired and that’s okay. One of my goals is actually to forgive myself, because this isn’t about being perfect. Just trying my best. When I achieve even the small goals, I have such a sense of pride and that’s huge for me because 100 pounds ago I didn’t believe in myself. I didn’t feel like I had anything to be proud of. Now, every week I accomplish something and it’s another way I can feel good about myself.

I continued meal prepping, tracking and portioning my food. Especially because I was home all day by the fridge! As long as I don’t bring trigger food into my house, I’m okay.

I’ve been reading more. When I’m reading, I’m not eating. Like many of us, I’ve also organised my whole home- including my fridge and freezer with compartments. It actually saves me money, because I can see everything and I only buy what I need.

I hope that all of you are doing well and that your quarantine/lockdown was as good as can be expected. I live in a hotspot, so we are still locked down. So, I’ll just continue along on this journey. I really look forward to updating you all when I reach my goal weight: 150 pounds.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:One of the best posts I've read here, or online in general, in a very, very long time. thank you OP.

Agreed! And the responses are so positive! Maybe we should ask to have the thread locked before that changes.

I know. For me, the best part is the OP put herself into a vulnerable position and rather than just ask for praise, she came here with extremely helpful AND hopeful feedback on how she turned her life around. People are here for her, and not judging it. Let's stay in this world.

I love this. It’s so nice to stumble onto a thread like this when it seems like all of social media is obsessed with politics lately. I have been eating emotionally lately as well, and darn if I’m not going to walk on my treadmill tonight instead of snacking!!

Thank you OP-and all the supportive PPs too!!! So inspirational and reality based. My 'new year' is always my birthday (tomorrow) so perfect timing to lift my resolve. Congratulations to you and best of luck for all who you've touched with this.

I just love how losing that weight has opened you up to trying a new adventure like gorilla trekking. Only a year ago that simply would not have been possible for you.

This is so cool. Congrats op. Also, I have to ask: where are you gorilla tracking???!!!

Amazing, OP! Way to go!

OP, that is just so fantastic. Congratulations!!!

I am almost your height and my peak weight was 243.3 lbs. I'm under 220 now and my first major goal is getting under 200 like you.

Weirdly, I'm also considering gorilla trekking and am really on the fence. I'm in my early 50s w/ crummy knees and anxious about the physicality. How are you gauging your fitness ability for the gorilla trek?

Thx for the inspiration!!

Anonymous wrote:One of the best posts I've read here, or online in general, in a very, very long time. thank you OP.

Agreed! And the responses are so positive! Maybe we should ask to have the thread locked before that changes.

One of the best posts I've read here, or online in general, in a very, very long time. thank you OP.