I've lost 125 pounds

[MaineDem]

Today I reached the 125-pound loss mark. It's taken me since March of 2002 and I still have a way to go before I'm that cute, petite, 50something woman I've known was in there all along. :-)

I'm doing this on my own; healthy meal plans and exercise. And lots and lots of water!

I just had to share. Thanks!

[Gin]

1. thats great..keep up the good work...

gin

[AnnabelLee]

2. Woohoo!!!

Congratulations!:toast:

Keep up the good work!

[demnan]

3. Congratulations!

You just might inspire me and frankly doing it the slow way is best for your health. Thanks for sharing.

[Ellen Forradalom]

4. I found 20 of them

Would you like them back?

[LuLu550]

5. Fabulous!

What great will power and perserverance you have!
Congratulations!:party:
LuLu

[sujan]

6. yohoo

I trimmed down from 190 to 159 in 6 months.

My secret?
1 hour of daily walk.

Here's some relevant links for those who are interested.

http://www.fourmilab.ch/hackdiet/www/hackdiet.html
http://www.pueblo.gsa.gov/cic_text/health/walking/walking.htm
http://www.presidentschallenge.org
http://www.fitday.com
http://groups.google.com/groups?hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&safe=off&group=misc.fitness.walking
http://www.runnersworld.com/home/0,1300,1-152,FF.html
http://www.niddk.nih.gov/health/nutrit/nutrit.htm#pubs

[underpants]

7. Congrats

That is impressive.

[KC21304]

8. Congratulations. You are my hero.

Would appreciate any other sage advice you can give to us who have not been successful. I have started a 1/2 hour walking every day, one half of it up hill, but haven't gotten down to business on the diet thing yet so haven't seen much on the scale. You have made my day.

[Mixxster]

9. Congrats, MaineDem!

And hang in there. Healthy eating and exercise- the best way to lose and keep off weight.

:thumbsup:

[northernsoul]

10. Wow!

Good for you! Remember that it's the person inside that's the importnat part, though.

[THUNDER HANDS]

11. excellent

I've lost 20 this month and I'm about 25 away from my goal weight.

Wow, I can't imagine losing 125 lbs.

Wow.

[buddhamama]

12. wow!

congratulations and good for you, MaineDem-very impressive. :toast:

[madmax]

13. Congratulations!!!

Keep up the good work!

[VelmaD]

14. wow...you beat me

I've lost 90 pounds in the last year or so and I did it the exact same way - eating better, exercising, and drinking lots of water.

Just out of curiosity I'm wondering if you've had the same experience I have. People ask me how I did it and when I say "eat right, exercise, drink lots of water" they don't like that answer. (I guess they all want to hear there's some magic, easy, quick answer.)

Anyway, congrats on your weight loss. :-)

Darth Velma

[bearfan454]

15. I lost 80 pounds in one year.

All I did was completely eliminate all sugar. That means no pop. Nothing white either because white things(potatoes, rice, bread) are starches and starches turn into sugar in your bloodstream. This is sort of like the Atkins diet because sugar turns into carbohydrates. So you are actually knocking out the carbs by eliminating the sugar before it becomes a carb. Carrots and corn are very high in sugar. Read every label. If it says dextrose, fructose, or corn syrup, it is sugar. Almost everything has these things in it. Hot dogs are the worst. You can eat a lot of green veggies, tomatoes, meat, and I would make sandwiches with Russian Rye bread that has less than 1 gram of sugar per slice. Almost all lunchmeats have corn syrup or dextrose except for some brands of corned beef. This really worked for me people. I hope it helps for anyone wanting to try it.

[sujan]

18. you forgot: exercise

It is a vital catalyst.

[VelmaD]

20. I think it all depends...

on your body. I did something pretty different and it works for me. I did completely cut out sodas - I don't drink anything but water and one glass of calcium enriched orange juice everyday. I cut out mayo and replaced it with mustard. Replaced the ham with turkey and occasionally chicken. After a while it all starts to add up.

I count calories and fat but I actually get a pretty high percentage of my diet from carbs. (It still isn't a lot because I significantly reduced my caloric intake - cut it by more than half.) I eat lots of bread and pasta and rice. Granted I do a lot of exercise to burn it off as fuel - a couple of hours in the gym 4 or 5 days a week.

I guess my advice to anyone trying to lose weight would be to find something that works for you and stick with it.

-V-

[salmonhorse]

16. Then have I got a joke for you ~

A drunk stumbles out one bar, hops in his car and off to another. At the next bar he pumps two quarters into the parking meter out front which then reads: '30'...to which he shouts,

"Damn It!! I just lost 100lbs!"

All kidding aside...Great Job!

:toast:

[Rose Siding]

17. Just remember

Boys like girls with big butts :-) (just one of the half-truths Mother gave me)

Major congratulations- Your accomplishment is a personal triumph to be celebrated! :party:

[rabid_nerd]

19. I was expecting a joke...

... as in I finalized my divorce/broke up/etc.

Great job! You've lost a whole person!

Agree on lots of water

[Rabrrrrrr]

21. Holy Crow!!

Congratulations!!!

Celebrate with one of those delicious Maine lobsters. Yum!!

on edit: deleted some stuff, thinking you were MaineMary. I should have read better!

[Maine Mary]

22. Wow! You must be looking really hot

Since you already looked great in Oct when you helped me on my campaign. Irish women are good looking no matter what size though dontcha think? ;-)

[KC]

23. It sounds like

a great plan and congratulations !
Will you share what makes up your healthy meal plans with all of us?

KC

[Sperk]

24. WOW! That is soooo coool.

:-)

[mitchum]

25. That is fantastic!

Congratulations

[playahata1]

26. Congrats!

Admire your discipline and commitment. Keep it up.

[catpower2000]

27. HOLY CRAP!

Congratulations! :toast:

My measly 40 pounds lost seems like peanuts in comparison--but I can tell you, it is SO MUCH FREAKING FUN when you get to your goal weight! Wait'll you get to buy clothes in your goal size!! There is nothing I like better now than grabbing those size 6's and taking them into the dressing room!!! :) :) :) :) :)

Cat

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

28. NOW I AM OFFICIALLY INSPIRED

I had always been in the 120 to 130 range. I was active, surfed several times a week (even in the dead of winter) then I had back surgery and even with a walking program I gained 40 pounds. Everytime I have attempted to lose weight I have backtracked ( haven't gained but haven't lost and maintained the loss)

Starting today, I will create a set of practices designed to knock off that 40 pounds no matter the amount of time it takes.

The fact that you did it and had the patience to let it take a year reminds me that in the big scheme of things if a year goes by I can either weight MORE or LESS...thankyou for your inspiration.

[Droopy]

29. Congratulations, MaineDem

I'm on a diet, too. I just started mine about three weeks ago, but I'm getting good results. It's stories like yours that inspire me to keep going.

[whoYaCallinAlib]

30. Congratulations. How much water is "lots and lots" and

why do you think that water helps so much?

[newyawker99]

31. Way to go MaineDem!!!

Keep up the great work!! :thumbsup:

[sujan]

32. check this out

http://www.health24.co.za/dietnfood/Weight_Centre/15-51,18525.asp

[Kenneth ken]

33. W O W ! ! !

:wow:

:bounce:

:hi:


Congratulations to you.

[MaineDem]

34. WOW

I go away for the day and your responses have just blown me away!

Thank you all so much.

Let me try to answer some questions - and I know I'll forget a few. I drink about 3 liters of water a day. As long as I'm not in the car. But I do know where all the good restrooms are within a 200 mile radius!

I've also tried to cut out the refined stuff. No white bread, no white rice, no sugar. I love wild rice but it's so darned expensive. (I find most healthy food to be a bit more costly.)

Maine Mary...I won't be in your district next year. :-(

I read a book by Bob Greene called "Get with the Program". I got much inspiration and education from reading it. I find so much of this is a mental game I play with myself. And it's a lifestyle not a diet. I won't be able to stop eating this way.

I even went to Olive Garden for lunch today. I had linguine with tomato sauce and salad with low fat dressing. And 3 big glasses of water. I resisted the breadsticks. Arghhhhhh.

So thanks again and congrats to all of you who have also lost weight. It's not easy. But, trust me, if I can do this anyone can. And to think I'm putting the same effort into the 2004 election!!! :-)

[Nikia]

35. Good job

Losing a significant amount of weight is a big deal. Congrats.

[Sheet22]

36. Yahoo!!!

That's fantastic:wow:! I'm sure you feel as great as I bet you look.

Congrats!!!

[librechik]

37. Congrats MD! It's the exercise that turns on the magic.

I'm starting to lose (and move) again since I had my shoulder surgery last month. I found a Gazelle FreeStyler at a yard sale last weekend (great toy) But You are now my official shining star!

[inthecorneroverhere]

38. Congrats to MaineDem and have fun with that Gazelle

Congrats to MaineDem! Wow! That's incredible!

Gazelles are fun! When I step off of one, I feel like I've been flying!

[BigMcLargehuge]

39. You go Maine!!!!

How do you like your new body? Doesn't fitness feel great? I know it sounds obvious, but I'd forgotten how great it felt to be fit until I worked hard to be fit again.

I'm rambling...

Great job!!!!!!!!

[geniph]

40. My husband could do that

...he'd just have to divorce me to do it...

[Oracle]

41. A half hour brisk walk each day, no dairy products, no sweets and

no eating after 7:30 at night and you'll lose 5 elbows (lbs.) a week.

Oh yeah, drink lots of water, not diet soft drinks.