Before pics!

radiant

New member
So, this is what I look like now:
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I weighed 285-287 in these pictures, I weigh 283 now (2 pounds gone in a week yay!).

I want to end up weighing about 160, because I think that'd be the ideal size for me. Not fat, but a little bit of meat on the bones. Since I've managed to lose two pounds in my first week, I'd like to try to maintain that, since I'm going to prom in May and I'd like to look a lot better before I buy a prom dress! I figure I've got two and a half months to go before prom, so I'm HOPING I can lose 20 pounds by then. I've been trying to eat like 1500 calories a day, and so far I've been successful. I spend a lot of time sitting on the computer, which has been my biggest downfall and the main reason I gained so much weight over the past two years (60 pounds!), so I've been going for walks, playing DDR, and playing tennis with my friend.

I'm going to take a picture of myself once a month while I'm working on cutting myself almost in half (Okay, that's a SLIGHT over-exaggeration.), and I'll come back and edit this thread every time so there's not a million little radiant threads running around.

Also, if anyone has any tips on targeted exercises so I can tighten up my arms and legs before prom so I can buy a sleeveless dress, that'd be great!
(And if any girls have tips on targeted exercise so I don't lose my cup size, that'd be nice too.. I've heard there are such things.. myth? They're not that big as it is, and I'd really like to keep them!)

Thanks in advance for any constructive criticism (IE things I should work on and how I should go about doing that) and support you guys can give me!
 
:waving: Hi, Radiant! Good for you for losing that first couple of pounds!:hurray: You are on your way, sweetie. I can see from your pics that you will be very pretty as you approach your goal! You look like the confident sort, which is ALWAYS attractive!

I suggest you drink loads of water and NO soda. Get/stay serious about your exercise. Did you research how many calories you need per day in order to lose, and do you also research exactly how many you are eating? If you have already lost 2, you are doing something right!

Here's to your success on the journey, and feeling beautiful in your prom dress.
Cheers,
ABBA
 
According to the calorie counter thing, I burn like 2500 calories a day doing pretty much nothing. So I decided that eating roughly 1500 calories a day and doing exercise like DDR and walking should be good. When summer comes around I'll have my gym membership again, and then I'll probably start doing weights and aerobics.
Yeah, I've been drinking a lot of water, but I don't really like soda anyways so that helps. :)
And thanks for the compliment! I have no idea what I'll look like when I'm thin, since I've been overweight since I was about 8 years old. I'm somewhat confident because I don't think I'm ugly, I just am obviously overweight, and it took me 8 years or so to come to terms with that (I always assumed I was ugly because I was fat, but then I gained a lot more confidence when I turned 16).
The hardest thing so far is finding things that are low in calories but have fiber, because I don't want to be hungry again in 20 minutes. Any suggestions?
 
Hi and thank you for your comment!

I want to say Good luck on your journey!
I belevie that you have picked the right diet to go on..... I tried 100's of diets the last 6 years and counting calories is truly the only one that works (for me at least).... the best thing is that if you feel like don't be on the diet for a week you don't have to as long as you don't eat more calories than you burn so you don't gain weight!....

I have lost almost 70 lbs in 1 1/2 year time and I have been on the diet maybe about 40% of that time....
My best advice to give you is to give it time...don't drive yourself crazy by thinking you have to loose weight every week!

Please feel welcome to ask me anything or if you need some support on your journey! I will be more than happy to help!
 
Great job on the first couple of pounds, just remember to stay determined and not get frustrated if you don't see changes on the scale. What matters i what you see in the mirror and how you feel when you wake up. I wish you the best of luck on your lifestlye change and if you have any questions, don't be afraid to ask...there are plenty of people around here who can help.
 
Hi and thank you for your comment!

I want to say Good luck on your journey!
I belevie that you have picked the right diet to go on..... I tried 100's of diets the last 6 years and counting calories is truly the only one that works (for me at least).... the best thing is that if you feel like don't be on the diet for a week you don't have to as long as you don't eat more calories than you burn so you don't gain weight!....

I have lost almost 70 lbs in 1 1/2 year time and I have been on the diet maybe about 40% of that time....
My best advice to give you is to give it time...don't drive yourself crazy by thinking you have to loose weight every week!

Please feel welcome to ask me anything or if you need some support on your journey! I will be more than happy to help!

That's definitely comforting to know that I can take a hiatus from dieting without gaining weight, but for now I'm so excited about it that I don't even mind. It's a lot more fun having a friend to do it with, and having something like looking great in a prom dress to look forward to.
I used to be an awesome soccer player, but I just don't have the stamina anymore, so the thought of being able to play sports well again is motivating as well.
Today I'm going to play a game of soccer with a bunch of other newbies like myself, and later this week I'm gonna go play some tennis. It's a really fun way to exercise!
Thanks so much for all your encouragement. :hug2:
 
Good luck!

I have to tell you though- the whole targeted exercise thing doesn't work. You've gotta work out your entire body to get everything looking good. Search the forum, I'm sure there's a sticky about this somewhere.
 
Well I'm working everything else out as well, I just especially want my arms tightened. Is there some sort of weight-lifting that could help with this?
 
Sadly not, no matter what you do fat will come off your body in a very specific pattern that is predetermined by genetics. You can lifts weights all you want and if your body decides that that energies makes you lose fat elsewhere that's what happens. The weight lifting will however help you protect the muscles that are in your arms so it's always a good idea. But no you can't spot reduce and just make one area lose faster or instead of another.
 
Welcome!

I'm sorta new to the boards myself. Just mustered up the courage to post my befores as well. And definately looking for some support along the way.

Good for you for getting involved and becoming more active. The computer can definately be a trap wasting away hours. The most important thing is what you eat and for me I found it easier to control my eating if I was doing a regular routine of exercise.

The other thing - you can't really spot reduce. It will come off the body the way it wants but that doesn't mean that you still can't focus on improving things along the way.

For my arms when I was working out before my wedding - I would walk and carry 2lb weights in each hand. Get the arms pumping a little. I definately had people notice the difference. (you can see a pic in my "The Beginning" thread). I have added that back into my routine as well.

Drink lots of water and keep yourself busy.

Oh yeah and I just read someone who said they set "No Food" zones. Like no food anywhere in the house except if they sat at the dining room table to eat it. And No food in the car. I know I'm guilty of sitting on the couch or at the computer desk and eating and while I'm driving.

Good Luck - Stick to it and you'll be well on your way.

And congrats on the 2lbs - that is definately a good start!!!
 
Thanks! One of my biggest problems with getting out and exercising is that I do all my schoolwork on the computer (virtual school) and I'm usually home alone. That's one of the reasons why DDR is such a Godsend for me; I can play alone at home and still have fun.
Yeah, the no food zones are a great idea. :) Thanks.
 
Also, if anyone has any tips on targeted exercises so I can tighten up my arms and legs before prom so I can buy a sleeveless dress, that'd be great!
(And if any girls have tips on targeted exercise so I don't lose my cup size, that'd be nice too.. I've heard there are such things.. myth? They're not that big as it is, and I'd really like to keep them!)

From what I've heard...you can't really target areas for fat loss. You can strengthen and firm up muscles by working specific areas but this doesn't mean that the fat around these muscles disappears. Your body will lose fat wherever it will. But as far as I'm concerned...anywhere is a good place. :) If we could really target where we lose fat...we'd all have skinny waists and big chests.:D

As for losing cup size: your cup size is determined by the difference between the fullest part of your bust and your chest (band). You will probably lose fat from both areas. Therefore, your bra size may change but the cup size may not. This has been the case for me. I have lost 4 inches in my bust since October but my overall cup has not changed because my band size is smaller too. Plus, the smaller the rest of you gets the bigger your chest will look anyways. LOL.

Good luck with the journey. Stick around here. The forum has been a great place for information and motivation!
 
Plus, the smaller the rest of you gets the bigger your chest will look anyways. LOL.

I was just going to say that! LOL!

Welcome to the forum Radiant.
Good job on your loss so far. I saw that you are active with DDR, but do you ever think about going for a walk? That could help burn some extra calories too.
 
Well, I walk my dog all the time. I also play tennis a couple times a week. I'm trying to get my gym membership back though, so I can start doing weights again.
I've lost weight plenty of times before, I've just never been able to keep it off. This time I'm determined to. :)
 
hi... im starting out too... and i would love to help support... im getting ready for prom and graduation... soo yup yup... by the way you are very pretty and once you reach your goal... im sure you will be gorgeous!!!
 
hi... im starting out too... and i would love to help support... im getting ready for prom and graduation... soo yup yup... by the way you are very pretty and once you reach your goal... im sure you will be gorgeous!!!

Thanks! You should keep me updated on your progress as well!
 
Playing tennis, playing soccer, playing DDR.. working on getting my gym membership back.. eating roughly 1500 calories a day but no more than 2000 (on my bad days).
 
i miss playing tennis... we live out in the boonies since i moved from germany... now its hickville arkansas... lol... no tennis courts around here... just horses goats and cows...

sounds like a really good plan... although counting calories isnt my strongpoint... i end up feel malnourished... im just trying to make better choices...
 
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