YES, it works, stick with it! i went from 230 pounds to 150!

[uiyp99]

WOW!!!! Awesome!!!

YOu not only lost weight but many, many years on your appearance, you seriously do look like a mother/daughter pic there.

Great work!!

[ladybugnessa]

everyone is right it does look like mother daughter...

well done! thanks for sharing this.

[LinnieX]

LOL about the mother daughter thing! ha!

anyway, i followed the phases in the book, and currently swim around in phase three.

i dont over eat anymore,
plus i stopped drinking alchohol on a regular basis.

also, calcium supplements helped alot,
and,
meditation. i contribute the "fountain of youth" to yoga and meditation.

your mileage may vary!

thanks for the compliments everyone! i used to say "i'll be happy when i lose the weight" but i had to BE happy to lose the weight!

[berkeleybabe]

thanks for the compliments everyone! i used to say "i'll be happy when i lose the weight" but i had to BE happy to lose the weight!

This is a really great mindset. So true!

I am not as tall as you, but have the same starting and goal weights....your story is really inspirational...THANK YOU!!!!!

[realme150]

I am where you were when you began. I,too, have a goal of 150. I have 78 lbs to go. I know it will take a while to get there but I find these board are helping me make the right choices.

Thanks for posting the pics. Can't wait to see the real me at 150!

[clipper24]

i used to say "i'll be happy when i lose the weight" but i had to BE happy to lose the weight!

Your attitude is one reason you were so successful.

For me, I found an attitude based on non-perfection, long term thinking, goal flexibility, self monitoring, and acceptance of my own capabilities key to my success.

Were there attitude (s) that you needed to change to stay on plan for 3 years?

[dragonessa]

i used to say "i'll be happy when i lose the weight" but i had to BE happy to lose the weight![/quote]





WOW! THanks for the pix, your encouragement and the above sentence, how true is that!!!!

I remember how unhappy I was at my lowest weight ever . I had slimmed and slimmed thinking I could fix that unhappiness and work off/hunger away everything I didnt like about myself. It didnt work. Now I am enjoying the ride and the experiences, totally getting to know myself anew.

[LinnieX]

Hi everybody! i just dug up my old log in, and logged back in as today is day one of Phase 1 for me, again. I'm back up to 175-ish. I contribute this to eating whatever i wanted, whenever i wanted, for the past two years. I've also moved to Florida in that time, and got married. I dont want to change sizes, but my size 10's are getting to tight!

anyway, I've gained back 20-ish pounds and want to lose that again, i'm STARVING right now but will go heat up my lunch.

wish me luck! we can do this!

[RedRox]

Be sure to check the food lists and meal planning guidelines linked into the P1 FAQ sticky topic. Some things might have changed since the last time you went through this! Good luck and best wishes on the current effort!

[food-lover]

Wow LinnieX well done for "catching" it before it becomes too much to handle. I'm sure you'll have no trouble getting back down to where you were.

So many life changes - congrats on them all and good luck for the future.

[LinnieX]

HI again everybody!

it is day 13 of phase 1 for me, and i'm sad to say i've gained at least three pounds. the same thing happened to me the first time around too; i belive my body is not used to all the salt from the nuts.

i've gone through my head to see where i'm not being honest with myself, and it just struck me that i shouldnt be having milk. There was also that time 10 days ago i woke up at 2am and ate a pack of cupcakes before i realized it. Add that to the fact that i've started this diet the week i wound up with a one pound supply of fresh vanilla beans, and all the vanilla sugar, syrup and related vanilla - sweetened access i've had might have taken its tole, so i'm going to stay on phase 1 a bit longer.

i have also been relying heavily on sugar free candy too, which i will cut back on.

for the record:
i'm a female, five foot 11 and 3/4 inches (a hair shy of 6ft)
1/20/2010 - 177.5 pounds
2/1/2010 - 179 pounds

[judyBM]

Do not get down on yourself. Last time you were very successful and you WILL BE VERY SUCCESSFUL AGAIN!!! The start of a diet or program is always the hardest. You have to retrain your mind and body and that can be challenging. You caught the weight at the right time instead of letting it go on and on. You can do this and you will do this. You have worked too hard in the past to give it all up now. These forums really help. Keep going sand tell us about your success

[bonniejournal]

well looking at your picture has motivated me to start again , i keep trying to go back to weight watchers ,i just can't do it any more .i am allowed to much junk to eat, if it is there i will eat it. thank you

[cortcase]

I'm stuck right now too, so I can empathize. You did it once, you can do it again!

[Ulrike Howells]

IT SO WORKS!!!
I initially lost 105 lbs. I kept it off for 4 years. I gained back 50 lbs after a very stressful year. This past Sept. I put aside the pity party and moved back to the beach. 6 months later I'm 53 lbs lighter. It works and it's easy once you find your rhythm. And it's healthy.