Man, my "before" picture is scary But that's what I looked like on the day I applied for season 5 (in fact, that's the shot I sent with my app. - no wonder 3Ball didn't pick me ). The picture on the right was taken this morning:



What a difference 40 lbs. makes!

You look GREAT!!! Congratulations, how did you do it?? Tell your "secrets".

Holy guacamole! Nice job. Ellis is right, secrets? Do tell.

Congrats! You look awesome!

Like night and day!

Congratulations on the amazing transformation, you should be very proud of how far you've come.

Thanks, gang!




My secret is a lot of exercise and healthy eating

My calorie range is generally between 1200 - 1550 per day and I try to keep a 40% carb/30% fat/30% protein balance. I've had a few days here and there where I've gone over, but I've been pretty strict for the most part.

As for workouts, when I first started out I didn't do anything huge... I aimed for a half an hour of cardio a few times a week (usually by walking or playing Dance Dance Revolution) and I did 5 or 6 simple strength moves (squats, crunches, bicep curls with dumbbells, etc.) 3x per week. Now I follow the workouts in Jillian Michaels' book "Winning by Losing" and I'm doing an hour of circuit training 4x/week plus an hour of straight cardio on one other day.


Edit: Oh, almost forgot! My online diet and exercise diary is here if anyone wants specifics.

You look great -- and continued success in your new exercise and eating habits.


Hmm.... it's funny how much one can achieve when he/she puts his/her mind to it and doesn't use excuses such as "I can't do it," "they didn't pick me for BL so I'll hold off on changing my lifestyle until next year, "I don't have time to exercise," or "one more (insert your favorite junk food) can't hurt," etc.

Hopefully, others will be inspired by your good three-month start, Balny. And, tracking your meal plans daily does make a difference, I'm sure you've found.

I am so proud of you!

Well done! Keep it up!

R

Fantastic!!! Thank you so much for sharing your pictures and story! You can really see a difference and you look more muscular as well as slimmer! Way to go, and way to stick with it!

You go girl!

keep on thumpin'

You're a rockstar! I'm so glad you joined RoW, because I know you are kicking others into high gear with your commitment and drive.

Your current pic has me working my hiney off tonight on the treadmill while I watch my show!

Awesome! *Woot!*

Keep up the fabulous work!

Wow and grats! You look great.

Dance Dance Revolution?!?!
Works for me!!!
What is the title of the game you have???
I have DDR MAX 2

I have Supernova and Extreme 2, but mostly play Extreme 2. I use DanceMaster mode - I've reached level C - and because I pretty much suck at it, I really work up a sweat trying to match the steps. Good thing I don't have to do it right to burn calories, right? I swear, I've been on the same song forever.

And thanks, everyone, for all of your kind words I'll be back with a new pic in, ohhhh, about 25 lbs. or so

Amazing, you don't even look like the same woman! You have to be building some serious muscle, because I've never seen 40 lbs. make such a difference in a person before. Keep up the good work!

Ya! I'm not the only DDR player left out there. Congrats on the weight loss, it's a fantastic workout, isn't it?

I've asked for the game on my C-Mas wish list! HAHAHA!

At this time I'm addicted to Guitar Hero and can't play that much so I get a little bit of time at night but it's not enough to get anywhere..lol

With the DDR I'd make it part of my morning work-out!

Hey guys!
Can't wait for the new season tonight! Well here is a bit info, I am 16 years old and I used to weigh 324 pounds back in February 2007, now I weigh around 220. Here is a before and after from July up till now, sorry I totally forgot to take a pic in feb, there you could have seen the MAJOR change.

In the July I pic I used to weigh 248ish.

That is awesome, go you!!

I never had the guts to allow pictures of myself when I was at my heaviest. I wish I had because I want to see the difference in my weight loss now. I've been overweight all of my life and it got worse after having two kids. I got to weighing 240 lbs after my son. I dieted for nearly two years and got down to 165, but got pregnant again and got back up to 220. I'm down to 174 now and still don't know what the difference is other than my pants don't fit.

You look great though. Losing all that weight makes you look more mature.

Awesome job!

That's wonderful! I think you're doing a great job and you're also very brave for sharing it with everyone here, congrats and keep it up!

Awesome thread!

How did you do it?

That's amazing!!!
Hope you continue whatever it has you were doing, and manage to keep it off!

WOW!
Congrats on the amazing transformation.
You must be so proud of yourself. Seeing stuff like that, and watching the Biggest Loser, along with just wanting to do something with your life can make it so much easier.. Not saying its an easy task, heavens no.. I'm sure its not at all the easier thing, but with work, and being commited to wanting to lose the weight you can do anything

I just took a new current pic, and have to post it.

gorgeous! I love how confident you look, that shines through that picture more then anything!

WOW!!! Thank you guys for sharing your pics and stories. It gives me hope that I too can start losing this weight that I drag around physically and emotionally. Keep up the great work and keep those pics coming.

great job everybody.

I finally did find a before picture. Didn't know I had it. It's from when my husband and I started dating so it's about the same weight I was when I started dieting when I had my daughter, but it isn't my heaviest.

Before 215 lbs, I'm the brunette with the long haired guy's arm around me all the way to the right.



And after at 170 lbs.

Wow, BluesCluesMama, what a difference! Great job
You too, Carrie, but you already know that I think your transformation is nothing short of amazing

I took an updated picture today. I started this journey at 246 lbs. and as of today I'm just under 188:

Now that I've finally figured out how to post a photo, here are my before and after (during) photos. The before photo is actually not at my highest weight, but you get the idea. The after photo was taken on Sunday just after I completed my first Half Marathon.





My total weight loss to date is 130 lbs.

Marilyn

Wow you all look amazing !!
I am so proud of you all !

Wow! This thread is really inspirational. Congratulations to all of you who are shredding the pounds and looking great. Hopefully I can make it to my goal.

I'm down 71 lbs. since August and I wanted to share my updated pic. The before was taken on 8/29, the "during" shot taken this morning:



I've said it before and I'll say it again... thank you Jillian!


(I know it looks like I'm a new member, but I canNOT get my old account (balny, no underscore) to work *shrug*)

Balny,

your "during" shot shows a side of you that the before shot doesn't display; your self confidence. It is like night and day. Thanks for sharing.

You look great!

Thank you for sharing your pictures everyone. You all look great and are an inspiration.

MomAt40Pls - i've started running too. I'm doing the C25k program - so not quite at the half marathon, lol, yet but hopefully one day.

bal_ny - fantastic to see your continual progress. 71lbs is such an achievement.

Last year I took my kids on one of our church's mission trips and on the last day we stop off and take a tour of this glass art place and they have this cool gazebo of hand blown glass blue birds. I took a pic with my kids in the gazebo last year.

We went back again this year and took another photo. It's amazing to see how big my kids have grown and conversely, how small I have gotten. The funny/sad thing is that this picture wasn't even at my heaviest and I weigh less than the newer pic.

I suppose they are momentos for the journey. Pretty cool.

I put these up on my blog along with another set of pics of the 40 lbs I've lost the last three months.









This is supposed to be the pics but I can't get it to work...it is on the blog though. sorry.

Wow! Keep up the good work! Congrats!!!

thanks val!

Just wanted to say that i find this show incredibly inspirational. personally i went through my own weight troubles four years ago. i was 275 lbs and managed to lose 80lbs on my own. it took incredible amount of strength and will power but it can be done. today i am healthy... i watch what i eat, i work out 6 hours a week and am maintaining my new body. i admit that i go up and down like everybody else, but now i recognize it and can change routines easily to adjust. i welcome this type of reality show to tv... it shows america and the rest of the world that humanity can reverse it's own damage with strength and courage.

Absolutely! It's great to watch something inspiring rather than just shows like "A Shot at Love". Not that shows like that aren't entertaining in their own right, just nice to see something different. I hope to lose as much weight as possible before my 30th birthday (end of July) to prove something to myself and improve my life overall. My ultimate goal is to lose 90 lbs, so I have a long road ahead of me. Shows like this will definately help!

Maybe I'm not supposed to post this here, but I'm just so darn excited and proud of myself that I can't help it!

I tipped the scales at 280 when I began my journey to a healthier, happier lifestyle. Yesterday, I stepped on the scale and was elated to see 229!

50 pounds down!

To me, that is a milestone, and I couldn't be prouder!

Now to soldier on! I can do it!



Have you hit a milestone?

Yay bookwormfaery! You look frickin awesome, congrats on your loss so far!

50 pounds is a GREAT milestone! Congrats and continued success on your journey! You can absolutely do this!!

Marilyn

Haven't seen this thread in a couple seasons, but it is always inspirational. For those who have transformed their bodies you have an ethical duty to post pictures of your success and inspire the rest of us.

Where's yours?

Seems I recall that you made a goal in the midst of the turmoil of the last season..

You can start it off!