Before and After Losing Weight
Posted on January 7, 2008Filed Under Weight Loss |
I’ve been asked to post my before and after photos. So here they are in all of their glory. If you haven’t guessed, the picture on the left is before I lost the weight. It was taken late May 2006, several months after the birth of my second daughter. I weighed approximately 200 pounds. It was a challenge to find a “before” picture because I hardly took any. I’m a visual person and I hated the way I looked and felt so I purposely avoided being in pictures. The image on the right was taken during the 2007 holiday season. I now weigh 123 pounds. Yup, that’s a 77 pound weight loss! For me, it was difficult to lose weight while I breastfed my babies. I know, most women lose weight while breastfeeding. NOT ME. It wasn’t until after I weened my 2nd child, that I started my weight loss.
I can’t tell you how much better I feel. My weight loss was the best gift I could have given myself and my family!
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32 Responses to “Before and After Losing Weight”
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I just read your latest posts and I am nearly crying. I wish you and your mother the very best of health and absolute happiness in 2008 and beyond. Please stay on the right track. I’m sure you are an important insipration for many many over weight people.
Please don’t take this wrong, but as a guy I have to comment. Yes, I have to admit I must be a shallow hal, kind of guy. I probably would have never given you a second look based upon the left picture, sorry. I wish everyone could make this kind of resolve and effort in their life, as you have. You obviously not only feel better about yourself, but now you really are looking good. Congratulations. Keep on keeping on!
Dear Linda,
Thank you for your comment and for your good wishes. I sincerely hope to inspire people to lose weight and feel better!
Dear Woodstock,
Thanks for your comment. It was not taken in a negative way at all. In fact, I appreciate your honesty. I didn’t even want to give myself a 2nd look either.
I think overweight individuals can possess the determination that I have if they’re 100% committed to their goal.
Best Wishes!
congratulations on your weight loss. I have always liked weight watchers. In my opinion I am not on a diet when with weight watchers. (It is eating healthy.) The only way to lose the weight and keep it off. Eat healthy: Bonnie Mills
You look great now as in size. But you looked happier in the before.
[...] a comment? from a reader that was interesting.? The writer mentioned that I looked happier in the previous “before” weight loss picture.? I assure you that I was NOT happy, far from it.? As a matter of fact, as a visual person, I was [...]
hi,
congratulations i am myself on a diet for a month and i want to know if your skin after this diet suffered?? Does it have marks or streaks??
Did you do a surgery??? or only creams??
Thanks and good job !!!!!
Dear Zorobabel,
Thanks for your e-mail.
My skin was fine after dieting. It doesn’t have any marks or streaks. I don’t use anything special either, just a daily moisturizer. I’m wondering if you’re eating enough fat calories. In my 20s (a long, long time ago), I went on a harsh,low-fat diet and both my skin and hair became dry and brittle. I wasn’t healthy. Perhaps a visit to the dermatologist or doctor might help. Let me know what happens.
Best Wishes,
Vas
you look great awesome!!
you look better healthier.It’s really amazing.
I’m on diet now I want to lose 12 I wanna feel happy
u encourage me
good job
You are certainly healthier in the picture on the right side, and happier you say.
I think you are beautiful in both pictures, as you seem like a nice person and are beautiful on the inside.
I think the picture on the left deserves a little credit for giving birth and teaching you life lessons!
Best,
Jen
Congratulations on being at a healthy weight - you look great!
That is amazing! I would like to know what made the biggest difference for you? Like I mentioned in another post, I have no problem exercising…it’s the eating part! Suggestions?
Congrats,
Candice
Dear Candice,
Thank you for your comment.
The biggest difference I made this time around was to admit I was an emotionally eater and take the necessary steps to heal or at least manage the problem.
Please see my post on the Hunger Scale, which is crucial for weight loss and read my posts about emotional eating.
Best of luck to you!
i’ve just seen your pictures before and after losing the weight.You are a meracle.You have really done excellent thing by losing a big number of fat.I was fat,and i’m stell fat “logicaly”.I’ve lost for over 26 pounds ,i’m 158 pounds now but i don’t look like,any one who sees me thinks that i’m for about 140 pounds,i don’t look fat,i think it’s because i’m tall,170cm,but i’m satisfied.at least i’m healthy and i look nice .. thanks for you honey
hi Vas, im a chinese girl…and really surprised to see a amazing results from you..in ur left pics even ur overweight but i see that u have a proportioned body…i just want to know how old are you now?? and what program you do? thanks
Congratulations!!!
You look great.
Dear Christine,
I don’t mind sharing my age with you….drumroll….I’m 42 years old. I was 41 years old when I reached my ideal weight.
I’m putting together info for SheGoddess on weight loss strategies. I don’t believe in “diet” programs, just healthy foods eaten with controlled propotions. More on that later..I promise.
Hi
you look fabulous. I am currently about 300 pounds and 5.9 in height. I am a 40 year old female. I have been obese all of my life and trying hard to loose weight. I lost 30 pounds last year and gained it all back this year. I wanted to loose about 120 pounds or at least 100 pounds. Can you give me some tips on how you stayed determined to loose your weight. I am not one of those females that except being fat. I dont dig it at all. I refuse to lie to myself that i am ok with it because i am not ok with it. You look terrific. I hope you can email me and let me know how you did it. I do not have a computer at home so i use my job computer or go to computer cafes in my neigborhood. I will get back to you as quickly as i can. congragulations!!!
Dear Lavette,
Thank you for your comment!
I commend you for wanting to improve your quality of life. I too, had problems with my weight all of my life, until now.
I have responded to your question in my latest post entitled, “How to Avoid the Weight Gain Pitfalls of the Holiday Season.” Also, see my posts, there are several, on emotional eating.
Don’t give up. You can do this!!
Vas
Yeah you do look wonderful!
I know when I lose even a couple pounds the difference makes me happy… you must be so proud of your success!
Happy new Year
Looks really great. Keep up the good work.
Despite your negations, not only do you look happy and healthy you also look a lot prettier and younger in the before. (fat to very thin = eventual deflation and the deflated look) When you relate the same ol same ol “I was fat AND miserable…” story, how much of that was the stuff that had been ingrained in you and how much of that was stuff all of your own? I suspect a sincere answer will not be forthcoming.
I was surprisingly encouraged to hear your age. I’m 28 and already started feeling like I’m too old and might as well give up. I just started reading your page tonight. I have an 11 month old, and am 5′10″ and 218lbs. (At least I’ve gotten over the post-partum depression.) The worst I ever was was 165 a few years back and I got back into shape. I’ve NEVER had to come back from this much weight–I never thought I could get here. I tried really hard in January to lose weight–eating well, exercising regularly despite even losing one of my best friends to cancer. It felt like it didn’t make a dent–lose 2, gain 3, etc. I’ve just stopped looking at myself in the mirror.
After reading your page, I’m motivated again. I’ve never been this heavy before, I’m going to have to doing this differently than before. I know my body will never be the same again, especially after a 10lb baby and a c-section. I just want to be overall aesthetically pleasing again…and my joints stop killing me
Dear C.L.
Thanks for your recent comment.
Although I may have looked prettier and healthier to you, only I know exactly how I felt (physically and emotionally). Also, common sense dictates that one can’t possibly carry an extra 80 pounds of weight and be healthy or happy. I believe mind and body are one.
Secondly, I never said I was miserable, just depressed. My heavy weight was only one aspect of my depression, not the only source. Yes, you are right, many of my issues are ingrained from me and stem from my upbringing. I overate for decades to avoid dealing with these unresolved issues, which caused me great unhappiness. The difficult part has been taking an honest look at my life, understanding it, and changing the issues that I could control and coming to peace with what I couldn’t.
Wishing you happiness and good health!
Vas
Dear Mary,
Thank you for your kind words!
Of course you are not too old to try again and I commend you for not throwing in the towel. I know us mothers can feel older than we really are sometimes because of sleep deprivation, fatigue, etc.
I feel for you because I remember how hard the first year was with a new baby, especially the first one. I’m relieved to hear that you’ve overcome your post-partum depression too.
Sorry if this is too personal but are you breastfeeding your baby? The reason I ask is I couldn’t lose weight when I was breastfeeding either. If you are breast-feeding, it’s crucial not to lose weight quickly. Otherwise, toxins stored in your body fat get into the breast milk.
In the near future, I will post more details of how I lost the weight. However, in the meantime, here’s several tips:
1)Eat dinner by 6pm
2)Cut down your sodium. Eat nothing over 260mg of sodium
3)Drink plenty of water.
In the meantime, browse my various posts.
I’ll be thinking of you and wishing you success. Find something to keep you motivated. If I can do it, you can too.
Vas
Hi!
I’m glad to see your pictures and listen to your results! I am very much like you….I am 40 and until recently was very overweight. I am the mother of 5 - yes, five daughters. Over the last 20 years I managed to go from 150 lbs to 220 lbs. I haven’t felt good about myself for as long as I can remember.
I just finished a very stressful year and a half divorce and decided I wanted to feel and look good again. I’ve tried to diet periodically over the years but never put the effort in that is required. Basically, until you’re ready to do something…nothing is going to happen!! I go to the gym EVERYDAY…alternating one day of swimming for 45 mins (kickboarding when I’m too tired)and then 30 mins of weights followed by 20 mins on the elliptical (and yes I’m way tired and sweat is dripping). Also, I didn’t follow any diet plan either. I just stopped eating CRAP!! No sugar (other than natural as in fruit), and almost no fat. I’m sticking to 1200 cal diet and if you eat right…you can eat plenty of food for that many calories(I promise). I also write down everything I eat…looking up calories online BEFORE I put it in my mouth. The result so far….in 2 and a half months I’ve lost 35 lbs. A good start but still a lot more to do!!!
I’m curious if you delt with plateuing?? I did at 20 lbs and am again at 35 lbs. How did you get through this if it happened to you?? Any suggestions??
Jenell = )
Dear Jenell,
Congratulations on your weight loss!! 5 kids and you still manage to find time to exercise!!! I APPLAUD YOU!!!
I’m sorry to hear that you’ve had some stressful times. I hope the worst is behind you as you plug away with your exercise and self-care. Us mothers sometimes feel selfish taking care of ourselves, but it’s a matter of self-preservation.
You’re correct about the food. However, to stay healthy and still lose weight, your body does need fat to operate efficiently, much like a car needs oil. Try added some “good” fat into your diet with moderation. Personally, I eat no more than 30-35% calories from fat.
Now on to your question. Do you think perhaps your body is tired from working out everyday? If your body becomes fatigued, the muscles enter the state of diminishing returns. Also, you could face burn-out. Could you take one or two days off from exercising? Also, try these things too that I have found helpful:
1. Change your daily calorie consumption
Vary your daily input, while maintaining the same weekly intake. For example, eat 1400 calories one day, then 1800 the next day. The point is to keep your body guessing and working.
2. Make more changes to Exercise Routine
Instead of swimming or kickboarding, perhaps try different levels of cardio classes (low intensity, then high intensity)or cycling–anything that get your body moving in a different way.
Best Wishes on your continued success!
Vas
Congrates on ur weight lose! Did u have any loose skin since u lost so much weight?
Hi Stacey,
I didn’t have any loose skin from the weight loss, but I did have some around my belly after the birth of my second child.
Thanks for the comment!
congratulations i am myself on a diet for a month and i want to know if your skin after this diet suffered?? Does it have marks or streaks??
Did you do a surgery??? or only creams??
Dear Acai,
My skin was fine, no streaks or marks. I ate healthy, balanced meals. Please see a doctor about that and please let me know what he advises. It sounds troublesome.
Good luck!
I feel for you because I remember how hard the first year was with a new baby, especially the first one. I’m relieved to hear that you’ve overcome your post depression too.