thanks so much everyone, truly It has really helped me along the way by getting lots of encouragement, not only in real life but also online..

Tonight we went out to dinner and DH insisted on taking new photo's as my hair is darker (have been blonde my whole life till now) and he thinks I look "hot" with my new figure!

So here I am very happy to be in size 14's and not at all feeling self conscious which is still a strange feeling after being a size 22 for quite some time!

Sandy your DH is right WOW your a knockout girl!!! I absolutely love your dark hair it suits you so much better keep it that way all the time.

I agree, Sandy. I looooove your Dark Hair.

You Look STUNNING Sandy -way to go. I love the dark hair it looks great.

Melissa love your son with the nutella it's so cute

/

Christie - You look stunning how you are now, you will be drop dead gorgeous when you get to goal!!

How tall are you?? I am at same weight as you are now after losing 5.4 kgs.I look nothing like you I am 178cm tall..Keep me up to date on how you go..

I was thinking the same thing Scorpiomum Christie is beautiful you really should be a model what a transformation!!

Even at 112kgs you didn't have a double chin and looked quite thin and then now at 96kgs you look like your about 70kgs, you must be really tall. I'm a short a*se me

WOW! What a bunch of "loosers" (in the best possible way of course!!!).
You all look terrific, and are an inspiration to me.

thanks so much! it is quite an adjustment having dark hair, but it is growing on me!

Hi, I thought I'd add my pics in too...

Feb 2005-95kgs

*Edited to include this pic that I forgot I had...it was exactly a year after the before pic was taken at the same place while on holidays!



April 06-67kgs

Fantastic pics everyone!! Mic and Mel, it's so great to see how you both look now! You've done so well!!!!!

Noni, you look AMAZING
Christie - OMG, I'd be happy to look like you at 112kgs when I get to 85kgs.

Cheers, Kylee

Wow Noni you look great, you have an awesome body.

scorpiomum I am 5ft 10 very tall so the weight doesnt look as bad as it should (still big) but I dont think you would be able to guess if you didnt know, does that make sense

And Kaz thanks again, it is you that has re motivated me. Every morning I get up and read your posts and you get me going

And mickey boo, I remember you starting at the same time as me we were nearly the same weight, but I just wasnt ready. WOW is all I have to say you look SOOOO much younger, you must feel like a whole new person.

You all look so good what an inspiration for everyone.

Keep them coming ladies.

You all look AMAZING! Absolutely stunning CONGRATULATIONS to all on your weight losses! Just seeing your photos has made me change my mind from wanting pies for lunch - to wanting tinned spaghetti LOL.

Thought I would add my photos - but my weight loss is on pause at the moment - after bub I am hoping to work on the other 30+kgs I still want to lose!

I lost just under 22kgs over a year by monitoring what I ate (fat, calories, carbs, GI etc), and exercising at home - aerobics and exercise bike. The only exercise I did out of my home was walking around shopping centres - so you can't use rainy days as an excuse

*gulp* here goes...

Not quite my heaviest.... Heaviest and start of my weight loss... After losing 20kgs



Pregnancy photos - 12 weeks (1kg gained) & 29 weeks (6kg gained)


Ughh sorry about all the pics - overload of me LOL

You guys are amazing!! Looking through this thread has just given me such great inspiration to get my (wobbly) butt into gear!

Like Melissa I avoid photos whenever possible so I am going to take a 'before' pic tonight (seeing as I started Reductil and an exercise program today) so I can impress everyone (and myself) with an 'in-progress' shot in a few months!

Well done, and keep them coming!

OMG - Noni really I am speechless you look -I can't even find the word - sensational!!!

This is great I am so back on track thanks to you guys who have been so generous in posting your photos. I promise when I am down to 80kgs I will post mine! Only 16.5kg to go.....

WE CAN DO IT

Ok. This is excruciatingly hard to do. But, you guys are sooooo brave.

The first one is about 18 months old, but I'm about the same size.

And this one was taken in November.

Ohcrapohcrapohcrap..this is really, really hard.

Congratulations Melissa way to go, your now over your first hurdle!!

Noni you look sensational you must be so proud of yourself?!

Hi Melissa,

Well done. It takes a lot to be open and honest with yourself let alone the whole EB community. Good stuff.

Cheers, Kylee

WOW I haven't checked in here for a few days and I come back to all the great pictures! I'm so blown away by everyones pic's here! Everyone looks fantastic

Good on you Melissa for being brave and putting your pics up!

NONI!!!! Long time no see! WOW You look fantastic! Congratulations on getting to the 60's You look great!

And Christie! You're a super model! Wow. You're the definition of Hot!!!

This thread has definately inspired me to stop slacking and reach my goal!

Micaela

Melissa ~ Well done on posting a pic and joining WW! You have taken the first step which is often the hardest one to take. I know you can do this. We are all here supporting you and cheering you on.

I am blown away, You girls look amazing!

I don't have any before pics because as soon as that camera comes out i go into hiding. But will get one of me now and will keep hunting for a before pic. I know there will be one somewhere but i am too scared to find it.

As some of you know i have hit a plateau, I don't want to give up but it's so hard to keep going when i walk my butt off all week and only find the scales havn't moved. But i know i can do this, this is for our baby...

Stay positive girls

~*Elissa*~

Melissa well done on posting your pics and as others have already said this is the first step. Well Done!!!

You girls are all so amazing and inspiring, I have been doing this for about 6 months seriously and you girls are all such great inspiration though now I am pregnant I have slowed my determination to loose weight and just aim to maintain now.

End of last year, 92 kilos


2 weeks ago, 78 kilos


aim, to not gain too much and keep walking every day, I have been 78 for 3 weeks now.

Hi Ladies, Well I hope you don't mind me lurking about, but I need inspirationand motivation and well Im so glad I came here, because I have found it!!!

You are all so wonderful

I am so greatfull for all your pics, I am doing WW at the moment and haven't lost much. I have hit a ruttand feel like I can't count points anymore, but you girls have shown me that I can do it. I will take a pic soon and pop back when I have lost my first 10 kgs.

Thanks again, you are all fantastic

Jenshell

Hi jenshell,

I'm doing WW too! Maybe we can encourage each other.

You all look beautiful and amazing..

Was just wondering what you all did to achieve all this...

Pills Surgery Weight Loss Programs(weight watchers or jenny) Gym Memberships?

Just im finding it very hard to loose weight and when i ask my doctor for help he says i be right..

Any Help be Great

Keep Up The Great Work Girls Take Care

Hi Belle,

I am following WW points and walk or ride 5kms each night. On the weekends if i have time i do a 8 km walk or ride plus my nighly 5 km block with the dog. I also do some weights ect to tone as i go..

Goodluck and i wish you all the best for your weight loss journey.

~*Elissa*~

For me my journey started in May last year when I realised that I couldn't go on getting bigger & bigger. I was at risk of developing diabetes as I had had gestational diabetes in my last pregnancy. This was the last thing that I wanted to end up with in 10 years time.

So I cut out all takeaway (I was a huge fast food addict), switched to salads with Weight Watcher frozen meals when the rest of the family had takeout. Cause face it, with a busy family, takeaway is sometimes an easier option.

I also started to exercise. At first I just started walking the boys to school which was a 2km round trip morning & afternoon. Once I'd been walking for a month, I went for longer walks until I was walking for an hour.

Once I'd lost the first 10kg, I joined the gym. This was in September. I usually do a combination of weights & cardio and try to get there 3 times a week.

Now I'm at the stage where I'm in a bit of a rut, and have gone back to enjoying a few too many takeaways. Time to get strict to lose these last few kilos.

Hey Belle

I tried everything known to man. Starvation, Atkins, Soup diets, duromine, optifast (although optifast for 3 weeks got me going at the start) and so many other things that just didn't work for me.

I found AJ Rochester's books and everything she says in those books is gold. She woke me up and made me interested in losing weight. I'm the type of person that wants to know everything and how it all goes together. She explained so much and when I understood what was going on with my body and emotions, things just started falling into place.

I do calorie counting & food tracking in a diary and have done from the word go. I've got diaries for over 12 months now But it was my 'thing' and it worked and now I'm at the stage where I just don't need to do it anymore. I know what I can and can't eat. I know what combinations of food will add up to my limit and I also know that if I blow it some exercise will get rid of it.

Also there's the combination of eating every 2-3 hours, and being like a drill sergeant with that eating style. The quicker your body can adapt to a new program the quicker it responds and the kg's will come off.

Low GI, low cal and low fat are my essentials, as well as the basic principles of the food pyramid. More protein, more veg and more fruit. Less processed foods and basically eating properly and seeing food as fuel (90% of the time).

And exercise exercise exercise. Any movement is better than none when you're starting out, and you'll eventually find an exercise that you actually enjoy doing and then it gets easier to want to exercise.

As for things like surgery, I'll be going in for a tummy tuck, and I'm expecting to lose 2-3kg minimum through that, so I guess it's a cheating for these last few kilo's, but it's gotta be done!

Well I could go on all night about losing weight....

Micaela

Ditto to everything that Mickeyboo said!! She has summed it up heaps better than I could. Once I read your post Micaela, I realised how much I'd left out of mine. LOL

I'll also 2nd AJ's books. They are fantastic!!!

You guys are all amazing!! I am one of these people that just talks and talks and talks about losing weight, I ahve been talking about it for about 6 years now and in that time gained more weight LOL so I find you all to be so awe-inspiring!! Your pictures are mind-blowing!

Cheers, Jo.
PS Hiya Mic!

Noni, you look so fantastic! Congratulations for sticking with it!
And I don't think I said before, but so do you Sarah,Kaz, Sandy,Lara, Micaela, Nicole, Kylee, Renia (WOW girl!), Christie, Melissa and Becca! Everybody looks sooo great!

Belle, I've been the slowest loser ever! It's taken me 2.5 years to lose that 40 kilos and I still have 20 to go. I've just tried to change my lifestyle slowly so that it is sustainable. Because I wasn't willing to deprive myself, I never lost it really quickly, and sometimes I go overboard on the 'nice foods' and don't lose anything for a month or 2, but I haven't put more than 2 kilos back on in that time. I also joined a gym a year ago, which was a good move for me.
I'm a bit stuck now because I am very busy and under a lot of stress, but I'm hoping I'll get back to it eventually.
If you want more info about my 'journey', feel free to PM me.

Good luck!
Mel

I was reading through this thread last night and you have all done such a great job I love all the before and after shots, or the ones that your half way there, but havent finished!!! Hopefully you all have given me the kick up the butt to lose my 25kgs!!!

I want to know...How do you stay motivated through winter!!I struggle big time.I was so good before -4 mornings started but now all I want to do is hibernate and eat!

Wow, everyone looks so fantastic! Sorry Kylee, I forgot to mention how great I think you look since the last time I saw your pics!! I don't even recognise you from your before photo...you're so much younger looking now!

My journey was pretty similar to Micaela's. I started off by just cutting out the junk food and eating smaller more frequent meals. Then I joined the Calorie King website and got into calorie counting. But I have to admit, I am a real food lover and couldn't possibly get by on 1200 or 1300 calories a day (which is generally what is required to lose weight, depending on your circumstances) so I "cheated" by eating more (around 1600-1800 cals, sometimes more) and I upped the exercise. But in saying that, I LOVE exercise...I never did before, I've always been very unfit, but I became a gym junkie-going sometimes up to 3 times a day!! I combined intense cardio with weight training and still do, but I only do about 5 hours a week now. But I started by just getting up early each morning before everyone else (6am) and walking for about 50 mins (4.5km) and gradually built up my fitness levels from there. Also, I was never too fussy about things like carbs...I love my carbs-but I did change to a lot of low-fat products, ie milk, cheese, and Paradise Lites biscuits were the saviour for my sweet tooth! (and still are )

I feel like a different person now. I'm fitter and stronger and thinner than I've ever been before. I was a size 14 for my of my pre-kids life, then was a size 18 when I decided to lose weight. Now I am a size 10-12.

Good luck to everyone just starting out on their weight loss endeavours, and to those already on their way.

How to keep up motivation, well right now with morning sickness and being tired it is really hard but after I walk my 2 older boys to school, I take my third son for a walk every morning, at 9 it is warming up a little.

I have lost most of my weight through walking on average 7-8 km a day, drinking a lot more water esp before a meal, eating smaller meals, and for the last 3 motnhs have also been doing Herbalife milksahke replacement meals which helped immensly. I am still having one shake a day which keeps your calorie count down and walking about 3-4 km a day at the moment.


Well done to to everyone, all amazing women.

Wow, Wow, Wow - you guys are and look amazing! I too talk about it a lot but haven't done anything about it. Been the same weight for around 10 years and still want to lose 20 kilos! Well done ladies, you inspire me to get off my butt and do something. Time seems to be my enemy - or the lack of it but that's no excuse .

What an inspiration you girls are. You all look amazing. keep up the good work.
You have aspired me to get on the treadmill when baby number 2 comes out.
Once again you girls look awesome!!!!!!
CONGRATULATIONS.

You guys are amazing.

You have made me want to lose weight. Showing that it is POSSIBLE, and that you are REAL people!!

Will post a pic of me soon (After I have a shower )

WOW, you guys are amazing!! I only saw this thread last night and both DH and I sat here looking at these pics in awe of you all! It is so wonderful to see some real life success stories that where not achieved through the glamour of a show like Biggest Loser. Not saying they didn't work their butts off but for many of us that sort of experience is not likley and so sometimes weight loss of this kind seems unachievable. Thank you SO much for showing us that it is.

I need to loose about 15 kilos which to some may seem like so little but to me its's huge and it is the difference between viewing myself as the person I am inside, and the person I see when I look in the mirror (whom I dislike).

Anyway, this thread is absolutley inspriational and I look forward to adding my pics to the sequence

WTG gals

Wow I think you guys are inspirational, absolutely fantastic, you look wonderful... Wow I am speechless. You guys must be so proud of yourselves, wow wow wow!!

Wow girls, you all look AMAZING!!!! And I bet you all feel FANTASTIC!
Will have to round up some pics of me at my gf's wedding where I was MOH and 83 kg's. I have lost 10kg's since then (easter 2006), and am only another 8 from my goal. Very happy with that considering Sienna is only 4 months old and at the last pg check up with her I was 95kg
Can't remember who asked but I am following the basic rules of SureSlim. My SIL started it in Feb this year and has gone from 96kg to 72kg. They designed a specific eating plan for her which is also fixing her various health issues (eg she couldn't eat tomatoes for a few weeks as she was on the verge of getting gout.)
But there basic rules are:
always eat a protein with every meal, as it is the protein which makes you feel fuller for longer (eg eat 2 eggs yolks and all, some meat, or cheese). But you cannot mix your proteins as then your body has trouble breaking it down so then it gets stored as fat. So the ham cheese and tomatoe sandwich I was eating that I thought was helathy, in fact isn't!
Eat 2 pieces of fruit per day, and one of them must be an apple.
Drink 2 Lts water per day.
If your not feeling full after a meal, make up a salad of lettuce, cucumber, celery, and watercress as you can eat as much of these as you want.
Only 3 meals per day and you must leave 5 hours between finishing one meal and starting the next, and ideally take 1 hour to eat. This sounds hard, but if you eat the right foods, it is dead easy.
Switch to brown bread or mountain bread.
Also certain foods cannot be mixed. Such as if you have a baked dinner, don't have pumpkin potatoe, peas, and corn as for some reason the chemicals in these foods clash and your body can't process them so they become fat. Instead have potatoes pumpkin broccoli and cauliflower.
A few things I have are
Breakfast, 2 mountain bread breakky wraps-cheese tomatoe and mushroom toasted OR fruche fat free yoghurt and an apple
Lunch, 2 egg omlette with capsicum, tomatoe, zucchini, spring onion, mushroom OR mountain bread pizza with capsicum, sundried tomatoes, olives, spring onion, mushroom OR salad and 2 boiled eggs OR salad and sliced cold meat
Dinner, Whatever I'm cooking for everyone but a smaller portion. I also tend to make a lot of vegies/salad and at least 2 times a week I get DH to make a stirfry.
Even DH is feeling heaps better for all the healthy cooking I'm doing and He's even starting to lose a bit of weight.
I hope I haven't rambled on too much

Wow I am amazed and inspired by all of you. You are all so beautiful. I will makesure I look often at these photos as inspiration.

Thought I'd show you all an update of how I look at 105kgs taken today.

You honestly are the biggest inspiration
People must be so shocked if they havent seen you for a while!
Do they even recognise you?
Kee them photos coming!!

Thanks Bueller and Christie, I've just e-mailed piccies to all my family in Sydney to see what they all say I'm waiting for their responses.

I know it feels great to be in a size 18 finally

DH is still in shock I think, he's jealous as all sh*t the little fatty he is.

Wow Karen, you look glowing! And look at that waist! You go girl! I remember getting into the 18's and was so excited and it only gets better! 14's here you come

Well done Kaz!!! You look fantastic, you must feel so proud of yourself. Keep the photos coming.

Kaz, that photo is amazing.

You look like you are glowing. You must be so proud of your achievements.

That photo has given me inspiration to get my big butt into action again.

Cheers, Kylee

Kaz, CONGRATULATIONS!!! You look AWESOME!! Those recent 5 kilos have made such a difference I was actually shocked that you weigh 105, I'd have thought about 80 you look so good

Keep it up - you are a huge inspiration to so many of us