Well I'm not to my goal yet, but I am halfway there. and that by itself is SUCCESS. I am a very slow loser, it's taken me a month to lose 1.6lbs - likely because I'm making gradual changes that i can stick with for life. Nothing drastic. But I have lost 9lbs so far. I am now in the HEALTHY BMI range - which for me was very important. My BMI before was over 25 - which put me at greater risk for sooo many horrible things - I am now at 23 and will reach 21/22. I am exercising my body. I am eating whole grains, and lean protein and very little junk (i'm only human ). and I love how it feels to wear smaller clothes. You can do anything you set your mind to!

That is awesome. Way to go! You are a success story. I know how you feel. I have lost 40 pounds. I have set a goal to lose 80. I am halfway there. I have a healthy lifestyle now and it feels great. It does feel good to buy smaller clothes. It is such an awesome feeling to not have to shop in the plus size section anymore. I used to be a size 20 and I am a 14 now. I actually got down to a size 10-12 and started sliding backwards. I did lose 60 but gained 20 back. I have to get over that. It is hard to have to redo what I worked so hard on. But, I have to do it. To think, I was only 20 pounds from my goal. See...I have to get over this and I think the only way to get over it is to lose that darn 20 pounds. Anyway...way to go!

Congrats to you too! 40lbs is awesome =), and if you've lost before you can absolutely lose again! and the second time you'll remember how hard you've worked to help keep you motivated to not take a step backwards again. You're doing awesome - keep it up =) and cheers to a healthy lifestyle!

I will give you a success story but it is still in progress... June 2004. At this time, I weighed in at around 280 pounds. Received a letter from a then friend stating that he is pretty much tired of looking at me suffering and not doing anything about it. For some reason, it hit me pretty hard cause at that time I never realized that MY weight was effecting the people in my life. So I started working out and buying my own food and started to lose weight. I lost about 20 pounds in 3 months. Then I stopped for some reason. January 2005. This time I decided to join a gym at a local Bally's. At the time of joining this gym, I weighed in at 262. I started using the elliptical alot because of how low impact it was and how much my endurance lasted while on the machine. I went to this gym everyday after work for about 4 months. Stopped going to the gym because my car got broken into and didnt feel safe going there anymore. May 2005. My moms wedding. I weighed in at 240 pounds. I looked at the photos from this day and I still was not impressed with how I looked. Yes I had lost around 40 pounds since I started back in 2004 but I obviously had not achieved my ultimate goal which at this time I realized I wanted to get around 180 pounds. A total weightloss goal of 100 pounds. February 2006. Weighed in at 214 pounds. First time in my life I felt good about myself. I noticed more attention from women, felt better about myself and actually saw the "light" at the end of the tunnel. As of today, writing this story, I weigh 208 pounds for a total weightloss of 72 pounds since June 2004. I love my life right now, I enjoy everything about it. I have stopped going to the gym only because I have moved away from it but I work out at my apartments gym and eat right more then ever. I am really health conscious and want to reach my 180 pound goal by June 2006, (I turn 21 on June 25th). I thought it would be a fitting birthday gift for me, the gift of being healthy. I hope this story motivates someone, I am a huge procrastinator and I think it shows in my story that with me stopping going to the gym. I stil lhave lost weight without going to the gym and have not used any illegal products to achieve my goals. If anyone has any questions or needs motivation, let me know.

Angie! I can TOTALLY relate! About 7-8 years ago, I lost 40 lbs. on my own, by eating better and exercising! I then got married, had a child and with the stress of everyday life I gained the 40 lbs. back and then some---58 lbs. to be exact! Anyhow...I was in my 20's back then....and now I am older and my metabolism has slowed down significantly. YOU ARE IN SUCH A BETTER PLACE THAN I AM...had I gotten a grip when I gained the first 20 lbs., I would be at goal today. It is so hard to not beat yourself up about that, I understand. Try to focus on the fact that you have gotten a grip and you are back! You know what it feels to be thin and healthy and you will be at goal soon enough! I am very proud of you for having the sense to catch yourself before the weight got out of control. I wish now that I had half the sense you do! Anyhow, a few years ago, my MD told me to weigh myself everyday...(a lot of experts out there say DON'T DO IT), I argued with him, but his rationale makes sense...it's easier to lose 1 lb. than to lose 10 lbs. or more. CONGRATULATIONS on sticking with it! I look forward to sharing in your progress! I will be your cheerleader, because I believe in you! I really do!!

Congratulations Matthew! You are a success story, that's for sure. I really am impressed with your hard work, motivation and my, your level of maturity for such a young man!! Keep up the good work!!

Way to go! That's fantastic that you have lost over 70 pounds - no doubt you will reach your ultimate goal by your birthday if you keep up the great work! : ) Thanks for sharing your story, it's helped me feel better about my weight loss journey (which is going very very slow!) Take Care and God Bless!!

Hi, I thought I would take the time to introduce myself. My name is Heidi, 29, living in Rochester NY. After battling with my weight for a number of years, having numerous health issues (Sleep Apnea, High Blood Pressure, shortness of breath, depression and anxiety, massive migraines, etc), and basically killing myself at 303lbs...I decided to do something about this. Not to mention the fact that I lost my job to a really skinny toothpick because i couldnt handle the job with my weight. I had heard about Gastric Bypass surgery from Carnie Wilson, Al Roker, John Popper, etc. After looking into it seriously doing my research on the net, going to support group meetings, and talking it over with my parents, I decided to do it. My Dr. was fantastic and my parents were VERY impressed with him!!! He had amazing bedside manner and that meant a lot to me. I must stress this for whomever is considering this!!! THIS IS NOT A QUICK FIX BY ANYMEANS IT IS A TOOL!!! It took years to put on the weight and it is going to take a while for it to melt away. You have to want to do it for you and your health! Nobody can force you into it. You need to get the approval from your PCP, Surgeon, Nutritionist, and Phyc Consult. Then you deal with your Insurance. I started on my journey 2 years and one month ago at 303lbs. with the help of the Gastric Bypass Surgery, working out 4 times a week for an hour, cutting all sugar/high fat/caffiene/carbonated beverages, taking suppliments, increasing my protein (using food and protien shakes), less bad carbs, etc. I am now weighing in at 149lbs! I lost 154lbs total! My goal weight is 140lbs....my Dr.'s was 180lbs! I beat him by a long shot. Now I think my goal will be 125lbs! I just keep pushing myself to go the distance. It is NOT easy....but well worth it! I am so much healthier and happier than I have ever been! I am always looking to make new friends! What I really want is a workout buddy~!!! Heidi

How do you all do it? Just do what my friend does eat a leaf of lettuce a day and work out for 2 hours everyday??? Im trying and nothing is coming out!!

Hey Heidi!
I am from Spencerport, NY.* I lived there all my life until I got married (8 years ago) and moved to Martinsburg, PA.*(about 6 hours straight South from Rochester).
Keep up the good work!* This summer, Rochester has lots of bike/hike trails. Carry your pepper spray with you, just in case...but get out there and have a great time!!* I used to Bike along the Erie Canal (spencerport and Pittsford are GREAT!!) and along the Genessee thru Gen. Park.*
I miss that a lot!!
Anyway, keep up the good work!
Kim