[ChiChi143]

Wow...you look great! Congrats!

[JAP4life]

YOU LOOK MAGNIFICENT! A completely DIFFERENT person! You are not only an inspiration but also a motivator for those who can't seem to see that "light at the end of the tunnel"

[Megs]

Honestly, you are absolutely amazing!! ABSOLUTELY!!! From beginning to end, you stuck it out. You have proven something great to yourself AND to the rest of the world!!!!

CONGRATS 100 times over and over and over!!!

[kiss_p]

You go, girl! Now, you can wear your handbags on your shoulder, like the skinny girls do! (I hope to be able to do that one day!)

[helpl!!! slush]

you truly are my inspiration i need to loose about 80 and if you can loose 225 i can do it!!!!

can i ask (and please feel free not to answer if you dont want to) but do you now need to worry about extra skin from it being stretched from when you were heavier? what do you do about that? surgery? or just live with it? or is it not really a big issue?
thanks :) ~Bessie

[blushingbaby]

wow!! you look amazing!! congrats!!!

[ArmCandyLuvr]

Originally Posted by helpl!!! slush

you truly are my inspiration i need to loose about 80 and if you can loose 225 i can do it!!!!

can i ask (and please feel free not to answer if you dont want to) but do you now need to worry about extra skin from it being stretched from when you were heavier? what do you do about that? surgery? or just live with it? or is it not really a big issue?
thanks :) ~Bessie

Unfortunately I do have extra skin. I pretty much anticipated that from the beginning. I have loose skin on my upper arms, thighs, and tummy. I don't think I want surgery. That kind of surgery is somewhat risky. There's a great potential for infection and unsightly scarring. I have never had any type of surgery in my entire life, so why start now? I guess I am a chicken when it comes to that sort of thing.
To be honest, the skin doesn't bother me. I never wear clothing that exposes those areas of my body, so you would never know by looking at me that I have that problem. I had pretty realistic expections about what my body would look like after losing that much weight.

[angelica]

I just want to say I am very very proud of you! You are my inspiration and I am seriously considering the food mover program myself. Lack of planning is my #1 health pitfall and maybe this is a realistic solution. Congrats again

[SOLIDGOLD2]

congratulations!!!
you look amazing and you should be so pround of yourself you had the will and power to make it to the end
i have looked at the other 2 threads and maybe i missed it but how did you do it? Did you have a strict workout regiment? if so what did it entail and did you also try weight watchers or something like that and last but not least what was your focus...what did you do on those days (if you had tham) when you wanted to give up or not work out or just eat what you really wanted. I hope you don't mind me asking

[ArmCandyLuvr]

Originally Posted by SOLIDGOLD2

congratulations!!!
you look amazing and you should be so pround of yourself you had the will and power to make it to the end
i have looked at the other 2 threads and maybe i missed it but how did you do it? Did you have a strict workout regiment? if so what did it entail and did you also try weight watchers or something like that and last but not least what was your focus...what did you do on those days (if you had tham) when you wanted to give up or not work out or just eat what you really wanted. I hope you don't mind me asking

My program was Richard Simmons' FoodMover. I wouldn't say I have a strict workout regimen. My exercise is mostly walking. It was the only kind of exercise I could do when I first started out. I try to get in at least an hour a day. A lot of times, I walk longer. Either way, I probably walk a couple of miles every day. I've been considering doing weight lifting or something else to sort of mix up my routine a bit.
I have never tried Weight Watchers. FoodMover is very similar in many ways to Weight Watchers, though. Honestly, I wasn't one of those people who has tried every fad diet under the sun. I knew that stuff didn't work.
Believe me when I say that I have had my share of bad days. I've hit plateaus. I've had weeks where I had actually gained weight! It's very easy to want to throw in the towel at those times, but my continued progress and how far I had come kept me going. I would also say the FoodMover program motivational affirmations that you recite every day played a big role in keeping me going. Everyday, I recite the following:

I will set my daily goals.
I will never doubt my abilities.
I will find something everyday to laugh about.
I will say something positive every day about myself.
I will make time for me.
I will be patient with myself and never give up.
I am worth it.

Of course, the support and kindness I have received here on tPF have helped me too! Whenever I was feeling a bit down, I could always count on rereading my previous threads to cheer me up!

[SOLIDGOLD2]

thanks for sharing...OK so i know im not alone b/c i have gained a little weight when im trying to lose and im going crazy b/c of that. As for working out if you were to do weight lifting it would be great and i don't mean heavy weights maybe 5 pound dumbell to start...it's great b/c as you build muscle it burns calories even after you finished working out!! isn't that great...and you can do your whole body. Now that you reached your weight have you gone shopping yet??

[Irishgal]

Aw hell ya made me cry! I am so happy for you, you are set free, you have proven you can do anything. DH said you were hot!

[JNH14]

You are truly an inspiration-Now maybe I can get going!

[BagLuver]

You look fantastic! Congratulations!

[alwaysinvogue]

You look absolutely gorgeous!!!!!!!! It makes me tear up thinking about what a challenge this must have been. You must be so immensely proud of yourself, and you are definitely an inspiration to me. Thank you so much for sharing xx