Quote from: holly on January 06, 2012, 02:59:20 AM
I hope it's not too late for me to get in on this. 

I started trying to lose weight in September, I was 84.6kg (187lb)on September 30, and I'm down to 72.9kg (161lb) this morning.  I'm still hoping to get down to around 65kg so I'm a little over half way! 

People have been telling me and my girlfriend that I seem so much happier and more comfortable with myself since I started losing weight (the real reason is that I finally went and started my transition, and weight loss is one of the first steps, but I guess they'll find that out soon enough)

It's never too late to jump on the bandwagon and congrats on losing so much weight!

I've kind of hit a wall at 78.2 kg (172.4 lbs), so now I'm actively trying to drop those and continue to lose weight as I did. Driving me insane, I tell you!

Quote from: holly on January 06, 2012, 02:59:20 AM
I hope it's not too late for me to get in on this. 

I started trying to lose weight in September, I was 84.6kg (187lb)on September 30, and I'm down to 72.9kg (161lb) this morning.  I'm still hoping to get down to around 65kg so I'm a little over half way! 

People have been telling me and my girlfriend that I seem so much happier and more comfortable with myself since I started losing weight (the real reason is that I finally went and started my transition, and weight loss is one of the first steps, but I guess they'll find that out soon enough)

Congrats! That's like 2lbs a week! How have you gone about it? What diet changes have you done and what exercise?

I am 84 myself and I wish also to get down to 65, that's a wished-for loss of 19kgs or 42lbs.

I am throwing my hat in the ring. I started back at the gym this week, my first time in one in nearly three years!

Starting weight (2012.01.04): 84/185

I really hate hitting plateaus, that means more change uggggg I feel like I'm hitting one, 5k run everyday I just don't feel the burn anymore, I guess it's time for another set of P90X

Hey all, I am planning on starting a major attempt at weight loss shortly here. It's possibly idealistic but I am currently 33 and weigh 287lbs and am 5'9" and hoping to get down into the 150-165 range. I read somewhere that it was best to lose the weight before starting transition, not sure if it's true but if so I have a bit of a road ahead of me. Unfortunately I think I might have a large frame, though my arms and hands seem to be medium at best.

I know fast weight loss can be unhealthy but when I learned I was diabetic and dropped a lot of sugary foods I lost about 30 lbs in a month or two, the doctor said due to my excessive weight it was fine. I'm wondering how much I can lose fast before it's not fine anymore, if anyone has an idea that wold be awesome to know.

So yeah this should be interesting.

Quote from: Amalina on January 06, 2012, 10:45:52 AM
I know fast weight loss can be unhealthy but when I learned I was diabetic and dropped a lot of sugary foods I lost about 30 lbs in a month or two, the doctor said due to my excessive weight it was fine. I'm wondering how much I can lose fast before it's not fine anymore, if anyone has an idea that wold be awesome to know.

What is safe to lose in any given time period all depends on how big you are to start with.  I once saw an episode of I Used To Be Fat where this guy lost a whole stone (6kg) in a week!

However the average person can hope to lose between 1-3lbs a week. A regular consistent weight loss of about 2lbs a week would be very achievable and would be perfectly healthy. I am working off the plan of 1.5lbs a week, anything extra would be the cherry on the cake. Personally I think as long as you are eating healthly and are not over-exercising your body will lose the weight in the way it sees fit. The body will decide itself. Trying to push it too hard and resorting to fad-diets to lose more in a shorter time frame isn't the way to go as you will not be nurishing your body and you only end up putting the weight back on again when you start to eat again. Shocking the body will lead to it going into survival-mode and storing fat more quickly. Ironically the key to a healthy weight-loss is regular snacking on healthy foods, eating more often but eating better.

Quote from: niamh on January 06, 2012, 06:25:31 AM
Congrats! That's like 2lbs a week! How have you gone about it? What diet changes have you done and what exercise?

For the most part it has been eating healthier and smaller portions.  Replace bread with wraps, chocolate with fruit, ice cream with yoghurt, cut out alcohol altogether.  I counted kilojoules for a couple of weeks to see how much I was actually eating, and get an idea of what sort of portions I should have with each meal.

Eating less calorie dense foods means I can actually eat more than I would have before and still lose weight.  It's amazing how much energy I was getting from junk food and beer!

I haven't done a whole lot of exercise other than walking the dog and the normal housework.  Now that I've got my diet under control I'm starting to do a little more walking (and the dog loves it!).  I'm hesitant to do any major workouts, as I put on muscle easily and I'm not on hormones so that is the last thing I want to do.  I just want to lose fat and keep my cholesterol at a healthy level.

I've also got some motivation from having had high cholesterol.  The doc put me on lipitor which isn't great for the liver, and I'm worried that it might affect my ability to get the right mix of hrt.  So getting off lipitor is my number one priority at the moment.  Blood test next week so fingers crossed!

I'm down another pant size. That makes two inches off the waist since the beginning of Dec!

Whenever I need a pick me up, I love reading this thread because it is sooo easy to see how hard everyone is working. Congratulations to you all. And to anyone sitting on the fence in any number of ways, this is one safe way to make at least some changes...

Need to lose weight after Xmas and an Italian holiday (I love pasta!).  Just trying to be sensible and not looking to a crash diet.  Hopefully weather will improve over the next couple of weeks as I can get out on my bike and do a bit of walking.

It's still coming off, 72.1kg today.  I can't wait to see the scales show under 70!  My girlfriend tells me I'm starting to look a bit skinny when I'm in boy clothes, but could still afford to lose a couple of kilos in girl clothes.  Probably because they are a bit tighter and show off what's left of my belly fat. 

And I finally squeezed myself into this gorgeous dress I bought months ago as a target.  Time to go shopping for a new goal!

holly, may I ask how tall you are?

I'm 5' 11" and I've set the goal to reach 150 pounds. Currently sitting on 170 pounds. Now as far as BMI goes, it's all fine but I've no idea how I'd look. Would I be too skinny or still have some flab left over?

Guess I'll see once I get there, which may take a while. Been losing weight slower the last month (then again, new year celebration does that).

I'm about 175cm, I think that's 5' 9"?  At 72.1kgs (158lbs?) I've still got a bit of flab around my belly and thighs, but not a huge amount. 

BMI puts me in the normal category, but on the higher end.  If I can get to 65kg (143lbs) I'd be pretty much dead centre of the normal BMI (and that extra 7kgs would take care of the little bit of flab I've still got).  I know BMI has a huge number of flaws, but I'm pretty happy that it suits me.  I'm not overly athletic and have a pretty average build, so I'm one of the few that it works for.  If you've got a bigger build, or more muscle, you can get away with more weight without looking flabby.

The only way to be sure is to lose it and see.  I weigh myself most days and plot it in an iPhone app.  I wish I'd taken photos as well, sometimes it's hard to tell how much you've changed because the changes are so gradual.

Good luck!  It's hard work, but absolutely worth it.  I've got more energy, better moods, and I've cut down my risk of heart attack/stroke/diabetes etc.

Quote from: niamh on January 06, 2012, 06:25:31 AM
I am throwing my hat in the ring. I started back at the gym this week, my first time in one in nearly three years!

Starting weight (2012.01.04): 84/185

Today (2010.01.18): 82/180.5! 

The gym has been going great. It's two weeks now since I started and I've lost 2 kgs (4.5lbs). I am very happy with my progress and I am looking forward to entering the 70's in two to three weeks time. I go 5 times a week for 90 minutes of a work-out using the threadmill, x-trainer, rowing machine and various resistance machines.

Quote from: niamh on January 18, 2012, 09:01:04 AM
Today (2010.01.18): 82/180.5! 

The gym has been going great. It's two weeks now since I started and I've lost 2 kgs (4.5lbs). I am very happy with my progress and I am looking forward to entering the 70's in two to three weeks time. I go 5 times a week for 90 minutes of a work-out using the threadmill, x-trainer, rowing machine and various resistance machines.

Geez. If only it wasn't cold here, I'd do some outdoor things.

I've a stationary bike in the bedroom, but I keep it so darn cold in there it renders me impossible to work out.

Or if the fitness gyms weren't as expensive. They're insanely overpriced where I am. I'd love to be able to work out on different cardio machines. *Le sigh* I'm happy to hear of your progress, though, keep going!

Quote from: Maja.V on January 19, 2012, 05:10:55 AM
Geez. If only it wasn't cold here, I'd do some outdoor things.

I've a stationary bike in the bedroom, but I keep it so darn cold in there it renders me impossible to work out.

Or if the fitness gyms weren't as expensive. They're insanely overpriced where I am. I'd love to be able to work out on different cardio machines. *Le sigh* I'm happy to hear of your progress, though, keep going!

Thanks! It's freezing here too, that's why I started at the gym. I got a reduced price because I only go in the mornings and afternoons. Thankfully my job allows that. Normally I like jogging and I did a lot of that in the summer and the autumn but with the snow and ice outside for the next three months it means it's inside I have to be. It is quite a bit of money if you add it up but I use it so often and I have cut back in other areas of my life like treats out, books, food etc. In the long run it will be so worth the sacrifice to be able to be proud of my figure again (I've been struggles with weight issues for 6 years now).

Toss BMI in the trash, do cardio 3 times a week getting your heart rate up the safe aerobic level, eat lots of protein cut the carbs and PORTION CONTROL!!!!!!  OH and have fun with it!!!!! it's a new life style, if the the life style is a drudgery then it will fail, make it fun and go with it :-)

So I haven't started yet due to money issues but planning on doing a serious shopping trip this weekend. I was gonna do this one book diet to get some structure to follow since I have horrible self control on my own with food. It was really odd and restrictive and hard to follow though so I decided to try another one that is close to what my doctor said I should do for my diabetes issues. The Atkins one, at least as a basis, I take in far too many carbs anyways between pizza and mexican food.

Anyone know if it's as legit as people claim? Any suggestions if not? Just wondering, only going with it really cause it won't be such a harsh change and has some stuff I like on the ok to eat lists. The other one I was gonna do had almost nothing I even remotely liked and wanted you to get a lot of specific stuff that was really odd.

Quote from: Amalina on January 19, 2012, 09:42:22 AM
So I haven't started yet due to money issues but planning on doing a serious shopping trip this weekend. I was gonna do this one book diet to get some structure to follow since I have horrible self control on my own with food. It was really odd and restrictive and hard to follow though so I decided to try another one that is close to what my doctor said I should do for my diabetes issues. The Atkins one, at least as a basis, I take in far too many carbs anyways between pizza and mexican food.

Anyone know if it's as legit as people claim? Any suggestions if not? Just wondering, only going with it really cause it won't be such a harsh change and has some stuff I like on the ok to eat lists. The other one I was gonna do had almost nothing I even remotely liked and wanted you to get a lot of specific stuff that was really odd.

Don't fear carbs. Carbs are the building blocks of civilisations and have been since the dawn of agriculture. But stay away from the processed ones. Exchange white rice and pasta for wholegrain ones. They may be more expensive but it's real food. Eat lots of raw salads, be creative with wholegrains, legumes, things like lentils and seeds like quinoa. Personally I am a vegan but there are many ways of eating. You don't have to be strict veggie like me but people don't consume half the amount of veg and fruit they should. When you eat lots of veg and wholegrains, making soups and such you fill up real fast, it's cheap and you don't feel like you're on a diet. I wouldn't recommend Atkins.

This is a nice website for ideas.

niamh is correct, don't fear the carbs control then in moderation, Atkins is a waste as is most the diets out there. This what I did I read somewhere that the Japanese are some of the healthiest groups of people around, so I read up on there eating habits and tried to duplicate it as much as possible. That works for me your mileage may differ ;-)