I have just reached my goal weight of 11st 3.5lbs (I am 5ft 11ins tall) - I have lost 2st 11.5lbs - I started dieting on 23 July 2007 when I weighed 14st 1lb - I achieved my target weight today (1 April 2008) - this is not an April Fool joke!!!
So yesssss I've done it!!!!!
Dave Harrison
Derby
1 April 2008.

Brilliant mate!! Well done!

Can't wait 'til the day I can report the same thing here. Only 3 1/2 stone to go!

Oh well, back on me bike then!

LOL

Well done David! What a success story - I am so pleased for you! You stick at it - you are doing so very well and are an absolute inspiration.
All the best, Jeannie

hi

But how do i enjoy going to a gym when i'm on my own? I was put in a gym through the doctor and only went twice. I'm just not trying hard enough. and not sleeping very well either! even though i try and walk everywhere, and i have cut out the chocolate and only eat crisps when I'm bored. sorry everyone.

lisa

Congrats to all! The best thing having lost 11lbs since Jan 7 is a friend today saying gosh you have lost weight! What a boost to carry on. Roll on Summer!

Pippa

It is hard to go to the gym solo... does your gym offer aerobics? How about swimming? Walking is very good, perhaps you could up the amount you're doing (without knowing how much you are doing).

Well done on successes!

Hi Lisa
Has your gym got TVs to watch while working out? How about music? I go to Fitness First and they have music on and they have 8 or 9 TVs in a row to watch. I also take along my iPod for while I'm doing weights for an hour or if the TV or music channel is poo while I'm on the cross-trainer of treadmill. How about classes? Does your gym offer them where you can exercise as part of a group rather than on your own?

To begin with, it IS hard to motivate yourself to go to the gym BUT it honestly DOES get easier to the point where you really enjoy going and you almost get sort of addicted to going to the gym. It may take 2-3 weeks to get your mindset right but it WILL happen, it just needs that bit of will-power to get yourself there.

For me, it's at a point where if I don't go I feel a little guilty. Not only because I know I'm not going to see results with clothes or on scales but also because I now really enjoy going.

I've lost 28-30lbs and also dropped a trouser size (and I'm not far from moving another size down) since January 7th so all the hard work is definitely worth it.

Just push yourself to go Lisa. It's hard at the beginning but trust me, it's all worth the work, it just needs that initial push AND IT DOES GET EASIER.

Best of luck

Daz

Hi Lisa

I am also on my own ( widow and children left home) so very easy to opt out and watch TV or read a book. I was challenged to the race for life last summer 5k walk/ jog /run whatever you could do. At the end we had a goody bag which included a 2 week voucher for the gym. I took this up and it included an induction session with a qualified trainer. I felt valued and decided to join the gym ( the whole point of the free offer of course) but with this came 5 sessions with a trainer. First session was to talk through my aims then work out a range of exercises. Then I was reassessed at regular intervals and told I could book another assessment whenever I wanted. The instructors make me feel welcome, I tell them about my next challenge and they ask me how my training is going.

With the gym membership came free classes and I initially I was wary of going as I though all would be 20ish and slim ( I am 60 and not slim) I started with beginners Pilates and the class before this was legs bums and tums; I saw there was a range of ages and abilities so I go to that class when I can. I have also tried other classes to see which I like.
At the moment the best is spinning, cycling to music with a range of sprints and hill climbs. You can do it at your own level, just turn the resistance up or down. The music is great and the leader makes it fun AND I feel so good at the end.

I think just going to the gym on your own is hard work, it is too easy to just do an easy session and quit when you feel a bit tired. I work best with a challenge, I did 5 k in May then 10k in October now doing the moonwalk 26 mile walk so I have to get fitter. The final time does not matter but I do not want to be the last in my team so that gets me to the gym.

I now know I feel so much better if I go a few times a week, I sleep better and it helps reduce my stress levels. Do keep going but try some classes if you can they are fun and there are others around to keep you going.

Good luck

Brilliant to read everyone's success stories

I've finally reached my "target" weight - 8 stone (I'm 5 ft 2) - after years of being on and off diets. I'm still eating reasonably healthily but enjoying "whatever I want" and haven't put any weight back on over the past few weeks ... I think I've finally cracked this!

And I'm not sure if this is quite an achievement in the dieting sense, but I launched my own website a few months ago -- www.theofficediet.com -- to share what I've learnt along the way. It has now had over 11,000 hits; I'm counting that a success too!

Ali

I have chnged how I think about food and that's my biggest success, food is no longer there to relieve boredom or as an emotional crutch for stress or tiredness after work. Food is to feed my body and keep it healthy.

Brilliant Ali, well done you

Hopefully over the next few months, we will be reading more and more comments like yours as more and more people reach their goals!!

Aww I absolutely love reading these success stories! I think that with so many people not bothering to get fit and healthy i.e. high % of morbidly obese in Britain, that anyone who makes the slightest effort such as cutting out sugar in tea or going for a power walk deserves a good deal of praise! And this is the perfect opportunity to do so! So well done everyone, you should all be very proud of yourselves!

Personally my biggest success was loosing 2 stone through a strict diet. But that was over 2 years ago when i was just 16! I went from a size 18 bottoms to a size 8 on top and 12 on bottoms. Over the years i maintained it through a moderate diet and some exercise.
But these days i am an avid gym goer - know what Darren Danks means when he says its an addiction. But my diet is terrible! Basically i replace meals with cakes and biscuits... I hang my head in shame. But i am putting effort into getting healthier and bust a gut at the gym 6 times a week to burn off all the calories I consume. Not healthy I know but hopefully some day I will be writing to tell you Ive turned a corner

Again, congratulations to absolutely everyone your all brilliant and hope more threads like this one are created!

Well done Snowdrop - that's something a lot of us are struggling with. The first step is actually being aware that you're doing it. Stick around here and Sergeant Major Draine will keep you in line!

Well done Ali! That is such an achievement. Hope you succeed in keep it off now and staying fit!

That's great Sarah - why don't you post a pic instead of the green blob?

There are quite a few threads on here about healthy eating - have a look and keep in touch with us when you need some encouragement

Reading these success stories does spur you on... but it also makes me a little bit depressed thinking maybe I won't get there. I mean, I know I don't have a massive amount of weight to lose, but it's very slow progress because of that and despite the loss I'm managed so far, I still feel physically the same and I'm still acutely aware of my swollen belly and love-handles.

Anyway the positive part of this post is a success. I decided this morning to risk trying on a pair of trousers that were bought for me Christmas 2006 (when the weight was building) that never fitted me. Aaaand... they fit! Quite snugly though and there's definitely room for improvement, but I wore them all day and they weren't like an elastic band around my waist. Haha.

Good for you Emily.

Going to Blackpool for the weekend, also going to go and see my parents. I've been going through some of my clothes I want to take with me, ...... 8 skirts, 3 trousers and 2 coats have been committed to the charity bag as they are too big. I was wearing the stuff last year and some of it was sung. I think at the moment my body shape is changing more than anything. I guess I'll have to go shopping again.

Cor, I just can't wait until I've lost a bit more and my clothes feel a bit looser on me. I refused to buy any clothes whilst I've been fatter, surviving in jogging bottoms at home. My old clothes - some feeling more comfy, but can't wait to buy new smaller stuff, just need to lose a few more lbs!

That's what I used to do, but you don't notice the weight creeping up on you till you want something different for a night out or something.

All I've done up till now is watch what I put in my mouth, food and drink and exercise a bit more. It's amazing what a few lifestyle changes make.

I also changed my job Emily, in my old job I was constantly depressed often off sick, and ha sick building syndrome!! See my GP more now when I'm at work, than down at the surgery.

Brilliant Emily! I was doing the same at the weekend - got out a trouser suit I haven't worn for over a year, and the jacket fits although the trousers are a tiny bit too tight to sit down in for long periods!

I've also got a lovely black suit with a red pinstripe that fitted me 18 months ago - the skirt fits but the jacket's just a tad too tight. Am looking forward to wearing both in a few weeks' time - especially the pinstripe suit - it's lovely!

... I agree that seems to be a problem. Also, you loose a bit of weight and nothing changes, then suddenly your body morphs into a new shape! I suppose it would be a bit strange if we all reverted to exactly the same size and shape as when we were last that weight - I assume body shape is just as random as the weekly weigh-in results!

Wow! Have you anything left to wear?

Last time I was losing a lot of weight, I decided I would only buy clothes if they were in a sale, as I knew they would only fit me for a short time before they were too big!

Sadly I still have one lovely suit that I never did get slim enough to wear. However, THIS TIME - hope it hasn't gone completely out of fashion!

I often only buy clothes that are in the sales as well. Charity shops are another haunt of mine, you often find end of line stuff with their labels still attached. Some of which are still on sale in the shops.



There's still my old birthday suite if it comes to it.
rofl: ONLY JOKING.

Emily, please dont feel disheartened! it is amazing to read all these success stories. we are in the same boat i think in terms of weight loss - i know everyone gets sick of hearing this but for me its only been half a stone since jan AAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHH!!
but we have to believe we will get there, and we definitely will!!!!
anyway, as i cant post weight success, will post exercise seuccess. am proud of myself for running 8k in 45mins, and for keeping my promise of going to the gym everyday in school hols.
keep going emily and keep in touch!!!!

well done evryone else, these stories are very motivational, cant wait to join you at my goal weight - might noty be til 2020 - will we all still be here then?!

YES! We probably will, but we'll be comparing notes on our Alzheimer's and arthritis and trying to remember what we're doing here!

Amazing stuff!!
I've not been exercising much for a fortnight (made it to the gym twice for a poor effort!)... was able to do about 32 minutes running, hope I manage it again soon.

I've lost about 20lbs since halloween. My problem is that I weight a LOT for what i actually look like...does that make sense? I'm probably about size 10 and my waist is the smallest it's ever been at 26inches, but i still weight about 10stone6. I think it must be because I've always swum a lot so I have a lot of muscle. Anyway, it's not really a problem as people don't just randomly weigh you when you walk down the street, it's all about what you look like. Although it's a little disheartening when people who (i think) are bigger than me, weight a lot less than me!
So, at the moment i'm also training for the swimathon as well, except I'm doing 10km, which is a blooming long way I'm starting to realise, it's about the same as running a marathon. It'll be alright...hopefully! haha

just logged on, feeling a bit blue, come back from hols 3 lb heavier (which is good for me as it's usually 7), but having trouble getting back on track. it would be so easy to start letting things sliiiiide, BUT reading everyone's successes has made me realise that we have to be in this for the long haul, so am now determined to stop being short termist.
keep going everyone, and please keep me going!!

Wow! That is very impressive!!

I'm doing 2.5k next Friday night and that's enough for me. It tends to get a bit boring doing all of those lengths, what do you do to relieve the boredom?

What's the easiest way to keep track of the lengths you've done. My mind wanders a lot and I daydream, needless to say I lose count easily. I can plod along doing the breaststroke for an hour if I have the time.