I started on 1/25/04 at 157.5 pounds 35% BF. I am currently down to 136 28% BF. I hope to reduce my BF% to around 15%. According to the formula I use, I will need lose about 24 more pounds to reach my goal. I am only 5 foot 4 inches, so 112 seems about right. I hope to reach my goal by August. I also want to increase my flexiblility, which I have been working on.

I am just curious where everyone else is at and where they hope to be. :tu:

I'm 5' 4 1/2" and was about 130 last summer. I started lifting weights, eating better, and doing more cardio around the end of January. I think I'm under 120 pounds now, so I don't want to lose weight. I'm going to continue what I'm doing now and see where it takes me. I like my new muscles, I like my new strength, and I like my increased endurance. :bb:

I don't have a scale, and I've never had my body fat measured. I don't count my calories, just eat when I'm hungry the healthiest of what's available.

I'm 5'7

was 140
currently 126
goal 120


I started in the middle of February, and recently hit a plateau. I shed the first 10 lbs FAST but now it is really hard. I am upping my cardio and changing things up a little. I am still happy with my results. :)

I'm 5'7

was 140
currently 126
goal 120


I started in the middle of February, and recently hit a plateau. I shed the first 10 lbs FAST but now it is really hard. I am upping my cardio and changing things up a little. I am still happy with my results. :)

I haven't hit a plateau yet, but I am scared that I will soon. The weight always seems to come of easier in the beginning! How long have you been at a plateau? Are you changing anything in your routine to overcome it?

I'm 5'6"
122 lbs
...and I wear a size 2 at JCrew, Banana Republic, and BCBG so I'm very, very pleased. Last night I went shopping with my boyfriend and bought a polka-dot halter bikini at JCrew and felt like a stud :D
I started at 130 in January at a size 6, I think. I thought I would need to get below 120lbs to fit into these clothes, but I was wrong. The weight lifting has added a significant amount of lean muscle, and I am happy with the muscularity. If I could improve something, though, it would be to increase the size of my biceps, triceps, and calves so that everything looks proportional. I also want to increase flexibility because I think it would help me look more symmetrical. Yoga is too boring for me, so I need to find another way of incorporating stretching into my routine.

It feels sooo good to try anything on and look cute. For too long I've been hiding behind baggy sweatshirts and loose jeans. No more! Right now I'm keen on tight Diesel jeans, strappy sandals, and well-tailored button up dress shirts.

Another cool thing about losing fat and gaining muscle is it increases your metablism. In the beginning I worried that I would have to starve myself to maintain my weight, but my metabolism is actually slightly higher than before. Over the last few months I've also retrained my brain to recognize how much food I really need. A small steak and veggies is really all you need for dinner, not mounds of low-quality food.

It feels really good to be where I am with my body right now, and I encourage all of you to keep going, wherever you are with regard to your goals. Persistence always pays off. :tu:

I haven't hit a plateau yet, but I am scared that I will soon. The weight always seems to come of easier in the beginning! How long have you been at a plateau? Are you changing anything in your routine to overcome it?

Actually, I am changing everything!! When I started going to the gym, I wasn't doing any cardio. Eventually I would do two days at the most for about 30 minutes. I have decided to BLAST my fat with a round of 5 days of 45 minute cardio until I can get to my target weight. I will use the 6th day to maintain my upperbody because I have seen really good gains there and do not want to lose them. Once I get down to 120, I will start shaping. My legs are just too fatty for the muscle to show through yet.

As far as diet goes, I have decided to try 25% fat, 25% protein and 50% Carbs to see if I see any good changes. I have read that it is recommended for high cardio work outs but who knows?!? If I am not pleased I will go back to the basic 40/40/20 split.

For cardio I am integrating A LOT of different things to keep me interested. Biking, Running, Step Aerobics, Dance Class, Eliptical, Stairmaster, Swimming and Jumping Rope. This way every day is a little different than the one before.

I'm 5'6"
122 lbs
...and I wear a size 2 at JCrew, Banana Republic, and BCBG so I'm very, very pleased. Last night I went shopping with my boyfriend and bought a polka-dot halter bikini at JCrew and felt like a stud :D
I started at 130 in January at a size 6, I think. I thought I would need to get below 120lbs to fit into these clothes, but I was wrong. The weight lifting has added a significant amount of lean muscle, and I am happy with the muscularity. If I could improve something, though, it would be to increase the size of my biceps, triceps, and calves so that everything looks proportional. I also want to increase flexibility because I think it would help me look more symmetrical. Yoga is too boring for me, so I need to find another way of incorporating stretching into my routine.

It feels sooo good to try anything on and look cute. For too long I've been hiding behind baggy sweatshirts and loose jeans. No more! Right now I'm keen on tight Diesel jeans, strappy sandals, and well-tailored button up dress shirts.

Another cool thing about losing fat and gaining muscle is it increases your metablism. In the beginning I worried that I would have to starve myself to maintain my weight, but my metabolism is actually slightly higher than before. Over the last few months I've also retrained my brain to recognize how much food I really need. A small steak and veggies is really all you need for dinner, not mounds of low-quality food.

It feels really good to be where I am with my body right now, and I encourage all of you to keep going, wherever you are with regard to your goals. Persistence always pays off. :tu:

Congrats! It is so encouraging to hear when people have reached their goals. I can't wait to go shopping once I reach mine! :claplow:

Actually, I am changing everything!! When I started going to the gym, I wasn't doing any cardio. Eventually I would do two days at the most for about 30 minutes. I have decided to BLAST my fat with a round of 5 days of 45 minute cardio until I can get to my target weight. I will use the 6th day to maintain my upperbody because I have seen really good gains there and do not want to lose them. Once I get down to 120, I will start shaping. My legs are just too fatty for the muscle to show through yet.

As far as diet goes, I have decided to try 25% fat, 25% protein and 50% Carbs to see if I see any good changes. I have read that it is recommended for high cardio work outs but who knows?!? If I am not pleased I will go back to the basic 40/40/20 split.

For cardio I am integrating A LOT of different things to keep me interested. Biking, Running, Step Aerobics, Dance Class, Eliptical, Stairmaster, Swimming and Jumping Rope. This way every day is a little different than the one before.

Keep us updated on how the new split goes. I recently switched from 40/40/20 to 45% carbs/35% protein/20% fat. I was so scared to increase my carbs but it seems to be helping. I feel like I am buring more fat and according to my scale I have lost 2.5 lbs this week (my official weekly weigh in is tomorrow, but I couldn't resist sneaking a peak tonight!). And it is the week before my period so for me, losing this much is unheard of for this time of the month!

Thats a very good idea to integrate a bunch of different cardio activites. I usually do the elliptical but lately I have been running outside because of the nicer weather. I am also starting Tap Dance lessons soon. I might try jumping rope because it is such an ass kicking workout. I really need to decrease the fat in my legs and butt too. Those are my most stubborn areas.

You look great already, but I bet you will look phenomenal in a few weeks! :claphigh:

Keep us updated on how the new split goes. I recently switched from 40/40/20 to 45% carbs/35% protein/20% fat. I was so scared to increase my carbs but it seems to be helping. I feel like I am buring more fat and according to my scale I have lost 2.5 lbs this week (my official weekly weigh in is tomorrow, but I couldn't resist sneaking a peak tonight!). And it is the week before my period so for me, losing this much is unheard of for this time of the month!

Thats a very good idea to integrate a bunch of different cardio activites. I usually do the elliptical but lately I have been running outside because of the nicer weather. I am also starting Tap Dance lessons soon. I might try jumping rope because it is such an ass kicking workout. I really need to decrease the fat in my legs and butt too. Those are my most stubborn areas.

You look great already, but I bet you will look phenomenal in a few weeks! :claphigh:

Thank you SO much! That makes me feel good to hear you say that AND it is nice to have ladies who know where I am coming from. Love you gals! :d_tongue:

i'm 5'9, i really try to avoid the scale but i think i'm around 148 from 180. i'd love to get down to about 18% BF. i feel like i've been sitting at 22% for quite a while now. well, i had no access to a gym for about 8 months, so i could do no weight lifting. but now im back with a gym, and have just started doing weights again...hopefully i'll finally get to my goal =)

i'm 5'9, i really try to avoid the scale but i think i'm around 148 from 180. i'd love to get down to about 18% BF. i feel like i've been sitting at 22% for quite a while now. well, i had no access to a gym for about 8 months, so i could do no weight lifting. but now im back with a gym, and have just started doing weights again...hopefully i'll finally get to my goal =)

Wow, 32 pounds is a lot of weight to lose! Congratulations! Keep us updated on your progress! :)

i'm 5'9, i really try to avoid the scale but i think i'm around 148 from 180. i'd love to get down to about 18% BF. i feel like i've been sitting at 22% for quite a while now. well, i had no access to a gym for about 8 months, so i could do no weight lifting. but now im back with a gym, and have just started doing weights again...hopefully i'll finally get to my goal =)

I think you'll see a big improvement once you hit the weights again. Congratulations on losing 32 lbs! Wow! You must feel awesome. Do you have any pics?

Well most people here know my story because I have a website with all my before/after pix. I was up to 160 lbs and am down to 130 lbs now. My body fat % at 160 was probably close to 30% and now my body fat is estimated at 15%. My goals are to increase my flexibility and to get rid of my saddlebags!!!I started on 1/25/04 at 157.5 pounds 35% BF. I am currently down to 136 28% BF. I hope to reduce my BF% to around 15%. According to the formula I use, I will need lose about 24 more pounds to reach my goal. I am only 5 foot 4 inches, so 112 seems about right. I hope to reach my goal by August. I also want to increase my flexiblility, which I have been working on.

I am just curious where everyone else is at and where they hope to be. :tu:

Hi! :D I started working out on April 5th (4 weeks ago). I weighed in at 175.5 and I had an estimated body fat of 36.01 (although I think that is really high...I used http://www.mybodycomp.com to get that). I just did my 4 week weigh in (I, too, try to avoid the scale) and I was down to 171 pounds and my body fat droped to 31.75%. So, I've lost about 9 pounds of FAT and gained about 4 pounds of LBM! I'm very happy with my results so far. I'm most excited about the 2 1/2 inches I've lost off my waist!

I'm doing Body-For-Life and I have 8 more weeks to go for this challenge. But, I plan to continue this lifestyle after I finish. My goals for this challenge are to lose 25 pounds of fat and gain 5 pounds of muscle and I'm right on track to meet my goals! :d_biggrin w00t!!!

I think you'll see a big improvement once you hit the weights again. Congratulations on losing 32 lbs! Wow! You must feel awesome. Do you have any pics?
yea i'm hoping the weights help out alot, i hope to get some pics when i get a new digital camera and some muscle definition going.

Hi! :D I started working out on April 5th (4 weeks ago). I weighed in at 175.5 and I had an estimated body fat of 36.01 (although I think that is really high...I used http://www.mybodycomp.com to get that). I just did my 4 week weigh in (I, too, try to avoid the scale) and I was down to 171 pounds and my body fat droped to 31.75%. So, I've lost about 9 pounds of FAT and gained about 4 pounds of LBM! I'm very happy with my results so far. I'm most excited about the 2 1/2 inches I've lost off my waist!

I'm doing Body-For-Life and I have 8 more weeks to go for this challenge. But, I plan to continue this lifestyle after I finish. My goals for this challenge are to lose 25 pounds of fat and gain 5 pounds of muscle and I'm right on track to meet my goals! :d_biggrin w00t!!!

Good for you on the weight loss. I don't trust mybodycomp either, but I have nothing to compare it to. You can't be sure you gained 4 pounds of LBM because it says so. I'm not sure where it pulls those numbers out of, because they sound suspicious.

Great on the 2 1/2 inches from the waist. :claplow: It's taken me more than six months for that! It doesn't matter what the numbers on the scale and the body fat measurement are if you look great.

Good for you on the weight loss. I don't trust mybodycomp either, but I have nothing to compare it to. You can't be sure you gained 4 pounds of LBM because it says so. I'm not sure where it pulls those numbers out of, because they sound suspicious.

Great on the 2 1/2 inches from the waist. :claplow: It's taken me more than six months for that! It doesn't matter what the numbers on the scale and the body fat measurement are if you look great.
Yeah 2 1/2 inches is a lot. When I started I was only 1 week post-laporoscopy (where they stick a scope through your belly button) so I was a lot more bloated than usual (they fill up your abdomen with carbon dioxide so they can have room to work and it takes awhile to get rid of all that gas).

Anyhow, I'm back in my size 10 jeans and thats what I REALLY care about. :tu: Now, I need to get back into my next smaller jeans that have been sitting around for 2 years. ;)

hi, hope you dont mind me jumping in on your thread. im new here and just recently decided to change my lifestyle and make myself happier. i started out at 120 and am currently at 112......after a month (is that slow to anyone else but me? lol) actually after 5 weeks. im 5"5' tall and recently had my fourth child in february.....i am tired of using that excuse with myself.......my husband even left me for another women because i wasnt back in shape yet *sigh*......but depression gone, im determined to get myself back in shape for ME so that i can once again have a healthy mind AND body. i have always been 103# but after a year of heavy drinking went up to 120.....which i gain all in the mid section.....skinny legs and arms and huge gut. i went from a size 2 to a size 7 in 8 months time, then quit drinking and found myself pregnant, went up to 140 at the end of my pregnancy so so far since february thats a 28 pound change.......but i dont count the pregnancy weight, or can i? lol

ok i could go on for days! you ladies are really a wonderful inspiration to me!

hi, hope you dont mind me jumping in on your thread. im new here and just recently decided to change my lifestyle and make myself happier. i started out at 120 and am currently at 112......after a month (is that slow to anyone else but me? lol) actually after 5 weeks. im 5"5' tall and recently had my fourth child in february.....i am tired of using that excuse with myself.......my husband even left me for another women because i wasnt back in shape yet *sigh*......but depression gone, im determined to get myself back in shape for ME so that i can once again have a healthy mind AND body. i have always been 103# but after a year of heavy drinking went up to 120.....which i gain all in the mid section.....skinny legs and arms and huge gut. i went from a size 2 to a size 7 in 8 months time, then quit drinking and found myself pregnant, went up to 140 at the end of my pregnancy so so far since february thats a 28 pound change.......but i dont count the pregnancy weight, or can i? lol

ok i could go on for days! you ladies are really a wonderful inspiration to me!

I don't think you can count the pregnancy weight as a weight loss, but I hope you're not being too hard on yourself. I know they always say "It took nine months to put it on, so nine months to take it off." That was never long enough for me. It took about a year for me to shed the weight from each of my two pregnancies. Your body is amazing to support you so well through the growth of four children, and you must be proud of that.

When you have such a small amount to lose, you don't need to lose it so quickly. In fact, I believe that the slower it comes off, the longer it will stay off.

Your husband is an idiot if he left you for another woman because you're not in shape yet. Does he think you're a baby factory? :mad:
Good to hear you are no longer suffering from depression.

If you ever reach a plateau in trying to get to your goal weight, focus on your goal of becoming happier and healthier, instead of with being a certain size. The more I think about aesthetics, the less I lose, the more I think about health, the better I end up looking. :)

hi, hope you dont mind me jumping in on your thread. im new here and just recently decided to change my lifestyle and make myself happier. i started out at 120 and am currently at 112......after a month (is that slow to anyone else but me? lol) actually after 5 weeks. im 5"5' tall and recently had my fourth child in february.....i am tired of using that excuse with myself.......my husband even left me for another women because i wasnt back in shape yet *sigh*......but depression gone, im determined to get myself back in shape for ME so that i can once again have a healthy mind AND body. i have always been 103# but after a year of heavy drinking went up to 120.....which i gain all in the mid section.....skinny legs and arms and huge gut. i went from a size 2 to a size 7 in 8 months time, then quit drinking and found myself pregnant, went up to 140 at the end of my pregnancy so so far since february thats a 28 pound change.......but i dont count the pregnancy weight, or can i? lol

ok i could go on for days! you ladies are really a wonderful inspiration to me!

You weighed 120 and your husband left you and your four kids because you were not thin enough for him?! He is out of his friggin mind!!! :rolleyes:

A size 7 is not that big, especially considering the fact that you have 4 KIDS!. Sounds like it was his problem, not yours! Good job losing 8 lbs already :claplow: , and I am sure you will reach your goal in no time. :gl: