Weight Loss Stories
Real Weight Loss Success Stories: Samantha Lost More Than 90 Pounds With The Help Of Two Apps
Name: Samantha Crossley
Age: 40
Height: 5’6″
Before Weight: 274 pounds
How I Gained it: I love food. No, I really love food. This love for food has caused me to yoyo my weight for all of my life. As a child I was always “chunky,” and then into my later teens I lost weight not by eating right and exercise, but by starving myself. Then, when I went off to college, I gained all of the weight back, plus my freshman 15+. I continued to gain weight at college because again, I LOVE FOOD. And not being at home meant that I could eat what I wanted, when I wanted it. In my senior year of college, I moved off campus and it caused me to walk several miles one way to my classes. Much to my surprise, I lost weight again. Unfortunately, I still hadn’t learned the important lessons about controlling my portion sizes, about eating healthier options and the importance of daily exercise, and once I graduated college and got married I started to gain again. This time though, my gaining put me at the unhealthiest weight that I every achieved.
Breaking Point: In September 2011 on a girls weekend away from home, I told my girlfriends that I hated myself. I hated everything about myself. My look, my weight, my body, my everything. Although I confessed this in September, I did nothing. I continued to dislike everything about myself and this disgust began to spill over into all aspects of my life… my marriage was suffering; my kids were feeling the effects; my job performance was low. My weight was now causing problems in every corner of my life and I knew that things needed to change, and change quickly.
How I Lost It: First I downloaded an app to my phone called Lose It! After reading about various “weight loss” programs and apps, I found this one to be the easiest to use for me. It is simply a calorie counting app that provides you with the number of calories you should eat in order to lose weight each week. I focused on my food choices and portions for six straight weeks, through two major holidays. The app really allowed me to learn about my food choices, how to eat right, how much to eat and how to budget my calories for an entire day. Although this sounds easy, for someone who ate what she wanted, in the amounts that she wanted for 30+ years, it was nearly impossible, but I was determined not to give up.
In January 2012, I joined my local YMCA so that I could begin to exercise. At first, I couldn’t even do 15 minutes on the elliptical machine. But being the determined and strong-willed woman that I am, I went to the gym every day, seven days a week and gradually built myself up to doing 65 minutes on the elliptical machine.
Then, in March 2012, a lady that I met at the gym said to me “running melts the fat.” That’s all I needed to hear. I downloaded a Couch to 5K app (C25K) and completed that in seven weeks. While doing the C25K program, I actually registered to run in the Pittsburgh Great Race 10K, which was on September 30, 2012. I wasn’t even up to running a 5K yet, let alone a 10K, but I knew that I needed something to strive for. I am happy to report that I successfully completed the Great Race 10K on September 30, 2012 and have now signed up for the Pittsburgh Half Marathon in May 2013. It feels a little crazy, but this again gives me something to work toward — a challenge.
I am now down 93 pounds and although the weight loss has slowed down, I will reach my goal of 101 total pounds lost. I love that I am able to do things that I never thought about doing… running, hiking, biking and even more, including some day watching my grandchildren grow up. There are still things that I need to learn, like how to ignore the brownies that are in the kitchen calling my name. But until that time, I will count the calories for the brownies that I eat and in turn budget my daily total appropriately. For the first time in my life, I can say that I love myself. I love how I feel inside.
After Weight: 181 pounds
Source: Huffington Post
Republished by Blog Post Promoter
Susie Smaliks Hopper
January 23, 2017 at 9:58 pm
Sure, no problem 🙂
Maureen Petrina Eacott
January 23, 2017 at 7:31 pm
Well done Samantha
Stacey Greenlee
January 23, 2017 at 6:25 pm
Does anyone know if there is a Couch to 5k app for walking not running? I have arthritis in my knees and ankles so running intervals is a no no.
Samantha, THANK YOU for sharing your story, very motivating… I appreciate your honesty about the self loathing- in there myself.
The Weigh We Were.com
January 23, 2017 at 7:32 pm
I never really made it through C25k, but I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE Cardio Coach. There are 8 volumes. Works best with a heart rate monitor. I mean I LOVE it and it works GREAT for walking (especially on a treadmill). There are 8 total programs – each gets progressively harder and longer (but you can still use them exclusively for walking). 🙂 ~kat
The Weigh We Were.com
January 23, 2017 at 7:34 pm
Here is the website. They may sound ‘weird’ listening to them from a computer, but trust me, they are BEYOND motivating http://www.cardiocoach.com/index.html
The Weigh We Were.com
January 23, 2017 at 7:37 pm
I also use the Digifit app to track and log my heart rate for each workout. It helps me see where I am during the intervals. (note: I happily used Cardio Coach for years without the DigiFit app, but I like having my HR right in front of me, and having a visual log of my HR during the workout) http://www.comprendo.com/
Stacey Greenlee
January 24, 2017 at 3:45 am
Thank you for the help!
Gayle Robinson Siegel
January 23, 2017 at 4:16 pm
Great story!!!
Diana Contreras
January 23, 2017 at 1:31 pm
Sharon Shinn
January 23, 2017 at 11:06 am
Trina Sigmon read this
Pam Marchok
January 23, 2017 at 6:18 am
I really need to loose weight for health issues and for myself and my daughter
Pam Marchok
January 24, 2017 at 1:49 am
I can’t run because my of knees and ankles are bad so I would have to do some other form of exercise
..What is MyFitnessPal? I am also on a very limited income
Emma
March 25, 2018 at 11:27 am
Consider swimming if you have access to a pool. I’m also on a limited income, so gym memberships are out for me, but my apartment complex has a pool and I swim 3-5 days per week. You can burn 500 plus calories in an hour of swimming depending on your weight. I actually burn closer to 1000 calories beause of my size, and it makes weight fall off as long as you’re careful not to eat back the calories you burn. You don’t even have to swim laps, just keep moving. I swim a couple laps but find it borning, so I tread water, do jumping jacks, swim underwater, throw around a beach ball, and generally just play around and have fun.
Dianne Suzuki
January 23, 2017 at 5:57 am
You look wonderful!!
Stella Gilbert
January 23, 2017 at 5:23 am
I’m so glad I follow this page.
Tammy Williams
August 30, 2015 at 9:20 pm
So wonderful
Pj McGannon
August 30, 2015 at 7:49 pm
.
Cheryl Ullmer
August 30, 2015 at 5:28 pm
You are amazing! Go YOU!!!
Rebecca Kay
August 30, 2015 at 6:43 am
Congratulations!
Levi Oso
August 30, 2015 at 3:31 am
You go Girl!
Christine Baker
August 30, 2015 at 12:06 am
You look wonderful.
Michelle Antoinette Mejia
August 29, 2015 at 10:26 pm
You look great!
Anitra Agape Lewis
August 29, 2015 at 10:09 pm
Nyce
Julie Brim
August 29, 2015 at 9:38 pm
Fantastic! Which app did you use to track as there are several.
Becky Ralph Hines
August 29, 2015 at 9:30 pm
Awesome! Thank you 🙂
Leah Carter
August 29, 2015 at 8:43 pm
You look great
Audrey Wheeler
August 29, 2015 at 8:20 pm
<3
Ginette Deslisle
August 29, 2015 at 7:56 pm
Big shot out to you congratulations
Edwina Lee
August 29, 2015 at 7:25 pm
You look amazing! Congrats
Leslee Ferguson
August 29, 2015 at 6:42 pm
Great work !!! Friend me to give me tips and motivation pls!
Kelly Lynn Pesce
August 29, 2015 at 6:13 pm
Very inspiring! You look fantastic!
Kristin Batista
August 29, 2015 at 5:51 pm
Awesome job, way to go.. you should be so proud of yourself
Elaine Sexton
August 29, 2015 at 5:43 pm
Good for you ! Keep it up
Mary Hake Christman
August 29, 2015 at 5:32 pm
You look amazing!
Sandra Procario
August 29, 2015 at 5:21 pm
Awesome!!!
Teresa Nichols
August 29, 2015 at 4:43 pm
Great story!!
Donna Gray
August 29, 2015 at 4:42 pm
Awesome.
Stacey Barbeau
August 29, 2015 at 4:36 pm
Love!
Charlotte Munzek Perry
August 29, 2015 at 4:31 pm
Awesome! My hubby ran the Pgh. Half Marathon in 2013 also. My son graduated from Duquesne a few weeks later.
Sara Ann
August 29, 2015 at 4:28 pm
Awesome! Such an inspiration! Thank you for sharing!!
Roberta Germain
August 29, 2015 at 4:25 pm
Awesome
Emma Smith Warren
August 29, 2015 at 4:11 pm
Great job!
Christine de la Garza
August 29, 2015 at 3:59 pm
What a great success story!
Brittany Reger Bucy
August 29, 2015 at 3:47 pm
Awesome!!! She looks great! Such an inspiration!
Dana Genett Stephens
August 29, 2015 at 3:44 pm
Awesome job!!
Pepper Pepper
February 20, 2014 at 9:34 am
awesome
Amelia Spittle
February 20, 2014 at 8:07 am
Congrats you look wonderful. So happy for you . Way to go 🙂
Debbie Desanti Forsyth
February 20, 2014 at 4:13 am
You look fabulous and your journey has inspired so many people:) Congrats
Mignon Grayson
February 19, 2014 at 10:40 pm
Amazing! Way to keep at it.
koreika
February 19, 2014 at 9:49 pm
Inspiring! Very happy for you!
Cindia Hudson
February 19, 2014 at 8:06 pm
She looks amazing
Shawna Sharrock
February 19, 2014 at 7:24 pm
Awesome job Samantha
Cindy Miles
February 19, 2014 at 6:48 pm
Congratulations! I am truly inspired by you. Keep up the good work.
Mindy Nichols
February 19, 2014 at 5:21 pm
You are an inspiration to us all..ty for your story….I’m going to try these applications.
Jo Pinkerton
February 19, 2014 at 4:52 pm
Thanks for sharin
Johnnie Thomas
February 19, 2014 at 4:50 pm
I lose it! She looks great!
Melissa Briles
February 19, 2014 at 4:50 pm
I use lose it and love it down 13lbs so far!!!
Fereshteh Jafari
February 19, 2014 at 4:46 pm
like
Cheryl Rager-Rousell
February 19, 2014 at 4:39 pm
Great story. Congrats!
Soleil Cornielle
February 19, 2014 at 4:29 pm
Awesome!
Rose Mary
February 19, 2014 at 4:14 pm
Congrats Samantha great job!!!
Debbie Cummings Mcdoniel
February 19, 2014 at 3:36 pm
Incredible!!!!!
Rachel's Delights
February 19, 2014 at 3:33 pm
Congrats on your weight loss!
Malta Nelson
February 19, 2014 at 3:18 pm
Congratulations
Melissa Vidauri Haro Arriaga
February 19, 2014 at 3:12 pm
I lost 80lbs thanks to phone apps too. Congrats on your weight loss!
Terri Grimes
February 19, 2014 at 3:12 pm
she looks great!
Kimberly Thompson
February 19, 2014 at 3:04 pm
Wow… That is an amazing transformation!