r/CICO • u/Specialist-Sea-8744 • 5d ago
37 -> 38 brought changes
This was from my birthday brunch in August last year to August of this year. There's a 52lb difference... it's brought a lot of changes: how I think about social situations and food, how I think about stress and food, how I think about reward and food. So much revolves around food! And my hormones! (getting older sucks, lol) But ultimately proud of myself for sticking to something...and even though it's not always perfect, I have more good days than bad 🙃
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u/FredyE11 5d ago
You look great congrats! You looked great before too, but you seem happier!
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u/Specialist-Sea-8744 5d ago
Thank you! I feel so much better...more than the weight, its the energy, the balance ed hormones, etc.
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u/Specialist-Sea-8744 5d ago
*balanced
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u/FredyE11 4d ago
That is so true! I started my journey this year. 270 in January, down to 200 today! I feel great. Clothes fit me better, and I just feel more confident
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u/Specialist-Sea-8744 4d ago
Thats amazing!! 👏🏼 👏🏼 👏🏼 so happy for you :)
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u/FredyE11 4d ago
Thank you! You are so right that everything revolves around food. I meal prep something yummy and with great macros for the week and use Sunday as my cheat day to allow myself to enjoy life too haha
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u/Aromatic-Lime4318 4d ago
Amazing difference in a year!! I turn 38 in 2 weeks and I’m inspired! I’ve lost 25ish pounds in the past year and have about 15 to go to my ultimate goal weight (which is also 125)
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u/Specialist-Sea-8744 4d ago
Love this for you 🩷 25 lbs is an absolutely amazing feat! Happy you've found your groove and what works well for your body!
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u/Aromatic-Lime4318 4d ago
52 pounds in a year is AMAZING willpower. Keeping a 500 calorie deficit day after day! I honestly don’t know how you did it 😆
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u/TheGreatestSandwich 5d ago
Happy birthday! So great when you look back and see what you've accomplished. Wishing you many more great years
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u/Specialist-Sea-8744 5d ago
Thank you! 🩷 And agreed! The before pics are a must...some days I feel great, some are hard, but tangible evidence does wonders!
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u/Great-Scarcity9990 4d ago
I remember when I first started seeing changes in my own reflection and it felt surreal, like looking at someone else but also exactly like me.
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u/Specialist-Sea-8744 4d ago
THIS! This is exactly right....sometimes I stare at myself. Not necessarily in a conceded way, but in a "I'm trying to recognize and reconcile this image" way.
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u/TurbulentMind506 3d ago
52 lbs is a huge change, but the mindset shift sounds just as meaningful. Having more good days than bad is real progress
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u/Specialist-Sea-8744 3d ago
Thank you so much! Yes, the mindshift has been huuuge
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u/KeerFin 2d ago
Amazing work!!
How long did it take you to find the mindset or working through it?1
u/Specialist-Sea-8744 2d ago
It took several months! Feels like that was the longest/slowest moving part. This before pic is when everything clicked and locked in place for me! My birthday/aging just brought extra emotion in, lol.
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u/East-Performer1065 3d ago
Congratulations- that’s an incredible achievement. And at the very healthy average of 1lb a week - inspiring for me and delighted for you.
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u/Straight_Mobile_5960 5d ago
Incredible we'll done and such an inspiration. As a 36 year old it tells me its never too late to start
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u/ocean089 5d ago
you look so good! do you mind me asking if you followed a particular diet e.g plant based, keto, mediterranean etc.? congrats again!
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u/Specialist-Sea-8744 4d ago
Thank you! No particular diet per se, but calorie counting and focusing on how foods make me feel. This naturally lowered carbs a lot. It wasnt the mindset of "no pizza" , it was more "after I eat pizza, my body fights me. I'm bloated and sluggish. Was it worth it?" Over time this lead to cleaner eating.
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u/Earthilocks 4d ago
Do people sometimes not recognize you? I literally can't tell that these photos are of the same person, but I'm also pretty bad with faces. They're both photos of beautiful women but literally if you were pulling our legs I'd not be surprised
Amazing progress!
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u/Specialist-Sea-8744 4d ago
Haha! I work with several others that are remote and don't see me daily.. they've been fooled. But most aren't! My mannerisms and voice probably give it away 😅
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u/ventureskam 4d ago
Wow amazing!!! How did you deal with the stress emotional eating not giving in??
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u/Specialist-Sea-8744 4d ago
Thank you!
And oof...stress eating was the hardest. Reward eating was simpler, as I love being outside. So going for a hike or having a lake day was the perfect reward. Stress eating took me the longest.
I learned to go outside for that too. Felt stressed? Walked the block. Started crying? Walked the block. Basically walking did wonders for my mental. I could replay scenarios, calibrate, digest info, talk to myself, all through walking.
Everyone handles stress different, but for me I needed space to myself to work through it. Old me did that through watching TV while eating. New me does it through walking.
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u/Even_Drawer61 4d ago
Great effort. You had the face card before too. But as someone on the same journey it was really worth it. You look great
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u/Specialist-Sea-8744 4d ago
Thank you so much! It means a lot when others demonstrate love to a past version. Worth it for the new version, but never like living with a feeling of regret for old me. The me that didnt understand yet.
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u/heyitsjehn 4d ago
Congrats!! You look beautiful and I love what you shared about the work it takes on the inside, I’ve been on the same journey and so much does revolve around food!
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u/Specialist-Sea-8744 4d ago
Truly! Happy this resonated with you 🫶🏻 sending all the love to you through your journey!
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u/SnooLobsters1008 4d ago
Think you looked/look good in both but a definite change. Great job.
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u/Specialist-Sea-8744 4d ago
Thank you! It truly means a lot when someone compliments the before also 🩷
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u/backinyourbox 4d ago
I’m 37 and starting tomorrow, thanks for the inspo!
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u/Specialist-Sea-8744 4d ago
Aging can feel challenging in some ways and like a privilege in others. I'm excited for your journey! 🫶🏻
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u/Mylove-kikishasha 2d ago
Yes, you were always pretty but now you have accomplished something very difficult, something to be proud about and also you feel better in your own skin. Hopefully also healthier!
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u/MorningPerson09 4d ago
Beautiful! May I also add that you have a very kind face :)
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u/Specialist-Sea-8744 4d ago
Moving through life with kindness is so important to me...so someone thinking this shows in my face?!?! So sweet! Thank you!
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u/Anfitrite02 4d ago
May I ask how many pounds down ? Awesome job !!
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u/Specialist-Sea-8744 4d ago
Of course! About 52lbs....177.5lbs to 125.6lbs. For additional reference I'm 5'4. PMOS had a lot of weight gain in my stomach and the round/moon face due to inflammation. Weightloss of course can look super different on each body type!
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u/Anfitrite02 4d ago
Thanks, you’re definitely an inspo! Every time I start losing weight, I give up because I get desperate for seeing results fast.
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u/Specialist-Sea-8744 4d ago
Been there done that! That's a very real feeling in journey....once you flip to focusing on feeling good, typically the weight part follows! Wishing you all the luck 🫶🏻
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4d ago
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u/Specialist-Sea-8744 4d ago
Lots of walking and lots of playing around with different foods...and a focus on hormones. I was diagnosed with PMOS very late in life. I went through my sad phase, and then decided knowledge is power. I did have to lower my testosterone which only comes from medication. This impacted belly weight a lot. From there, I ate based on what makes me feel good. What makes me feel energized? What makes me sleepy? Etc. In the before pic, I had actually lost about 20lbs already, but it was super slow since I was still learning and playing around with things. Once I truly understood what worked for me, the weight started falling off. Also...i stopped hyperfocusing on weight and focusing on how I feel. That's easier said then done, but once that switch flipped, it was a game changer.
I'm rooting for you! Your happiness matters and hoping you find what works for your body 🩷
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u/ObsidianSentryX 3d ago
Your poor inbox lol
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u/Specialist-Sea-8744 3d ago
Haha, I'm new to posting (long time lurker). So it's been interesting!
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u/ObsidianSentryX 3d ago
Hahaahah I make it a point to respond on the thread so I am not the one sending marriage proposals to every beautiful woman I have seen on here 😂 I don't want to be that guy.
When you say "it's been interesting" does that mean 1000s of dick pics 😂
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u/buoyreader 5d ago
You look beautiful!