Weight loss buddies needed

Daisy72 · 01-23-2011, 01:49 PM

Good day, I would like to join your group. I am 38 two kids. I weigh what I did in my last trimester but there is no baby on board!

(Six years ago, i might add). Wow that is depressing to see that in print.

I am new to the posting thing. But i am determined to get back to my correct size. To share a bit...I i have been getting really heaver for about three years, before that the scale numbers just crept a bit at a time. I have been half hearted at best to do the work. I've read the books, own the gear (tread mill, recumbant bike, and weights) but the gravitational pull of the couch has been to much for me (or maybe its the gravitational pull of my but?).

I see we are all similar in age, most have kids, and I'm assuming no one held a fork to your head either. I am interested to see where this leads, I think I need a kick in the pants to get going. Perhaps if I have to be accountable for what I eat and what I do for exercise each week - I can (or you can) keep me honest.

I am starting at 185 pounds. yuck. I have given myself the goal to loose 30pounds, and then decide from there. So, ladies if any of you can point me in the direction of things to look at on this site, I am open to any suggestions. I hope this will be a fun place to chat, and a great place for motivation!!

Ann72 · 01-23-2011, 08:05 PM

Hi Again,

Just checking in for today. Not a good day for me for eating or exercising, but I did at least get to the market tonight and bought lots of healthy foods for the week. it's been a tough week with family in town visiting from out of state, and I just had a lot of obstacles in place for getting started. I'm determined to make this new week a lot more successful. Starting tomorrow, I hope to write in my food and exercise for the day if you all don't mind.

Welcome Daisy! Hope we can work together and help motivate/help one another on this journey. Ah, to be 185 again. I wasn't much lighter than that before I got pregnant.

Hi calluna--So glad you're getting back on track. Congrats on the weight you already lost and glad the medical issues are behind you.

flora--I can relate to comfort eating. Such a challenge for me as well. So glad you're ready to get back on track.

envelope--thanks so much for sharing. I wish I had more of a competitive edge, because having that can put a fire under your butt to get going. Hope this group can help you work towards your goals and win that challenge.

Hello to everyone else. Please come check in often. I can use all the support I can get and would love to support you all as well.

Ann72 · 01-23-2011, 08:10 PM

Oh, and it looks like my scale is broken. Ugh. So, I'm sort of guessing on my starting weight. I need to buy a new one. Does anyone here have one they really like?

Daisy72 · 01-23-2011, 08:39 PM

I have a Tanita scale - it's programable, and tells you body fat percentage, I know they are not as accurate as getting tested, but they are consistant - ie if you keep using the one scale your results will be consistant, and you can track your downward progression! I think it was about $200, several years ago they are most likey less now.

Coffee Luver · 01-23-2011, 09:50 PM

I need a support group as well! I just turned 32, I am married to a man in the military, and have an 11 year old son. I weight 15 pounds more than I did on the day I delivered him 11 years ago.

I looked at myself in the mirror tonight and caught an angle that I had apparently never seen before. It highlighted a bonafide belly! I have always had a pooch below my belly button, but now I have a large layer of fat over what I am sure deep down are my abdominal muscles. When I relax it looks like I am about 6 months pregnant.
How did this happen? How have I been so unaware of myself? Are my little eyeballs really that good at editing the parts of myself that I don't want to see?
I also feel like I have no idea where to start. I do this sort of "all or nothing" thing when it comes to eating. I eat either all healthy or all bad - I have no ability to balance myself. I can't maintain all healthy all the of the time and I have been doing the all bad so well that I am now fatter than I have ever been in my entire life.
Where did you start? What changes were the easiest and hardest for you? What changes/life style habits have had the most impact on you?
Please help me.

Ann72 · 01-24-2011, 04:00 PM

Hi ladies,

Good day so far, but I don't think I'll have time to exercise.

Daisy- I have a tanita now and love it. I got 12 years out of it, but I think the humidity of the bathroom killed it. I hope to replace it sometime later this week.

Welcome coffee lover- we're glad to have you.

I'll write more later. Hope you're all having a great day!

Coffee Luver · 01-24-2011, 05:54 PM

Today I went to work I sat when I ate lunch and when I used the bathroom and that was it. My legs ached at the end of the day. Does that count as exercise?

Daisy72 · 01-24-2011, 06:35 PM

Coffee Luver - I hear you! The only time I really see what my body has become, is when i decide to shop for clothes. Some how I seem to filter it out the rest of the time.

What I am doing, short version - Eating better (smaller portions) Sleeping more (going to bed earlier, TV is not that important) and exercising.

What I am doing, long version - making myself important. I always put myself after my kids and hubby. I am using some time on the weekends for menu planning for the week. I have always been terrible at this. There are some good free sites out there that can help with this, you pick the dinner menu, for example, then print the shopping list, I cross off what I already have (like salt, chicken stock etc) I add the other usual stuff for kids lunches, then when I am done shopping I have no excuse why I cant cook all healty dinners. I have been doing that for about a month, with dinners, this week I have planned breakfast and lunch too. Which actually is a problem as I am leaving home for 4 days for a training course. However I am not affraid.

I can't have junk in the house - i EAT it! If its here I will binge! I know I won't always have that problem (I hope). Once I get to a place of balance, I am hopeful I will have enough respect for myself to limit the crap.

My family loves with food = do good = have a cookie. That's how I was raised, so I must have done really well over the years (ha ha so kidding) But I tend to look at dessert as having deserved it, not so smart, ask my scale. I am changing how I think about that. I dersive to be healthy and feel good, which I dont (but am improving).

Today I did great with food, will be on my bike shortly for 30 min-ish. Yes I will over come the gravity of my couch!

Yeah me!

I hope everyone else hit the bar they set today, if you didnt quite hit it, at least you tried, if you didnt try...tomorrow is a brand new chance to do better, and love yourself!

Ann72 · 01-24-2011, 09:10 PM

Hi again!

Exercise didn't happen and isn't going to. My daughter had a rough night and I've been up since 4:45. My only plan for the night is to catch some zzz's.

Overall, I ate well today with the exception of dinner because we ate a relative's house and she made enchiladas. Yummy, but not healthy. Oh, and I had a small piece of cheesecake too. Ugh.

The plan I'm following right now is Jackie Warner's plan from her book This is why you're Fat. For the first 2 weeks (right now), you don't have to adjust your eating. You do have to add in some new foods--2 eggs/day, 1 cup oatmeal, 2 fruits, 2-3 veggies, a whey protein shake, 2-3 liters of water with lemon, and herbal tea in the evening. Besides that, you can eat what you want, but honestly once you eat all those foods you don't seem too hungry for the junk. The point is to get your body used to these foods and start to regulate your hormones. After this two week period, you do follow a stricter plan, but are allowed 2 cheat meals per week.

As for exercise, her book includes a bunch on that, but for now I'm happy to do something physical for a half hour a day (elliptical/walking). I have to start somewhere, I'm so out of shape.

Daisy--I can so relate. I'm a binger and my parents used food as reward and comfort while growing up. I remember when they were getting divorced and I was upset, my mother took me out for an ice cream sundae. I try really hard not to do this with my daughter. I really try to encourage moderation and being in tune with her body signs with regards to hunger. Despite that, I'm scared that she'll learn from me. Children learn most from watching their parents. I really don't want her to struggle with weight, food, and body image like I do. Good for you for making yourself a priority. Like so many moms, the kids/husband/house/job come first and we are at the bottom of the list. Glad to see that you're making some changes to fit yourself and your needs back into your life.

Coffee lover--That sounds like some exercise to me. That's way more than I did!

I can so relate to what you say. I can't balance. I really don't think that I ever learned effective coping mechanisms, which is why I use food. I am the queen of all or nothing. And, I always feel so overwhelmed with the whole weight loss thing, so I easily give up. And, I honestly do look pregnant at the moment, maybe more so than when I had DD. So sad.

Keep it up, ladies. Glad that we're all here to get started together.

Coffee Luver · 01-25-2011, 04:44 PM

Thanks for the advice and commiseration, Ladies. It seems like you all are doing well; taking things one day at a time. I need to do more of that. My eating today (so far) was pretty good. PB toast (whole grain), dilute OJ, a few sips of coffee for breakfast. Chicken breast sandwich on whole wheat bun with mayo, lettuce & tomato with green iced tea for lunch and then another slice of PB toast with a glass of skim milk and a tablespoon of mini chocolate chips on the toast. YUM. My favorite childhood snack. I made a chili last night with veggie and lean beef.. thats whats for dinner tonight.

Ann72 - that plan sounds interesting, the adding in BEFORE taking out, makes it sounds less difficult. Are you out of the first 2 week period yet?

Daisy72 - You are right. It is about respecting ourselves more. I, too, was rewarded with food and food was "love". Big holiday meals and food traditions. And my mom always had a fully stocked pantry. FULLY STOCKED.

I just wish it weren't such a difficult process.

Ann72 · 01-25-2011, 08:08 PM

Hi girls,

Good day today food-wise. Stayed on plan, so that's good. No exercise again, but maybe I'll concentrate on food this week and then add in a bit of activity next week.

Krista--Sounds like a great day. No, I'm just getting started with the first two weeks. Yesterday was my first day. Here's hoping that I can keep the momentum going. I really need to drop some weight. Caught a glimpse of my reflection in the sliding glass door today and let's just say that it was pretty scary. I hate when you have those moments of reality when you really see yourself for what you are. But, at least I'm taking the first steps in the right direction.

Daisy--hope you had a great day!

Bye for now...

Ann72 · 01-25-2011, 08:09 PM

Oh, and apparently my scale is now working. I think DD played around with it and I made a few adjustments and it's fine. Good news is that my starting weight was 2lbs less than I expected. LOL.

kiki100 · 01-25-2011, 10:10 PM

I hope nobody minds if I jump in too!

I'm 38, a mother of 2 (boy 9, girl 7). I started my weight loss journey in Sept 08 and lost 80lbs that year. I went back to school and gained approx 20lbs and somehow between then and now (an 8 month) period I've gained another 30lbs back. Soooo....my first goal is to lose the 50 I've put on and get back to where I was at my lowest. I hope to do this by Sept of 2011. I think it can be done.

When I started the journey I was doing it alone and now my hubby is on plan with me. I can't believe how much easier it is to do together. He was just diagnosed with diabetes and I am so proud of how seriously he is taking this and want to help him while helping myself. I've been searching online for diabetic friendly (and weight loss friendly since they aren't always mutually exclusive) recipes, trying new things (NEVER liked cauliflower before but I roasted it with a tiny bit of EVOO and salt and pepper...guess what? YUMMY!) and learning how tasty weight loss can be.

We're not following a specific plan, just sensible portion sizes, healthy choices, lots of water, TRYING to exercise, and cutting the snacks. My biggest challenge is night time snacking...sometimes I just go to bed so I won't eat! LOL!

It looks like we have a great support here with lots of us sharing many commonalities! Glad to have found you all and am always here to listen, encourage, share recipes! Whatever it takes to get us all to healthier us's!!

Hi!!!

Daisy72 · 01-25-2011, 11:56 PM

Hello Ladies

I am now far far away from home in a hotel, where two floors of it are a nursing home?!? Imagine my confusion on check in. I still think its kind of a funny combo, but the price was right and the rooms had good guest feed back, its newly reno'd, so its fine really...just odd. Whatever

I see there is another Ontarian, holla! there is a Canadian web site called SOS cuisine, the site is free, they can create menu's for specific needs, however that costs, like, $2 per week, but you can search the recepies by just being a member. All the recipies have symbols, like kid friendly, vegan, low fat, cheap etc...to get their basic dinner plans I signed up as basic, you put in the number of people and the meal plans are adjusted. I am sure you will find some that are low fat and diabetic. I have cooked about 14 recipies from that site, and they have all been good, a few needed some tweeking - like a little hot sauce, or a couple of spoonfulls of a family favourite sauce added in. Worth a look. They have a receipe for a quick shrimp paella (? spelling) which is fab, I tend to follow receipies like... a recomendation, I might not put in everything, or use something I like better. So have a look.

I would give myself a B- for eating and a solid B for exercise today, I walked all 3 floors at a near by mall, but not fast enough to break a sweat, so a B
plus I stopped in every shoe store to look at nice boots. I have to tell you this - I finally found a style of boot to try on - mid calf, black leather, buckle detail, AND on super sale! $65.

Guy goes to get my size and says, wow thats werid...I only have a 9 and 10 left. To which I reply, thats ok, I need a 9. Guy says, no what I mean is the only pair I have left - the right foot is a 9 and the left is a 10!

too funny, he was so nice, was going to try to get another pair from a different store. I said, please dont sweat it - I am from out of town, its not ment to be. Just my luck

so good night, have a great sleep, may everyone's pants be a little less snug when we arise! I leave you with some profound words

"Inside of a ring or out, ain't nothing wrong with going down. It's staying down that's wrong". - Muhammad Ali

LTs girl · 01-26-2011, 08:37 AM

Good morning ladies. It has been a rough week already. Spent the last two days feeling like crap. Didn't get up and hit the gym, ordered in dinner and slept and slept. I think I had a bug because the first day I got up at my usual time to go work out and it was like go back to bed and sleep or puke. So I went back to bed. But today I jumped out of bed and hit the gym. Feel almost like myself again.

So I will have to take it easy over the next two days at the gym cause my triathlon is Saturday! I can't believe it is here. I am a little freaked out and excited at the same time. I am rewarding myself with a trip to see Cirque Du Soleil later in the evening with my kids. I have always wanted to go so I am super excited.

I also tore off the sheet on my count down and my DH comes home from training in 50 days.

Maybe this will start a new trend. Reward myself with something other then food. Maybe when I reach my goal weight I can talk my husband into a cruise. lol.

Gotta run. Hope you all have a good day.