I"m new here and not quite 40...only 3 months away so I thought I would fit in this support group. I just recently started, I have been going to the gym for 3 weeks at least 3-4 days a week so far. Trying to get it where it is at least 5 but it seems something is always going on after work that makes it hard to get there. Doc appts, art gallery walk that I was showing in so I had to go, the market where I sell my art work, full time work, daughter's hair appts...ect you know life. So far this week I only have one day where there is no extra time to go so I am saying i will make it 5 times this week. Right now I am only doing an hour to an hour and half on the treadmill moving speed and incline up and down to make it hard but not too hard where I feel I am going to die. I am working on jogging right now but at well over a hundred pounds overweight that is going to be slow going.

My goal for this week is to go to the gym 5 times this week...sun-sat already on day two of going. Also is to jog a minute at a time several times during my at least hour on the treadmill.

Next week I am gearing up to take at least one water aerobic class and two group fitness classes along with the treadmill time. The next week add weights and going to see the trainer that is offered for free by the gym. We get to see a trainer for free every 6 weeks to keep us on track.

I am so happy to have found this site, I have found so many great success stories on here.

Hahaha Shelia you should have watched a workout video instead of a movie! Part of Prayer of Saint Francis

"Where there is despair let me sow hope". If only we could walk and live by these words without the despair :)

Hope todays better than yesterday!

JO

:welcome: onmiwei

You found the perfect spot!!

Hello everyone and welcome onmiwei. Went on a 5 mile bike ride with my husband and kids this morning. The pace was slower than my usual, but I am so pleased that I got to ride and that my kids could ride that far! Hubby took my bike in to get the sensor on my speedometer/odometer fixed, so I should have it back in a few days and once again have an accurate count of how fast and far I am going. Not sure when I will be able to ride again, but I will take it day by day. My eating hasn't been perfect, but I have stayed within my calorie range. One thing I am proud of is that I haven't caved in to eating sweets - and today I want to so badly, but I only have my exercise calories left. My husband bought cookies and chocolate, and they are calling my name. I know that if I go for a taste - I will binge on an entire package of cookies or an entire chocolate bar/bars. I am staying out of the kitchen. Ugh! I hate this feeling of trying to prevent a binge - haven't felt this way in awhile and it isn't even TOM! What's going on?

Good luck today, everyone!

Hi Ya'll

Well yesterday was a good day. I got back on the scale and it said .03 oz down. ahahha damn TOM. Thankfully it is moving in the right direction again. I just started doing some math and realize that I may have set some goals for myself that may be a little out of reach. I was supposed to weigh 225 by Oct 31st. With the way things are going I don't know if that is feasible but I am going to keep that as my first big goal. I realize a normal person can not lose 4.25lbs per week every week but I will shoot for more like 3 so I am closer to 225 than not. That means ABSOLUTLY no alcohol for me. Not even the vodka and soda I love so much. I have to bump up my workouts and forget about those saturdays with my cocktails. Hey... I did go from a few times a week with girls, drinks and food to once per week, but now I realize that right now I can't even really have that once per week if I am going to get down. That in and of it self is a tiny bit depressing but for the long term results I am looking for I have to give up that need for immediate gratification. Giving up a few saturdays - going out and having "Fun" is not going to kill me. Right?

Hope you all have a wonderful day

JO

Whats going on is you met one of your goals you have been trying to hit. Your old "Former Self" is trying to pressure you into giving yourself some food gratification! Don't let it girl you are stronger than those f'ers! hahaha I hope your day today is better than yesterday in that arena. It's a slippery slope when you open that fridge and say "oh just one"

JO

onmiwei

So happy you found this site too. This is a good group of people struggleing with the same type of issues. You know before I even started this process I found myself saying that I could not find time for the gym. My days were way to busy with life. I had this conversation with a person who meant a lot to me. I said to him " I can't seem to find the time" - we then talked when he worked out and I found myself having that "ah ha moment" Years ago I found a gym that was close to my office and went every day at lunch. When I brought that up this time he said "why not lunch time". My excuse that day was "I can't do it at lunch. I sweat so much and it takes an hour to do my hair. If I went at lunch I would look like s==t all day." The look he gave me was enought. What a crock of crap! ahahaha after a few weeks I thought back to to that conversation and was like "yeah - why not lunch". I found a gym right across the street from my office and am now on week six of every day at lunch. I leave my office, grab my gym bag and swim 5 days per week. So liberating to know you can actually find and/or make the time when it is a priority.

Off my soapbox now. I hope you find some good forums to engage in conversations in. I too am a transplant... via California.. passed through IDAHO for a bit and then finally landed in Georgia.

JO

Thanks for the words of wisdom! I think you are on to something. Telling myself I'll just have one usually results in me having a food hangover and groaning, "Why oh why did I eat the whole thing?"

I'm new here. Like onmiwei, I am not quite 40, but will be celebrating a leap into my 40s in a little less than 2 months. I joined because I feel like I need the online support. My (new) husband and I are in this journey together and having him at my side is hugely motivating and supportive, but I'd like a little extra interaction with others on a day-to-day basis. My husband had a heart attack on June 18th and we decided, at that point, it was time for both of us to take weight loss seriously. I was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes in my early 30s and have been saddled with high blood pressure for longer than that, so I know that I am significantly risking my own health and headed toward an early heart attack, as well, if I don't do something about it. We are both calorie counting, and following a diabetic diet as close as possible. We've been losing at a steady rate of 1-2 lbs per week for the last month and I feel good about this progress because I feel like for the first time in my life of yo-yo dieting that I am doing this the right way. Our exercise is limited because my husband is limited to what he can do right now, and I am at home caring for him during his recovery. But we are starting to go out for small, slow walks everyday (15-20 minutes). Well, I think that's about it for now. Looking forward to getting to know you all. :)

creeation - welcome! Small steps add up to big ones! You can do this!

Having a crazy day today - some of the family arrived for the weekend and the whirlwind has begun! Eating wasn't so great - but could have been worse! I am tracking the good, bad, and ugly calories - which keeps me focused on not forgetting my goals.

Good luck, everyone!

Hi Ya'll

Its funny. I was just sitting here reading yet another book of memoirs of several women who have lost a significant amount of weight and their struggles / victories. I realized that as of today I have exactly 100 lbs to lose to get to my goal weight. I have read so many blogs and books lately I think the best way to put this is I have to lose 10 lbs 10 more times to reach my goal. I like those little baby increments. Much less daunting than 100 lbs all together. I was laughing a little because in all of the books and blogs everyone has their own story. What works for them and what didn't. The things that scare them or challenge them. It made me also start thinking of what I really want. Yes I stated this process to lose weight but what I really see now is that was just a small part of it. What I really want more than anything is to behave more like an athlete. I want habits and I want structure. Most of all I want a active lifestyle. At any rate I don't usually like to join in on group type things where exercise is involved but I did take on a new regimen this week with a sweet girl in my office. Its along the lines of the couch to 5k... Its a three month program to get you to run a 1/2 marathon. At first I felt a tiny bit intimated by it. Whats a 1/2 marathon? 13 miles or so??? crazy. But then I realized that I had set a goal to start running again on August 31st anyway so I may as well get started. So M-F I am swimming 30-45 minutes each day and then M,W,F,S you follow their routine. Walk 3 min... run 1 min for 40 mins then 44 mins and so on. On the saturday workout its bigger... this saturday is 4 miles of walk/run. To an outsider this may seem a little ambitious - maybe even foolish. To me it seems like the path that I am supposed to take if I am really going to make a go at this. I said to myself that I would stay away from things like personal trainers and bootcamp (for now) because I always leave them/there feeling so worn out and pushed beyond my limits that I would not return. With this schedule it feels like something I can do. Yes my muscles are a little sore but not like after those sessions I just mentioned.

Anyway thats my ramble for the day. Hope you all are well

JO

Good evening ladies! Had my weigh in today and am down another 3.6 pounds this week. This is especially good since last week I was somehow UP .4 pounds the week before. :( This was upsetting especially since I have not cheated ONCE on this diet. Anyhow, happy to report that things seem to be back on track now. Still looking forward to getting to put on my first reward ring (hopefully next week :)) I have a mini goal set to be down another 10 pounds by Labor Day. Might be tough but I need a goal to help keep me on track.
Anyhow, headed to the farmers market tomorrow morning to load up on fresh fruit and veggies for the next week. Hope you all have a super weekend. I love reading your posts and am happy to offer my support to all of you! :carrot:

You can do it!

Hello Everyone!!!

144.5 !!!! :carrot:

One and a half pounds to go to my 40 pound bracelet!!! :)

I've decided to amplify my game - - started kickboxing again today - - was pouring sweat when I was done and felt great!

But it's a dreary, rainy day - - and I know I should be cleaning or doing something productive, but I'm feeling lazy now --- I've decided to think of it NOT as a "wasted day", but as a "deserved day off"....

.....I'll clean tomorrow. :)

I'm also gearing up for the 5K on September 8th....I've decided I'm going to do my best, and if I have to "power walk" some of it, then so be it. As long as I finish. :D

I went to a new local health food store after kickboxing this morning - bought vegan mozzarella cheese which is supposedly good "melting" cheese - so tonight I'll make a crustless vegan pizza in the oven...

Tomorrow - cleaning - definitely also interval walking/running the trail to work on my 5K training, and hopefully some cooking for the week - -

Monday's calendar actually has ZERO meetings - - so I think I'm going to work from home!!! Can be much more productive, but also more relaxed and MOBILE!! So - I can read emails on my treadmill! :-)

Hope everyone has a fabulous weekend - I'm hoping to have my 4th bracelet on by this time next week!!

To all of the "new crew" - WELCOME!!! I'm so glad to have this "family" to inspire me and keep me motivated!!