Hello all!
I've decided to use an online journal/food log/activity log thing. My computer has been wacky these days and I don't want to risk anything. My roommate tells me that i am starting to obsess about working out, what i eat and researching what i can do to start seeing changes. Uh oh... i think she may be right. When i am at work, i am thinking about how i can sneak out of the office to get to the gym earlier and what i should eat for dinner so it will not be too many calories. Goodness. i guess it can be a good obsession.


I love looking at the weight changes is ya'lls signatures! i am jealous!

have a great rest of the week!
joan

Well, Joan, I guess if it's truly an "obsession," then EVERYONE should be so lucky as to develop one! I think you're doing just soooo GREAT, I really do. You need to give yourself credit for taking care of your body in this way, and for putting forth such heroic effort to reach your goals. Sometimes it's wierd for the "bystanders," the people who watch the person they've known doing things that are unfamiliar and it shakes up their sense of who you are. It's a transition for them as well, and maybe she's going through something like that. You didn't say she had, but I just wanted to reach out to say that I want to make sure you don't feel self-conscious about these positive changes in your life. You ROCK, and your discipline and persistance are inspiring. You get huge thumbs up in my book.

Jennifer, I grew up on 20th between 9th and 10th -- where were you in Chelsea? I live outside Baltimore now, but it was a long road here......buncha states in the US, Northern India, Italy for a few years, Ireland.......and now, nutty B'more. I love it here -- and also, here is where the love is, and you've gotta stick with the love, right? Hey, did you see the responses at 100 lb? I think you're going to love Tammy and Gretchen, especially. They're both super positive, focused, spirited, and serious about achieving their goals....not to mention they're both total sweethearts.

Joan, you should visit the 100 lb forum also -- you don't have to have 100 pounds to lose to fit in there. There are plenty of <200 lb people there, and it really is a very supportive group. It's also one of the most active forums on here, so there's always something to check out.

Oh yeah, and the 100 lb folks on the east coast are meeting in Pittsburgh in October! So, Joan, check us out over there! And Jennifer, that's a hike for a few of us, but 4 hours is totally worth it, in my case. You should check out that thread over there. I don't think there will end up being a whole lot of us going, but at least like 5 or 6 of us, plus Jack and Meg from the Maintainers and Ladies Who Lift forums -- and both of them are so inspirational. Food for thought.

Hope you're both doing well.....and that YOU, Jennifer, are not living it up too much on the road!

I'm new to this "posting thread" thing, so please be patient w/ me. However I am not new to Health & Fitness. I am an athlete who is recovering from an injury; during the past year I have gained about 15 lbs. That may not seem like a lot to some people, but even people who aren't trying to lose 100 lbs. need a support system too. I need an alternative to my after 7 PM binge eating/ grazing, so here I am.

I have read through some of the threads and I feel like I need to share my knowledge with everyone. I hold 3 National Certifications in Personal Training, Nutrition, & Weight Managment. Let's start w/ Nutrition - It is true, 60%-70% of your results come from your diet. The food log (whether it's online or on paper) is a fabulous way to hold yourself accountable. Most people don't realize how much they eat...until they right it down.

On the topic of spending a fortune to join a gym, well, as long as you're using the gym, consider it a wonderful investment in your health & well-being (emotional as well as physical). You should start to FEEL better (increased energy levels, etc.) within a couple of weeks. You say you went 5-6 x a week for a month and haven't seen any results???? Well, we didn't get to our current weight over night and it's not going to go away over night. Once you realize this FACT and accept it - you'll be able to move forward and make progress.

Hope I didn't hurt anyone's feelings, but sometimes you just have to lay it on the line.

I too am new to the forums and I have been reading a lot of the different posts. From what I gather from the postings of everyone, this is a very supportive group of folks that are trying to encourage one another to get fit and into a healthier lifestyle. It is rought to fight the battle of weightloss.
I hope Joank was not discouraged by the last posting. It is true, sometimes you just have to lay it on the line and tell it how it is. But, as a therapist, and working with many many people that are in need of strength, sometimes you need to know the person first before you put it out there. Never assume that people are able to be strong enough to hear "the truth". Never assume that we know a total stranger's life and what brought on the weight gain. Everyone is different and most likely their stories are different. No, we didn't all wake up one morning and gain 10, 20 or 50 pounds and I am sure none of us thinks we are going to wake up in the morning looking like a movie star.

Joank, I applaud your efforts for the last 2 months and I hope you will continue to do your best for yourself. Strive for those goals one day at a time . Focus on how you feel and try not to focus on how you look. I am sure you are your worst critic (aren't we all!). Know that you probably have at least a handful of people on these forums rooting for you. I am! You can do it!!!! PM me if you need to chat.
B-

I couldn't agree more! I have been responding to Joan since she first posted asking for help, and I have never gotten from her that she expected an overnight change. However, after 7 weeks -- and now 2 months -- of giving it her all, she was understandably frustrated! Did that frustration knock her off track? NO! She reached out for support, sought out -- and followed -- some sound advice, and then continued to persevere, digging her heels in harder in working to achieve her goals.

Joan, I think you're doing a great job! I respect the heck out of you and applaud your determination and discipline. It's easy for someone else to sit on the sidelines and jump to conclusions about what others feel or think -- it's a lot harder to stoically keep on working towards your goals day after day, when you're not yet seeing the results that would help to keep you motivated. You'll get there....and in the meantime, you're obviously enjoying the process, and making enormously positive changes in your life. I look forward to your next post, and hearing how you're doing.

Bandrant -- your post was a pleasure, and I hereby welcome you to 3FC! Thanks for keeping things positive and supportive -- that's how we like it around here! I look forward to your continued presence here, and to hearing more about your goals!

Gosh... i feel like the kid at school that was being picked on and then the 'cool kids' came and stuck up for me! Thank you Sarah and Bandrant for your encouragement. I have to admit, when i read the post from Soon2bripped, i was a bit taken aback. I appreciate the honesty but the first thing that came to my mind was "you don't know me!" I felt like soon2b thought of me as a whiner and an 'oh woe as me' type of person. Then I thought, why am i going to justify myself to this person who doesn't know me and who has no vested interest in me as a person. So, i shrugged it off and knew I did have a good support system and one person was not going to make me feel like crap and make me go for that pizza!

Yes, month 2 has now gone... and no, no weight lost. Actually, i think i gained a pound. I don't get it. I have been tracking my food intake and it hasn't gone over 1500 calories at all and i have been at the gym 11 days in a row (34 days since i started 2 months ago). It better be muscle! But, i am seeing some body shape changes. I didn't realize it until yesterday. I tried on a shirt about 3 weeks ago at a department store. cute, but a little tight. I saw it again yesterday and tried it on. it fit, not as tight. So, some improvement. i will take anything!
I should throw my scale out the window. it is just making me batty!
Thanks ladies (guessing that Banrant is a she ) for being my sounding board!

Good work Joan. You should definitely take measurements. Also, it is good to rest from the gym or take a "light workout" day at least once a week so that your body can recover. Your muscles definitely need some recovery time (and plenty of protein) to rebuild and, hopefully, burn more fat than before.

Joank - I noticed the clothes thing way before the scale change, as well. I kept insisting that my mind was playing tricks on me until I pulled on a t-shirt in an XL that had never fit before, and it actually fit. After that, I tried on all my clothes and realized there was a bigger change than I had thought! I am even buying smaller sizes now. So keep up the good work! I think you may be going through the same thing as I am, too, where you see yourself every day, so you don't notice the small changes. Then suddenly it just hits you... WOW - that's where I was!!!!

Sarah - Sorry it took me so long to respond. It's been a busy couple of weeks, and I was able to accompany my husband to Florida for a long weekend on his business trip (nice, because most of it is expensable!). I lived on 23rd between 6th & 7th. I love the area you used to live - lots of brownstones and tree-lined streets. Now I live closer to the Gramercy/Murray Hill area on the East Side. I have lived in NYC for almost 3 years now, and I still really love it.

Well, kick *** this week, everybody!

Hey, Joan -- nice to see you! You made me laugh with your "cool kids" reference -- I just had to speak up! You are doing great, and I'm really proud of you. Hey, congrat's on the looser top! See??!! Think inches, think muscles! Do me a favor, and look at this, and then tell me what you think about pounds vs. inches. That said, how's it going with FitDay these days? Any learnings, challenges, anything else?

Jennifer's back! Jennifer's back! Yay, I'm so glad to see you again....hope you had a good time in Fla - di - da. God, with your skin, are you just purple? Or did you spend a fortune on SPF 30 sunblock and walk around lathered up in the stuff? Hey, I checked out Daily Gusto, and that place rocks! Great job, I'm pretty impressed! Methinks you are a thinking woman! Hey, nice to see you returned to 100 as well....you are such a great addition! Did you see that a few folks welcomed you? (A couple of them are favorites of mine -- Gretchen and Tammy -- they're both positive, motivated, intelligent, and sassy!)

Take care, you two. It would be nice if that bandrant came back -- she was cool!

Hey, Sarah. Thanks for the kind words about Daily Gusto! It's a nice outlet, even though we've been too busy to post much this summer.

Re: the sun... Yes, I did get a pretty bad sunburn despite the 30 SPF, although it's settling into a nice tan now. I give it about a week, and I'll be back to my pallid self. I usually avoid the sun, but I thought it might be fun to be a little brown for a change!

Probably not the right place to post this, but I LOVE 100. So many inspiring, intelligent women! It's really helped me out a lot so far, especially when I've gotten discouraged (darn those plateaus!). Where is the post from Gretchen/Tammy, by the way? I think I may have missed it!

Hello beautiful ladies! I am so glad to hear the positive reports from everyone. I hope I was not out of line in my posting. It was just so frustrating to read and I couldn't hold my tongue! It drives me up the wall when assumptions are made. Actually, this is probably going to be my last post. I did a search of weight loss support forums and I came across this website. I was going on the forums to find information for some of my clients who wanted more of an 'anonymous' support and I wanted to suggest an online forum for them to go to. As I was reading I stumbled across this one and I had to sign up so I could respond. I wasn't intending to continue with the process. It was more to set the record straight with soon2B. I was able to correspond a bit with Joan and I know she is thankful for having the opportunity to share with others her struggles. I hope my clients will soon go and log on to 3fc forums too. They will surely be encouraged.
I just want to wish you all the best in your weight loss endeavors. I have faith that your goals will be met!!! Keep encouraging each other to do your best and look out for each other. I will keep you in my prayers! It has been my pleasure!
B-

Hi Ladies,
Sorry I haven't been around lately. I am a school teacher and have started getting ready to go back to school here in a few weeks. Just thoght I would drop in to check on everyone.
Joan that is great news about the clothes fitting differently. Keep up the good work. Here in a few weeks you will start to see more changes in your body, pound wise and inches wise. It takes time to get and see results. But once you do, they are worth it.
I should know. I have been heavy for about 14 years now. I dieted off and on over the years. It was only after I met my dh and his three little ones that I decided to be more healthier. So for the last two years I have been dieting and excerising. It has been a long hard struggle, but I am now really seeing some results. I am glad to see that you are staying motivated.
Jennifer and Sarah have been wonderful ladies to give you such wonderful words of wisdom and encouragement. Keep up the great work ladies!
Kerry

Hello Hello!
I hope everyone is well. It has been a long week!

Jennifer, Sarah and Kerry! Thanks for the encouragement. It is easier to battle the bulge when you have a cheering section!

Sarah- fit day was going well and then I just started to journal down on paper what i have been eating and excercising instead of using fit day. My computer crashed so it was difficult for me to get to one to log in to it. Either way, it has been good. Anytime i ate something bad, i felt embarassed to even write it down! so, it stopped me from eating bad stuff. I am keeping things below 1500 calories, usually.

I am so thankful for ya'll.
have a great weekend!
joan

Oh jeez, I'm so sorry! I totally thought that I had responded to this, but I guess I must have just thought it instead! Anyhoo, I'm SOOOOOO glad that you're enjoying it there. I love that forum. Obviously you click more with some people than with others, but I am just completely impressed with how supportive and kind the group is as a whole. They've been very good to me since I started in March. As for where they posted their welcomes, I want to say in last week's weekly weigh-in thread. There was a small delay, but it wasn't that long after your initial weigh-in there that they followed up. You were out of town then, as I recall.

I want you to know that I'm really glad you're there; you're a VERY welcome addition. You're smart, fun, cool, motivated, not excuse-oriented, and real. You are SO a keeper, Joey "The Nose!"

Hey Joan, you know you posted this just as I was writing my last post, so I didn't realize that you'd come back yet! I just came here intending to holler for you and see if screaming your name would work in getting you to come back! I've been wondering how you're doing -- I'm really glad to hear that you're sticking with the logging (however it happens) and that you're still keeping your calories low and exercising. I'm really proud of you! I can't wait to hear more! I'm sorry to hear that your computer's been giving you such a hard time -- that really sucks! I hope you get it sorted out soon, and that in the meantime you're able to use access others to log on. Hope you're doing well!

Jennifer and everybody else, hope things are going great for you!