Thin but Chubby 20-something, needs a Buddy :)
 

This is about the millionth time i've started a weight-loss program, but this time i am DETERMINED to stick with it until i get my desired result and i'd love to buddy up with someone who can help keep me motivated :) I'm thin and a lot of people say they can't understand why i want to lose weight, but the excess fat shows on my face/neck, arms, tummy, hips and thighs and i want to finally trim down and tone up to what i know i'm capable of. Anybody else in the same boat or a similar one? Drop me a line :)

http://rainbowbrite.net/katycartee/katymain.jpg

Hello Thin One
 

I, like you am thin as well, but none the less feel that I could be thinner. I do not think you can call yourself chubby, but I know what you mean about toning and being in better shape. I love beer and pizza too much--what's your poision?
I always go back and forth in my mind set...happy the way I am or cranky and supper thin...who needs to be so skinny if they are not landing a movie contract any time soon. Maybe we just need to veer towards healthy!

I'm actually really disciplined when it comes to eating. I eat small portions and very rarely eat things that i know i'm not supposed to. I just lead a very sedentary lifestyle, so my weight stays put and doesn't budge. I sit at a computer all day at my job and when i get home in the evenings, i sit on the couch and watch a movie before bed :p If i starve myself, i can drop 3-4 pounds, but that's not realistic long-term, not healthy and definitely not fun...lol :lol: So i think i just need to exercise more to get my metabolism cranking again and shed the pounds.

I go back and forth like that too! lol :lol: I just keep hoping that there's a way to be super thin without being cranky...hehe :) I'm not gonna be landing any movie contracts, but i am a singer trying to go somewhere with my music...and seeing as that you have to look perfect to get anywhere in the music biz, i just wanted to see what i could do with my body. Plus, i'm going to be in my best friend's wedding in June and i'd love to really shape up for that. I'm sure there will be people there that i haven't seen in years. If my body distributed the excess fat evenly, i probably wouldn't care. But it doesn't. A lot of it goes to my face/neck and makes me look heavier than i really am and that's a big self esteem issue for me. If i could afford lypo for that area, i'd probably get it! lol...but alas, i don't have the money. It sucks that my worst area is the area that everyone looks at when they meet you/talk to you....grrrrr.

Tell me more about your goals and what you've been trying so far. Do you have a journal on this site? The username for mine is the same as here - Rainbow Brite.

Nice to meet you :)

Hello Katy,
I really think at our age exercise can make such a big diiference. Each week my fitness goals are to go runnning Tuesday and Thursday, to go to Yoga on Mondays, and Pilates on Wednesdays, then weights on Friday. I rarely do all five things, and should probably do something over the weekends but it's tough to motivate then.
Maybe you should make a fitness plan. Exercise is the best way to change your body. What type of exercise do you enjoy most? What do you enjoy least?

I'm thinking the same thing as HJD. I don't personally feel, by what you describe and by your picture, that you need to "lose weight". But moreso that you just need to tone what's already there. Excess flab happens when the body is more fat than muscle. Toning up via exercise will tighten the flab and even seem to take off inches even if you don't actually lose weight. It just redistributes it sort of...turns it to muscle. You may actually end up even gaining a few pounds from the heavier muscle, while looking smaller and possibly even wearing smaller clothes.

Since i'm trying to pay off my debt right now, i can't spend a lot of money on fitness. So that rules out gyms/classes/etc. But i don't like driving far to work out anyways :P So i've been trying to come up with things i can do at home for the last few days. I've got a wonderful park right across the street from me, so i've started walking/jogging and bicycling there. We've also got pools at my apt complex, so once it gets warmer, i'll be able to swim for exercise as well. I have a rebounder (exercise trampoline) and a couple of videos to go along with it, so i'm going to try to do that more often. And i've also got several exercise videos of every type...so i need to pull them off the shelf and actually put them to good use :) We have a small gym at my apt complex as well, so i can use their machines...they just don't have many. An elipticle, tred mills and exercise bikes are the extent of it...but it's better than nothing! So i have a lot of options, thankfully. But i think you're right, that making out a schedule would be a good way to keep myself on track. Sounds like you've got that all figured out already - that's great :)

Thanks for the advice!! :) Do you have any idea how soon i should expect to start seeing results? My goal is to exercise for at least 30 minutes, 6 days out of the week.

Katy did!
 

[FONT=Comic Sans MS][SIZE=7][COLOR=Purple][I]http://www.3fatchicks.com/weight-tra...s01/lb/0/75/5/

You are so pretty and I hate to think of you having any hangup on weight. I know how hard it is to exercise, especially on a desk job, been there! I walked at breaks when I worked in an office. I like you can't afford exercise clubs. In fact I am finding it hard to even do anything at home as we only have a small house and a little embarrassed doing anything in front of family. Trying to use work as place. In my case though I work in patients homes. Bummer there.

Keep up your goals sweetie, you will succeed!

Jody

Katy, We are the same age and the exact same weight with the exact same goal! I would love to talk with you!

I will send you a PM and we can exchange emails if you'd like. :)

Jocelyn :)

[FONT=Arial]Hi girls! I guess I found the group to be in, since it looks like my goal weight and starting weight as the same as most of you. I'd love to exchange emails or talk over IM, to keep each other motivated!

I used to be a tiny thing back in my high school days and would like to get close to where I was again.

[email protected]
AIM: dinyhokie
[/FONT]

Katy, I started out by alternating walking/running for a mile every day. Well, it was actually more walking than running, but I really was trying. LOL Huff huff huff. I started outside, then like your club, moved to my apartment clubhouse treadmill. I gained 5 pounds in the first 3 weeks, then I started losing rapidly. But even though I gained that 5, my clothes were loser. I already knew, because I'd been told up front, that I might end up gaining for the first month. It was still pretty hard to keep from letting it depress me. I had to focus more on how my clothes were fitting and less on how much the scale read. I worked up gradually on my workouts and now do around 1 hour at least every other day, every day sometimes. I alternate running with aerobics videos and add in free weights and calesthenics. I didn't have time to go out for a run yesterday, so while watching a movie at 11:00 p.m. last night, I marched in place for 40 minutes. Anything to move the body.

Aww, you're sweet :) I think part of my problem is that i was even chubbier from around age 12 clear through to after i graduated high school at age 17. I got up to around 155lbs and just felt horrible about myself. So since i was big (or what i consider big for myself! teehee) for so long, i still "feel" that big and many times "look" that big to myself. When i look in the mirror or view pictures of myself, i still see that chubby girl who couldn't get a boyfriend :p I know deep down it's silly because i look a lot better now than i did then and i don't have a problem getting guys any longer ;) But i just feel like i'm still not living up to my potential.

And my face/neck is something that's bothered me for years. It seems that no matter how much weight i lose, the fat there doesn't budge. And perhaps that's just the way i'm gonna look for the rest of my life and i need to accept that...but i'm still in the fighting stage right now ;) I had a killer jaw line when i was a kid...so i think my bone structure is still capable of it. But i was super active when i was a kid...so i just need to get that level of activity back i guess...or something close ;)

Here are a couple of pictures that better show the chubby face i keep talking about:

http://rainbowbrite.net/katycartee/n...5/80sgirl3.jpg

http://rainbowbrite.net/katycartee/katyxmascd19.jpg

My cheeks, jaw and neck are just flabby and turn into a big blob that i hate :p There's not exactly an exercise i can do to work those muscles (i smile a ton as it is!)...so i just need to lose fat all over and hope it goes away. I really don't want to have to resort to lypo!

That's a good idea! I already use the stairs instead of the elevator at work, but i should get back into the habit of taking a fast walk at lunch.

Aww, why do you think you feel embarrassed in front of your family? I feel sure that they would be supportive of what you're trying to do. Have you ever talked to them about it? Maybe you could setup a schedule with them and during the times you want to exercise, they can stay in their rooms or go out or just do something elsewhere so that you can have some privacy. I don't see how they could complain about you wanting to do something to improve your health ;)

I will! And same to you! :)

I'd love that!! :D

Alright! Let's do it! Maybe i can setup an email group for us - i already run several through yahoogroups. Would ya'll be interested in that? :)

You were lucky to have been tiny in high school...i haven't been tiny since...lessee...4th or 5th grade? lol :lol:

Hey, that's a great idea! We watch movies almost every night, so i could definitely do that! My dogs will probably think i've lost my marbles...lol :lol:

Did you gain weight in the beginning because you were eating more or just from the muscle gain? I find that the more exercise i do, the hungrier i feel...i guess that's just my metabolism kicking in, but it's hard to know what the right things to eat are during those hunger attacks. Any suggestions? Thanks again :)

I'd love to be a part of a Yahoo group. Just let me know the details.

Jocelyn :)

I'm all for joining a yahoo group too!

Yeah..I used to be thinner - I guess because I ran cross country and track in high school, so that was about 40 miles a week of running at a good pace, plsu lifting every other day.

I try to run still, but usually I only get in 9 miles a week on a good week, so I'm hoping to change that. I also would like to start lifting, or at least doing push-ups, crunches, and all that fun again. I find that once I get in a good groove, I relaly enjoy it..its jsut soooo hard at first and hard once school work goes crazy on me. But no excuses this time!

And with my diet..I guess back when I used to be a crazy running girl, I never thought about what I was eating, and I'm a carb lover, and don't planning on giving them totally up. It probably wouldn't hurt to cut back though..eek!

Can't wait to loose this weight with you girls!

You are on the right track, and I know how no matter what we feel fatter then others view us. The reason I hate to exercise in front of my family is I feel if I quit then I am a quitter. My boyfriend is so sweet and would never say anything negative, but I still feel bad for gaining so much. It isn't him by any means, but me. I am not like the others in this thread, I am overweight now. I need to get to where i feel good about me. But I understand all of the women in this thread because even at a good weight where I know i look good, I find something in that mirror I don't like. You have such a good attitude about losing, believe me it is catching! :-) . You will do it, this I have no doubt about!

You go girl!

Jody

Sounds like no matter what weight we all are, we're all trying to get back on track on track for the first time. For me, I know I'm not fat..I'll joke about it around my family, but thats about all. I guess I always compare myself to what I used to be though. I'm not trying to get back to 107 or whatever I was though...that was a bit too scrawny... :p

I'm jsut excited to get back to running and start eating healthy for the first time because even 1/2 a pound lost every few days is a reason to smile :)

Much Love!

I'm really surprised at how many people are starting at the same place as me and have the same goal! I don't really talk about my "healthy eating plan" with many people because they always say "you don't need to lose weight". While my current weight is considered healthy for my height, I don't feel good. I have a closet full of clothes that don't fit anymore and I don't feel comfortable with myself.

It's nice to be surrounded by others in the same place. :)

Jocelyn :)

Ok! The group is setup :) I named it the "Almost Skinny" group...teehee :) Here's the web address to go to to sign up for it:

http://*************.com/group/AlmostSkinny

It's an email group, so once you're a member, just send your email to [email protected] and your message will go to all the other members, including yourself.

All are welcome to join! Look forward to seeing you there :)

Wow! That's impressive! When i was a kid, i loved playing sports...baseball, soccer, basketball, etc. And i was always playing outdoors. There were no girls my age in my neighborhood, so i played with my brother and the boys. We ran around in the woods, swam in the lake, went on hikes...we were always doing something physical. I remember in elementary school gym class, i could do more pullups than anyone else in my class :p Oh where did those days go?

You're right, starting out is the hardest part! I keep looking for instant results, when obviously that's not how it works ;) My body is not used to this at all so it's gonna take me a little while to find my "groove" ;)

I love carbs too! I'm trying so hard to stick with whole-grain breads/cereals, but those french rolls make such good sandwiches! lol :lol:

Same here! :D

And i have confidence in you as well :) You've already lost 5 pounds, that's a great start! I'm sure your boyfriend loves you very much and would love you just as much even if you didn't totally reach your goal. Perhaps he could even be a motivator for you. Does he exercise? Or do you think he'd be willing to start so that ya'll could do it together? That's one thing that's great about my boyfriend...any diet or workout routine i want to do, he's right there to do it along with me. Trouble is, *I* have to be the drill sargeant to make him do it as much as i am! lol :lol:

Same here! Hehe :) I was talking about weight loss with my father over the Christmas break and he was like "Weight loss?? Look at your figure!" haha...i just wanted to say "yeah, i hide the flab well don't i?" lol :lol: Maybe i should turn Muslim so i could wear a veil over my chubby face...lol! I do the same thing though...comparing myself to what i used to be...it's hard not to!

I couldn't have said it better myself :D I know people are trying to be nice when they say i don't need to lose weight...but sometimes i just feel like saying "yeah, you live in my body for awhile then see if you would still say that" :p

You are too funny! My family and friends are the same way ~ little do they know. Ha!

Ok well time to go finish laundry and then forcing myself to go for a run :p ..I mean yay!

Hey Rainbow Brite,

I'm also 25 and 5'6". Unfortunately I have a lot farther to go than you. I used to have an eating disorder and actually got down to 98lbs. Obviously being the same heighth with a similar frame as me, you can imagine how gross I looked. So now, years later, I feel like I've hit the other extreme. I started Weight Watchers today and weighed in at 150. They say that the minimum amount that someone our age and heighth should be 120lbs. I'm not sure I agree, but that's a big enough goal for me right now anyway.
Unlike you, though, I'm extremely active. I coach volleyball year round on the side of my full-time job as a designer, and I also play flag football, volleyball and softball. My boyfriend and I belong to our local Y and we probably make it there at least 3 times a week. My weakness comes with eating. If I'm unhappy at work, or with my boyfriend, or with life in general, I turn to food. So now that discipline starts.
But there are some exercises I like to do at home. Just run a search on abdominal exercise or arm exercises, or whatever your looking to tone, and you'll have like fifty different websites pop up with at home exercises. Things you can do in 8 minutes with stuff you have around the house.

Good luck, we all need it.

Karen 13

http://www.3fatchicks.com/weight-tra...b/150/120/150/

Ha..back at school..I think my scale here is wacked out becasue it tells me I'm 126.5 and I was 130 at home 2 days ago. I think i'll just wait to update my ticker thing till I go weight myself at the gym when it opens on Monday. Havea great weekend girls. I know I am goign to go dance off some weight tonight down town. woot!

-Diane

Heya

Read this thread and just thought I would pop in and say hi since I'm in a similar situation to all you lot. When I was 16 I used to think I was fat but I was in the low 120s. So that was a bit silly of me really. So then I ended up putting on weight and last Easter I was 161lbs. One interesting thing is after I lost weight I feel better now in the high 130s than I ever did before.

Anyway I do still want to lose some weight or more importantly tone up because it would be nice to look really great while I'm young (20)

Katy, I'm thinking that anyone however thin has a double chin when you take photos from silly angles like that!
Fitchick- I know what you mean about people telling you you don't need to lose weight. Some people said that to me when I was 22lbs heavier and in the wrong category for my height. I think the thing is that you do have to be careful about saying you want to be thinner when you're already thin or people who are bigger than you kind of take it as an insult to them. I know that really weight is a personal choice and different people are happy at different weights but i can see why it upsets people. I tend to say I'm maintaining now even though I wouldn't mind being thinner!

Dill

Welcome Dill!! :) Nice to meet you!

LOL :lol: You're probably right. For some reason it's just something that really bothers me. And it follows me in my taste for guys...i love a guy who has a really strong/cut jawbone...isn't that weird? I wish i only gained weight in my butt or something...not my face! haha ;)

Hey Katy
Yesterday I got an elastic exerciser thing and for some reason they sent this thing called a profile toner with it. Don't know if it works but I ddin't even know if that sort of thing existed.
http://www.asontv.com/products/968966344.html
Dill

PS you can get it a few places and probably cheaper than this link, I've only linked to show what it is, sorry if it breaks rules.

Wow Dill, i just now saw your message! I had no idea they made anything like that! I wonder if it'd work for me. Hey, it might be worth a shot if overall fat-loss due to exercising/dieting doesn't cut it. Thanks for the link!! :)

Just wanted to drop in and give an update - maybe some more "almost skinny" members would like to join our group? :)

I started my dieting and exercising back on January 10th...and now 2 months later I've lost 7.6 pounds!! :D And i feel great! There are still days when i feel tired and i've had a couple of setbacks along the way, but overall i'm doing so much better and I know this time I'll keep it off. I've still got another 10 pounds or so to go, but i'm confident i can make it...or at least get close :)

I wish I had measured myself along the way, because i know i've lost inches as well - my clothes are fitting much looser. But i did finally measure myself today and i'm at 34-28-33 if i remember correctly (i left the paper at home...lol). My bf is very happy with the results i've gotten so far ;) And so am i!

And while i still have my chin/neck problem, my face is actually getting thinner!! Take a look at these two pictures...the first one was taken on January 1st and the other taken just a couple of weeks ago. I'm smiling the same way in both, but notice how much less-chubby my cheeks are :)

http://www.katycartee.com/newyears05/davekaty.jpg

http://www.katycartee.com/dadvisit05/katydave.jpg

Yay for progress!! How is everyone else doing??