I tried a TOPS meeting today.. I have a friend in California who loves her meetings she goes to but It didnt work for me.. They really didnt talk about nutrition or any ideas or helpful hints they talked about weddings they went to and husbands dying and no one there lost more then 3/4 of a pound.. their weightloss for the week was 10 and their gain for the week was 26lbs. Am I being too negetive or are my feeling about this valid. I do exercise.. I walk every morning for 1-2 miles.. and every evening after dinner with my kids and boyfriend for 2 miles.. and I started yoga the other day. I definetly think I might try WW again.. thanks everyone

Hello All -

I'm new to the world of web\chat\internet support group thing. But, I'm reaching a point in my weight loss that I feel my friends are getting tired of hearing me obsess about it, so I'm looking for an on-line support network to gain support and motivation.

My story : Well, I'm fat. and I guess that's all that really needs to be said. At 27 years old, I had gotten up to 316lbs. WOOW!

A year ago, I decided enough was enough, and I got a personal trainer from my gym (which I never went to previously), have been workign out 5 to 6 days a week and really watching what I've eaten. I've lost a total of 59 lbs, Which I'm very proud of, but still have 60-70 to go. But the issue is, I've been stuck between 57-59 for weeks. I'm getting very frusterated about it and I have to REALLY talk myself into working out every morning. SO - point being - who out there has had and survived the dredded Plateau? Any words of encouragement, advice or even an old fashioned butt kickin' would be appreciated.

I enjoy readign about everyone else, makes me feel a lot less alone!

Call me crazy --- but what is a TOPS meeting?

if your dr said that it was going to take 19 years for you to lose the weight, then you may want a new dr. thats a load of crap. read http://www.3fatchicks.com/forum/showthread.php?t=65071 - 8th post down. maybe that will give you some inspiration. WW is not a gimmick. its a way of life that teaches you healthy eating habits. it just does the point value thing so people can figure out easily if they are getting enough food for the day. its really easy, and it works.

TOPS stands for Taking Off Pounds Sensibly.

Believe me you dont have to sell WW to me.. I have been there and I loved it... just right now it will not fit in my budget. I was losing between 5 and 7 pounds a week on WW and I was pregnant and didnt know it. My doctor then (different doctor) made me quit because he said to stick to what I was doing that the baby was getting enough because I was over weight. Weight Watchers said that I had to get more calories and I started gaining which was bad for me... As for my doctor now..believe me I have come to realize he is a quack and I have no faith in him.. I am in the process of finding a new doctor.

My recommendation is weight watchers, I've lost about 35 lbs. on it myself. For me personally is the easiest program to follow, I can't eat whatever I want as long as I account for it. I am not a real subscriber to the low-carb. I personally believe it's a bit too much of a fad and I my understanding (from a couple of biology classes and reading) is that there isn't a lot of long-term conclusive research results yet. My understanding is that you may take the weight off but the jury is still out as to weather this is a healthy method or not. Your doctors advice is right, it's not going to be a quick process, it takes time. Figure about 1-2 pounds a week, that's what is supposedly healthy. You'll be suprised what 10 pounds looks like tho

What you might want to ask you doctor with what he or she recommends you know? Things usually are "too good to be true" but they should be able to help you or refer you to someone who can. Remember, this is *your* health and you need to be your own advocate since your dr. isn't making any suggestions.

Whatever you choose, be dedicated to your choice and come back here for support. This is a great bunch and always willing to lend an ear or give some advice Good luck!

Thank you Keleigh, I have been trying to read up on Low carb Diets also. But it does help to hear things from people that have been there.. My doctor is crazy.. He tells me to lose weight but then when I ask him for suggestions on how he says just watch what your eating and be smart about it. It takes time... The smartest thing he ever tells me is to not take any pills to lose weight. I guess I am looking for the miracle. Thank you everyone

Keleigh and I are doing WW points, but not going to meetings. its a lot ore cost effective that way. you have to be super careful of what you eat tho, being that you arent going to meetings, so all you really have to be accountable to is yourself. if you are interested in doing that with us, we can send you some websites that we use to figure and track points. its really easy once you get the hang of it. i can look at the lable of something and figure out the points in a snap. whatever you do, dont give up. trust me, this is the umpteenth time i have tried to loose weight. this time im doing it here, in public where i can be accountable to myself and the friends ive made here (and in real life) and i can be really honest about what im doing to myself. its kinda freeing. its hard at first. putting down that i started at over 300 lbs (303 to be exact) was a hard pill to swallow, but everyone here is so supportive and they know what its like to battle the weight. its not a magical process, but if you want it bad enough its there for you to grab.

Tryinagain - it looks like you and I are starting at arround the same place. would you like to have a weekly challenge to motivate you? we can make excersize minuite goals and small weight goals and maybe that will help us both. what say you?

anyone else? how does that sound?

Princesspuffypants it all sounds good to me.. I would appreciate if you would send me the websites. And as for the goals Im with you on it. I have to go this weekend and find someplace that I can weigh in at. I dont have a scale and our floors have lines going through them and it is hard to get a correct reading from the scale we had.. Ill figure something out though. But since Im new to this you let me know what our goals should be..thank you so much for the help..

ok kids. here is the challenge. there are 7 days left in september. in that time, we need to do 200 min of excersize and lose 2 lbs. how does that sound to everyone?

hello??? *jumps up and down* anyone here? did anyone commit to the goal? i did, however, ive been sick this week. hopefully i can get to the gym tomorrow.

Hi Princesspuffypants...I thought I would respond to your thread as I, too, am new to the world of internet support/chat groups and from what you and Cassandra wrote it sounds like we have a lot in common - losing weight and an interest in cosmetology just to start with....and we're both "princesses". I think that the advice that you're giving is great and congratulations on losing 12 lbs. I started a low fat plan a week ago and am taking Xenical to "keep me honest" so that when I'm tempted, I think of the dreaded potential side effects and am strongly urged to reconsider!!!
Today I joined a gym with one of my friends and actually "disclosed" to two of my friends about the dietary changes I am making - this is really unusual and I think I've decided to take some control of myself and love myself a little bit more - apparently loving myself does NOT take the form of Mrs Field's cookies!!!!

(Hmmm, needed a moment to dream of those cookies!!!)

To all of the newbies out there, even joining this forum is a courageous step toward achieving your goals.

Congrats to you Princissisla - it is very hard to make the first step of joining a gym, especially if you are overweight and slightly embarrased of the "meat heads" who wear thongs and muscle-shirts (the thought of that should get you over the cookie dream).

Best of luck to you and keep up the good work!

lol yeah i find that going late at night because thats when most of the other fat people are there. its a lot more fun that way. i havent been because ive been sick (bah). im proud of you for finally admitting to yourself what your weight is. its kinda freeing, admitting it because it makes it real. you cant hide from it. good luck!!