Coming out of lurkdom...
 

Actually, I came out of lurkdom a couple of weeks ago, but I wanna introduce myself properly. I'm not sure I belong in here, but since I've been lurking and maintaining (albeit not at my goal weight) for years, well, maybe I do :D . Long story short: ten years ago I lost 37 lbs (from 169 to 132 - I'm 5'4") through cardio and a low-cal diet (1000-1200/day). I maintained that for 5 years (I never got heavier than 138, and I even got as low as 127 once...sigh...). Then in 2001 I gained 10-12 lbs. I've never lost them. No, not true, I've lost 5 or 6 lbs a billion times, only to regain them. The good news is I haven't regained any more either. I've been maintaining at 140-142 for a long time. It's very easy to maintain this weight, but it was not hard to maintain 132 either (I ate like a cow when I gained). For a while I was terrified of dieting and deprivation and couldn't stand the idea of trying to lose weight again, but now I think I'm mentally ready again. I need to be *really* patient, and that's the hard part for me. I'm in my healthy weight range, and I can't expect to lose more than 5 lbs a month. The problem is, I always think that's too slow (I know, I know!) and give up after losing 2 or 3. I'm also 35 now, so the weight does not come off as fast as it did when I was 165 lbs and in my 20's. But enough whining. You guys are the greatest inspiration and I hope to be a true maintainer again soon!

Oh yeah, I'd love to get to 125 lbs, but let me first try to get through today...

Welcome! I think that what you're describing is typical of 'maintenance' for many of us. Up and down, gain a few, lose a few, never quite where we want to be. :p We're glad you delurked and want to hear lots more from you! :)

Thanks for the welcome!

Yeah, I know what you mean, but this is way above my comfort zone...

Today is my second day on this site, and I figured it was time to formally introduce myself.

I'm Erin. For the last three years (almost to the day!), I've been slowly losing weight. I started at 286 lbs. and I've worked my way down to 167 (as of this morning!). I've always been a big girl - at 167 lbs., I weigh about the same now that I did when I was in 4th or 5th grade. I've still got about 20 pounds or so more that I would like to lose, but I'm closing in on the "maintaining" stage.

One thing that I'm struggling with right now is that, since I've always been overweight, I'm finding it hard to deal with not being that way. I don't know if that makes sense, but I'll do silly things like automatically go to the back of the rack (where the bigger sizes usually are) in stores. I don't personally know anyone else who's lost and kept off this much weight, so I'm hoping that here I'll find some folks who've also struggled with some of these issues.

Hi Erin!:wel3fc:
Congratulations on your journey so far :high:

If you scroll through the pages of threads on the maintainers forum, you'll find that what you are experiencing is perfectly normal. Most of us found it takes quite a while for our heads to catch up with our bodies. I don't really know anyone else in real life who has maintained a large weight loss either, which is why this forum is so special to me. The experiences we have really are different!

Mel

I have been wandering this site for a few weeks now, but after reading some of the posts in here, I feel this is where I need to be! These are the words that I have so depserately needed to hear for the past year and a half. You all have no idea how relieved I am to find you!

Soooooo....

My name is Jen. I am 24 and began my weightloss journey in March of '04. It was spurred by an injury that changed my entire outlook and motivation. Since I was laid up and could no longer excuse my eating habits with excersize, I freaked out. I ended up doing a 4 day water fast, which ended up opening doors inside me that I never knew existed (spirutally speaking). As soon as I became well (and upright!), I poured my heart into what would be an incredible (and somewhat painful) journey. I started small. Since I now knew what hunger actually felt like, I began to listen to my body's "real" hunger cues (not a perfect plan as I'm learning). I began to eat breakfast. I planned everything. I began what is known as "clean eating".

The first month after my injury I lost 35 pounds without even knowing it. I feel lucky because it gave me the motivation to lose the last 45, which took another 7 months. I fought for every last ounce. I have been at an acceptable weight for me (lowest 124-yuck!, highest 138) since November 15, 2004.

What I learned during this ordeal has been downright shocking. After a lifetime of being overweight/obese, I am having to learn how to navigate the world of "normal". Even though I still feel like "the fat girl". Even though I will never have "that body". Even though I am still Jen, the world is a different place. People are different, too. The S.O's of my male friends have taken away their friendship as well as their boyfriend's. People who were horrid to me when I was younger now feel it appropriate to comment and approach me on something that is incredibly personal to me. To them, I am no longer to be avoided like the plague (woo freakin' hoo, right?). I remember being disgusted at how differently people (strangers and friends alike) treated me. Even though I am in a loving and committed relationship with a beyond fabulous man that I will marry, women treat me as someone who can not possibly be trusted in the presence of their men(and I was waaaaay more of a flirt before). Social acceptance IS skin deep. Ugh.

BUT, in this journey I have discovered part of me that was hidden by weight. This "new" Jen doesn't necessarily care what you think about her. I'm more aware of how I carry myself and verse myself and I'm more likely to say what is on my mind. Perhaps that's why I'm treated differently? Being comfortable in my own skin is only partially reliant on how much I weigh, but I'm getting there.

And I couldn't ask for a better vehicle than this place!:)

Hello, I've been lurking for months now and thought it was about time to introduce myself.

I joined the 100+ board in Jan 2005. I don't post much but I was always reading. Someone posted a link to the Skin faq. After reading it I realised there was a lot of great info here and I've been lurking ever since.

I haven't met my goal yet. I was going to wait to post but I've noticed you don't mind those not at goal posting.

ok about me. I'm 40 and I have 11 kids (yes all bio). I've been married to my best friend for 20 years. I'm a stay at home mom.

I was a normal weight kid. I never worried about my weight. My mother otoh was always worrying about hers. She just looked like a normal mom to me lol. As I hit puberty I started to worry. I have a large frame and I knew I was bigger than other girls. I thought it was my fault. At 15 my mother started commenting that she was thinner than me at my age :?: . I started eating less and that gradually developed into bulimia by 17.

At 19 I met and married my dh. We both loved cheesecake and we both gained 15 lbs. He even got stretch marks. I panicked and gave up cheesecake only to maintain my weight while he lost his. I was only 147 but I felt really fat. I'm 5-7 with a large frame so I was at the low end of my weight range. I got pg with my first. I tried to only gain 25 lbs but I was hungry all the time. I only ate healthy foods with 1 small treat a week. I gained 45 lbs. I lost all but 10. I did the same thing with my next 3 kids. By then I was around 190.

Trying to not eat too much made me crabby and didn't seem to help anyway so I gave up. I started eating what I wanted when I wanted. I lost weight! I lost 75 from my highest pg weight. I was thrilled except I realised that being thin didn't solve all my problems lol. I did really enjoyed fitting cute clothes and I had fun. I didn't like the saggy skin (the tiny bit I had).

I got pg again and gained over 50 lbs. After the baby I tried to lose but only to end up gaining. I gained back all I had lost plus those dang "friends". I kept on having babies and gaining. I accepted that I was going to overweight and there was nothing I could do to change that. Trying to lose made me crabby so no one wanted me to lose. My kids and dh are all normal sized. They didn't want me to stop cooking or eating treats.

I was 272 lbs when I got pg with my 10th. At 18 weeks I had a gallbladder attack. I went on a very, very low fat diet. I tracked everything I ate. I never cheated as I was terrified of the pain. I didn't gain any weight. I thought I figured out how to lose weight! I cancelled my gallbladder surgery appt. After the baby was born I stopped tracking. I knew what I could eat and eat I did lol. Here I was pumping 50 oz of milk (baby refused to nurse), walking 3 hours a week, and eating a very low fat diet and I gained weight.

I read walter willets book. I found out that very low fat wasn't healthy and that most people on high carb/low fat diets gain. I added some nuts back to my diet and other bits of fat. I ended up in emergency surgery and got my gallbladder out. ouch. Then I packed on the lbs.

I got pg with my 11th. I had just lost 20 lbs that I always do the first 20 weeks. I felt awful. I hadn't walked or done much of anything. One day in Jan 2005 I was trying to have a shower. I felt so tired. My heart was racing and I was gasping for breath. I felt like I had run up 10 flights of stairs. Just over a simple shower. I was in horrible shape. I decided then that dieting for the rest of my life was easier than being fat.

I got my tracker going. I joined the 100+ board. I ordered watp dvds. I tried to maintain my weight since I was pg. I had the easiest pg since my first! I was doing 30 min of watp right up to the day I gave birth :)

Since then I've continued to lose and exercise. By Nov watp got too easy so I bought an elliptical. First time on 5 min at lowest resistance wiped me out lol. Today I did 44 minutes at 40%. I'm so amazed! (44 min is one episode of Millennium ;) )

I'm losing weight this time knowing that being thin won't solve my problems or make me happy (except about my weight). I know this "diet" is for life. I know I will have saggy skin. After 11 kids I wasn't expecting much lol. My goals were to be in better shape, be able to find clothes at walmart, and fit where average people fit. I've met those goals :D but I'd like to get to a healthy weight too before maintaining.

My website needs to be updated. I don't have anything about my weight loss on it :o but there are pics of the kids and more about me.

Catherine mom to 11
mabear's homepage
http://www.3fatchicks.net/img/bar007...2/155/177/.png

:welcome3: to both Jen and Catherine and thank you both so much for taking the time to share your stories with us! I got chills reading them - wow, how inspirational! If anyone out there is thinking 'I can't do this', I hope they read here and see how you two took charge, dug in, and just DID it. :cheer:

We're looking forward to hearing lots more from both of you! :)

Print some of this thread
 

Printing some of this thread. Found it very inspirational.

Believe it or not ... this is probably the only thread at 3fc in which I have never posted!
I'm an old hanger-arounder and plan on growing old in the maintainers category.
I'm posting today because (althought this is not my first time at maintenance weight) this is the first time I'm determined not to 'lose' it while on vacation. I plan to eat mindfully and get some exercise and get right back into routine when I return. I'm hoping that posting here will give me an added sense of responsibility ... Put it in print and make it so.
Simply put ... here's my story ...
I was made of skinny sticks when I was nine or ten. From a family who thought you were either sporty or smart. On field day I signed up for the highjump knowing full well I'd be the first one out and could sit and do nothing.
By the time I was 17 I lied about my weight on a passport application. We didn't have a scale when we first married but I know I grew out of my clothes.
I was 162 lbs and toxic the day I had a crash c-section with my first child (now 24). After number three, I settled in just over 130 lbs.
I then alternately moaned about that, yo-yo'd, decided I didn't look too bad and gained my way to 162 lbs again.
In April of 2003 the funeral pants episode happened as advertised here
http://www.3fatchicks.com/forum/showthread.php?t=87166

And now ... Meg's questions.
Is this the first time or one of many times that you've tried to lose weight?
One of many and a continuing journey of about three years this go round.
Are you where you want to be?
No, I'm learning to better utilize cardio and resistance exercise to be an awesome looking 40- something
How has life changed for you since you've lost the weight?
Healthier ... better blood pressure, more level blood sugars, much much less trouble with my old nurses feet, knees and back. I feel solid in my knowledge and enjoy helping others.
If you're maintaining, what's that like for you?
I'm still learning, but so far not very different from losing.
Do you exercise regularly?
Yes, yes, double yes. Right now, most days I do cardio morning and night and weights in between somewhere. 20-30 minutes at a time.
Now that you're near or at your goal, what are your concerns?
Complacency, a life change that changes my focus, a fear of going overboard ...

Hi everyone, I read this thread and realized I had never posted an introduction. My name is Lily. I am 46 yrs. old. I am married to a wonderful man now, after a couple of bad practice husbands. LOL. I am a Disabled RN and he is a State Trooper. My children are son ,Shane, age 20 and daugter, Lacy, age 14. I was athletic through high school and thin. My weight problems started in college. Too much fun and pizza. I did WW for a while and did lose 31 lbs. once. After my DD was born, I was up to 237 lbs. I used Phen/Fen and lost about 90 lbs. I put it back on gradually after stopping the meds. 3 1/2 yrs. ago I got very sick with a rare Liver Disease. I was placed on prednisone and gained 50 lbs. during this time. I started seeing a new hepatologist that basically told me my only cure is a liver transplant. He also told me to get on a low-carb diet and walk 20 min's 4 times a week. He basically said that without losing the weight that I would not be a candidate for a transplant. I took his advice. I started Atkins on June 24, 2005 and reached my goal weight of 145 on July 5, 2006. I lost 89 lbs. I have been on maintenance now for 3 1/2 weeks. I am still eating low-carb and can walk up to an hr. on the treadmill. I have lost 4 lbs. past my goal now. I'm not really trying to lose, just going slow with adding in extra carbs. My BMI has went from 36.6 to 22.5. I feel better physically. My blood pressure, heart rate, blood sugar are all in normal range. Cholesterol is improved. Liver enzymes have decreased ten-fold. I no longer have shortness of breath or need daily inhalers. My feet are normal sized and not swollen. Anyone that sees me thinks I look healthy. Many of medications have been reduced, including the prednisone. The great news is that currently I am too healthy for the transplant and hopefully it will be a long time before I have to have one.
Since coming to 3 FC's, I have read a lot on maintenance forums. I want this weight to stay off. I am totally committed to keeping it off and working just as hard to maintain as I did to lose it. I don't feel the pressure to see more lbs. drop, just the pressure to see it stay the same. I do have some loose skin. My body isn't perfect. I went from a tight size 20 to a baggy size 4. Heck, I was even able to button and zip a size 1 when I laid down, but had the Muffin-top thing going on. LOL. My breasts have gone from a DD to a C cup and I don't fill them completely up. Top of breasts are now flat. My tummy isn't perfectly flat, except when laying down. I have had multiple abdominal surgeries and am not able to do abdominal work-outs. Even with all my flaws, I am totally happy with my results. Would I do it all again, you bet. My health and outlook on life is so improved. It was worth every minute and every effort I put into it. I want to personally thank everyone for all the help along the way. THANK YOU

Hi, I'm new
 

A dear friend told me about this site, and I've been reading almost non-stop since yesterday...I am in Aww at all the great weight loss stories, very motivating...I guess I'll start off by saying hi, my name is Ladean, I've lost from 246 pounds down to 150, I am now 151, I lost the weight doing Dr Phil's Ultimate weight loss solution, I've been maintaining since March 2006, but am getting a bit bored with the same thing all the time...I am hoping I can get some advice on a good way to maintain without having to count every little thing. All emails welcome as well.

Thanks

Hi Ladean and welcome! :welcome3: Poke around like you have been and feel free to start a thread about anything that's interesting or a concern for you.

Congratulations on your wonderful weight loss! :carrot:

Hi everyone. I have lost 50 pounds. Back in august of 2004 i was 190 pounds i knew something had to change. I was wearing size 18 at that time and that size was getting way to tight on me. But i refuse to buy size 20. So i knew i had to watch what i ate and basically i gave up all simple carbs and sugars. Now i weighs 140 pounds and wears size 10.

Welcome Lisa and Congratulations on the weight loss. Thanks for sharing with us.

Saying Hello
 

Hi

I've just joined your great forum from Australia. I've recently got to my goal weight after losing for just on a year now. I started in October 2005 at 102.5 kgs (224lbs) and I'm at my goal weight of 66kgs (145lbs?) that's a loss of about 80lbs.

I lost the weight by a combination of low carbs, low fat, low sugar. No eating snacks and drinking lots of water. I was a member of a great forum which helped me lose the weight, but I've found that support for the maintenance is hard to come by... that was until I found this site.

I look forward to having a great read of previous posts, and contributing where I can. Thanks for your great forum.

Wow, I finally found the stories I had been looking for.

Welcome Lervly, and Congratulations on the fantastic weight loss. I hope you enjoy the forum and it's nice to have you aboard with us.

I said Hi earlier, but I thought I'd add and official introduction. My story isn't awe inspiring or shocking. I don't even have any before and after pics. It's kind of dull actually. I was a skinny child, but put on weight in high school because working two jobs left me no time to be active or eat well. I gained more weight in college. At that time I was 5'6" and 155. After graduation my fiance and I split, I became unhappy and lost weight down to 135. I met my future husband and we married. I was happy so gained weight again. I was 140 when I became pg with my first dd. I was pretty much pg or breastfeeding for the next 14 years. One day last year I woke up and realized that my size 12 jeans were TIGHT, my 'baby' was two and my BMI had snuck out of the healthy range. I began eating well in April. I've taken things slowly and since September I have been at my goal weight. It took me six months to lose 20 pounds, but I've done it in a way I can stick to forever. I try to eat healthy foods, lots of fruits and veg, and eat as many 'superfoods' as my calorie allowance affords. The hard part will be keeping this up and not slipping into old habits. I'm hoping a forum of others in the same place will help me stay motivated.

Hello Everybody,
I have been on numerous diets for over 1/2 of my life. I was a chubby kid, but I always played sports and worked out, so that has helped keep the pounds at bay. Most of the diets I was on were starvation diets, then I'd give up and gain the weight I lost over and over again, it was always real low calorie diets that I followed, but none of them worked LONGTERM, duh?

However, now that I am older and wiser, I wanted to become fit and fabulous before turning 40 & I have achieved that. I was never really fat per se, I have an athletes body and I carried my 170 pounds very well, as I am well proportioned and I am 5 feet 8.5 inches tall. But this time on my new healthkick for life plan, I wanted to be healthier for many years to come. So I began eating many of the good for you right foods, and never starved myself. I eat a lot of fiber, a lot of protein like chicken, egg whites, salmon, tuna and yogurts, plus tons of fruits and veggies or salads and whole grain bread and rounded each meal with some good fats like olives and almonds or ground flax. I still can not get myself to use olive oil- nope, I can't do it, way too many calories, I'd rather eat more food for those calories than drizzle on the good for you oil, but hey thats me I am sure others have a VISE too.....

I started this new weightloss lifestyle in January 2007 and I lost 25 pounds and I have been maintaining this loss (give or take a few pounds) for the past 6 months... I prefer weighing 144, but anything over 150 signals a red flag, so I drop back to watching what I eat until I reach goal again.

I work out religiously for 1.5 hrs a day either biking, walking, gliding, kickboxing etc. I also lift weights daily too. I am always challenging myself so it doesn't get old.

Healthy eating PLUS working out PLUS weights have made me FIT AS A FIDDLE. I wanted to take CONTROL of my weight yoyo-ing once and for all. I have a family history of not the best health, so I figured my odds of having troubles myself probably would develop if I didn't quit my starvation diets etc., because they never worked long term.

I am pretty confident and hope I did it right this time around, because I feel that I have gotten a better control of my life now by all of my new and healthy choices that I now incorporate, I am not PERFECT somedays of course, but I try my dardest most days to be! Infact, I still have some bad days and INDULDGE far too often in the foods I know I should not eat, but I am only human I suppose and I hope it gets easier the longer that I am maintaining my new figure.... Wish me luck, because with some more supporters I am CERTAIN I can do this for LIFE! By the way, I am not such an evil woman afterall, a name is just a name ya know....

Hello!! This is my first time in this website and I have to say that I love all of your stories. THey are very inspiring. THank you!!

Hello, everyone!

I am not new to weight loss. I've lost and gained many pounds over my lifetime--ever since I was in 5th grade and I am approaching the 5 decade mark in a few years. This time, though, I REALLY want to make it stay off. I have lost about 85 pounds in 10 months through LA weight loss and have been maintaining that loss for about a month and a half now. I'd like to lose another 5 lbs or so just to have a bit more cushion, but I don't want to go too low as I want to be able to "hold" the number, or close to it, on the scale, for life.

When I decided to lose weight, and pay someone to help me lose it, I never thought I'd lose it....not really. I had battled myself so many times and wasn't able to lose weight on my own. Yet, I worked very, very hard and here I am. I know I deserve this weight loss, but I want it to stay away and am focused on being overly watchful. I know what to eat, but, you know, I want to eat stuff like "normal" people eat--I want the fudge and the fried pork tenderloin sandwich with french fries (sorry if I'm making anyone else hungry). I have to come to terms with the idea that some foods are just not going to be a part of what I am now or will be in the future. I just keep wishing for what I can't have.

I try to exercise at least 4 days a week doing cardio of at least 30 minutes and then, if it's available, I attend an exercise class (like step or cardio mix). I also teach a water aerobics class 2 nights a week. I like the idea of working out about 1.5 hours a day 4 times a week, so I push myself to do that as much as I can.

With 6 weeks of stabilization under my belt, I am upset that I still feel as if I am on a diet. I am really watching what I eat--writing it down, weighing, etc--because I am totally scared that I will regain the weight. Perhaps others can relate to that huge fear of the scale jumping up to a number you don't want to see on it ever again?

On a good note, I am wearing really cute clothes now--I'm down about 5-6 sizes. I love clothes, I always have. It's just nice to be in a "normal" size. It's not super small, but it's so much better than where I was. I'm not ashamed to tell someone what I weigh or what size I am anymore though I think a 14-16 is still larger than what I'd like to be.

I guess I am looking to this group to help me talk through all my fears, to relate with, and to turn to with successes and with concerns. Although I know I'm thinner, I'm not 20 anymore and I don't look as good, body wise, as I'd hoped to. Things kind of sag a bit more than I'd envisioned. Can anyone else relate to that?

Well, guess I'll go ahead and read about you all.

Hi goalsuccess and :wel3fc:

Congratulations on you weight loss! I think most of us here can relate to just about everything you posted.

I'm not very familiar with the LA Weight loss program, so I'm not sure how they ease you into maintenance. I'm sorry you still feel that you are "on a diet" and really want to eat normally, but I think you are going to want to revisit what "normal" really is. There just aren't many people who eat a steady diet of fudge and fried foods and stay at a normal weight. As an occasional treat, sure...if you can get back to healthy eating easily, but normal, healthy people just don't eat that way all the time.

Are you eating good healthy meals that satisfy you? If so, congratulations! you've found a lifestyle plan! If not, please explore the whole forum- there are so many different ways of eating to either lose or maintain (and both really come down to finding a sustainable way of eating), that somewhere between calorie counting, whole foods, LA Weight loss and all places between, there must be a way for you to enjoy your food and maintain your fantastic loss!

And congratulations on the exercise commitment :) Want to get smaller and be able to eat more? Pick up some weights :dizzy:

Again :welcome:

Hello
 

Hi, I'm very happy to have found this site, so I'd like to say thank you right away. I am on the verge of celebrating what in my family we call my "Second Chance birthday" on 12/16, and so it seems even more fitting that I am here now.

My story in short form: over the last 2 years I have lost 83 pounds. I was thin as a young person, and very athletic. Hoever, since I was so active, I didn't learn good eating habits; I needed every calorie plus some just to maintain my strength and I ate whatever I wanted. This habit continued even when my physical activity didn't, and over the next 30 years I put on a few pounds a year. They really added up (to 213 in 12/05). Over these years I got married, had a son, worked at different jobs, changed careers, etc. etc. etc. There was no time, so I said, or any willpower, to pay attention to my health.

In the last few years I have addressed many things in my life, and it became time to be realistic about this situation. I needed to lose weight for my health - I have a family history of diabetes and heart disease - and I finally found the determination to visit a nutritionist and exercise. I even joined a fitness club. I made small changes at first because that was all I could do. Results were slow, but positive. I began to believe that I could improve things.

Then, last December 2006, I was diagnosed as pre-diabetic. This news woke me up completely. I committed myself to losing enough weight to have a "normal" BMI (154 pounds) and to following a reduced carb diet as reccommended by my nutritionist. I exercised every day at the fitness center with a goal of working 500 calories each day (I even made a chart and gave myself a sticker every 500 calories I did. Sounds a little silly but it was very motivating.). I started off with swimming, my sport from childhood. I also walked miles and miles and miles. I really put time into learning about nutrition and what I needed to be doing in my particular situation.

I made my goal in May 2007. I knew, however, that because of my potential health issues I could not go back to my old ways, and I continued on my routine. I reminded myself of the health reasons when I became discouraged about giving up so many food related pleasures. As time passed I realized that I really enjoyed being in shape and that I looked forward to going to the fitness center. I found classes and exercises I liked to do and expanded the activities that I did (such as cardio kickboxing).

As far as food, I finally let go of trying to make my new requirements fit my old recipes and meal plans, and started over. I tried a lot of new foods (tofu, for instance!) and went from there. I am surprised how much I like vegetables and fruits now. And I finally accepted that my former ideas about portion size were way out of line!

I have lost another 24 pounds since 5/07 and I'm very happy where I am today. My goal is to stay under 140 pounds, and to keep my fasting glucose levels as low as possible (they are now 1 point into the normal range, so I have moved away from developing diabetes rather than rushing toward it as I was doing). I hope to maintain this improved health and I'm willing to work at it every day. I put my efforts to maintain it at the top of my list every day.

I am grateful for the support of my nutritionist and for all the information she gave me. And I am especially grateful for the support of my husband. We have done this weight loss journey together (he has lost 115 pounds).

I am very happy that I no longer feel apologetic about myself, my appearance, or my health. It's a great feeling to be "normal"!

Welcome, Pink! Congratulations on your weight loss and happy "Second Chance Birthday" (I love that!) a few days early. :balloons: Kudos for taking charge of your health and turning that prediabetes around. My DS is diabetic, as is our NightengaleShane here in Maintainers, and they can assure you that it's not a disease you want to have. And tell your hubby that we're all proud of him too!

Take a look around Maintainers and see what interests you. Don't be shy about asking questions and starting new threads -- we love a good discussion! And please come join in our weekly chat thread. With the holidays breathing down our necks, we need all the mutual support that we can get. :)

We're glad you found us and are looking forward to getting to know you better!

Although I am no where near maintaining, I'll add my story here. My name is Okie and I am 24 years old. As a child, I was always a bit chubby. I didn't become truly fat until around puberty. At 12, I weighed more than my aunt with three kids did (sigh)! I went to Nigeria for two years and lost the weight. My mom ribbed me to death about my weight and that was a part of the reason I lost weight. I came back to the U.S. a healthy size 8-10. I kept the weight off for two years till a devastating event occurred. I was molested by my own father. He had also molested my sister. I went back to my old "friend", food, to numb the pain. I graduated high school at 5'6, 180lbs. In college, I packed on more than the freshman 15 and gained close to 100+ during my 3.5 years. I decided to lose weight in August 2004 'cause I was tired of being fat. I lost 80lbs in 5 months on the South Beach Diet. Although I was 200lbs, I felt good about where I was at and where I was going. Then came the diagnosis that I was schizo-affective. I gained the 100lbs I had lost and added nine more. I was hospitalized from December 2006-April 2007 due to my illness. I came back to 3FC not too long ago and I am determined to lose the weight since it's starting to affect my health (cholesterol problems). As we move forward into a New Year, I hope to lose a lot of weight, increase my self-confidence and find work. Hopefully, I'll be on my way to maintaining by this time next year.

This is definitely not the first time I have ever tried to get rid of this weight. I tried: Lean Cuisine dinners only, liquid diets(without medical supervision), Weight Watchers, Nutri-system, Atkins, starving myself, the list goes on.

I am still considered overweight for my height. That is okay with me. Do I want to weigh less? Sure, but I rather have my bodyfat be at a healthy % than have my pounds be okay and still not have my bodyfat under control.

My life has changed mostly because I have changed. I'm more self-confident. Most people looking in before would of thought I was confident but it was all an act. I now am genuinely happy and striving to be as healthy as possible.

Maintaining still means exercising and eating healthy. This seems to evolve on a daily basis. I have learned so much and continue to learn about nutrition and weight lifting.

My main concern is really getting the bodyfat down at a healthy level as stated above. I will never go back to the way I ate before. I may not eat the same next month as I am today. I hope I never stop learning. I have learned lots from my mistakes. I am stronger emotionally today as well as stronger physically than I think I have been my whole adult life.

I feel a little funny doing this, almost like a fake. I can't quite believe I am at the goal I thought was barely within reach. Now I'm going to continue on making adjustments toward maintenance (watching fat and fiber primarily, adding more grains and fruit) and let my body continue on until it reaches a new set point. So at maintenance and not at maintenance :)

* Is this the first time or one of many times that you've tried to lose weight?

I'm an expert at weight loss, at least I was before I turned 40!
This time I've been really focused on maintaining. I picked a plan I could live with and have made decisions and choices based on my ability to stick with the changes long term.

* Are you where you want to be?

See above :)

* How has life changed for you since you've lost the weight?

I feel -so- much better than I did. I'm sleeping better. I have more energy. I can do things without getting winded. In the past there was a suspicion I was hypoglycemic - I think my body's reaction to only eating healthy carbs is connected to that. I feel great!

* Do you exercise regularly?

Yes! Right now I'm doing at least 3 miles cardio and 30 minutes of stretching/strengthening/PT a day. I had hoped to start the C25K program but my knees swelled almost immediately and my doctor says no running. I'm looking forward to hiking and getting my bike out once the snow is gone (at this rate it may be May!)

* Now that you're near or at your goal, what are your concerns?

Maintenance! I know a lot more than I did after past weight losses and my thinking and motivation are different, but I'm still afraid of losing ground. I'm reading Thin for Life (thanks for the tip!) and that is bolstering my confidence. I'm also counting on this forum to help. Don't know if I would have made it this far with this positive an attitude without 3FC.

And anything else that you might want to share with us!

I am a completely addicted birder and tend to mention birding all the time. I'll try not to put you all to sleep ;)

thanks for being here!!

:welcome3: Cyndi and thanks for sharing your story! We're all looking forward to getting to know you better. :)

Hello everyone, my name is Karla. :wave: I'm in my mid 30's, married to a wonderful man, no kids.

I'm making a commitment to change my life style. I've been counting calories since early this year and I've lost 25 lbs so far, I still have a long way to go, but my goal is two-fold, I want to lose more weight, but most important, I want to be able to maintain whatever weight loss I have.

I'm originally from Guatemala and moved to the US 15 yrs ago. People say I don't look Guatemalan, I'm tall and white as white can get, not your typical Guatemalan standard...lol. I've been told I speak English better than people who were born here. I do have a slight accent that comes out when I talk too fast or get too excited. :hyper:

This isn't the 1st time I try to lose weight, I remember being on a diet at around 12 yrs old, maybe earlier. I was a normal looking child probably until I was 7 or 8 yrs old. At the time I moved to a bigger school that scared the lights out of me and caused me a lot of anxiety, I turned to food for comfort, and steadily gained weight. I was around 185 lbs before coming to the US, which was another source of anxiety and for the past 15 yrs I've been down and up with weight. About 6 yrs ago anxiety hit again and I started developing an eating disorder that brought my weight down to 155 lbs, I was barely eating. When the cause of anxiety subsided the weight came back on with a vengance, my highest weight has been 256 lbs, which is where I started this year.

The most difficult part of changing my life style is trying to incorporate exercise in my life. I will admit that I hate it. It's not that I hate all physical activities, I love hiking, would love to try rock climbing. But having an office job from 8-6 doesn't leave me much time for a work out and I'll be honest, I'm the queen of excuses when it comes to working out. :o I wished I liked it a little more, so that's an area of my life that still needs a lot of attention and work on my part.

The big slap for me came when I was out of a job early this year and was looking for options for health insurance. My husband got approved and I got declined b/c I was obese. I cried that day, and I kept the letter to remind me why I'm on this journey.

I'm very scared of weight loss failure, I've tried so many times before, I don't want this time to be like other times. This maintainers forum has been instrumental to my weight loss this time. I can find the support and wisdom I need to keep me going.

Thank you all for welcoming me here.

Hello All! I'm just now a maintainer and posted my Goal Story (link in signature) just last night. I am so happy to be here...although I imagine I'm going to go about 10lbs beyond my original goal and will be doing a lot of lifting and running thru maintenance to tone and strengthen to where I want to be. Glad to join all of you!

New to This and Not Really Sure Why I'm Here!
 

This website really intrigues me. It's kind of a love-hate thing. I love the community aspect and I am hopeful to make many connections but all of the talk of losing weight is really starting to make me feel more self-conscious than I already was about my body and its size. Do I need to lose weight? Sure, I would love to be back to 110-115 like I was in high school (which was 9 years ago - I'm 27). Yes, I think that I'm carrying a little too much for my body frame (5'1" and I am 120 pounds - just look at my knees!). But, am I getting sucked into all the female body-hating stereotypes of popular culture by focusing on the numbers?

So, even though I guess in a perfect world I would be working towards losing these last 5-10 pounds, really I am the most fearful of gaining weight as I get older. I've been watching the 20-somethings and the featherlights for a few days and I'm really not finding a place to fit in. So I hope to find my support here in the Maintainer section of the community. The only thing is, I have never lost a huge amount of weight. I hit my lifetime high of 130 in college. I dumped the boyfriend and went off birth control pills and the extra weight went away.

I have a family history of diabetes on both my mom and dad's sides. There is a history of obesity on my mom's side, although everyone is a little chunky. My mom says that I will be more likely to not get diabetes if I keep my weight down. So that is my main goal. My mom got diabetes while I was in middle school which resulted in a candy-free household. I am so thankful for that! Although I can resist most sweets urges, in the end, we are both are chocoholics.

Then I remember how I grew up with two overweight parents who were too tired or too out of shape to participate in activities with me and really didn't even encourage me to get regular exercise. I do not want to be this type of parent for my future children! I finally figured it out for myself as I found my niche as a swimmer in high school which helped a lot with teen emotional traumas and weight management. Plus I had a really muscle toned body!

So what do you all think? Ya got a place for me here?

:welcome2:

Yes, yes SURELY. Pull up a chair, stay awhile and get yourself comfy. :smug:

Really, I'm so glad you've joined us. I commend you for taking charge of your health/weight when you did, so that you never become obese and will hopefully avoid diabetes. If you want to lose those lbs some where down the road, well that's fine and if you don't that's fine too. You don't need to listen to anyone but yourself.

Your future children will be lucky to have a mom like you - with the right attitude about exercise and food.

I look forward to hearing lots more from you.

Hi Lightrae,

Welcome! You should absolutely stick around here! I completely understand what you say about not wanting to get caught up in the numbers and negative self-image that can sometimes be connected with weight loss and/or a more health-conscious lifestyle. Some of us might use the scale as a tool to help us be aware of weight gain before it gets out of hand, but it is certainly not any kind of requirement. If you don't pay attention to numbers, it doesn't matter a whit to anyone here! And there is plenty to focus on being healthy without scale numbers - eating foods to give more energy, improve cholesterol or blood pressure numbers, weight training goals, cardio goals like running a 5K, are just a few of the other "goals" some of the people around here shoot for.

And like you, my family (on both sides) has a history of obesity, heart disease, cancers, dimensia, alcoholism... just to name a few. I was quite overweight as a teenager, but I continue to focus on health now that I'm at a healthier weight for the same reasons as you. I'm 26, but I'm trying to avoid those problems as I age.

My point is that this is a great place for you!

So please, dive into our conversations and join us! Glad you're here!
:welcome3:

thank you megan and rockinrobin for the welcomes.

hello!

i always thought that losing weight would be my biggest hurdle, but now that i'm on the other side i find that i'm maybe more entangled in numbers internally now than when i was outwardly counting and obsessing openly in my fitness journals.

my start weight was 165 and my goal weight was 125, but my doctor told me 130 was healthy for my height so i should stay around there. i've been up and down the 130 mark for the past few months and it's making me insane! currently i'm at 136.5 and trying to lose.

the worst part of maintaining is knowing that i've been less before so it's almost like i beat myself at a more sinister and intense level because it's like i've failed. i can't help but live in the numbers....but it's not so much calories now as it is clothing sizes [which i know are insubstantial BS anyway], and the scale.....i feel healthy and all that jazz, but i knock myself down because of my jean size.....[i'm currently enforcing a jean boycott]

anyway, i should save this rant for the appropriate thread. i found this site through a friend who swears by it. i'm looking for the support and community a maintainer needs in order to safely ***** about "fat days" without getting the stink eye....

i applaud everyone for reaching their goals and i look fwd to getting support and also helping others along the way. maintaining is difficult!

thanks for reading ^_^

Welcome Blue Parade! :welcome: Congratulations on all of your hard work and accomplishments! The head and numbers games of maintenance can be very daunting, I agree. I'm still trying to figure it all out myself. ;) But I'm glad I've got so many supportive and understanding people here to talk to and listen to me. I don't really have anyone IRL who I can relate to about weight maintenance, so this forum is a wonderful place for me. I'm so glad that you found us!

Tell us about yourself!
While I am new to the maintainers forum, I am not new to 3FC. Most of my story can be read by following the link in my signature, so I won't re-post it here.

• Is this the first time or one of many times that you've tried to lose weight? Definitely it was one of many, but thankfully - due to the lessons I have learned here at 3FC, it was the last :)
• Are you where you want to be? Almost. I would love to be at 125 with 130 as a "bumper weight".
• How has life changed for you since you've lost the weight? I have more balance in my life. I do more things with others, and I have hobbies (like hiking) that help keep me fit. I feel more confident in my work environment and I love helping others along their journey.
• If you're maintaining, what's that like for you? So far, it is easy - but it doesn't look much different than losing did. I suspect that the challenge will come this winter when I have to rely on indoor forms of exercise. I think the novelty will have worn off and could bring some challenges. Time will tell.
• Do you exercise regularly? Yes, though moderately. I try to rotate among fitness ball/weights/pilates/yoga/resistance band workouts 5 mornings a week, and then either walk or dance 4-5 times a week after work. Weekends are "off" times, but often include activities that are quite physical in nature.
• Now that you're near or at your goal, what are your concerns? Exercising faithfully. I truly think (maybe naively) that I have made lifestyle changes that are sustainable where food is concerned. Stress eating is non-existent and I am enjoying eating mindfully. Again, time will tell.

And anything else that you might want to share with us! How absolutely inspirational everyone here has been for me. Without your success stories and faithful participation at 3FC, I don't think I would have assembled all of the necessary keys to unlock the secrets to maintenance. Learning that I had to change me, instead of limiting food for a prescribed period of time, is a lesson that I needed to learn, and I don't think I would have, without you.

Old dieter/kinda newbie maintainer
 

Hello there!

I've been maintaining my goal weight (130-132 lbs.) for 2 1/2 months so thought I'd just slide on over here.

I've been a faithful poster in the "featherweight" threads for over a year now and have lost 17 lbs. I've never been obese but always carried just enough extra weight to not really love my body.

I have practiced, over the many many years I've been dieiting/bingeing etc., a quite unhealthy form of maintenance. I would drink alcohol and binge eat all weekend and then starve myself and exercise like mad all week. I generally fluctuated about 3-5 lbs. every week for years.

That has stopped. I find I am now maintaining my weight by healthy eating all the time and I've given up alcohol entirely (since I just immediately cave and start eating after a glass of wine or a beer).

I still stress eat but nothing like the binges. My body has started saying no to junk food. I'm looking at the long term now (I'm 51) and realize that I've got to just do this for the rest of my life.

Loooking forward to chatting and getting to know all of you in the weekly thread.

Dagmar :cool:

Hi everyone!! :wave: So excited to be here...well, almost ;)

Is this the first time or one of many times that you've tried to lose weight?

Definitely one of many times...I just never stuck with it! Finally, this year I came to the essential realization that I had no other option but to make a lifestyle change if I wanted to be slim and healthy. So several months ago I started exercising every day and eating small portions of nutritious foods - no diets, calorie counting or specific food plans for me, just plain old watching what I eat and working out. To my surprise, I have been able to lose about 1lb/week during the summer and only have a few more to go!!

Are you where you want to be?

While my weight is down, I would like to keep working towards a firmer body. I still feel chubby at 105lbs, so adding muscle to my frame is my current goal.

How has life changed for you since you've lost the weight?

Well, it has only been 3.5 months since my "journey" began, but I am enjoying life more and more as I get healthier! I am less self-conscious and clothes shopping is so much easier when you are proportioned. Physically, I don't become winded from doing something as simple as walking up the stairs quickly.

Do you exercise regularly?

Yes!! And that will not change until I am too old to move...:lol:

Now that you're near or at your goal, what are your concerns?

Gaining it back, of course....I am studying abroad in Spain this year, and my main fear is destroying all the hard work I've done by eating too much yummy food :o But I am planning on exercising at a gym near the university I'll be attending, so that I can explore the local cuisine without simultaneously expanding my waistline.

Also, since I used to hide behind my weight somewhat and use it as an excuse (i.e., "When I'm thin, I'll <insert risk/reward here>"), I am slightly concerned that I STILL won't go after what I want...like many of you probably learned, being "thin" doesn't automatically fix everything in your life. I am still the shy girl I was before, only more compact :D So my goal is to transfer the knowledge I have gained from weight loss, that I can do something I set my mind to, to other areas of my life.

I hope to remain accountable and find support here in the future, which doesn't seem so difficult after reading your posts since so many of you are very inspirational!!