Beachbum - awesome idea!!!! I vote for you to keep track!
Just post what info you want from us!!!

I'm 5'6, 224 pounds

Fat Pants: You rock!!! You are in wonderland!!!

Woo hooo, .....and you RAN!!!

I can't even walk fast.

I'm back after a fun weekend with my DD, SIL and 6 mos grandson visiting. Took a walk with the stroller Sat and then a serious walk for myself after everyone left yesterday afternoon. Stayed on track with pre-planning meals for the weekend and heavy use of the crockpot... my favorite kitchen appliance after coffee pot and microwave. Glad to see eveyone still posting and can't wait to hear results of this weeks weigh-ins. Mine is Wed.

It's been a bit since the thread started-I have over 70 to lose, but 70 still be a great accomplishment. Would be alright for me to join in?

Parsp: Please share some crock pot recipes!!

Spunker: Of course you can join!!!!
We are not quite one week old, so you joined at a perfect time.
70 is my goal, but should really be 85.
I'll be happy just to see ONEderland again

Well my knees certainly don't appreciate all of this physical activity.. lol! It was hard getting to 199... now I just need to stick with it and not give up! This is usually when I throw in the hat!

FatPants - no throwing in the hat allowed!! We are going to do it!
So tell us, how did you drop the first 13?

News from me:
I did a sleep study last night - they think I have mild sleep apneia but won't know for sure until an expert reviews my stuff....I have to wait until next week, they think I'll need to come back and be fitted for the cpap machine and sleep with one. YUCK. However, if it means no more snoring, and feeling more restful, then I'm all for it. They said chances are when the weight comes off the snoring will subside. Yet even in my skinny days I would snore if I were exhausted.

I'm surprised I don't see more people post about snoring or sleep apnia. I've talked to lots of over weight people and nobody will fess up to snoring.

Anyway - it's yet another item on my list of reasons to do this.


Question to everyone: Name suggestions for our group? Should we go back to "That 70s Show" or does anyone else have another name suggestion?

Helloooo everyone and happy Tuesday. Tomorrow is halfway through the week already...yippee! Times are stressful at my work - we're trying to meet this HUGE deadline by the end of March, which will wipe our main competitor off the map (or at least do some serious damage), so we are really burning the midnight oil. At least it doesn't leave much time for me to daydream about food.

Monday was not so great eating-wise. I was tired from the time change, and it's the week of TOM so I feel like I could eat an elephant and still not be full. I am back on track today, though!

Well it's kind of a long story. I got up to 213 last year because DH and I bought our first home and of course with any move, that entails a lot of eating out. Plus we had ordered a new fridge and that didn't get in for a week, so all that plus the stress, I just packed on the pounds. It is the highest I have ever been. What did I do to lose... well... I started training to walk the Race for the Cure 5k last September. So that involved basically walking 3 miles almost every evening around our neighborhood. Oh, we also went to Moab, UT for DH's birthday and did a 6 mile hike, so I just kept training for that. So honestly it was just good old fashion exercise. I started and stopped "dieting" at least 3 times last year. Oh, hahaha, lastly, I spent a lot of time stressing out about passing my comprehensive exams to graduate with my Masters in December, so that got me to around 200 lbs.

This year I decided to RUN the Race for the Cure 5k so I signed up with a personal trainer in January. I slimmed down a LOT while working with him (lost 7 inches total), but just recently started losing weight again... I hovered around 200-204 for about six weeks before finally dropping to 198. Now I just track meticulously my calories, and am doing the C25k on my own. I actually like exercising now, and running is pretty cool. I never thought I would enjoy it but once I really started seeing the benefits of it (with the lost inches and fitting into three pairs of pants I couldn't fit into before!), I really got into it. Before I was just exercising like twice a week for about half an hour each...now I try to do it 5 times a week.

Sorry, that was really long! How is everyone's Tuesday going? I am exhausted from work, plus hubby is sick so he was up coughing all night. Sick husband = no sleep for the wife! he's still bad today so I may be sleeping in the guest bedroom tonight!

2Bthinagain, thanks

Good luck with the sleep apnea stuff. Is snoring a main sign of it? I mean, I know snoring could be from a deviated septum, but otherwise, could/would that be mainly from sleep apnea?

Fat Pants, I've been there myself with the 199-Though last time I learned that the farther it goes down, it gets a little bit easier-kind of, but it seems to give you a little nudge. I don't know, probably doesn't make sense lol

Congrats on your loss so far! What you wrote about your exercise, I found, was really encouraging. When you did the walking 3 miles each evening, did you map it out? Did you do different routes to try and change it up a bit?

---------

As for me, since I didn't say really anything in my initial post except asking to join, I guess I'll say a little something.

I'm 24. Back in 2007 I lost 87 pounds between January 1 and approx July 15 (regained 10 though as I think it was dehydration/water weight). I ended up getting sick because of it in the beginning of June-it was the most unhealthiest.

I met my boyfriend, maintained my weight at 162-165 for a few months (stopped the unhealthy behaviours-for the most part after being with him). The two of us went on a frosting binge, that lasted way too long, and well, I put frosting just about on everything. My weight went up to 180 by then. Then I found out I was pregnant, then miscarried at 10 1/2 weeks.

My depression started back up after the miscarriage, but in the spring signed up for WW and entered a Weight loss challenge-started at 186, got discouraged and dropped out of both at 172 (the was probably the end of May or early June? 2008). My depression progessively got worse, and by mid July I was up to 195. By fall, I was going between 210-215. and then finally got down to 200. I was on short term disability for my depression for the month of October, which I said to help get myself going in a better direction, I wanted to lose weight and start exercising again.

I spent the entire month binging and purging (however not as effectively as in 2007)-started the month at 200, ended the month at 210. That, I believe, was the last time I had weighed myself for awhile.

I then decided I needed to start losing weight, but since it was the holidays, I knew it'd be tough-my goal was to start January 1st. That never happened.

Just recently I decided it was time. Seriously time. Well, I wasn't too serious at first, but then it was violently shoved into serious lol

My new work pants were digging into my sides, and it was really embarrassing practically grunting trying to button them up in the stalls-so, I took a deep breath, prepared for the worst, and weighed myself: 224 (Only 15 pounds less from where I started 2 years ago).

Instead of paying a company to tell me I'm fat and need to lose weight and how to do it, I decided to take my past knowledge and apply it now, without paying them. So, I'm trying WW on my own.

It may sound bad, but I'm not entirely concerned about getting my full points in. I feel that I have other areas to work on that are more important-listening to my hunger signals and just plain making better food choices (now I just have to start regularly exercising).

This is Week 2, day 2 for me. My first weigh-in was 8 pounds (which puts me at 106 to lose, but 70 would still be great). I'm not feeling as hungry as I have in the past. Within my first week, I accomplished eating at least 3 times a day, I'm eating when I'm hungry (and not just because it's time for whichever meal). Also, for the first time, I'm actually get fruits and veggies in, which has been pretty foreign to me in the past.

In time, I feel that things will even themselves out as far as food-the right amounts anyway. But to me, what I mentioned above, seemed to me to be a more pressing matter.

Now that I've rambled on enough...

Oh gosh guys I need the support now more than ever.
I had a crazy weekend, good news and bad news.
Good news--I weighed 188 at the doctor today, which is two pounds more than the low I hit last week at home, but with the way I've been eating I'm shocked to even see the 180s still around, and 188 is lower than I've ever weighed in at the dr office! Exciting news.
However, stresses abound. (possible overshare) I have my first UTI, which sucks since I'm only 18, and that's why I was at the doctor. I've felt sickly and lazy all day, and have eaten more than I should have (even had Krystals last night, yikes). In fact, I've had several days of erratic eating.
Because (at least in part)--My very serious boyfriend that I've known since I was 12, that I've been serious with for a year and a half, is signing up for the Army in the next couple of weeks. He'll be gone by July, for three years active duty and one tour of duty overseas. I feel miserable about it.
Sunday I went to see him and we went downtown and walked for hours, all along the river front and then up over the pedestrian bridge and through two consecutive parks, then back over the river on the auto bridge and through the city back to my car. So, excersize in, also very little eating that day and the day before (probably responsible for still being in the 180s).
I don't want to be an emotional eater but I'm afraid that I am and all I want to do right now is binge. It's spring break from college and I'm stuck at home sick instead of with BF soaking up every second.
Still, I'm looking forward to a brand new day tomorrow, on plan and going strong. Hopefully I'll fel better tomorrow, since I'm on antibiotics, and can try out my new Biggest Loser DVD (first one, anyone have it? tips or opinions?) or go for a walk. Today was a gorgeous day weather-wise, and other than a long drive with the windows down I just didn't get out and enjoy it.
Anyway, sorry such a long post. I needed to get some things off my chest. Hope everyone's having a great week eating right and getting active.

spunker--Thanks for your story. I think it would be great if everybody did a bio, since we're all working together as a team and need to really know our team mates.
I've never done weight watchers but I'm calorie-counting now and its helped me to lose 12-15 pounds in a couple of months. From what I gather its a lot like keeping points, just in different terms, and its flexible.
Good luck to you.

Spunker: hang in there. Many of us have had ups and downs with our weight, remember...we are here for you. We are all going through this battle together, and feel free to post when you need any type of support! It will be hard for all of us, but we'll get there!!!

Munchie: I'm sorry about your BF enlisting. I know that is scary. My hats off to him for serving our country, but I know it's scary for his loved ones. You said you don't want to be an emotional eater, least you are realizing that it's could happen, just keep healthy snacks around.

As for a mini-bio:
Age 43
Weight 223 (highest was 23?)
Height 5'6
Married/ 2 kids
High school graduation I was 99 lbs dripping wet, 104 at the end of the day with clothes on.
Gained the freshmen 15 in college
Gradually got up to 133
Stayed at 133 for a very long time.
Never had been over weight until I had my kids.
The last was a Csection.
I am also hypo-thyroid
I also went into menopause in my THIRTIES!!
Basically since I was thin most of my life - having this extra weight on me is very hard and very depressing, and I can see how others treat me differently. I have many thin and pretty friends, but others I can tell don't reach out to me and I'm certain it's my weight...they judge me.
I hate being judged, but it's good to know who the fake people are.
ANYWAY, this is year 7 for me being a fat chick.
And hopefully the year that I will drop the most of my weight. What a waste the last 7 years have been - not being able to be as physical as I would like , etc. but ....it's a new year....it's OUR YEAR TO GET SKINNY

Howdy everyone... it's Wednesday! The week is half over!

Spunker, when we trained for the 5k, we did switch it up. I live in a pretty hilly neighborhood so often we mapped out our routes on mapmyrun.com to see what would get us ~ 3 miles. The race is at Garden of the Gods (don't know if you know what I'm talking about, lol) and the first 3/4 of a mile is all uphill. I am DREADING running it this year. When I can run for more than 5 minutes, I plan on going to the park and running the race route.

I think what is different for me this time around is yeah I want to lose weight... most definitely. But when January 1 rolled around I thought "I want to run a 5k. And I want to hike a 14'er." So that's what I focused on. The loss of inches and weight is a really great side effect! But even if I'm at 195 lbs and actually run for an entire 3.2 miles, I'll feel proud of myself.

munchie, I'm sorry your bf is going to be leaving for quite awhile. It will be so easy to slip into stressful eating patterns, but you should use it as motivation and time to slim down to one hot girlfriend when he returns on his first leave!!

2bthin, what do you think is making it different for you this time around? You're right, this is our year!!!

Well I am off to start my day! I have this video: http://www.collagevideo.com/workout-...tter-body-5591 arriving today... I am sooo excited. Not that I think I am going to get a significantly better body in 10 days, but I have been looking for something that will give me the same cardio/strength intervals that I did when I was working with my trainer. I watched some clips on Youtube and was like, holy cow, I need to get this! It should be on my doorstep when I get home from the gym today. Yippee!

Fat Pants - I think what is different this time around is that my kids are growing so fast and I want to run with them, really really run without huffing and puffing. When we go to amusement parks I don't want to stand aside 'cause the seat is too tight for me. My youngest is not shy about letting me know how fat I am.
I have visions of piles and globs of fat around my heart. I worry about diabetes, and now the sleep apnea. Plus in the "to much info" department - the sex life is not so good. I'm not comfortable is this body.
I miss my old clothes! I miss it when guys would do a double take, or whistle at me. I once had a guy cross the street just to say, "excuse, I see you walk by every day and just had to let you know you are the most gorgeous woman I've ever seen."....I was engaged at the time, but I thanked him.
I just MISS all of it. The mental and physical.

ALSO -- how cool that you went to MOAB! I went there when I was about 30, and I loved loved loved it! I hiked all day every day, and the funny thing, I never trained for it! I didn't realize how much walking there would be, but I was about 129 at the time. I have a picture at the Golden Arch all by myself with not a soul in sight. I think I went over Thanksgiving or something. It's simply breath taking in Moab!

2Bthin I know exactly what you mean about the mental and the physical. I am 70 lbs bigger now than when my husband and I first met. Bless his heart, he has always told me I'm beautiful, but I'm tired of people thinking we're brother and sister (because what would a handsome guy do with a fatso like me?) rather than husband and wife. he is soooo kind and tells me every day that I am gorgeous and sexy, but *I* want to believe that I am gorgeous and sexy...you know? I have a feeling you do!

I know I have not always been the most confident person in the world, but being fat has made me reatreat into this timid, unconfident person... I miss that about myself!

Moab was WAY COOL! We went last April and it was amazing. I think the best way to describe it is that it's like a big playground for grown ups, lol! I have never been an avid hiker, but hiking at sunrise in Arches was an experience I'll never forget. I can't wait to go back!