HI,
I am CBETA and this is my very first post.
I am almost 28 year old (turning this month) and currently single. During normal week I work fulltime, and often can stay at work way past the hours, as I simply don't want to be home alone. Yet, even when I am at home, I am mostly reclining or laying down with my laptop. I do not own a tv and that's a consious choice to avoid sitting in front of it, but over the last few months I noticed that I have hard time letting go of my computer.
I am a very social person and I'd hate to spend my life alone, I love life and it is a waste of time how I spend it now. For years I've said I need to change, and I had other attempts, one of them quite sucessful, but even then I managed to destroy it. In two years I will be 30, I am scared. Looking at a big picture it is important for me to be loved and be with someone. So the answer is yes I need to make a change.
Furthermore over the last 4.5 years I've had multiple injuries: I broke my left ancle and torn liagements in the left knee very badly in 2001, this year in August I fractured my right foot, and just yesterday I slipped and fell again bruising and may be fracturing my left foot. My legs cannot carry my body weight, I need to do something fast.
Over the last few days I've read a lot post and threads on this forum and is inspired to begin my recovery.
In the forthcomming days I will tell you more about myself (yes, I do believe in openess).
Currently my weight is 271 pounds.
My ideal weight is around 140 pounds or slightly below it.
My 1st step as I understand is to loose the 30 pounds that I gained back. I think it is a doable goal by end of January.
The 2nd step I think I'd like to make is be uder 200 pounds. And knowing that it will take a lot of work I am willing to allocate until June 1st, 2006 (i.e. a few days before my sisters graduation and my next visit home)
My major problems are:
a. Return to drinking 3 16.8oz bottles of water per day at the minimum. (one in the morning, one during the workout, one after workout)
b. Go to the gym for approximate 1.5 hours at least 5 times a week. My plan has been to visit the gym daily, and if I cannot make it it is my free day. On average in 3 weeks I would be in the gym for 16-17 days
c. No food after 7pm. That includes no food when visited by friends after 9pm (very important, as that made me gain most of that 30pounds)
d. Lunch prep by me rather than bought at the cafe at work (important by I will introduce that as last step) in the mean I will try to watch what I choose for lunch.
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I did read up on some challenges, and I will move this list into appropriate ones once I figure out what goes where.

But my most important message, I am glad to be here and I look forward to working with you.

p.s. I live in San Jose and if anyone is local I'd love to meet and perhaps workout and/or support each other.

Boy have I been blonde all week, couldn't remember my log in, duh, then it came to me as I was reading posts. Must have too much on my mind.

No exercise and sucked on eating all week.

Holly - you are a TRUE inspriation.

Susie - get thru the rough spots on the new job and things will be smooth sailing.

Girlie - good to see you posting again. Missed you.

Welcome to the newbies. Great place as you can tell by reading the wonderful posts by all the marvelous ladies here.

Debbie - Hidee Ho!

Hello to all I missed.

Have a wonderful weekend.

(((HUGS)))

Annie

Cbetta~ hugs and welcome!!! When I was your age I tossed caution to the wind and started a home business. I was also single but made the decision to enjoy it. There is a joy ansd bliss in solitude in havng your space. Some days I long for it now.I also have had a series of knee anke and foot injuries in my 20's. I worry too about my weight and the future impact.

UPS~ I say it counts but only because i often do the same. it sure feels lke exercise.

Annie angel~ Hi
Ded~ how goes it today?
Girlie~ y'all come back now!
Susie~ hugs

Both cats are climbing on me. I have already done an hour of shovelling. Kids are home, PA day, teachers interviews. I really want to go but the roads are BAD. Yesterday was quite peaceful. I got niggles done. Hubby is grumpy. sigh.
I have been drifting back to my sandwich for breaky, sandwich for lunch, sandwich for snack routine. I started better yesterday but had a mini frozen pizza for lunch topped with olives, arrtichoke and swiss cheese.Tomato sauce on WW pasta with fresh veg for supper and then a cookie. Not great at all.

Good Morning, Ladies. I hope all of you have had a few smiles so far this morning. It's Friday here at our small office and someone brought in butt rock ballads from the late 1980's. Heehee. How fun. Warrant is on.

I skipped yesterday, but so far I've gone to the gym every morning this week so far. I think LOL. Long week. Oh, yes I did go Monday because I didn't go Sunday. Not bad. I'm proud of myself. I'm weighing tonite. I didn't notice any loss on the scale this morning naked, and I'll be wearing my skirt and sweater when I weigh so I don't see much difference...but I feel very good and that's what matters to me right now. Three successful weeks of working out regulary. I haven't changed my eating much except to try to not snack.

I made a great Caesar salad last night. I love Caesar. But it's SO fattening. It tried not to use too much dressing. Anyone know of a GOOD TASTING, lite Caesar dressing?

Holly:
Hope you are doing well. I'd love to be able to have coffee with you some day - I can see us chatting up a storm together!

UPSwife:
Great job! I feel like it's hard NOW...let alone with little kids in the picture! Kudos to you on a great day! And HELLO to you - I haven't met you yet.

Debbie:
I love your "strange" menu. Whatever it takes to stay OP, right? It's good to have that variety! Bagels and cream cheese are yummy but can be a killer. I found these great Thomas' Bagels that are whole grain and have around 7g fiber each. I admit that my cream cheese is not "light", but I don't spread it very thick and I enjoy every bite and am satisfied until lunch. BTW, we watched about the first 15 mins of "March of the Penguins". It's delightful. And it's narrated by Morgan Freeman".

CBETTA The ladies here are really supportive and it has really helped me the last couple of weeks!

Holly and Girlie~~Thanks so much for the encouragement. It can be very difficult trying to lose weight when I don't always get the time to exercise, or feel like making two different dinners for me and the kids. (DH usually eats whatever I make, so thats nice)

Today is going well, I got up early to exercise (1hr) and my cleaning is well under way. (yay!) I would like to take the kids out for a walk, but it is in the teens so I don't know if I will or not.

Weigh in is tommorrow and I alredy have lost a pound, so we will see if any more will come off. Keep your fingers crossed that I can stick to plan today

Good evening chicks,
I had a great day. I ate op, and walked plenty on my job. It was freezing this am but warmed up nice. We just start peeling layers as the day goes by.
When I punched out I was down to a short sleeve t-shirt.
I've got a pre-decorating cleaning planned this w-end. From ceiling to floor wall to wall. I told the boy's we are even taking down pictures and doing the wall.
I have rough cut wood paneling and it tends to catch dust. The hardest part is cleaning my 308 shot glasses. Sounds like we are drunks, but I'm just a collector.

upswife: I know you are going to be pleased when you WI tomorrow.
Great job doing an hour of exercise. You've been working hard and it will show.

Girlie: Hey, Let me know if you find a good lite caeser dressing. I really love it
In the summer I made grilled chicken caesar salads a lot.
You should be very proud of yourself!! You'll see the pay off when you weigh.

Holly: That pizza sounds so good YUMMM

Annie: My 22 year old male co-worker is always picking at my grey hair and telling me it has to be platium blonde...LOL

cbetta: I glad to see you have a clear plan. Try to keep goals small. It's truly one day at a time.
You are making a good move starting now because believe me it does get harder the older you get. We are here for you.

Susie: TGIF

Hi im 24 5'4 and 230 pounds. im not married im all alone. i havent started a diet yet, I havent started anything but im kind of sick of being fat and getting out of breathe. but its hard to stop eating because i get bored or lonely and really theres NOTHING ELSE TO DO. and excercise is hard, im depressed on weekend i sleep for about 17 hours just because i cant wake up. Please dont say just do this, or just get up, or just stop eating. Can anyone give me any real advice?

Thanks.
-Sarah

Sarah: Putting your feeling here is a great start. Start with small steps.
like drinking more water, it flushes out the toxins. Exercise can be really hard at first, so try parking in place where can sneak in a short walk. and there is no other way to say this but you really need to get up more on the w-end.
I Know it might seem impossible but you can do this. Just don't set goal that are so hard to reach that you give up. For example set a goal of drinking a couple extra glasses of water, Walking in your home for 10min 2x a day, Try the WALK AWAY THE POUND video. look for the basic one. It is easy steps just do a little of it and work up to the whole workout.
Also if you drink soft drinks try switching to diet.
There is some one posting on this site all day. Stay in touch we are here for you.
I know how hard it is Sarah. I'm 50 and have struggled with my weight all my life.
REMEMBER BABY STEPS...but take the steps. You wont regret it.

YOU ARE WORTH IT...

Sarah: I have a challenge for Dec to exercise 3x a week. I invite you to join my challenge by walking 10 min 2x a day 3 x a week.
Have you ever considered curves. I go and it's easy. since I joined in march.
I lost 36lb and 34 inches. I'm also doing Weight watchers on-line so that has helped.

debbie, im intimidated by gyms. i went to one that my work has a deal with that i can get for very cheap and i was going to join it. but i dont know i just didnt. And i dont drink soda i dont really drink anything, im afraid to drink the tap water at my house eww. so i buy bottled water but when i run out i have gotten into the habit of drinking herbal or green tea all day with splenda or sweetnlow.

HUGS Sarah. I am 5'4", weigh 230 and I am 40(ack). I have beena t this for a.,ong time it seems but not giving up has helped me. I start over every so often. Keep posting and reading and somethtimes something just clicks. Make I change at a time. Like :week 1, eat 5 veg a day, week 2, eat 5 veg a day a 8 glasses of water. Be kind and forgiving to yourself. Find an acticity you like for on the weekends. when I was sinlge I went out to aqua fit and yoga.Did a lot of dancing around in my apartment by myself too( to good tunes, of course).

PS it is 22F here today ladies brrrrrrrrrr

I'm sitting here listening to the scanner. We have several large grass fire close. DS is a vol fireman so he's out there...
I worry too much.


Sarah: Good afternoon, Glad you stopped back in.
I hate gyms also that why I picked curves. There no sexy gym bunnies there or staring hunks..Oh I have that wrong no hunks to stare at...LOL
But I realize it not for everyone. It's just important to move somehow. I say what ever works.
good job with the water.

Holly: Hey girl! how are you?

Well i should get my 6 week body makeover kit soon so im going to start as soon as i do. I ordered it on ebay on monday and the guy said he mailed it out tuesaday so im hoping it comes today. And then i will start! and i will join your challenge of 3 times a week 20 minutes a day too. I will start walking my dog instead of just leaving her to run around with a chain out back. she will enjoy that.

Holly: It's in the 80'sF
I have the windows open airing this place out. We will cool to the mid50'sF
tomorrow. Enjoying it while we can.