hello everyone. my name is trish and i have been looking for a cool site for support. I don't feel I can do this alone. I am now at my highest weight which is 200.6 lbs. and i am only 5 2" tall. I went through a break up and moved from California to a the country and I currently don't have access to a gym, so I was in my apartment all winter long. I have gained 20 pounds in the last year. My apartment is extremely small, not much room for exercise other than some floor exercises in the kitchen for which I have been putting off. I do walk quite a bit, however and eat fairly healthy, but struggle in the evening with eating.
I look forward to supporting you too! I have lots of ideas as I have lost weight before. I am looking for a diet buddy.

my goal is to eventually get into a green bikini. I have not worn a bikini since high school and am now 38 years old. But i believe it is possible. another goal of mine is to eventually be able to jog again, or run. I have smoked since the age of 16 and want to quit after losing some pounds. has anyone else here struggled with smoking and weight issues? I'd love to learn about it.

I also take medication, so I feel I have so much stacked against me.

hope to get some informative replies and encouragement.

Welcome Trish! You've found a cool place to hang that's for sure!


Where are you in Illinois? I'm from the Chicago suburbs originally.

I quit smoking a few years ago - (well, I still occasionally have a cigar when I am out at the pub!) - but I didn't have any noticeable weight gain.

My advice is one health hurdle at a time. I also found hypnosis very beneficial in quittiing smoking.

Good luck!

Mel

Welcome Trish! I am new to 3FC as well. I just joined on Friday and have a considerable amount of weight to lose. I actually need to buy a scale but my best guess of my weight is around 210 or so, and my goal weight is also 140. I am a smoker and I really want to quit, but I think Mel's idea of one hurdle at a time is correct. In my opinion, If I try to change my diet, start exercising and quit smoking all at once, I'm going to set myself up for failure. I'm starting out by changing my diet... today is day 3 of eating healthy. So far, so good....

What I really need to do is to start exercising. I remember how good I would feel after working out, it's just so hard to get motivated.

I also struggle with eating at night. I've been successful in the past by not being too strict, and allowing myself one small treat in the evening such as a low fat ice cream sandwich or strawberries with lite whipped topping. If I totally deprive myself at night, I'm more prone to snap and go on a food rampage through my fridge

I'll be your diet buddy if you want. It would be nice to have someone to talk to and to complain to and to share success with.

Talk soon,

MJ

i don't think i green bikini is too much to imagine at all.... definitely do-able by next summer, even if it takes a year to get into a bikini it would be an awesome goal to achieve.

2 pounds a week is healty, and it's typically the rate at which i've lost weight in the past. that would put me right around 180 by christmas. wow, i can't believe 180 is a whole 30 pounds away.

weighing in once a week is fine with me, and tuesday is fine too. we can post our weigh-ins on our blogs to keep track and to hold ourselves accountable.

i still haven't taken a walk or done my pilates workout. i've just been so tired every day after work, and it's been hard enough dealing with the diet. I need to start exercising this weekend and stop making excuses! good for you for walking and doing crunches. hope your stomach feels better.

chocolate cake.....yum.

talk soon,

maia

Hi Cute Jeans!

Good luck - hope to see you in the threads! I can't afford a gym, never went when I belonged in past years.

Luckily I've discovered that walking is a GREAT way to exercise, especially if you work up gradually to brisk walking.

I've lost 17 lbs. since July 1 and feel so much better! I am actually quite happy with my butt these days, LOL, all the walking has really helped. Now I tackle my tummy

You can do it!

Hey Cute Jeans!

Your goal of 30 lbs. lost by Christmas sounds doable ... the experts say a 1 or 2 lb. loss per week is a healthy and reasonable goal.

I lived in Ventura for years, but housing prices :shiver: drove me out five years ago. I live in No. California now, near Chico, an hour north of Sacramento.

I've discovered so much helpful info here at 3FC, especially which foods I can enjoy (especially snacks) that are fat free or low fat, so I don't feel deprived and throw up my hands and quit. Inexpensive choices, too -- like 94% FF popcorn. Love the crunch and bit of salt, but without the whopping fat and calories of chips.

Do you have a sweet tooth? I've switched from being a donut-o-holic into snacking on flavored rice cakes. At first I was skeptical (sp?), but you get the crunch, a bit of sweetness and flavor ... most have 35 calories per rice cake Think I'll try graham crackers for treats again.

I don't have a blog. I'm kind of a private person and was not comfortable with a blog that others read. I think www.fitday.com has a place to blog, but it's private. It's the "journal" link. I've typed some there.

Check out www.fitday.com! Free, fun, and quick - you log foods & beverages and the site calculates how many calories & where the cal's come from ... fat/carb/bev/protein. Very educational to see just exactly how many calories some of our fav foods have ... especially the fat calories.

There are lots of groups here - See heading "Support Groups". I'm in Hot and Healthy Challenge Chicks (under Misc. Groups). You'll be welcome in any group, and it's a good way to meet new people and get and give support!

Congrats on your efforts ... the hardest part is getting started!!