Ok, I am going to try very hard to keep coming here to post. I posted about a month ago and then didn't post..shame on me. I've made a vow to myself for this new year to get my butt into gear and do something about my being overweight. I am joining TOPS going to my first chapter meeting this coming Friday morning. I am going to my doctor to make a plan for eating and exercise for myself...this way I won't push myself too hard, but also will do the right things and eat the right things as well. Also I have a membership at the YMCA and am going to call and make an appt to get someone to teach me how to use all the machines and set up a program for me(I am pretty sure this is free with my membership for the first consult).

I am so ashamed of myself for letting myself get to the point I am at and now is the time to start doing something about it.

Hey there Jen, good to see you back. How are things going with you? Hope things have settled down some and you can get back on track losing weight. Where are you located now in ON? Still around London or have you moved right out of there? I'm up in Hamilton, would be cool if there were some chicks in our neck of the woods. Good luck with TOPS, they will probably be more helpful than your dr will be. It is my experience that most dr's don't have a clue about weight loss and would be more likely to send you to a nutritionist or dietician. I think drs get like 1 class out of how many years of med school spent on nutrition and diet. I started back at the gym in September and I got a 1 hour free appointment with a trainer with my membership. Spend some time talking to him/her about what your goals are for the next couple of months so they don't waste time showing you machines that you aren't ready for or don't need at the present. Then in a few months when you feel ready to tackle some new challenges you can get a trainer for another hour (shouldn't be too expensive for a one hour session) and he/she can set you up with a new routine. Good luck and I hope we hear from you lots!!!

Thanx Jen

Things sure have settled down. The kids and I moved back to our home town in Woodstock, ON. So we are not in London anymore. All my family and friends are here in Woodstock so I felt it best just to come back and get all the support I could. My family has been so great with us.

I can't wait to go to the TOPS meeting. I also have a membership at our YMCA and just called up to make an appt for the "Get Started" program there. It's a free program which includes a fitness centre orientation and program set-up. It's an apointment with a trainer for 45mins which will give me an individualized program and then they check my progress at 2, 4 and 8 wks along. So hopefully I will have an appt next week or the week after(depending on how busy they are what with all the new year resolution newbies..LOL).

I totally forgot that you were from Woodstock. I grew up there too but I think you are a bit younger than me so we probably didn't hang out with the same people. That would be so freaky! I didn't know Woodstock had a TOPS. Are you going to the Y up on Dundas St or is there another one? I haven't lived in Woodstock for 11 years and it is so weird to drive through when I go to visit my mom and see all the changes. Sounds great what you are doing as far as getting going with the weight loss, I need a serious kick in the behind to get going!!

Hi! I am back here today now too, after taking a long break that I feel really guilty about.

I just wanted to say that I love your banner thing in your signature! My daughter Jenna has Down syndrome. I like seeing positive things like that.

Jen -

Glad to see you back. I just finished a similar prgram at the Y. Our was called Startfit and was 12 weeks. But same idea, they get you started, track your progress and work with you evetry few weeks. It was really great and managed to get me going to the YMCA on a regular basis more than I have ever done in the past!! Good luck!!

Hi Lindy!! Welcome back to you too!!

What school(highschool) did you go to? I went to Huron Park. We mostlikely didn't have the same bunch of friends as I don't remember any other Jen in the mix other than my ex husband's sister. I am now 31(almost 32) if that helps any. Yes that would be the same Y, it's the only one. And as for TOPS meetings, there are 4 of them here in Woodstock. I am choosing the one that is on Friday mornings as that is when I am kid free. I love Woodstock. I was so happy to be back to familiar surroundings. London is fine but it's way to fast paced for me to even think about breathing...LOL

I am 36 so I was probably done high school when you started! I went to CASS but actually should have gone to HP because I lived on Leinster St off of Devonshire Ave. My grandparents and dad had a business over by CASS so that's why I went there instead. It's a good thing too because that's where I met my (now) husband!

Welcome back! I was thinking about posting an MIA list, and your name was on it. I'm glad you're back and planning to stay.

Welcome back! I am new here and hope to get to know you.
I started going back to the YMCA too. I love that place. They have these new treadmills that have your own tv that you plug your headset into. It also has two fans built into the console. I love going and walking there. I am a mom of two little ones so an hour of no interuptions is becoming my salvation.

I just realized I didn't welcome you back. Glad to see you found your way back here and I'm jealous you have access it a Y. That's one of the downfalls of enjoy the country life is the lack of facilities around here.

Welcome back. Glad you came back to join us. I look forward to hearing from you.

Welcome back! I'm new here, too, but I'm looking forward to getting to know you. Your children are beautiful!

Welcome back KnC... but also to everyone who's been on hiatus. (or who is lurking right now! Join us again!) Best wishes to *everyone* in '05.

Welcome back I'm back again after another absence. Just went to my very first (ever!) Weight Watchers meeting today. It went really well, and everyone was super welcoming! Lots of support & motivation there... and I really *DO* need the accountability of a weekly weigh-in!

Looking forward to chatting