Okay so we have a weekly thread everyone is welcome to join in on but I thought it would be helpful since our group is getting so big(hooray!) to break some stuff up. Like the bios. This way new people can come in and leave their bios and we keep it in one thread and it doesn't get buried by tons of pages and we never see it again. For those of you who already posted on in the other thread I know it is a pain but just copy/past it in here.

Who can join this group?

Everyone is welcome and encouraged to join! We are a very supportive group and we talk about life in general as well as exercise and eating.

What is this group about?

This group is about supporting each other to be healthy and to exercise! We need to remind ourselves that at whatever size we are, we are hot! And we challenge each other to be healthy which means eating right and exercising.

Everyone is welcome to join us! At the beginning of the month we can state our goal for the month whether it is losing a few pounds, changing some bad habits, or just all around maintaining! Come on in! We'd love to have ya!!

What to do:

Come in and give an intro of yourself. It can be brief or long. In addition,

1. Leave your starting weight.
2. List what type of exercise you will do daily to achieve your goal.
3. List how you will be watching your food, i.e. low carbs, calorie counting, etc
4. Check back in each day to share your progress of if you exercised, share the food you have eaten, etc.
5. Weekly weigh in. We will weigh in every week to see where we are!!

Good luck everyone!

Okay so I am 31. I have been on this weight loss journey 17 months! I did have to take a big break in the middle for a few months because of health concerns, etc but I maintained and am back on the track to losing ever since April 24, 2006. Anyhow this is not a "diet" to me, it is a healthy lifestyle. I am 31, recently remarried to a wonderful man who treats me like a princess and loves my 5 kiddos too. If you need any help or advice just ask.

1. 213.5

2. I will walk 60 - 100 minutes a day, 5 days a week. I want to get to at least 1800 every month. I am further than that this month so I know I can do it!

3. I will be calorie counting. Most days will be 1600-1800, with maybe two "bad days". I want to average 1700 cals a day

I am Jeni, DH is Will, 2 kiddos: Tommy is 1 Maki is 3.

1. Starting weigh as of Aug 14 187 (highest weight ever was 199 October of 2002)

2. I ride my exercise bike, walk on treadmill, and strength train, plus I try to do pilates.

3. I calorie cycle and aim for an average of 1450.

4. Current weight is 164 (and has been for too too long.)

I'm not going to start out with my weight loss stats, but I'm going to start out with stuff about me.

My name is Mande (aka: Amanda Lee). I live in a very small town called Bonnyville (in Alberta, Canada). I moved up here from Calgary around the beginning of September. I work as an administrative assistant/accounts payable|receivable/book keeper, type thing. It's a small family company, so I work directly for my MIL and FIL. My DF also works for the same people, but he works out in the field. We do environmental work, water purging and sampling, water removal, gammalogging, etc. Alberta is the province of oil refinery... it's like the Texas of Canada.. or something.
I have 3 cats (Chimpy, Hoju, and ESPN 8 "The Ocho"). Lots of history behind those names, but I won't bore you with that now.
I'm a Libra, and creativity is my life. I created a book of poetry that I sold in the bars for $2 a piece in Calgary, I love to sketch, and I especially love photography and digital art.
My humour is somewhat dry (and yes, it's spelled H-U-M-O-U-R) and sarcastic. I love comedy, and I love even more to laugh, and to make people laugh. I sometimes find that I am a bit too nosy, but it's all in the good of my heart. I can't do gossiping or cliquing. This is mostly because of a life of being let out because I was unusual or quiet. I also read a lot, which doesn't help my hermit'ng.
I only feel pretty 3/7 days of the week, and my life has been dragged down by low self esteem. I find it really hard to say no, so I'm always getting myself in to predicaments that I don't want to be in.

Now, if you guys are still with me..
My highest weight recorded was 279, and this was at the beginning of November. This is when I decided to do something about it, and here I am.
For the most part I walk/cardio and do weight training on my upper body (torso and up).
I'm all about calorie counting, and not restricting. I did have to restrict a couple things, but that is because they are triggers for bingeing.
Oh, and I have an ED; BED (Binge Eating Disorder).
I look forward to getting to know all of you who have just joined us, and to continue to strengthen my relationship with those that have been with me for the last month or so.

~Mande

Heya guys. I'm Nikaia, and I'm a fourth-year college student. Linguistics is my major. I live with one housemate and my pet rat, Puka (it's Hawai'ian, pronounced pooh-kah). I have no job, although I'm trying to get one, because I can barely make ends meet on the monthly stipend my dad's giving me for rent and necessaries. I'm a writer and, if I could afford a camera, I'd love to get into photography.

I am also currently struggling to get two final assignments done, both of which are due tomorrow morning, one at 8 AM, and one at 10 AM. So I'm going to stop my rambling now, leave my pertinent info, and get back to work.

1. Starting weight was 198 as of mid-September or early October.
2. I'm a walker, I use WATP three times a week, more if I can poke myself enough to get up.
3. I don't restrict; I try to watch my portions and eat whole foods as much as possible.
5. My weigh-in is first thing every Monday morning; I'll see you guys then!

Ok, well, here's my life in a nutshell: I'm a mother of 3 kids... and my weight loss adventure started in June of 2006 (for realz now) despite the many "attempts" at weight loss before. This is going to seem like a novella, so I'm sorry for the length, and it may seem a bit strange (I also feel very out in the open here), so bear with me.

I was in a horrible marriage. I felt trapped and had felt that way for years. I basically felt hopeless and began to slide into the trap of self-destruction. I used fast foods and comfort foods as a means of making myself feel better and ended up ballooning to 240 lbs. I think part of me just didn't want him to feel attracted to me and was hoping he would leave me. I know that probably sounds wierd, but I'll explain a little. We didn't know each other for very long before we got married (met and married within 7 mos). About 2 weeks after we got married, things began to change. Soon, he was jobless (he had quit his job and wasn't very motivated to find a new one since I was working), and began to get more and more possessive and controlling. Eventually, his temper led to physical abuse as well as verbal, emotional and mental. As a result, my love for him died about 2 years into our marriage, although I remained faithful to him throughout it. We would seperate and I would go back believing it would be better and that he had changed (hoping). Mainly, the fact that we had children together was the real reason I kept going back. That and fear of not being able to make it w/o him. I began to notice his temper cracking towards the kids and he began to get physically violent with them as well. It didn't take very long for me to tell him to get the **** out. I would rather risk it on my own, thank you very much. I used that anger and frustration to fuel my drive to get my life back on track, and that included getting in shape. So here I am, 6 months later, and almost 50 lbs. lighter (not to mention the 170 lbs. I lost in one day )

On a side note: I met a wonderful man online 2 yrs. ago that I eventually became best friends with. A while after I told DH to leave, we decided to start dating. Things are going really well with him, he's still my best friend, and we're hoping to meet soon.

That being said,
1. My starting weight was: 229 lbs. My current weight is: 180 lbs. (if my scale can be trusted, it's been looking at me funny lately. I NEED a new one, digital if I can swing it. ) I want to get to 135, but my real goal is 120 (I just don't want to see that I have 60 lbs. to go. It doesn't make sense, I know, but I'll get there eventually anyway and besides, at 135, I'll be able to say, "Hmm... 15 lbs, hat's not so big, I've already lost 90 something..." My brain works weird, huh? )
2. I love to dance and walk, but mainly dance (club dancing in the privacy of my home)
3. I basically watch WHAT I eat, and how much of it I eat, and then fight off cravings with healthy snacks... I need to start counting calories in general, but don't know that I have the time to do so with all the craziness going on right now... I do watch the amount of calories and fat content in what I eat, and follow the serving size. I just don't write it down. I think I average about 1400 calories a day.
4. I weigh myself everyday, but make note of it in a journal on Mon. and take my measurements on Mon. as well, after I've answered "nature's call" and before I eat breakfast.

jcatron243:

It is creeping down hun!

Martini:

SOunds a bit like me! haha Although I do gossip every now and then.

Nikaia:

That is awesome! Bet you can't wait til you're out!!

That can be alot of fun. I like my digi cam cause I can take endless pics and put them on the p.c.

Calejo:

Well I read your story sweetie and I hear ya! I was in a marriage for 11 years, plus two more dating and after we were married for just a few months, he went over the road as a driver. It was just supposed to be temporary til he got enough time in to get a local one but there was always an excuse. So I pretty much wound up raisng 5 kids all by myself and the distance only made us further apart. I can say I was truly in love with him and devoted for most of the years we were together but then his health took a turn for the worse (high blood pressure, God knows what else), he would get really paranoid, thinking he was dying and he started taking his anger and frustrations out on us. He basically wished we had never had so many kids, how can a parent be like that once they are here? He just seen them as burdens and I guess he wasn't home enough to see how wonderful they are, I don't know. He started getting verbally abusive and that is when for me it was like I pulled away, along with the kid stuff. I started going online alot and developing alot of friendships that way. Anyhow I still was trying to work on my marriage and wanted counseling but he didn't and threatened divorce and he was starting to get physical at that point. I am so glad I left him. It is the best thing I ever did. Joey is my new dh and we met online too. Great things can happen, even after a divorce. I know what you are going thru and you are not alone. If you need me I am here for you!

Guess I should do mine too huh?! I'm Melissa...34, married, mother of 2 amazing girls ages 11 and 7. I married my highschool sweetheart 14 years ago. I'm a fulltime student at the University of Montana (GO GRIZ!) majoring in business administration - accounting and psychology. We live in Montana obviously! LOL! We've got a beagle, her name is Denver, named because we are HUGE Denver Bronco fans! Hows that for a nutshell? LOL!! Now the good stuff

1. Starting weight was 249.8 (lost 16 lbs as of today)
2. Exercise for me lately has been nonexistant but I would like to be walking, using the gym for weights and strength training and using my home elliptical.
3. My plan is to give the YOU on a diet plan a try for 2 weeks, otherwise I generally tend to watch portions and use moderation.

Thats me!!

After I wrote my bio in works word processor, I decided it was too depressing and too long. Not sure if I should post it or not...thinking...

You should post it!! You'd be amazed at how it helps to be able to relate to other people. You might think you are alone in your thoughts but you really arent!

~melissa

Okay here goes...

Hello all! I am 36 years old, married and a mother of three. I have been married now for 8 years to my husband who I met and fell in love with during country western dancing. I had just started dating after three years of being single after 2 very abusive marriages. With that in mind, I too have low self esteem. I was told I was "weak" once by a college instructor and I always felt maybe she was right or else I wouldn't have gotten pregnant and married an abusive man in the first place. My grandmother, who I love very much, has always told me I was a survivor and I think that is what has kept me going all these years.

I have two children by my current husband. I have three beautiful boys all together; 13 year old red head, 9 year old blondie, and 4 year old brunette.

I moved around a lot as a child. My father was in the Navy. My parents divorced when I was 8. My father took my brother (age ten) and I with him to Oregon and my mother stayed in California.

My father was re-married to my step-mother for which we hadn’t gotten along in the past; she was only 23 at the time and very jealous of me and I of her. It’s silly how time changes things, I really enjoy her company now; we laugh and have fun together. We found we were more alike than we thought. We have learned to love each other.

Moreover, because I mostly raised myself as a young adult and learned things the hard way, I swore I would always teach and be there for my children in whatever way I knew how. My husband and I, have had some rocky roads, but nothing compared to my past. We have managed to keep a somewhat stable home for 9 years now for our children.

I later received my Registered Nursing Degree when I decided I wanted to be in control of my future. Although I long to stay home with the children, nursing allows me to only have to work twice a week with an occasional 48 hour week because of mandatory weekend.

Now I deal with my feet injuries that has happened several times. Under a doctors care, we are hoping to come to a solution.

I love my family, am a romantic, love safe adventure, am sensitive and love to play sports (but am embarrassed because I am fat and play anyway), am competitive, and love to love and laugh, but sometimes don't know how to trust enough to show it.

1. My starting weight was: 184. My current weight is: 180 lbs. Goal weight 135.
2. I love dancing, hiking, fishing, walking, swimming, volleyball, sports, just got into golfing, and walking.
3. I am a calorie counter and weight watchers; I think they go hand in hand those two. I am going for 1500 calories a day.
4. I journal all my food, exercise, and weigh in on Wednesday with some friends at the gym

Hi, my name is Sharon, I very recently joined this very supportive and informative group and am really liking it.

I live in Hamilton, Ont. Canada, have two grown children, at the moment not at home. (thats another story), I am with my Dh Dave, recently celebrated our 25th anniversary. Married before to not a very good person for 4.5 yrs, best thing that came out of that was my kids. Lived on my own for 3 yrs and remarried. Nothing is ever perfect with two people, you have to be accepting of the differences (as long as they are in no way abusive), and try and make it work, it really is a daily thing, for me anyhow.

I have always had weight problems, am a yo yo dieter, have lost as much as 80 lbs, only to put it on again. When you have to have an Operation it does not always help to be able to do your exercise. I have problems fitting in exercise and I am retired. Don't know how you other ladies do it, you certainly deserve credit, especially the ones that have young children, as well as you girls in school. I think I am avoiding putting down my stats!

My starting weight was 242 lbs.

Today's weight is 236 lbs, Yeah!!!

My goal weight is 120 lbs, but will be glad to get to 135, actually just below the 200 mark would be a big boost.

My exercise at the moment, consists of Walk Away the Pounds for Abs, from Leslie Sansone on DVD.

I have a broken arm, it has a pin in it, but the pin is going sideways and into the bone. Have had the one operation and have a second consultation tomorrow morning, but will most likely have to have another to fix it. Cannot lift anything heavy (like my coffee cup) or pull things etc. So not good to exercise. I also have osteoarthritis in my right knee, seeing a specialist for that in Jan. Not in great physical condition, but hoping to improve. Walking I hear is a good all over exercise and the doc says as long as I go slowly, I will be okay.

Just wondering if there are any other Cdn's in my area on the board?

Good luck to everyone in your weight loss.

Sharon