Hi everybody!

I saw a link to this site on another diet & weight loss forum, and, well... curiosity got the better of me. So here I am.

I'm not quite sure exactly when I started to pack on the pounds, but I want to say around 1997. Bad eating habits, lack of portion control, and not getting enough exercise... add that to a genetic disposition to being heavy (mom's side is rather large, and I don't mean in numbers), the pounds really started to sneak on.

Tried and failed a number of diets (from boredom, burnout, self sabatoge...etc.), finally started working with a doctor out here in February after I had noticed a few of my coworkers literally melting before my eyes. They were all going to this doc, so I had living 'before and after' examples in front of me. I made the appointment. I weighed in on my first visit at 241.6 with a BMI of 35.7 and 47% body fat. I've been on the program for a little over 7 months, and at my last weigh in 2 weeks ago, I was at 168 pounds, with a BMI of 24.8, and 28.6% body fat. My original goal was to go to 170, then I decided to go to 165, but now that I'm close to that point, I'm thinking another 10 for 155, and somewhere near 25% body fat.

Besides working with a doctor, I think what has really helped me succeed thus far has been supportive friends and family, and viewing this as a lifestyle change rather than a 'diet'. I've also become an exercise junkie. Started taking bellydance lessons last year before I started the weight loss program, then added martial arts to that, and began accumulating various workout DVDs. I've recently added weight training into the mix to tone up more. That, and I decided this week to start learning yoga too.

I'm ever on the hunt for tips, techniques, success stories, and other resources for weight loss, fitness and general well being.

But I'm definitely not 'Mz. Granola' or anything (though I love a good granola). Under it all I'm still a meat and Jack Daniel's kind of gal... only I eat a lot more salad to go with it, and a lot less meat & Jack.

P.S. I guess I should also add that a big motivator for me to lose weight is I'm turning 40 next month... I wanted to go in to my 40s slim, strong and sexy, NOT fat, weak and dumpy.

Welcome, Phoenyx! We're so glad you're here

Well it sounds like you are WELL on your way, not to mention just about at goal! Go you! What program have you been using?

-Susan

Hey Phoenyx!

We've got the "Featherweights" forum here, for those with less to lose than others...but with your losses, you'd also fit right in with the "Living Maintenance" folks. There are tons of spots to fit in, so look around - can't wait to see more posts from you soon!

Thanks! I'll definitely check out those forums.

Suenami, I am working with a doctor at a place called JumpStart Medicine. It is probably, as far as I've seen, the safest way to approach using medication for weight loss. However, along with medication, they also have the limited caloric intake (so much protein, carbs per day, avoiding a lot of starches, etc.) and recommend 'light' exercise. I go in every week to weigh in, have my body fat % measured, have blood pressure checked.

I probably took it a lot farther than most of the other patients though concerning diet and exercise:

Food: I've REALLY restructured my eating. I've gotten a handle on portion control, which I feel was a large culprit in my weight gain. No moderation. Foodwise, probably the closest thing to what I've been doing would be South Beach in the way I eat. Mostly lean meats, lots of veggies & fruit, nuts, whole grains. I've cut out a lot of the crap that is offered as 'nutritional' food. Yeah, right. Nutritional. How can any of that prepackaged, processed garbage be considered nutritional? With the exception of some frozen veggies and fruits (and Skinny Cow ice cream... the fudge bars ROCK!), I avoid the freezer section like the plague. I try to keep the caloric intake around 1200-1500 per day. My BMR is around 2k, so I figure if I keep it at least a few hundred in the deficit, I'll continue to lose at a steady pace until I get to my goal.

Exercise: I try to work out at least 5 days a week. I started with bellydance and martial arts before I started the JumpStart program. Had to stop the martial arts for a while because my knee started giving me trouble. Gee, can't imagine why, what with being 70+ pounds overweight and in not very good shape. Rejoined the class a few months ago after I had dropped about 50 pounds. Boy was my instructor surprised. I took regular bellydance classes for about a year, but stopped going to those because the intermediate class focused more on choreography and less on drills... which meant less of a workout. Plus I was getting pressure to perform, and I'm not ready to do that yet. So I started taking the cardio bellydance class... and it kicked my butt! Can't wait to start taking it again, its been on hiatus. Took a Total Fitness class when it was offered... it REALLY kicked my butt. For now I have exercise DVDs I do at home... a lot of bellydance ones, and a yoga one I just started doing. I also have a weight bench and free weights at home, so I started lifting weights again a couple months ago. Used to do a lot of weight lifting many years ago, so it was good to get back in to it.

Once I reach 165 I am going into the 'maintenance' part of the program, which means phasing off the meds. That is going to be tough, but I am looking forward to it. I'm also going to continue to work towards getting down to 155, 25% body fat... or somewhere around there.