First off, I just want to thank everyone (the creators, the moderators, and the participants) for offering such a wonderful site for accountability, support, and advice. I suppose my first post will be fairly brief. I am actually supposed to be doing a great deal of school work right now, but I wanted to take the time to join this site while it was weighing on my mind.
A little about me: I am a 28 year old married woman. We have no children, but a couple of cats liven up the home a bit. I am a full time MA student, and I should be done with school in May 2009. And I also have a part-time "real job." I am about 5'8" and weigh roughly 285 lbs. (I say roughly because I haven't weighed in a few weeks. In the next day or so, I will weigh myself in the morning and update my start/current weight.) I really don't have a lot of time to devote to researching proper diets, as my main goal is to be truly healthy, not just to lose the excess weight. But my basic plan for now is to make a plan within the next few weeks and really begin implementing it come the second week of December (when my current semester ends). Next semester should have lighter work loads, so I plan to keep up my plan then. The only other alternative is to wait until May 2009, and frankly, I am tired of waiting. There will always be something to serve as an excuse. And isn't health the most important thing on our to-do lists? Afterall, if I don't get healthy, I won't be around to finish my life's to-do lists.
Okay, so this was longer than I intended. I really do have a lot to do. But I felt that making this initial connection was important. I can't wait to really begin exploring the boards and making personal connections. I'll probably join the 100+ club soon, and I'll try not to be a stranger.
Welcome... I, too, am brand new. I understand the stresses that you are dealing with since you have lots going on.
I know people usually say that the holidays are the worst time to try to change your eating habits, so I will wish you great success. I am also dealing with this issue during the holidays. I am hoping that getting a jump start on it now will help inspire me throughout these next few months.
Looking forward to seeing you around and getting to know ya more.
Thanks monkeybean and mazza! I appreciate the warm welcomes. And monkeybean, it seems as if we have some basic things in common. I'm going to jump over and add a note to your "newbie" post. And you know what? I hadn't even considered the holidays coming up! Foolish me! Thanksgiving won't be a big deal, because my husband and I have final exams the Monday after. So we won't be doing anything. I suppose this will be my first Christmas to really practice moderation! We can do it!
hello I am glad to see that you are wanting to get serious about losing weight and being healthy. A lot of people just want to lose weight no matter how they do it and not worry about doing it the healthy way. I figured, whats the point of being thin if you're not truely healthy too? so, hope to see you around! i am a cat lover too. i have 3 hairless kitties (& 3 kids too
And thank you so much for the warm welcome! You are absolutely right about the importance of wanting to lose weight the healthy way. I'm not sure exactly what that is, but I know that the answers are out there. There are just so many different beliefs on what the healthy way is that it gets overwhelming. But that is not reason enough to sit idly by and do nothing, right? I've tried fad diets over the years, as I suspect most of us have, and obviously they don't work. Unfortunately, it often takes failing at those ourselves before we accept that it's not that easy. But anything worth having is worth fighting for, right?
Wow! I've always loved hairless kitties; they are awesome. Our male is an adoptee from a shelter, and our female was a feral that was living under our house. We just discovered her a few months ago; she was scabby and emaciated. And now she's healthy and adapting quite nicely! 3 kids, too! I'm the middle child of three, and it was always such a hectic (in a good way in retrospect!) house. I'll bet you enjoy your full life and full home. Thanks again for the welcome, and I hope to see you around the boards!
yes, it is overwhelming how many different ways there are out there to lose weight. you are on the right track about researching them. you have to find what makes the most sense to you. for me, i started with just counting calories and working out....that lead to eating alot more vegies, fruits, and seafood. I have recently started doing the superfood thing. which i haven't really learned a lot about yet. but, i do eat lots of superfoods. you should google superfoods for some really nutritious things to add to your diet every day i am on the 100 lb club alot, so im sure i'll c u around
Thanks monkeybean and mazza! I appreciate the warm welcomes. And monkeybean, it seems as if we have some basic things in common. I'm going to jump over and add a note to your "newbie" post. And you know what? I hadn't even considered the holidays coming up! Foolish me! Thanksgiving won't be a big deal, because my husband and I have final exams the Monday after. So we won't be doing anything. I suppose this will be my first Christmas to really practice moderation! We can do it!
I know we can do it! Now that we have found this site, and the support we need, I am certain that we will make it through this season successfully!! Can't wait to cheer ya on!
Yet another newbie!
I am glad to see that you are wanting to get serious about losing weight and being healthy. A lot of people just want to lose weight no matter how they do it and not worry about doing it the healthy way. I figured, whats the point of being thin if you're not truely healthy too? so, hope to see you around! i am a cat lover too. i have 3 hairless kitties (& 3 kids too 
