[NorthernExposure]

Hello!

~OK...this is way longer than I intended and I don't blame anyone for not reading the whole thing, but it feels REALLY good to just kind of throw my thoughts out there! Thanks. ~

I've lurked around here for a few days and decided to "jump in" today and register. Though I do have support in my weight loss journey, I am really quite embarrassed to admit just how heavy I actually am to anyone I know in "real life." (Not that it's not obvious that I'm fat, but I'm sure many of you know what I mean!) I like the idea of having a place to be honest, yet anonymous.

I am 36 years old and have been fat about half my life. I've never been "skinny", but was normal to perhaps slightly overweight during my school years (of course I thought I was fat then...what would I give to be a size 8 or 10 again!) Like many of you, I've had my ups and downs over the years, but overall I just kept on packing on the pounds since high school.

While I'm always self-conscious about my weight, I am relatively self-confident in spite of it. I guess I use the other things I have going for me (intelligence, good sense of humor, etc.) to compensate. I am thankful for the things I have (a good job, a great husband, good freinds), but it's depressing to think of all the things I've missed out on due to being fat. I'm tired of being fat and I'm tired of pretending I don't care that I'm fat.

I'm tired of the panic I feel when I get on a plane and worry that the seat belt won't reach, or going to a restaurant and hoping I won't have literally stuff myself in the booth. I'm tired of being out of breath after going up a flight of stairs and hearing my knees crack when I go down. I'm just done with it!

So I made the proverbial New Years Resolution. I know most people break theirs but I am determined to beat the statistics. I have to literally lose half of my body weight, but I know I can do it because this time it's not for someone else's wedding, or someone else's approval. This time it's for ME.

So far I have lost 14 pounds (perhaps a bit more, I didn't weigh myself until January 5th, but started my "program" right on the 1st!) I am not doing "this" diet or "that" diet. I tried the low fat route, the low carb route but these plans are just not realistic for me to stick to for any length of time. (Great if it works for you, but this post is about ME...lol.)

I like technology, so I am incorporating it into my "program." There's a great app called "lose it" for the iphone. This is where I keep my food journal and count my calories. It says my "maintenence" calorie level is about 2700/day (wow), so if I want to lose 2 lbs a week, my budget is 1700. I currently eat between 1200 and 1700 a day, shooting for an average of 1500.

I have cut out the obvious "no-no's" (sugary soda, deep fried foods, fast food, etc....though I do allow myself one small piece of chocolate a day) and am trying to cut down on "white" carbs and eat more fruits and veggies. I still don't eat enough fruits/veggies, but I'm working on it! My portion and calorie control has greatly improved and I'm getting used to eating less.

My excercise is pretty much exclusively the Wii fit right now since I'm too self-conscious to go to a gym at my current weight and it's too cold/snowy to really do much outside (I live in northern MN.) But I do about 40 minutes, 6 days a week, burning about 255 calories per workout. This includes yoga, cardio and some strength training. When the weather gets nicer, I hope to incorporate different kinds of exercise into my routine. I love to swim and am looking forward to going camping and taking nice long evening walks in the woods

Anyway, that's my plan for now and we'll see how it goes!

Thanks for giving me this opportunity to ramble and best of luck to everyone else with their weight loss and fitness goals!! Hopefully I'll see you around

[randomcards]

Awesome, welcome. Sounds like you've got a good plan and are already doing a great job.

As your fitness level increases I would encourage you to look at a different Wii game like EA Sports Active More Workouts. I'll pack a bit more of a punch for each minute you work out. But Wii Fit is fun and a great transition into getting into working out.

Looks like you have a reasonable calorie target also, good for you. Stick around and post

[Deena52]

Hi NorthernExposure and welcome.

I read your entire post and really enjoyed it. I would have even enjoyed it if it had taken up the whole page. For me it's not how much you write but WHAT you write. And for not only me, but for many others here....I think they will be able to relate to many things you wrote/described here. Plus, you make paragraphs so it's easy to read.

Do you live near Lake Woebegone? (j/k) I LOVE those books....and am currently reading "Pontoon" which is hysterically funny. Love anecdotal books like that...Garrison Keillor, Jean Shepherd, etc.

It sounds like you are doing great on the plan you are using. The only suggestions I could add are:

-If the total amount you want/need to lose is overwhelming for you, break it down into smaller mini-goals and only focus on them....such as "to lose the next 5 lbs" and then "the next five lbs", etc.

-Make sure you stay on this message board....there are a percentage who register and write an introduction.....and then disappear into the sunset. But I can assure you that there's a huge benefit to staying here, reading, and getting the additional support and information.
I have a tendency to believe that the ones who never show up again already feel defeated....like they can't do it. Just staying here, in itself, gives you tons of commitment. The main enemy of losing weight is giving up/feeling defeated.
Being here is sorta like going to meetings/support groups....one reason for the success of Weight Watchers...the meetings. Every time you go, you get totally re-motivated and it's a great tool. And this board is here 24/7 whereas meetings are not.

-Another little thing I did was...about half-way to my goal, I'd look in the mirror and couldn't really see the difference. But THEN, I went and bought smaller size jeans/clothes (at the thrift shop/Goodwill) and suddenly I could see a huge difference....and apparently so could the neighbors as they suddenly noticed and commented on it.
So treat yourself to a new outfit every time you drop a size. It's a HUGE motivator to help you stick with it....not to mention, puts you in a GREAT mood....because it will instantly take you from not noticing the difference to suddenly seeing the huge difference...not to mention, getting compliment because others suddenly notice it too.
I can honestly tell you that nothing ever tasted as good as being a normal weight now feels....and you can take that to the bank.

As far as being fat and happy goes......like you, I am generally a happy person who likes myself. BUT, I was NEVER happy about being fat.....so I have to believe most other over-weight people feel the same way, even though some will say otherwise....and insist they are totally happy, despite this. There are whole blogs out on the net devoted to being fat and happy/happy about it.
And listen....if you are young, sure, you can be fat and healthy. But trust me, as you age it does take a toll on you. Just the extra weight on the weight-bearing joints is enough to make aging quite miserable.

So....basically....you sound like you have a great attitude.

deena

[mkyice]

N.E. I can really relate to so much of what you wrote; I think a lot of people struggling with their weight probably do too.
I am a happy person most of the time, but I have never been happy about/with being fat.
I am doing the wii fit for most of my excercise right now too!

[NorthernExposure]

Thank you so much for your replies! It's so helpful knowing you're not alone during the weight loss process; and also seeing other people's successes.

Thanks for the tips too! Small goal are definitely a must. Right now I set my wii fit goals to losing 2 lbs a week. I weigh in about once or twice a week, and seeing my little graph trending downward is definitely motivating! My next goal is to get under 250 (hopefully by next month) and perhaps make it to "onderland" by the end of the summer? Of course I know I may have to re-adjust my goals if/when I hit the dreaded plateau...but the main thing is to keep going, right?

I will look into that other wii game too! I do also incorporate my elliptical machine into my workouts (instead of running in place for the wii "basic run" game, I jump on the elliptical and vary the resistance.) I am very much looking forward to getting outside this spring though. I think I might buy a bike. I haven't ridden a bike in YEARS!

Thanks again...I think this is going to help me a lot

[NorthernExposure]

Deena-

I don't live near lake Woebegone, but I do live near lake Winnibigoshish! Yes, that's a real name! We call just call it Big Winnie for short

My mom's side of the family loves Garrison Keillor.