reposted (and added to) here:
Hi. I guess I'm cross-posting in this forum. I'm a repeat offender in the weight loss game. In my 20s I was 150 and dropped 30 pounds with QWLC in 9 weeks, a drastic calorie reduction but of course I didn't realize that. I was simply eating according to the plan. I was thrilled with the loss, but could never maintain 120 lbs. Instead, when I gained, I'd start that diet again. It was a vicious cycle.
I had not gone over 150ish for years and would play with those 30 pounds. Then I went through a divorce, losing 20 pounds as a result. After meeting my current hubby and having a baby (difficult pregnancy) and only gained 17 lbs and dd was born weighing 8 1/2 lbs, I was thin immediately after, but it didn't take long for my health to go downhill and my weight to climb, despite efforts to take it off.
I'd join WW, have success to a point, and could never drop past 150 no matter what I ate or how much exercising I did. Eventually I was diagnosed as hypothyroid and years later, diabetes 2. I struggled with weight worse for the past 20 years, weighed as much as 200, as little as 150, but haven't seen 150 for a long time. For a while I would not raise above 180--but the past few years have seen 200 and upper 170s, but pretty much gave up on ever getting lower. In my experience, the diet would stall and I'd quit. I am resigned right at trying to reach 160 and hopefully maintain it. At my height I could do better, but to reach 160 and maintain it would be super. I hope to learn now, once and for good, how to eat to live and maintain a healthier weight.
As much experience I have with weight loss, and gaining, rinse, repeat, it never dawned on me to count calories. That would have been smart, right? Its something so basic. 1200 calories for a woman, 1500 calories for a man, minimum. Duh.
Last year, I starved off 20 pounds, couldn't sustain the loss, nor that way of eating. When Weight Watchers at-work came to my office and I saw results in others, I thought I'd try it again--especially with the new Points Plus program. However, I quickly learned that the folks at work who were recently successful had followed a prior program and either never stopped it or returned to it because they weren't successful on PP. Some people who switched to PP are losing, but very slowly, and some I admit are doing well, or so they say. I don't know their weight, I only know what I see and what they tell me. Hilariously enough, someone told me she weighed 160...she looks bigger than me. Her very good friend told me this week she's lying about her weight, and I know for a fact she is ping-ponging the same few pounds over and over, and pretty much stagnant in her loss efforts. So I know I'm not alone with lackluster WWPP results.
Anyhow, after that long "introduction", I'm currently counting calories and dually tracking WW points because my at-work subscription ends in November. I must attend a certain # of meetings to get a small "tuition" rebate...so I'll do that. It isn't that the program is bad, but I found it needed tweaking to work better for me, and someone suggested I count calories and note the difference between 1200 calories vs. 29 daily points. Its a lot. By restricting to 1200 daily, I lost 3 lbs in 6 days. I am in week 2 of calorie counting. There is not much difference in my food choices, just the amount consumed.
Currently, 1200 is my target with a ceiling of 1400. I try to walk 30 minutes 2-3 times a week, and do some light exercise (squats, pushups, etc.).
I have a feeling that come November I'll be posting here and not in the WW forum. Thus, this introduction.
I don't know if I have a lot to offer, but you all have a lot that I can learn from since for the first time in my life I'm paying attention to calories!
Thanks, and may you all have a super week.
Donna
Daily Chat/Check-in Sept 17&18
threads. I'm just cracking myself up with corny, kindergarten humor
. Indeed, since I've found the solution that works for me, the scale seems a bit less significant. I had a much more difficult time when I was struggling with my eating program and ALSO facing any disappointment from the scale. 
that is awesome! It must be very encouraging to see such exciting numbers, 
. When we are starting out, though we may know that the unusual wt. loss may be due to some water, it is very motivating to see the nrs. drop. As for being careful to remain hydrated, you are right. We don't want to mess around with those electrolytes, so good for you, especially since you are active! Four flights? YIKES; I feel worthy of parade when I make it to 2nd floor 
Glad for the good mood and hope your weekend is as great!
I can honestly say that I'm feeling pretty good these days and EVEN hopeful! I hope you're having a good weekend and thank you for your excellent idea. I believe a weekly thread will be easier to follow for the participants and for those with the attention span of a flea, like me. I won't have to keep going back and forth between pages, to cover all the info and make sure I respond to the charming comments made by our attentive friends. On Monday, I or whoever gets to it first, can make it a WEEKLY Chat/Check in thread.
Wish I could CLONE these last three days! Chilly, windy, dry 
Eating has been great and I have way more energy during the day, BOTH for outside work (I didn't say I DID any, just that I have more energy to do it 
