[findingmyself]

Hi everyone. I am new here and very excited about the support I have already gotten in the last week on this site. I was wondering if any other new April chicks would like to hang out here and support each other in our new adventure?
Heres to being an April Chick!

[scorchin]

Sure I would love that pm me sometime...Think all my info is in profile if you wanna check me out...... (lol that didn't sound right)
anyways, goodluck on ur weight loss goals
Heather

[ralphmarie]

Hey APRIL CHICSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!

FM thanks for starting this, my name is Diane and I'm looking forward to the help and support we can give each other.
I am following a low fat high fiber plan...20 grams or less of fat a day and 30 grams or more of fiber.
Also trying to stay at about 1200-1300 calories.
I currently weigh 277 and would like to get down to 130.
Just did the math....147 to get off!!!!AAAAAGGGGHHHHHHH!!!!!!

But thats ok, sounds like an awful lot but think I will just focus on 5 lbs at a time.
Heck I can lose 5 lbs.
I just got off Atkins I lost a whole 12 lbs. in 3 months and felt crappy the whole time and that was probably because I couldn't......
I lost 60 lbs. a few years back, lowfat way...then I lost my way, I started eating more and more like my boyfriend was eating and the lbs have been piling up again.
So now I am ready to adjust the attitude and do this as a life program NOT a diet.
I have lots of cookbooks and plenty of time so I will help any way I can, and look forward to your help too.

Lets stick together, cheer each other and share what we can,
Diane

[hippiechic]

Hii, everyone I just joined yesterday and I think this site is great..... its very supportive I can't believe how much easier it seems to set and reach goals with so many people giving you encouragement. I havent figured out my exact approach yet, but after reading tons of these posts I thought I would start out by just cutting calories down to 1200-1400 a day. Then I wont feel deprived of anything, it seems to have worked for a lot of women on this site. Oh, and I would love to join in on the " april chicks idea..."

[findingmyself]

Hi Diane, hippiechick and scorchin!! Yeah, Here we all are starting down the path to thinness. I am very excited. I did the math this morning too Diane Shocking. Lets just say I wil be hanging out here until next April. But thats okay because everymonth less of me will be here.

I am also doing calorie and fat restriction. I keep track of everything I eat because I have found that if I don't I can eat a LOT and ver realize it. Either that or I don't admit to it

The thing that is most discouraging to me and really tempting me to just quit is the fact that I lost all of the 80+ pounds I have to lose once. I lost it maybe 6 years ago and I kept it off until 2 years ago. I felt great and I was confident I would not have to do this again after I had maintained it for so long. But here I am again. And I am mad that I did this to myself. But if I lost it once I can do it again. And that is what I keep telling myself.

I don't know about you all but I really think the first part is the hardest. I think staying motivated now when we are not fealing so great about are bodies is hard to do. So I hope we ALL do this together.

Should we all set some very short term goals to keep us motivated and encouraged through the month of May?

Go April Chicks!!!!

D in AZ

[Britt_Leigh]

Hello fellow april joiners, it's not like this is my first time on the site but it is my first time joining in april, so it's like a rebirth, yes it's re birth. and as strength often comes in numbers i'd love to join your club, YaY!

[nona]

Great idea, Finding Myself!
Count me in on your thread!
Encouragement and support is the name of the game here and we all need that.

I have miles to go on this but I'm not wavering. I know I will do it with the help from everyone else and vice versa.

-nona bologna

[findingmyself]

Or Some thing like that

Yeah!!! Hi Britt Leigh and Nona Bologna,

We are going to do this. I'm sooooo excited. We are soooo cool.

Anyway, Hope everyone here is having a great Wednesday. Only two more days to become a great April Chick. Hee Hee.

Britt Leigh, I should probably only speak for myself but this is probably a rebirth for all of us!!!!!!

Nona I'm in this with you for the LONG HAUL

Have a great day and a great Thursday April Chicks.

Till tomorrow

[ralphmarie]

Oh this is great....I am so glad we are growing, how nice that we started in the spring
You're right Britt it is a time of re birth, and no better time than spring.
Around here there is SO MUCH to do, we have been clearing this land and building this house for over 2 years now.
I have a huge garden and we hope to start market gardening in the next year or two.

I made my weekly trip to the library today, here's my list:

The Low-fat supermarket shoppers guide..making healthy choices from thousands of name brand items.

A Lowfat Lifeline for the '90's. How to survive in a fat-filled world.

Daily Bread, 50 Irresistable recipes for low-fat and no-fat breads,muffins,and other easy to make treats.

Year-round low and no-fat holiday meals in minutes.

Low-fat cooking to beat the clock, delicious,inspired meals in 15 minutes.

Superfoods, cook your way to health.

20/30 fat and fiber diet plan..(this is his second book, I ordered the first one online for to buy..hasn't come yet)

Low-fat top secret recipes. (this has recipes from olive garden, kfc, wendys..etc)

99% fat-free meals in minutes...all dishes are no more than 1 gram of fat.
ONE GRAM!!!!!!!!wooo hoooo!!!!

So I have my evening cut out for me.

I registered for my journal today on this site and will let you all know when I start putting some of these recipes in there if any of ya are interested.

I am so happy to see all of you here, and look forward to doing this together.

Diane

[hippiechic]

I also did the math today....ahhhhh...and I will be in for a loong haul, so it looks like we already have a lot in common. I think a short term goal would be a great motivator. How short term are we talking....? My long term goal is about 120 lb weight loss. Today I decided to set a halfway goal and try to get 60 pounds off by halloween, which is six months....I figured if I lost about 2 lbs a week then that is roughly ten pounds a month, and it doesnt seem to unattainable. But it would be great to have somekind of monthly goal to get us all started. I love a challenge!!! by the way my name is Jamie... nice to meet you all

[MELODY525]

Diane~ I left a question in your journal but I see the answers are here. I will look at the library too for books. Hope you don't mind that I dropped in. Wishing ALL of you the best of luck! Also.....there is a recipe forum where lots of people leave recipes.....will you be leaving them there? I will look forward to your entries!

[nona]

Ralphmarie I would love to see some of those recipes when you post them.

especially any low or no fat munchies!!!



carrot and celery sticks can take you just so far, you know? lol
I used to dip them in cream cheese sprinkled in dill weed and it was very good. I hear you can do a lot with no fat plain yogourt. I'm gonna have to check it out!

Be strong!!!!! talk to you later!!!!



one week down woohoooo!!!!

- nona bologna

[nona]

Hi Jamie, nice to meet you, fellow April chick!

We're all in it for the long haul together....



... and it's going to happen for us!

-nona

[ralphmarie]

I'm going to start a challenge.....
to drink at least 2x the amount of water your drinking right now every day for the next week, starting tomorrow.
If you drink NO water a day then at least 16 oz.

I plan on drinking a cup (8oz measuring cup) before each meal and snack or anytime i plan on putting something in my mouth.....8oz. of water MUST lead the way.

I think the formula is actually every day to drink 8 cups of water PLUS 8 oz. for every 25 lbs of your desired weight.
ME...130 desired weight is 130 divided by 25 =5 cups + original 8= 13 cups for the day to work up to. and ok I'll throw in an extra for that 1/5 that was leftover.
So 13 x 8oz. =104 oz. + 1 extra cup is 112oz.
a gallon is 128 oz.
Heck...better stock up on T.P.
I already get up about 3 times a night to pee.

OK anyone drinking enough water already????????

[ralphmarie]

Oh I wanted to say to Fmyself....

I see you did your math soooo that means you
literally took that first step dear....

YOU GOT ON THE SCALE!!! Good for you.

Now it's time to change your signature,you
have no reason to be afraid anymore.
WE are all here to help you and to hold each others hand.