[DesertDustBunnies]

Hi everyone..My name is Lisa. I am new to the 3FC forum/s. I am 33 years old, been married now going on 17 years ( I got married when I was 17 years old) and I have 2 children, both boys, aged 13 and 9 years old. My husband has been serving in the United states Navy going on 18 years now. we also have two doggies..CodyBear and Boo Boo Butt.

I have been wanting to lose weight for years...and been on a few diet plans but to be honest...I HATE doing the whole "counting calories"..."counting points" and counting in general thing. It's taken me years to realize, diet's dont work (for me anyway's). In order for me to lose this weight and keep it off, I need to change your whole lifestyle about food andexcersise in general.
I know what my problem area's are....getting absolutly no excerise, drinking no water, NONE (unless I accidently get a mouth full in the shower) and eating three or four times the suggested portion. I am not much of a junk food person. I do have the occasional candy bar ect but my MAIN problem is SODA!! I can drink in excess of 6-12 cans a day of regular soda, usually coke or pepsi.
Sooo..I have decided enough is enough and started my weightloss plan on September 1st 2005
My plan is simple ...and doesnt involve counting points or calories or fat grams ect. I am simply going to carry on with the same food's I eat now, but only eat the suggested portions of each food. I am going to eat breakfast, lunch and dinner and 2 snacks (right now I eat mabey twice a day, very large portions). I am NOT going to drink anymore regular soda (which so far..I have been soda free for the past 4 days), If I do have a soda it will be a diet one but I don't much care for those so this will only happen once in a blue moon. I am not going to limit myself only eating certain foods cause this would be unreal. Part of my new lifestyle is understanding that I CAN eat any food item I want, I just need to eat the recommended portion and not indulge (and I CAN DO THAT)..AND...lastly...I am going to excersise my butt off (literally). I plan on doing alot of walking and strength training (using hand weights) 5-6 days a week.

I am not sure how some of you will feel about this particular weightloss plan of mine...but for me..it is one that I KNOW I can do. and do for the rest of my life. Life is too short to spend it counting lol...and I am not going to do it no more. This plan up here is something I CAN do and I can do it for the rest of my life.
It may take me longer to acheive my goal but that is ok...I would rather the pounds come of very slowly and stay off than drop the pounds in a few short months and set myself up for failure because I can't mantain that weightloss. I am not going to stress over any "oopsie's" that happen...and I am sure there will be plenty along the way...I am just going to get back up on my feet and keep going.

If anyone is doing something similar to this (or feels like this) and would like to buddy up...or if there is a particular support group thread that you wouldn't mind me being a part of..I would love to hear from you.

I hope my post doesn't sound harsh or too blunt...It's not meant to be...I'm just tired of fooling myself.
I also went to visit my regular doctor (who is awesome) and on August 31st she put me on a 7 day "water pill" because of severe edema (due to the amount of soda I was drinking and the lack of excersise) and I am relieved to say that they are working and my swelling has subsided with the use of this medication and also by flushing my body out each day with huge amounts of icy cold water too since September 1st.

For the first time in my life...I am happy...this plan and the new outlook I have in life...will be a successful one!!

[LovesBassets]

Hi Lisa!

Your "plan" sounds a bit like mine. I'm NOT on a diet, I've changed my lifestyle. And, like you, the thought of counting calories or fat grams or carbs, etc. makes me woozy . The only thing I count is grams of protein -- so I can be sure I'm getting enough. I just eat healthy food now. End of story.

I'm also 33 years old. AND I used to drink probably 6 cans of Coke a day. I was a teacher and somehow thought I "needed" it to get through the day. One of the hardest things for me was giving up Coke. GOOD for you on 4 days soda-free!!!! I know how difficult that can be! Just think, if you'd been drinking your "minimum" of 6 Cokes a day for those 4 days, that'd be like 2400 unnecessary calories! And it takes 3500 calories to gain a pound, so you're ALREADY well on your way! FANTASTIC! And 12 Cokes a day x 4 days is 4800 calories GONE from your lifestyle!!! That's 1+ pound you DIDN'T gain! Wooo-hoooo! (BEWARE my math, tho. I could be wrong-ish!)

And it's great that you're willing to be in this for the long haul. I started on my 30th birthday (8/29/02) and -- other than 18 months "off-ish" when I moved to the UK and lost/gained nothing -- I've been sticking to it. Sometimes it's frustrating that it's moving so slowly (and the 18 months off certianly didn't help), but at the same time I know it will stay off because of the "sane" pace I'm going at AND because it's a lifestyle change, not a diet. I look at my time in the UK as "practice maintainence."

I think weight training is FANTASTIC. In fact (and I DO NOT recommend this) I lost my first 20 - 25 lbs or so doing basically nothing BUT weight training 3 days a week for an hour (plus much better eating). I HATE CARDIO. I mean, I really, really, really hate it. Really. But now I've gotten into the routine of 30 minutes on the elliptical three times a week and the weight really seems to be melting off much quicker.

Welcome to 3FC...I'd love to be your buddy. We definitely have similar "plans."

You're going to LOVE 3FC!

- Kate

[DesertDustBunnies]

LOL..If you can put up with my occasional "nagging" I would love it if you would be my buddy. I was born and raised in the UK..Scotland (Yup..I am a scottish woman) but don't let that put you off (haha)...I live in CA, U.S now and haven't been back to Scotland (home) in almost 16 years. I still have my "accent" (so other's say) but I think I have become to americanlized (is that a word lol) to ever go back home. Perhaps some day....for some good old fashioned fish n chip's (perhaps a half portion haha)
If you private message me...I will give you my email addy so that you can email me if you want.

[DesertDustBunnies]

p.s....perhaps its a good thing not to go back to Scotland for a visit....I would spend my fortnight vacation eating all the yummy foods that I very very much miss eating. {{{drool}}

[Katrina_Marina]

congratulations on stopping the pop! (thats what we call it here in MI)
That is quite a feat and I imagine that with the water pill will make a difference!
I agree with you on counting, etc. Or doing a special thing where you have to buy all of your food from them alone? NO THANKS!
Again, way to make some progress! Keep it up.

[UntilMOMMI]

Hello agian everyone,

I have the same ideas as you ladies do for the time being. I am, however, trying to read more and soak up information about Nutrition so that I can begin to eat healthier. I have 2 kiddos have been eating too much fat because that is what I was raised on. The changes that I am making will benefit all of us. If I make too many changes and start counting cals and fat and etc.. I'll see it as more of a burdon than a way of life. So I will introduce myself to those counts later on... or as I go along.

I drink lots of water now and try to stay away from the candy machines here at work.. lol. I do my WATP (Walk Away The Pounds) videos in the a.m. before I start my day. If I do my workout in the morning before I get the kiddos up for school, I eliminate ANY CHANCE for Mr. ExcuseMaker to come around whispering sweet do-nothings in my ear... lol.

This site helps me so much, because I like to read how motivated and supportive the people are. It makes it harder for me to make excuses when I see that some people have LOST more than I WEIGH right now. It's nothing short of amazing.

I would love to have a buddy to walk this journey with both literally and figuratively.. lol. I hope to hear from some of you.


Courtney.. aka UntilMOMMI

[loosinbabyfat]

I'm trying to just eat healthier too. Not on a 'diet' per-say, but making a lot of lifestyle changes Nice to meet others who are doing the same!