As usual life is unpredictable. During the processs of marriage a child and divorce I've managed to gain about 90 pounds. I am now about 269 pounds (Wow I said it out loud!) with a four year old and a new love in my life..... Everything is great except my weight. It is so upsetting. I see my number 269 and can't imagine how I am going to do it, I started Weight Watchers last January and did well but I lost my focus and stop doing it. I just went back last week and I am very determined to make it work this time but it is so overwheming....
HI Merissa! Being here is a great step in the right direction! This board is full of support, and YOU CAN DO IT! I'd advise you to read some of the success stories on here, and view before / after pictures. That has been very motivating to me. I, too, do WW (although I'm doing it on my own - without meetings). But I have to journal my food, or I kind of go crazy. Journaling def. keeps me on track!
I feel you on the amount of weight to lose being overwhelming. I feel that way as well. I suppose the only way to think of it as one day or one week at a time. Anything you lose is a step in the right direction.
And like Shyla said, journaling is so wonderful. I've never tried to journal my food or exercise until recently. It is SUCH a help! It helps me be accountable to myself when I have to write down each thing I ate and how many calories it was. And when you stick to your plan each day, it feels so good to see it written down on a piece of paper, or posted on an internet blog.
HI Merissa! Being here is a great step in the right direction! This board is full of support, and YOU CAN DO IT! I'd advise you to read some of the success stories on here, and view before / after pictures. That has been very motivating to me. I, too, do WW (although I'm doing it on my own - without meetings). But I have to journal my food, or I kind of go crazy. Journaling def. keeps me on track!
There's alot of ladies there that help me stay on plan!
Hope to see "less of you" real soon! *wink*
Journaling/Tracking my food intake and exercise kept me at a very healthy weight years ago. Whenever I do it, I do great! I eat the right amount of calories and I am either able to lose or maintain.
Well...haven't been tracking things lately and I've gained the same weight over again! So, I've decided to just track things forever. I know it sounds like a lot of work, but my health is at issue. I started back Monday and things just fell into place.
I know it seems hopeless. I was over 300 pounds when I first stumbled across this website. I haven't miraculously lost it all, but I can certainly say that without the constant fabulous support I get here, I'd probably be well over 350 by instead of having stayed below 300 for over a year now. This site has a LOT to offer in the ways of support, advice, and even friendship. I can definitely suggest the "100 lb club"...they each have (or had when they started) at least 100 pounds to lose. Also, even though you've never actually reach 300, the women in the "300+ And Ready to Try Again" section are amazingly supportive and helpful and truly welcome just about anyobe with open arms.
The chicks here in the "20-somethings" are great, too, of course! 3FC truly is unique in that just about EVERYONE on this forum is helpful rather than condescending or spiteful like on so many other message boards out in www land
Oooh, also, I suggest PLANNING ahead. I plan what I'm going to eat just about every single day. Of course, things change sometimes, but planning gives you an idea of where you stand for the whole day right at the beginning. And by planning, you can incorporate those times when you might eat more, like social gatherings and parties and such, and you can compensate for them ahead of time rather than trying to avoid all food while you're there And so, I also suggest the "Planning for [day and date]" threads, which are in the general Support section.
Of course, my suggestions are only that, and you are absolutely free to visit and post in as many or as few sections as you wish! Obviously, I certainly get my fair share of different areas, and I find it VERY helpful because I know which area will better be able to answer my questions. For example, I know the 20-Somethings are great when it comes to issues like feeling awkward in public, how to be "intimate" when overweight, and really personal things like that--these girls are excellent with such issues. I also know the 300+ women can give great tips on exercises and things to do for someone who has all this extra weight and can't quite move as much or as quickly as someone without it. And so on...everyone has their niche
My suggestion on the long journey--break it up into smaller bits. Don't think of it as, man, I have SO far to go! Take it a piece at a time. Some people like to break it up into 10-pound chunks. Sure, I can lose 10 pounds 9 times! Sounds a little easier than 90 pounds all at once! Or maybe there are certain weights you associate with a certain time period. Maybe you weighed X amount before you had your baby, so that could be a goal, or maybe you weighed Y amount on your birthday last year, and that could be another goal, etc. I know there are some people here who are trying to get to the weight they have listed on their driver's license Thank goodness I don't have weight on my license here in my state!
Well, now that I've officially written a novel, I wish you the best of luck, and WELCOME to 3FC!!
Merissa! I think we all have felt that way, it's like your at the bottom of the mountain looking up, going how the **** am I supposed to climb that!
Well, good question! Everyone has had to figure out what works for them, but the best thing to do, is find a diet (and no not some restrictive no eating plan) I'm talking about eating healthy foods, and NO, not just salads, but you can find lots of healthy recipes here too.
Then I would start walking, the weather is cooler at night now, so just take a fifteen to twenty minute walk each night after dinner-do this for a couple of weeks and you'll be amazed how great you will feel and how motivated you'll be to "keep climbing the mountain" eventually you are going to do it! But it takes that first step!
Best wishes to you, feel free to pm me with any questions ok?
I felt exactly the same when I was first starting out. Trust me once you start seeing results you will feel much better and though it will still be difficult to keep going at times, it won't seem so overwhelming. Weight watchers is great. Go to the meetings and keep coming to this site and you WILL get to your goal. It's easy when you have the right motivation and the people on these forums will help you get and keep it.
Merissa!!! Isn't the thought of losing over 100 pounds overwhelming?!! A resounding YES!!!! But soon, as the pounds start coming off, and you KNOW you have it in you to do this, those thoughts will fade away. I think as soon as I was a few weeks into my journey, I never said again said, "wow, I've got to lose over 150 pounds. . . how am I going to do that?" I knew how I'd do it and I knew I WOULD do it. Just stick with it one month and you'll prove it to yourself.
It is overwhelming. That was why I couldn't stick to diets because I was like "Over 2 YEARS of no carbs (or whatever)?! Impossible." So, I am not nor have been on a diet for the past couple of years and I have lost 111lbs so far. I just started out thinking "Hmmm, lets see how much I can lose. If I can only lose 10lbs then that will be alright." And it snowballed from there. Weight loss is now a total personal challenge. I am pushing my body to see how low I can go.
(Don't take this the wrong way and think that I am an anorexic or something, or want to weigh 90lbs, I mean all this within reason).
Big changes like that can be really daunting. You can't help but think that it'll take so long to get to where you want to be. But a little anecdote I heard really changed my persepective- too bad I don't remember where I heard it.
It was a therapist talking to a woman who, in her late thirties, wanted to become a doctor, but she was overwhelmed by the amount of time and effort it would take. She said to the therapist: "It would take me 5 years to complete the program- I'll be 42 by then!" And the therapist said: "How old will you be in 5 years if you don't go through the program?" I love it! It made me realise that time goes by wether we do ourselves good or not, so might as well start now.
Welcome Merissa and good luck. I, too had 90 lbs. to lose to start with. It seemed overwhelming. Then, I thought, No I have 1 lb. to lose. That's right, 1lb. first and then I can tackle the next one. As each lb. came off, I looked forward to seeing the next one to go. Sometimes I'd have a bonus week and a couple lbs. would go. Some weeks my weight stayed the same but the overall trend was downward. It doesn't matter how long it takes, it's not a race. So get out there and tackle that pound, you can do it.
I can completely relate.. I started comming here a year ago and lost 25 lbs.. and then gained it all back, and a bit more. Im just starting again, and I feel a bit "oh no, this is too much".. but if you just take it one day at a time, it comes off quicker than you think.
I also agree with the journaling.. as well as comming here. My best method is to "be obsessive".. not only with what I eat, but comming to all my spots (here, fitday, etc) and updating and reading, it helps me keep on track to read other people's progress, and to continually update my own.
So much to lose it's overwhelming.
And so, I also suggest the "Planning for [day and date]" threads, which are in the general Support section.
Merissa! I think we all have felt that way, it's like your at the bottom of the mountain looking up, going how the **** am I supposed to climb that!
Fae
