Losing Weight in 2008
 

I'm with you. I've got a lot to lose as you can see from my ticker.

I'm in!

and that extra day means I DEFINITELY will hit my goal in 2008 :)

What I would really like in 2008 is to lose this final 48lbs in the next 37 weeks so that I'm at goal by my 29th birthday. if it doesn't happen (and i've been losing just about 1lb a week so i won't be shocked if it wont) I will still be happy, but I would be HAPPIER if i made it :) it's not TOO much more.

I've got a lot of obstacles, but they are all overcomable (yeah, I made that word up), and I've also got lots of motivators. We have 2 puppies right now, so walking them more will be an easy way to get more activity into my schedule. I'm also engaged, so looking a bit better for my future wedding (we haven't set a date yet) would be nice. We also hope to start a family in the next 4 years or so, and I want to be healthy and fit for pregnancy since I don't have the greatest health track record--I know it is possible to have a healthy pregnancy while obese, but with my health history, I know it's not very likely for me!

We went to Olive Garden a couple weeks ago, and we sat in a booth. It was so tight that some of the top part of my stomach hung over the table. It was pretty horrific, and I don't ever want to experience that again, or, even worse, end up not fitting into the booth at all.

FoodObsessed--I'm with ya on the lot to lose. I'm about 320 right now, so I'm in it for the long haul!

karmuz--I'm not one to set specific time goals for my weight loss because it can be so frustrating. Don't forget that the closer you get to goal, the more likely your weight loss will slow down even more. I'm not trying to discourage you by any means, but I'm not sure it's 100% realistic to expect to even keep losing at the same rate you have been for your last few pounds. Just remember that anything other than a gain is a step in the right direction, no matter how fast or slow!

I once lost 80lbs in 5 months so it's not too much to lose 48 in less than 37 weeks.

I would like to join you all. I need all the support and motivation that I can get to keep me going.

Wow! Did that 80 pounds take you all the way down to your goal? I just know I read/hear a lot of stories of people who have a lot of weight to lose taking even up to a year or more to lose the last pesky 10 pounds or so.

I'm hoping that since I have SO much to lose, it will at least come off pretty quickly at first. I know I'll have to adjust things as my weight gets lower, but I look forward to seeing the numbers go down a bit quicker in the beginning :)

I'm in! This has GOT to be my year. It's the 10th anniversary of my starting diets :)

I have more than 100 pounds to lose, but I'm doing Weight Watchers, and taking it 10% at a time. If I'm 50 pounds lighter next year, I'd be happy.

Morning, Ladies ~ I would love to jump on board with you !

I use to be a regular poster at 3FC, but then all the other things in life got in the way and I haven't posted in at least a year.

At this point my goal is to do some "down sizing" - I know that will equate to weight loss, but trying not to focus on the weight aspect at this point. Someone recently said to me "if you weighed the same but were smaller, would you be okay with that".. Darn right it would be !!

I just finished a program at the local rec. centre so my goal is to continue with the gym, clean up my eating habits, and get into some smaller clothes.

Look forward to taking this journey with all of you !

I'm in, too! Thanks for starting this, Jill. I've always enjoyed reading what you post!
I've got a long way to go, too. I have a vague number in my head as to what I want to lose over the next year, but I'm not going to put a time limit on getting to that weight. I get way too frustrated, anxious, and crazy when I do that. I'm thinking that a reasonable loss for me over the year would be 40-50 pounds. I won't be at my ultimate goal, but that will put me so much closer!!
I didn't lose all that much since I joined 3FC in February, but I made some good progress in changing my diet and adding exercise. I lost my way in the summer, but I came back.

So excited to get some pounds off!!!

When I lost the 80lbs, it didn't take me to goal. I was 280 and at my height the most I should weigh is 154.

With being back to needing 100 lbs to lose,I'll definately be checking in daily and reporting on how I'm doing.

Joining in
 

Hi Folks

I hopw you don't mind if I join you.

My Goal for 2008 is to reach my target of 168lbs but before that I have a mini summer target of 20lbs to reach before 13th May as this is the date me and hubby go on holiday for the first time together without kids in 18 years.

20 weeks 20lbs to lose. Fingers crossed xx

I don't expect to at all.. I'm the kind of person who sees a set goal as a challenge, though, and I will work that much harder to make it happen. I know not everyone is like that and I don't 100% expect to make it there. I like to say that it took me 4 years to take off the first 50lbs I've lost, lol, but i didn't set any major goals and without them I lose interest.

Hey y'all.....I'm joining you in this group, BUT with one huge difference....

I am NOT dieting in 2008.

Yep, you read it right. I tried Weight Watchers, Jenny Craig, the Fat Smash Diet, and South Beach--ALL of these in 2007. And I am still the same weight as I was last year. The diet mentality has gotten me NOWHERE.

For the first time ever, I will LISTEN to my body. My body will tell me when to eat, what to eat and how much to eat. Get this--my body has had this capability all along and I've never listened to it! It's kind of like having a feature you never knew about on a car that you've had for years.

My focus will be on how I FEEL more than what the scale says.

I am committing to loving my body more this year and taking good care of it with pampering, exercise, and eating what it wants, without guilt. No more diets of any kind. No more abusing my body with too much food.

I like Nelie's signature: "Eat for the body you WANT, not the body you HAVE."

I'm looking forward to being on this journey with all of you....

YES! This is what I'm doing... though I am paying attention to the scale.
I am have found that while I am not losing quickly, i AM losing. The first four weeks of my journey were really learning to listen to my body, and learning to feel what HUNGRY is and how much - well really how little - food it takes to quell that feeling. I am relearning how fantastic good fresh clean food can taste, and have completely lost my taste for processed "unnatural" foods. my body doesn't want it, though my brain did. it doesn't anymore.
it is amazing what you can learn from your body if you just pay attention to it. I've been eating what I want, when I want, with an emphasis on natural foods, and a limit on the junk... but I just don't even WANT the junk anymore. my body doesn't need it, doesn't crave it, and I hardly even think about it anymore.

I like new days, new weeks, new months and new years! We have so many opportunities to try again. For me, I just need to not give up. I need to persist and keep doing the things I need to do. And that means healthy foods in proper portions and daily exercise (groundbreaking--I know!!). Slips are not fatal to my efforts, but I can't allow myself to slip too often cause then I start justifying my actions to myself.

So, it's back to basics, keep it simple, one meal, one day at a time and all those cliches that apply so well.

A whole new LEAP year spread out before us at our feet and the opportunity to grab control and make our dreams come true! Sounds pretty good to me!

Oh, Jen, my long lost sister...you know I'm not "dieting," either! Diet is such an evil 4-letter word. I'm just going to pay more attention to my diet, diet being what I put into my body. I want to make more conscious decisions instead of just eating whatever happens to be convenient. I can live a fat, unhealthy, convenient life, or I can use some common sense and live a healthier, fitter, more sensible life!

I can't depend on my body for hunger signals because after years of improper eating, I don't think my body has any idea when or how much I really should be eating. But, I CAN depend on my brain to tell me that the can of Healthy Request soup in my desk drawer is better for my lunch than a fast food burger and fries (better for my wallet, too!).

By the end of 2008, I will be happy if I am a comfortable size 20 pants. I am currently a tight-ish 22, sometimes a 24. I don't know how many pounds I would have to lose to get there, but it's not an overly-aggressive goal, and it will show that I am really making progress. I'd be extatic for an 18, but I will certainly be happy with a 20. Wow, 18 sounds so small to me right now...of course, that would be an 18 plus, not a misses 18. I think the last time I fit into non-plus sizes was my freshman year of high school :o

Alright, I'm babbling now...the short of it is, my goals are to reach a size 20 pants and to habitually be making healthier lifestyle choices. They say it takes 28 days to start (or end) a habit, so by the end of January, maybe some things will start sticking with me (and some of my current bad habits will be slipping away!) ;)

I posted this in the other thread but count me in!

I really feel like I don't require enough of myself. I spend allot of my life operating at 60-70% of my potential and the really surprising bit is that I accomplish quite a bit at this level. I've been cheating myself out of the kind of life I could have if I at least TRIED to operate at 100%. And this is the year I am going to do it.

I'm really excited to see what i can accomplish if I can go after my goals wholeheartedly!

I think the "listen to my body" idea is a very good one, but it would never work for me. I listen to my wants. I'd like to get to the point of eating healthy naturally, but I think right now it would be a stretch. I'm swimming against the stream here, but this year I've decided to Go On a Diet (weight watchers). If I have rules, I'll follow them (in theory). Otherwise, I'm in freefall.

My main goal this year (aside from staying on program) is to WALK. I used to walk a lot, but for the past 10 years, I've hardly walked at all, and I've never been athletic. I'm sure that most of my 6 pound a year weight gain over the past decade is the lack of exercise. (She says, sitting at the computer, unable to leave until the UPS man comes.....)

I hope you all don't mind my popping in and joining you. I've spent the better part of the last 6 months being unhealthy, lazy, and regaining enough of almost 100 hundred pounds that I kept off for two years to wake up this morning and think to myself "WTF?!?" So, I'm off to hop on the scale and update my stats, finishing reading through this thread, and then get back to reaching my goal weight and health status!

Jilly, thanks for starting this thread...I have a feeling this will be just what I need to get back on track and STAY THERE!

Bloomer, I'm pretty sedentary too....desk job 8+hrs a day, plus more computer and TV at home.

My intent is to be active in some form every day, whether it's walking on my treadmill or outside, circuit training, yoga, workout DVDs, dance classes, etc.

I know how good exercise makes me feel...so it is a mystery to me why I don't do what feels good!!

I got a new Flip Video camera for Christmas, and I intend to document my journey that way. I haven't decided if I will share my video diary with the world yet.....will have to think on that some more....

Jen--what is a Flip Video camera? Is it just a brand of video camera?

Mirth--I completely understand what you're saying. I am the same way; I have been doing "just enough" to accomplish what I need to accomplish. But if I bump it up to reach closer to my full potential, I can accomplish what I WANT to accomplish instead of just what I need to accomplish. And that can make a world of difference!

Cheick it out! http://www.theflip.com/

I love mine! I have the Ultra, with 60 minutes of video. I got a package that comes with a leather case and a tripod. It is so small I carry it everywhere!

Hi All

I hope you don't mind me joining you. I have lost 100 lbs twice in my life and it always finds me again and then some. I have not dieted since 1988 seriously. This time I want to eat healthy and exercise and finally look after myself. I have been a care giver to my family members for the past 25 years. Three of them have died in the past 3 months therefore I am having a hard time trying to decide what I need to fill that void.

So.... I guess it is finally time to look after myself. I need to get rid of the negativity in my life and am looking for some much needed motivation. I need to lose approximately 60 lbs and I am going to take 1 step at a time.

Thanks for listening.

I'd like to join you guys too! I can use all the support that's out there. I'm not on a diet either. I'm just being sensible and eating whole, clean foods. I feel healthier than I've ever felt and now I want to concentrate on getting more active. I have an ankle injury that will prevent me from doing some things, but I'm trying to find things that I can do. Something is better than nothing!

Judy--wow, that is a lot to deal with :hug: I'm so sorry for your losses. And I know when feeling down, it can be difficult to remember that food doesn't ever really feel those emotional voids since it just ends up making us feel worse about ourselves in the long run. We're all here to listen anytime!

Jen--oh wow, that looks pretty cool. So small and convenient and no tapes or discs to have to deal with. I may have to ask for one for my birthday :D

Good Morning :coffee:

Looks like we are off to a good start with the new thread. Lots of us seem to be following a similar plan.. make good food choices and get moving :D

Last night hubby and I went to the folks for dinner and then played WII for a couple of hours. So much fun and lots of laughter. Not sure what I will get up to today, at this point I have a headache - which I am none to happy about :(

Lisa - checked out your blog.. love it ! You have a great sense of humour, look forward to getting to know you.

Canoes - I too am among the "lost 100 lbs - gained it all back" group. Sorry to hear about your recent losses - we are here to support you and help you with all the steps you take !

Jen - love your outlook on this journey ! I do the desk job thing as well and recently starting hitting the gym. It definately does make me feel better, so now I gotta stick to it.

Lucky - welcome aboard ! Looks like you are in good company with this group - look forward to taking the journey with you :)

Bloomer - sounds like you have your plan all set out - good for you! I have done WW in the past and like everything parts of it I loved and other parts not so much. The important thing is that you know yourself and choose a plan to fit your forever lifestyle.

HoMirth - I hear ya girl !! Wouldn't it wonderful and think what we could accomplish if we gave it our all. This is our year ;)

Jilly - Sounds like you have a set yourself an achievable goal..and ya get to go shopping at the end :) Look forward to helping you along the way !!

Midwife - "slips are not fatal to my effort" - so true - it is how we react to those slips and that is where I tend to fall down.

Karmuz - nothing wrong with not losing quickly - chances are you will keep it off !! Congrats on your progress to date and here's to losing more in 2008 (oooh I am a poet !!)

SDiane - 20 lbs in 20 weeks - we can help you get there and what a wonderful reward at the end ;)

zorista - welcome aboard ! Looks like lots of us have similar goals.

Foodobsessed - we can do this ! Look forward to being part of your journey.

Soon2beslim - love the name and look forward to getting there as well !!

Slashnl - 40-50 pounds sounds very reasonable for a year - and hey you get an extra day to do it in ;)

Phew.. I think I got everybody :D Wonder how many calories you burn by typing long posts :dizzy: Well I guess I should get a wiggle on and figure out what the day will bring. Hope you all have a good one and I will TTYS.

Is there a way to save the location of this thread so I don't lose you guys?

I put this thread in my favorites.So when I click on it,only this thread comes up.

For 2008,like many others in this thread,I too am going to pay more attention to my body and what it needs rather then what my taste buds(and mind thinks it wants) only want.My taste buds are naughty little things.I have a curves plate,and gosh darnit...today,it stops collecting dust.

I have it set so I automatically subscribe to all the threads I post in. That way, whenever I log on, I just click on "User CP," and it lists all the threads I've ever posted in that have had new posts since the last time I logged in. To do this, go to your User CP, click on "Edit Options" on the left, and choose your desired option from the dropdown menu under "Messaging & Notification> Default Thread Subscription Mode." There, you can choose not to subscribe at all or you can choose to get email notifications if you want (I don't get email notifications, but I do subscribe to the threads). This saves me a LOT of time from having to wander around the site searching for threads!

zoritsa--my taste buds are naughty, too! They reject almost all vegetables (and believe me, I've tried 'em all and have prepared them in ways I didn't know existed!), which really makes proper nutrition and reducing calories pretty tricky at times. But I've found some ways to hide veggies in other foods, so there's almost always a way to trick the taste buds if needed ;)

Hi guys!!

I wish I could bottle the motivation and positive energy in this thread! Even though I can't, it will be very good to check in and have "sips" of it through the year. So far so good! I had maple weight control oatmeal with frozen peaches this am and I am planning to run today.

We'll be going to Sedona AZ this next week, and it can be a challenge to stay on track out of town. Planning ahead will help, along with discipline. The story of my life!!!

Another plan I have for 2008 is to start lifting. I've been thinking about it for YEARS! Why haven't I started. We have a bowflex, and I have no excuses. Except that I don't know how. But dh does! So I shall make him teach me.

Missingmyerica, with any luck, this thread will be so busy it shall remain in the top three of the misc clubs! Then it will be easy to find. :-)

I did it! I subscribed! My first time.....hooray!:carrot:

Hi. Good luck in your journey. I can't help but wonder, though, why your weight goal is so low. At five six 114.5 pounds would give you a BMI of just over 18. That sounds pretty thin, and maybe on the edge of being unhealthy.

Just my two cents, which of course you are free to ignore.

That's awfully fast. What were you eating, and how much were you exercising in order to drop pounds so quickly?

What breed are your puppies and what are their names?

I love dogs.

Wow! The energy and support in this group is contagious!

I'm a newbie to 3FC and wanted to find a group that I could join for support (to give and receive). I am going to lose weight in 2008 and I am going to try WW. I've tried a few things, including "listening to my body" but none of that works. I find that I can be inconsistent without the right accountability structure and my body seems to say things like "McDonnnnnald'sssss" or "Krisppppppy Kreeeeeeme"... LOL So I don't think it's a good idea for me to pay it much attention right now. At least not until it learns some new phrases!

My very first WW meeting won't be until Thursday, so I'll keep you guys posted on how that goes. Until then, I'll just focus on preparing myself to make the necessary changes. I'm a teacher so I'm not sedentary at all, but I do have some bad habits. I rarely eat breakfast and if I do, its a honey bun from the vending machine in the teacher's lounge... talk about healthy! Lunch is usually minimal or at least it seems that way because I'm probably starved out by the time that comes. It's usually not that bad of a health choice though... salads, sandwiches, etc. Now the time between lunch and dinner gets pretty tricky. The myth about teachers getting off at 3pm is a huge joke. I'm usually there for one meeting or another until at least 5pm, which means I'm starving again. If I have errands to run, that makes the evening longer and decreases that chances of cooking anything healthy. It usually becomes the quickest thing I can fix for us or the local drive-thru. Exercise, outside of all the standing, walking, and moving I do in the classroom, is non-existent. I'm so tired when I get home that I tend to veg out after getting the kids settled at home. Sooooooooooo.... I need a change!

I'm looking forward to talking with all of you more and reaching our goals together!

Ohhh,thanks! :) Didn't know how to do that before.