Motivation

Howdy guys and gals!  I'm taking over this club, not because i think i have all the answers (i so know i don't) but because i'm super pumped up right now and motivated to help those people out there who have a lot of weight to lose.  we need a place that's more than a "can i join" place.. we need a place to talk about issues related to being this overweight.. 

Who here needs to lose over 100 pounds? Who needs to lose over 150 pounds? Or more?

I did! I did! And yes.. i did!

A small amount of background on me for those of you who don't know: i am a binge eater. I have had a problem with emotional eating, hidden eating, over eating, eating with a hang nail, eating because i have split ends.. you name it i stuffed my emotions down with the greasiest, nastiest food i could find!

Why did i do that (you might ask)? Because of many many different reasons.. frankly i think it was because this is how i was taught from a young age, this is how we handle stress and emotions. I learned that it's not proper to talk about your feelings.. or god forbid, express your emotions! You have to shove them down with a piece of cake and a smile!

Anyway.. onto the reason for this post.

If you are out there and need to lose a lot of weight.. just like i've got to.. i think we need to have a place where we can discuss these issues with each other and try and work through them together. Because, let's face it, people who are morbidly obese (yes.. i hate that word too) have uniquely different issues to work through and deal with than the average person.

Losing weight, for people who have this much to lose, have to deal with so much more than the formulas to figure out how much to eat.. and exercising. It's more complex than that. We have to deal with years and years of poor eating habits that have to be unlearned, we have to deal with the emotional torment of just being this size, we have to deal with the harsh looks and comments from strangers or from loved ones, we have to deal with our emotions for the first time in our life because we aren't shoving them down our throats anymore..

this is the hardest thing ANYONE has to deal with.. but, from my experience, things are different for us bigguns. :)

also, for those of you who don't know me very well.. (because i've kinda been in hiding and not posting much and there are so many new people out there) i started out in january weighing 324 pounds. I now weigh 232.5.. i have lost 91.5 pounds so far. I am not telling you guys this to get kudos.. i got those yesterday. I'm telling you guys this because i want anyone out there who is struggling with knowing they have, what seems to be, an insurmountable amount of weight to lose, that there is hope.. it IS possible.. you CAN do it.. but it's hard.. and you will hurt.. i know this because i've been there.. i've done it.. and i'm still dealing with it.

so.. come on in and share your stories.. i want to hear them and i want us to support each other until we are all at our goal weight!

Hey, frnds4ever,

The folks here all have great advice and the site itself really helps take your weight loss regime/routine - heck journey to the next level. I've only been here a week, but I'm really pumped at how easy it is. I get motivation just by seeing how well my calorie counts are turning out - without truly trying. I do my best  to balance my meals and using C-c , I can see how well  (or badly) I'm doing. If one day I'm off I try to figure out why (after all it's all recorded, right there on the screen) and I try to do better the next day.

Like many here have pointed out - it's not easy, but the basic concepts are simple (calories in - calories out). Just try your best to balance your meals using healthy choices - you don't have to give up the things you love - just know when to say 'not today' and 'that's enough'.  As far as exercise, it is an all around benefit - find something you like and do it. Just take it easy at first until you can get into a good routine that fits you. You'll soon start to notice how much better you feel and how much easier it is to go day to day.

I should shut up now, this has gotten much more winded then I intended.

Hi all! Just joined and need to lose about 110lbs.  I have just found out that I have sleep apnea.  So not only am I ruining my knees I'm trying to kill myself while I sleep ;) Well kinda.  I have the obstructive type or so I'm told.  My doctor told me that I have fat pockets at the back of my throat and when I fall asleep and relax they block my airway.  Do any of you have sleep apnea and if so how bad is a CPAP really?

Anyway here is my story.  I was one of the skinny girls that could eat anything, but back then I thought that I was fat.  I have alway had curves.  when I was in high school and college I only weighed about 100lbs but I had DD bra.  I developed very young and I guess from being teased I developed a very low self image.  As I became older I gained alittle here and a little there, but then at 32 I became pregnant with my first child.  Well everyone said to eat!!!  You are eating for two! So I did and gained about 60 lbs.  I lost about 20 after the baby was born but that was it and two years later here we go again with baby number 2.  And somehow over the last two years I have gained up to 230lbs.  When did that happen??  I have been so busy raising two little girls I completely lost track of me.  I have recently come to understanding that if I want to be a good mother and wife I have to make time for myself and take care of myself so i will be around for them in the future.

I was just surfing the web looking for info on a 1200 calorie diet because that is what my sleep doctor recommend and found this sit.  I have been sitting here reading all of your posting and decided to join.  And the funny thing is that the calculator on this site said I should aim for about 2050 calories a day what a difference.  Anyway, I need all the help I can get so wish me luck!!

Hi, phimugirl - welcome!

I have sleep apnea as well. The CPAP isn't bad - it does take getting use to. Try the different masks to see which is most comfortable to you. Stick with it. Just remember if your apnea is bad the longer without treatment, the more damage you could be causing to your heart. Think of those little girls - by taking care of you, you'll be there for them - it's all good. Losing weight will help with the apnea - my wife says since I lost weight mine has really cleared substantially (and I've only lost about 35 lbs of the 200 plus I need to lose!!

Good-luck!

Hello, are ya'll still out there??  I want to join!  I was reading everyones post before I replied.  I've never posted anything before so I am a little nervous.  But I definately need to join this group. 

I am 39 about to turn 40 (yikees) and now weigh 276 and am 5' 7".   I need to loose 130 lbs.  I grew up in a pretty disfunctional family.  Verbal abuse like ... "you can't do anything right",  blah, blah.  I thought that if someone treated you bad that meant that they loved you. 

I was chunky as a child. As a teenager I thought I as sooo fat but now I look back and think "What the He** was I thinking".  I would be so happy to be that "fat" again.  I let people around me make my believe I was fat.  In my early 20's I did the starvation thing and worked out like crazy.  Got down to 145 and a size 11. 

Then after some serious relationship issues, I started to gain weight.  And more and more and more.  I would loose and gain more back.  I know how to eat right, my Mom worked at Weight Watchers for a time and I went off/on several times.

My problem isn't not knowing what to do, but doing it.  I am an emotional eater like several of you.  If I have something good in the house like cookies, I have to eat the whole box.  Just knowing that it is there drives me nuts.  I know my cats aren't going to eat it (I live alone) so I know it will be there tomorrow.  Has anyone else went to different grocery stores because they thought the cashier would remember they just bought a half gallon of ice cream the day before???

Someone else posted that they have problems after the third week too.  Its like I'll be going along and suddenly *blam* I fall off the wagon.  I'm glad there are other people that understand this is not just about being lazy.  It really is like being an alcoholic.  I tell people that my drug of choice is chocolate.  Others reach for the bottle, we reach for the comfort food.

Okay, enough from me!  I'm excited about getting to know you all.  How does this "friends" thing work.

K : )

kimne- be sure to fill out your profile.. :)  we are a nosy bunch and like to read all about everyone.. :) 

as for the friends thing,... all you have to do is click on someones name.. and then click on the "add to friends list" thing on top of that person's profile.. then you can read their journal easily when you click on the friends link above.. :)

welcome aboard.. to all the newbies! it's been a while since i've checked on things here.. yes.. i've been slacking.. but to my defense.. i've been super busy working out a bunch!  :)  and having fun.. heh.. ;)

Hi phimugirl and kimne!  Welcome to the club!  :)  Yes, we're still around . . . (I'll be here for a Loooooong! time, as I still have 83 pounds more to lose . . . :D). 

This thread is great--if you have any questions, just post 'em, and someone will jump in and answer you.  We know where you're coming from!  :)

*waves to all the new posters*

60.4 more lbs. I can do it.. eventually...

Welcome everyone!!!

I'm pretty much a newbie myself (only been an active member for the past month), but it doesn't take long for this wonderful and supportive group to take you under their wing and kick your butt into shape! hee hee.

Like obsidyan said, fill out your profile, start journaling, get into posting, it all helps us reach our goals!

Congrats on your decision to commit to a healthy lifestyle! We here for you!

Janelle

Also, I put together the wisdom of the board into one easy-to-read post, which you can read here. Please check it out. :) 

I will join as well. I have been working hard to get my husband and I both to loose weight and exercise to start a new life style. His Dr who we both look up to and really like (knows he is only wanting the best for us both) chewed us both out for over 45 minutes to get healthy and make better choices along with PORTION control LOL! We are both diabetic. I also have deep vein thrombosis and really have to loose weight before I start loosing body parts. My story is about 1999 I started working really hard to loose weight and walking often around our city park. I ended up in the hospital a lot with blood clots because I hit the walking a bit to hard. So after that I quit walking completely. I guess it was all or nothing. Instead of somewhere in between. I was mad at my self for letting myself get to such a horrible state. I have learned that if you don't cry out loud another part of your body will cry for you. It is important to talk about your feelings, cry if necessary and work through it. This is a great place to do that. I had lost 85 lbs and was feeling great. Then in 2002 my late husband passed away and I lost it basically. At first I couldn't eat and lost more weight but then I started putting it back on after all that hard work. I just couldn't let go because of the circumstances of his death. Long story short! I finally moved on and was dating again and finally remarried in Nov of 2004. I was still putting on weight and just couldn't even think of loosing weight. My new husband was also putting on weight. It had a lot to do with cooking habits. I love to cook and he loved me cooking and fixing goodies. This has hurt the both of us in the long run. So we both now need to loose over 100 lbs. The last time I was at the Dr's office I weighed 262lbs. My body is crying out to loose weight. I know his is also. I have not weighed my self for about 3 weeks but we have started watching what we eat and my husband has been pretty good about eating his veggies with out to much complaining LOL! I have only begun to read all the information on this site that is available and I am very impressed with the group support available and information. I look forward to meeting and making new friends in this journey. I am looking forward to getting in to my poka dot bikini someday LOL! I don't have a scale at home and I will get up the nerve sometime soon to go weigh at the Dr's office to post.

I'm printing out your post hk and will read it on the buss.  Looks like alot of information.  Thanks for taking the time to do it for us.  You are the AWESOME!!

Hi krcates!  I just started posting today for the first time in my life and look at me this is the third one!  Its great to finally hook up with people that really understand what we are going through.

*Does Snoopy dance*

I thought I would mention something that our Dr said to try while you are sitting watching TV if you would keep some weights of some kind next to your chair you can sit and watch TV while you are doing some type of moving. He said you can use small, or large cans or use your imagination.:)

welcome krcates!

it's a long, sometimes difficult process, but inifinitely rewarding!

keep up the good work and tell hubby to join up too!

janelle

The weights are a good idea. I love watching tv and being able to sit down and enjoy my favorite shows with a little excersise is perfect.

kimne,

Welcome aboard! Just wanted to comment on this, because I've often wondered the same thing:

"Has anyone else went to different grocery stores because they thought the cashier would remember they just bought a half gallon of ice cream the day before???"

During my most intense bingey periods, I've done that in one evening during the same shopping trip; stop at one store for ice cream, another for brownies or whatever. It was an awful, awful feeling/state to be in.

Yes, the doging certain cashiers has happen to me as well.

I would be careful not to get brownies, cakes and ice cream in the same transaction. I would always be afraid that the cashier is juding me and looking at my overwight body, "like look at her, she needs to put it all back" I have always been afriad that I would need a price check on my more fattening purchases.

It was definitely an awful state to be in....I'm trying to release myself from that bondage...

Yeah, its so great to know someone else that does it too. Now we will start new habits that we won't be ashamed of.  I sometime wonder if the cashier is looking at me when I buy fruit and veggies (healthy stuff) and thinking "Who is she kidding?".  Well, I show them!  They'll see me keep coming through and start loosing weight then they'll have to think "Wow, look how great she looks".

K : )

Kimne, I use to do that too, but with fast food.  I would vary my fast food purchases.  One of my favorites is Wendy's and their spicey chicken sandwich.  I would usually order 2 and get a large frie and large diet coke/pepsi.  Some weeks I would go 3 - 4 times.  I wondered how I got so big, :{  anyway, I would go to the Wendy's closest to me one day, then another Wendys' in a different town and so on.  Still didn't stop the Cashiers at the window from asking me if I want my usual!!  :)  I still go to Wendy's only now, it is once a week max and I get the grilled chicken sandwich with only lettuce and tomato (NO honey mustard sauce or Mayo) and I throw away half the bun.  No more fries, usually a side salad and a large Ice Tea!!!  I did have a spicey chicken sandwich last week.  It was the first one since March 23, 2006 and you know what.  It didn't taste as good as I remembered it.  I think I have broken the spell!!  :)

You keep up the good work.  Matter of fact EVERYONE, keep up the good work.  You all are doing great!!!!  As Jules likes to say "One day at a time". 

((((HUGS))))  

I haven't been around in a few weeks . . . life's just been crazy but I came back and read all the posts again tonight.

I have now lost 30 pounds and 14 inches.  I'm walking every night and tonight, I noticed, that it didn't feel like work anymore.  I was hot and sweaty and my muscles were burning, but I didn't have to push myself to do it.  I can't believe how far I've come in such a short time.

I noticed that many on the list talk about giving up different foods because they're not healthy.  Don't you feel deprived if you do that?

I certainly have cut back on junk food and I eat salads and fresh fruits and vegetables much more often.  I went to Olive Garden today and got their salad, soup and breadsticks for lunch.  Yes, there were calories (more than I would have if I made it myself) but it was a treat.  I wasn't hungry at breakfast so I didn't have anything and that allowed me to be able to eat more calories (rich dressing) at lunch than I would normally.

I also eat m & m's pretty regularly.  I now measure them to ensure that I don't eat too many.  I put them in a cup and eat them 1 at a time rather than by the handful.

I'm trying to change my lifestyle and know that I won't ever be able to completely deny myself carbohydrates or sweets.  I have made efforts to improve the diet though so that I'm eating a more well balanced diet.

Pam