Motivation

Hi, my name is Suzanne and I am 23 years old. I weigh 258.3 pounds(yikes) and would really like to get down to between 140 and 150. I was wondering if there was anyone else out there in their 20's who has about that much they want to lose. We could work together and stay motivated to reach our goals!!! Also, if there is anyone in their 20's who has lost that much and wants to share their success story, I would love to hear it! Thanks!

hey ladies,

i am now at 271, down 3 pounds since my last monday weigh-in.  kinda sad it wasn't a crazy amount like my first few weeks of working out and dieting (like 6 lbs even!) but then again, i got hit with a LOT of work on thursday and essentially went out for dinner with friends on fri/sat nights but was otherwise sitting in my place/office working allllllll day, all weekend. 

i'm thinking of swimming to ease back into things (worked out last week, monday to wednesday for 1.5 hours each on the elliptical).  it's so cold though that i don't feel like doing that (even though the pool is indoor) b/c i'm STILL freezing cold when i get outta the pool!  dancing starts saturday!  also neglected my household chores in favor of work this past weekend (laundry, cleaning the bathroom and kitchen, sorting out clothes for donation, etc.) so i need to spend time on that but don't want it to take away from work out time.  anyone know if doing household stuff burns much calories wise?

 how was everyone else's weekends?

Hello everyone!  

pinkcobra - i will keep the faith!  =)

dalmalama - I too hate having my picture taken. I end up staring at my picture. Looking at all the flaws. How big I am? How small  they are?

watchmeshine82 - I feel you. Having PCOS can  really be a bummer. This week...I wanted to give too. =( But life goes on. We cannot give up on ourselves. So we must continue to fight! Congrats on the 3lbs. Don't lose hope. You give me inspiration. I see how lazy I am when I read your posts. I know I can do better. Thank you for always sharing your thoughts.

~My weekend was errr. Bad! I spent it with my boyfriend and we slept. Ate. Spelt. Watch TV. Tsk. Tsk. He too needs to lose weight. But he loves eating and yeah, he really does not control his cravings. So when I am with him I end up eating, too. Horrible. But I love being with him. Eating with him. Weekends... =(

Niltzsch - Welcome! =)

chelsealoney - Thank you for the info! I am sooo looking forward to the move. I will definitely make time to go around and see everything. I might just keep on walking - it might help with losing some weight. =)

Hope everyone has a good week!

awww, mikapu!  you can totally do it too!  i've realized though... i was so good about diet for a year and although i dropped inches, i didn't lose many pounds (5 at best).  with the work outs and eating MORE calories/day with weight watchers, i've lost 16 lbs (according to the weight watchers official scale anyway!) since jan 1.  that leads me to believe that whatever doesn't "work right" for us pcos girls apparently falls into place when we get in a couple of work outs!  since jan, i have done at least 3 workouts every single week, if not 6!  you can do it too!

Hi Everyone,

I'm new to the board and have been on the site since January. I am 25 years old (almost 26) and weigh 232 lbs. I'm only 5'6" so I'm trying to get down to about 135 or 140.

I'm finding my biggest problem is how to stay motivated. I was doing quite well in January (down 10lbs!) but then a cold snap hit and it just made me hibernate indoors. I pretty much put back on those 10lbs i had lost. :(

so, if anyone has any tips for staying motivated, it would be really appreciated. I work in an office so my activity is pretty much after work hours.

Hi!!!

 I'm 26 (almost 27), 5'6"-ish and the last time I weighed myself I was around 220.  I used to be around 145 and I want to get back to that weight.  I want to be able to wear my "skinny girl jeans" as I've come to call them.  I just started back at the gym a few weeks ago and have been watching what I eat.  I have to admit that I have a hard time sneaking in a lot of meals/snacks with my job though. 

I have a 4 year old and I want to be able to be his soccer coach soon so I need to get in to shape for him.  I've been doing cardio and light weighs at the gym and see a difference in my pants being looser.   I think it's time that I finally buy a scale so I can watch my progress.

 We can do it girls!!!

Welcome to all the new girls! I am glad you found us and joined our group! I hope we can help each other reach our goals! And congratulations to those of you who lost so much. It's very inspiring!

Good news for me, I am back in it to win it and I lost 2 lbs since Friday! (Roller skating helped, but my goodness it's hard after not going for so long)

By the way: Mladdy, I noticed you haven't posted in a while and I know you are grieving right now. We just want you to know that we are here if you need us! I hope you are doing ok.

This will be the year for all of us. This will be the year we are serious and get ourselves in gear!

Hi everyone!

I hope you guys had a great weekend!  I spent a lot of time with THE GUY, didn't work out, and didn't eat right at all, but I'm determined to get back on track this week.  I woke up yesterday morning, and felt insanely bloated, and jiggled again in some places that hadn't jiggled in weeks, so I'm extra focused on getting rid of that again.  I'm a little disappointed in myself for backsliding for the past week, but whenever I think of THE GUY I start smiling uncontrolably, and smiling is kind of a work-out, right? :-)

I've been absent for a while, and since I don't have the awesome responsive ability of Suzanne, I'll just start at yesterday...

jackattack, I've heard a lot of great things about Power90 (and actually I saw the infomercial like three months ago).  Way to get through it!  You'll have to let us know how well it works!

danibelle, way to not give up on spin class! There's one at my gym, but I'm always too intimidated to try it, especially because it's full of all these tiny, zero body fat type people.  Maybe I'll try it next week, but probably not two days in a row!  lol! :-)

Welcome pjdrive and niltzsch!

dalmalama, I hope you're less sore today!  Way to push yourself working out, though!  Lately I've been kinda half-a**ing it, and I feel like a slacker.  Go you! :-)

chelsealoney, it's so cool that you skydive!  I want to try, but I'm slightly terrified!  Maybe when I hit my weight goal... 

watchmeshine, I'm not sure about household stuff, but I figure all the walking around and lifting and stuff must count as something.  Maybe count it as leisurely walking?  In any case, you are totally like the most motivated person ever when it comes to working out!  Have fun with the dancing, and let us know how it goes!

mikapu, aren't men infuriating?  THE GUY is a big Texas boy (and as sexy as I think he is, he could stand to lose a few pounds) and he eats whatever he wants and thinks it's silly that I'm willing to give up cheesy, fatty, meaty, whatever things just to lose weight.  *sigh*  In any case, I wouldn't worry too much about the occasional weekend indulgence.  Just use it as extra motivation during the week! :-)

Welcome lawgirl25!  I haven't been super motivated myself over the last week or so, but the thing that always gets me back on track are clothes.  I look at all the cute stuff in stores (or the back of my closet, lol!) and it makes me want to get in the gym!  Also, all the awesome ladies on here, who will totally help get you motivated.  Just listening to everyone else's stories and dedication makes me want to work twice as hard as I am.  You totally came to the right place!

Welcome ssbray! My stats are actually similar to yours: I'm 5'5" and started at 220, and would also like to get down to around 140. Buying a scale will totally make a big difference.  There's nothing better than waking up sore from the gym and wondering why you're doing all this stuff, and then seeing that you're down two pounds.  You can't really feel those two pounds in the way your clothes fit, but somehow knowing something is going on makes a difference, at least for me.  Way to get started!

Happy Monday, ladies! :-)

Hey everybody,

I read some of the amazing stories on this forums and I have to say congratulations to everyone.  It's great to have a group of girls in the same age group who have the same goals.  Being a female in their 20s we have so much pressure from society to look a certain way.  I can't count the times I've heard "oh it's such a shame you have a such a beautiful face but you just don't have the body" or "there should be no excuse for your weight, your young full of energy, if you wanted to be thin you would have already". 

On that note, a little about myself, my name is Janice, I am 27 years old, 5'6.  I started CC in the beginning of Feb./08 I weighed 251 lbs, today I weigh 239 lbs.  I try to eat approx. 1,200 calories a day (but I try not to go over that).  I try to go to the gym 6 times a week. I do about 1 hr 20 mins of cardio and then I weight train, one day I will do my upper half and next would be my lower. 

I am looking to lose about 120 lbs. Hopefully I will have enough motivation to see it through to the end.

Thanks for listening (reading)

CIAO

Jan 

i just uploaded pics of myself from the past year and am having one of those "i'm feeling big, round and ugly" sort of feelings.  271 today.... so close to entering the 260s.... 16 lbs down since the new year.  i should be happy, right?  all of a sudden though, feeling like oh my god, i hope i can keep this up, i don't want to look like this anymore.

watchme, we have exactly the same goals! i'm a little taller than you, but i started out at roughly the same weight as you; i only started maybe two weeks before you did (8/26/06). we even wear similar sizes. crazy!

i just, FINALLY, got out of the 270s this past weekend (269.2). it's awesome. you will get there!

i don't know about you, but i totally screwed around w/ my weight loss last year, and am kinda kicking myself b/c i could have been WAY closer to my goal than i am now. i'd for sure be in the high 100s. oh well, i can't change the past, but i can influence the future. so here's to the future!

oh, and hi jan!

hey dalma!  totally know what you mean about screwing around for a year.  i started in september 06 (my 2nd day as a lawyer actually) super motivated and was going strong through jan 07 (lost about 30 lbs).  then, things got really bad at work and so i kept up the "eating healthy" stuff but didn't really exercise at ALL.  some nights i would even stay over at the firm b/c there was no time to go home and change.  needless to say, i found that i had no energy to work out, let alone do anything but sleep when i would get home.  all in all, i started out at 62 inches around my hips and ended up at 54 inches... since the new year, i'm at 51 inches. 

now that i'm a 2nd year though, i think i've figured out the work flow a little better and have started making more time for the exercise.  i feel good that i was able to lose 16 lbs since the new year but i worry that i'll stay motivated for only a month or two more and then be stagnant again for like a year!  keeping motivated is VERY difficult for me.  i HAVE to exercise to lose weight though.  with my pcos, i don't seem to lose weight otherwise.  it's like ALL the buttons need to be pushed for the machine to work and just pushing certain ones (eating right, for instance) isn't enough to get the machine moving.... i will say though that this time around, the eating thing has been a piece of cake.  i've stopped craving crap, i don't feel odd not ordering cheesecake at a restaurant, etc.  my obsession with food -- french fries, fried chicken, etc. -- it just seems to have ended.  and when i'm sad, i now call a friend instead of turning to my pals ben and jerry, ya know? 

anywho, i'm hoping this time will be different.  i purposely signed up for weight watchers at work, not because i think they can teach me more about nutrition (i think my nutritionist and family practice doc have taught me all that i need to know in our meetings every other month) but because i thought it's a commitment (through the end of may) that my co-workers will also be aware of and where someone will be weighing me every single week -- someone else will be watching how i'm doing and ask why i'm not doing so great at a point.  i'm also really grateful for this forum.  i feel like it -- and the emails i receive from many of you -- are my only outlet. 

i don't know about you all but most of my friends are south asians and they are all between a size 0-4.  they try to be supportive and encouraging and talk about how hard it is to lose weight but how i need to do it and i just want to smack them.  especially because they keep saying weight does not impact meeting men/guys liking you.  i think that a girl who is very pretty but has no personality cannot keep a guy but that a girl with tons of personality who is bigger has a STRUGGLE to attract a guy.  i've seen girls who have gained later in the relationship and that makes sense to me.  but in terms of who a guy is going to walk up to at a party?  it's never me.  hence, i feel ugly, ugliness (in the past) led to eating, eating led to gaining, gaining led to further depression and feelings of ugliness and so the vicious cycle continues.  i'm happy i seem to have broken outta that cycle but am frightened i will regress.

Hey ladies! And Happy Monday!

dalmalama - Spinning classes also hurt my "lady parts" :) They said that after about 4 times it doesn't anymore. So I'm going to keep trying it. It feels like such an amazing workout that I don't want to give it up! I could imagine that those Biggest Loser workout would be crazy hard. Look at how much weight they lose in one week!

watchmeshine - you are doing so amazing and you are definitely encouraging me to workout more! And 3 pounds is GREAT! I know it's hard to not want more though....I think we will always want more!

lawgirl - welcome! Motivation is a big problem for me too. Some weeks are better than others. I find it's best to always come back to forums like this and at least read them, even if you're not posting. Also, posting bad things can help too. Then it makes them real....like you're actually telling people you slipped up.

ssbray - also a happy welcome to you! I call my old jeans my "skinny jeans" too. Instead of buying a scale could you weigh yourself at the gym? I find that it's better for me to just weigh at the gym...otherwise I'd be checking my weight constantly!

janalmeida - welcome! I agree that having a group at around the same age with the same goals really helps! I love this forum....thanks again Suzanne for starting it!

I had a great Monday off work....it was Mid-winter break for me! Now back to the grind tomorrow for a nice short 4 day week. I'm already looking forward to the weekend.... :) 

watchme, the EXACT same thing happened to me! 30 lbs up to 1/2007. i moved to a new city/state for a new job, and instantly dropped 10 lbs in a month. i put it back on though, but i've lost a little over 16 lbs since this new year's too!

i know a couple south asian girls, and one's thin, and i hate her (), the other one's not. funny thing is, the thicker one has a boyfriend, the thin one doesn't. she's dating and all, but no boyfriend.

but i know what you mean about how it seems like thinner girls have it way easier with the opposite sex, and i think they really do. i think us bigger girls have to try way harder to show how awesome we are. i'm not saying we have to fall all over a guy and worship him, i'm just saying that our personality has to shine a lot brighter than it would were we slim. i kinda hate that, b/c sometimes i just don't feel like putting in all the work when i know other women don't have to. plus i get a little resentful toward guys when i'm feeling like that. it's like, dammit, i'm terrific, why don't you see that? it's frustrating.

i'm still working on the whole dating/self-esteem thing. i'm trying to attract this guy who's a friend-of-a friend, but i don't know if i'll be able to. long story, i don't need to get into it.

watchmeshine - I just wanted to say congrats on losing the 16 lbs. that a great accomplishment.  Keep up the good work.  I know it must be difficult with work as I also work in a law firm and there are some days when I am at work by 7:00 a.m. and I don't leave until 10:00 p.m. and the last thing you want to do is work out.  It is great to hear that you have found balance.  Anyways just to keep this short I just wanted to say I am very proud of you and your accomplishment so far. :) 

 

i need you guys to check out this CC'er's profile photo:

gnldennison

she lost 111 pounds and looks AMAZING!!!!

dalmalama, I too am one of those "what the hell was I doing the last year, or 2 or 3...and didn't make this happen!!"  but I too try not to concentrate too much on that since it is in the past, and can only move forward from here...

I have been wanting to try out the spinning class recently, but thought that being around 250 lbs. it wouldn't be possible for me to keep up and all, but I see so many of you have tried it, think I'm gonna give it a try too!!

Thanks for the welcomes, ladies!

Cycling hurts my ladyparts as well, but have only been one or two times.

@Watchmeshine - I remember one day I was in line at the microwave on campus, and this skinny asian girl was looking at me all surprised because all I had was a cup of soup. She kept looking amazed, and said HOW DO YOU LIVE OFF THAT?
after a few minutes of questioning, I said," I eat several small meals each day, to try and lose weight."
She then decided to patronize me and tell me that I looked healthy and skinny (in a size 26 jeans? yeah okay. right.) and patted me on the shoulder. I wanted to smack the hell out of her twiggy butt. I feel your pain!
@dalma & watch - I have those feelings too, where I kick myself for goofing off last year, and not sticking to it. It's okay though, can't change the past, but you sure as hell can change the future!

Hey all,

Just wanted to check in! Lazy day for me! I stayed up late, tried to wake up early &then I finally got up at 11am but now I am really exhausted! I need to go exercise today but I don't know, I am just worn out! Looks like everyone is doing great! Congrats on losing all the weight! I only weigh in once a month so I'm a little nervous--I have about 12 days until I weigh in! Makes me want to tighten up my reigns once again--I've been getting a little relaxed. Welp, I just wanted to write something , have a great evening!

hey all... so the assignment i worked on allllll weekend (25+ hours) turned out fabulously and i only had to make like 5 small changes (took me 10 mins tops).  i was SO thrilled but now i have to work on 3 research memos.  so i'm home, tired, exhausted, have memos to do and need to eat dinner and i basically feel like i don't want to move.  would like to watch tv and then go to bed.  but i know i need to exercise and eat something healthy to keep this weight loss going.  *sigh*  it's sad but the times i'm most motivated are when i like a guy!  i should be doing this MORE so for myself than for any stupid boy!