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I joined calorie count about 2 weeks ago and so far I've lost 4 lbs only to gain back 2 lbs.  This is the heaviest I've ever been....not sure how I let myself gain so much weight. But now is the time to lose it and get back to my ideal weight. I'm looking for people with similar goals so we can motivate each other and swap diet/excercise tips!

LOL....sorry....i just started laughing when i read you guys' wii comments. how funny yet mean that a machine does that!!

ishkabibbles: do you find it hard to count calories sometimes? especially when you eat chinese dishes that wouldn't be listed on these websites? or you have no idea what they're even called in english. i usually prepare my own breakfast + lunch so i can keep track of calories since its mostly american foods. but dinner time is always something chinese since my mom makes it and i always have to guess how many calories are in it.

try working out in the mornings. i noticed as the day goes by...you can start making more excuses of things you have to do instead of workout. if you get it over with in the mornings, its out of the way and you don't have to think about it. or try bringing your gym bag with you in your car so when you come home from school/work you can go directly to the gym. i noticed if i go home first to have dinner or watch some tv, i never leave the house after that to hit the gym cause i get into lazy mood.

randomlife: wow 106! crazy! and i thought it was bad here in CA. don't worry about the 2 lbs...im sure it will come off quickly...

mor125:  We're back down to the 80's so it's much better now!  Lol.

I weighted myself this morning and I was back down to 173.  So that's good.  Except ... I just got my period a few hours ago.  Ugh.  Can we say overdose on Midol?  Lol.  I'm trying not to cave into the chocolate cravings.  It's not even my body saying "I need this!"  It's just the whole comfort food/emotional eating thing.  So I'm really trying to talk myself out of it!  I know I feel so much better about myself if I do! 

I'm thinking about trying the "Zig Zag Diet" for a bit and see how it goes.  Anyone else game?

ugh! this is so sad! i've been using cc for about a month now and in total i've only lost 2 lbs!! :( maybe im not being strict enough or excercising enough.

randomlife219: thats great your back down! the zig zag diet is when you do 1,200 calories one day, then the next day you do 1,500 calories, etc. right? so your body doesn't think its starving or something?

Mor: I'm feeling you on the frustration of dieting. I lost 5 pounds since being on CC. However, this morning all of it is back.

I know I was a little bad this weekend... but I don't see how one day of eating bad can make me feel so bloated and gain weight on the scale. I guess I'll have to cut out my favorite day, "cheat day". : ( I'm back to square one, guess I'll be at the gym for a couple hours...

mor125:  Yeah, along those lines.  There are a few different techniques I've found (thank you Google!).  I found this website that calculates it for you!  Other suggestions are up your calories by 500 for 5 days and then down them 500 for two days.  Or you could take your calorie allowance, multiply by 7 and that's your weekly allowance and you can do whatever method you want.

I think I'm going to go with the precalculated one first.  I'm lazy like that.  Lol.

It takes a lot of hard work to lose weight.  Are you sure you're not over eating (I know I forget things I eat, especially at dinner)?  Your body could be used to the new diet already and you need to change things up a bit!  Hope this helps!

hi everyone! i'm new here, just joined. I am 5'3 and 197 lbs....i was 220 about 6 months ago. I've lost the weight by cutting back on my portions, and getting way more exercise ( 1 hour brisk walking 3x  a week), and adding in healthy snacks.

I'm here hoping to get some encouragement from others who are dealing with weight, body image, and self esteem issues. And i'm also here to lend a helping hand, a shoulder to cry on and smile for anyone who needs it! :)

I look forward to chatting with everyone over time. But first, a question: are any of you trying to reach a number on the scale or just to get healthy? I'm a bit of both....when i was 220, it was the highest i'd ever been. So when i got serious about losing weight and taking responsibility for my health my only clear goal was getting below 200. Now, i'm just focused on losing more, as much as i can, as carefully as i can. I check the charts and they tell me what i should weigh and it seems sooooo far away, and out of reach. so i've decided not to focus on the number but on the bigger picture of getting in shape and liveing a better life.

Welcome!

I'm totally trying to get to a number on the scale ... 120.  I started out at 220 too (stupid dr scales!).  It's taken me 2 years to get down to 175 ... can we say loss of motivation?  Lol.  But I'm here to get the last "half of me" gone. 

I know it seems like such a long way away from your goal weight ... but be patient ... it'll happen!  It's going to take a lot of hard work and it won't be ez.  But don't worry!  We are here to help eachother!

Good luck!

hi...thanks for the words of encouragement. 2 years, huh?? CC tells me that it will take me about a year and a bit to reach my "ideal" wieght. I think i should go see my doc and have a chat with him about this ideal weight. I'm sure it will take me a long time to reach a much healthier weigth and size (hey it took me many years to put it on! what's a year to take it off LOL!), but these automated charts cant take everything into conideration, its just an estimate.

But in the mean time, i'm just chugging along, taking it on day at a time. If i look too far ahead i get intimidated  and fearful that its never gonna happen. But when i look back at what the scale used to say, i have to give myself a pat on the back!

Smiles and hugs for all !!!

That's the best attitude to have!  I fell off the CC wagon and lost all motivation.  Thankfully I was able to maintain my weight while I gave up on the whole weight loss crusade.  But now I'm back and ready for a change!  I def need people to motivate me and keep my butt in line!  Lol.

Talking a dr is a good idea.  I really should do that too!

prettymess: maybe its water weight? most likely you didn't consume 17,500 calories over the weekend. i know sometimes when i binge for a few days....my weight goes up 3-4 lbs...but then a few days later it goes back down to my normal weight.

randomlife: thanks for the website! i think i'll give the zigzag diet a try. i just need to find a way to motivate myself on a daily basis and keep away from bad foods. i just don't know how to say no to ice cream and high calorie foods.

i am overeating. i count calories for a few days, then i get sick of it, then eat whatever i want for a few days, then go back to counting. i don't know how to stick to my plan. any tips on motivation?

welcome belladonna! im trying to get down to 125 but at the same time have a healthier relationship w/ excercise and food. i think i gained so much weight because i abuse food with boredom and emotional eating. i like how you said you focus less on the # now and more on the bigger picture of getting healthy. i feel the same way sometimes...my goal seems so far away. but you have a very motivating and positive outlook on this whole thing! :)

 

Mor: I think you were right : ) I'm pretty sure it was water weight or something... I'm back down six. Guess it was a bad day to weigh myself. (I try not to do it everyday...) Thanks for the encouragement. Venting helped me NOT order Taco Bell...How I love Taco Bell :)

Welcome Bella! I am also a "newbie" on here...However, I have lost 6 pounds since joining a week and a half ago. So, I think it kinda works...

Keep it up ladies!!  : )

Hello,

I joined yesterday, I have never dieted before or counted calories. 

I am 49 years old, female, 5'5" and 145 lbs.

I have slowly grown a pot belly and flabby arms.  I want to feel fabulous when I turn 50 next may.  I figured losing my belly and arm flab would be a great way to turn 50.  I'd like to lose 20 to 25 lbs.  I did some research and I am a bit confused. One health site informed me that I burn 2300 calories per day. When I input the very same information on this site I was told I burn 1980 calories a day.  That's a difference of 320 calories.  That's a brownie people!

How accurate to you find this sites estimations to be regarding your personal burn rates?

I find the tools on this site fabulous and have learned so much about nutrition these past two days.

~kat

Welcome Kat!  I find CC's calculators very accurate.  But to be sure I checked with two others sites.  CC tells me I burn 1900 calories a day doing my normal (no exercise) day.  The other websites told me 1982 and 1541.  The later one didn't take into account how much movement you do during the day (apparently I burn 1541 calories if I slept all day). 

The healthy site may be going on older information as well.  Like when you look at food labels, it's all based on a 2000 calorie diet.  Well, back when all that happened, Americans were moving alot more than they do now.

mor125:  I def find motivation rough too.  You've just gotta be determined.  My biggest issue is I hate having to explain myself to people about why I'm doing things (like turning down dessert).  Tues night was one of those nights (full story in my journal).  I hate when I "go with the flow."  It makes me feel horrible.  I've got to keep that in mind that "If I stick to my healthy lifestyle, I will feel so much better about myself."

Dessert tricks:  Skinny Cow!  I <3 their fudge pops!  50 cals/peice.  So you can have two and be ok!  The other thing I'm trying is at the store they sell mini-Ben and Jerry's.  Like 200 calorie ones ... spoon included!  We'll see how it goes.  Ice pops work too.  But sometimes you want something creamy! 

What if we e-mailed eachother every day on what we eat, do for exercise, and thoughts (both good and bad) to help motivate eachother?

Happy Thursday!

.Maria.

Hi there mor125..I am 5'4" and 168 looking to get down to 145.  Hvae had some medical problems and now my weight is back up again.  Partially due to prolactin levels but mostly due to chocloate:) I totally understand your frustrations as I gained 1.5 lbs since yesterday.  Would love to be part of your motivation AND success.  You can and will do this!  A saying that I have used in the past and found very helpful when I have a craving is, "there is nothing better than being my right weight."  Amazingly enough this works. 

I just joined CC today. I'm looking to get to 160 by next June. I like having meat on my bones so I probably wont let myself get that small. My goal is based solely on what my body looks like at whatever weight; and how easy it is for me to find clothes. I don't feel the need to be skinny because I LOVE my curves! I just want to look better in the clothes I'm wearing. Any encouragement would be nice and I offer encouragement to anyone who'd like it.

Welcome girls!  If there is anything we can do to help ... don't be afraid to ask!

.Maria.

prettymess: good to hear! :) its always a relief when that happens. haha i love taco bell too!

randomlife219: good idea! i'll start e-mailing you my daily food + excercise routine starting tomorrow. and feel free to remind me im a fatass if you notice im starting to eat bad foods here and there or you think im lagging on the excercise. lol. ;p

i love skinny cow! i haven't tried their fudge pops yet, but i will.  i really like their 'skinny dippers' popsicles. (80 cals each). i can never stop at 1 though and eat 2-3 at a time. :T or dreyers has these cream popsicles which are yummy too! (45 cals/each).

i know what you mean. i hate telling ppl im on a "diet" when they ask me why im not drinking or pigging out along w/ everyone else. makes me feel like a party pooper. haha but then you feel good about it the next day so its worth it. aww poor you!! i read what happened tues night. and to answer your question, although im sure it was rhetorical, i think the cals count for 1/2 of what you ate. lol. i read an article about bulimic girls once and a lot of ppl think that when they throw up all the calories you just ate are gone, but its really only half...? something along those lines. (ok...that might sound strange to ppl reading this haha...but no one here is bulimic....)

welcome everyone!! :)

angela

Sounds like me exactly - 160 pounds at 5'5" needing to lose 35 pounds. 

Welcome fidgit!

mor125:  We will so rock this weight loss!  Don't worry!  Thanx for answering my questions.  Lol. 

Feel free to call me a lazy ass when I skip out on workouts!  :)

.Maria.

Hi,

I just joined today.  Am 5'5" and weigh 177 lbs.  Want to get down to 140.  Exercising is a challange for me - so I need some motivation.