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!

wants2lose-chocloate has never been my probpem. I really am not a chocolate fan. However, South Beach Diet makes these cereal bars (kinda like the Special K ones) that are peanut butter and chocolate chip. Yum! 140 calories there. Another idea is those 100 calorie packs of snacks. Not the healthiest way to go, I'm sure, butu 100 calories of Reese's or Chips Ahoy is still far less than many of us eat.

Anyone here wondering how they are going to make it through Girl Scout Cookie season? You know, Thin Mints. Serving size, one sleeve. LOL. It's like a programmed need for me. UGH.

I've discovered the only way to get through Girl Scout Cookie season is by not buying! Last year I bought several boxes of cookies from my niece and when they came in, I told my sister-in-law to keep them (I think I did bring home 1 box though). This year I just said "No" to my friends when they asked - haven't heard from my niece yet, she is hard to say "no" too, but I'll use the same trick as last year (only buy fewer) - give them to my brother's family.
-Kathy

that is so funny about the Girl Scout cookies.  This year my daughter is a girl scout!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  And I'm hear to tell ya....people will go broke trying to buy those things!!!  (not to mention waistlines) People come to her!  This year, I ordered my hubby's and kids favorites with 1 box of my favorite.  Now, the key will be moderation, and not in one sitting! 

Alrighty.....count me in.  I weighed in at a whopping 294 lbs. January 1, 2007.  I felt absolutely horrible over the holidays with everything that I was consuming.  I decided along with DH (dear husband) to change my lifestyle.  I began Leslie Sansones walk away the lbs. videos and to cut my caloric intake down to 1300-1450.  I have never tried counting calories, but I have done everything else!!!!!  Weight Watchers, Adipex, Dexatrim, Slim-Fast, Atkins, The Carb Addicts Diet, The Makers Diet....the list goes on and on.  Recently my DH, who happens to be an engineer by trade, explained what to him was simple math.  Caloric intake and calaric burn.  I thought, well, he has never steered me wrong before and I trust him with my life, so why not my weight and my life?  Well here I am....January 29, and I've lost 11.8 lbs. and I'm exercising daily and feeling fantastic all day long.  To me....that's what it's all about.  Sure I know I'm going to have some really down days, but as long as I can come back here and jump back on and get some support, I think I'll be alright.  As of today....I have to lose 117 lbs.  I am in this for the long haul and for changing my life. SO..................COUNT ME IN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Count me in...I weighed in at 279 pounds on the 25th of Jan. I lost tweo punds and now am back up. I am sure that because I ws bingeing last night...not sure why ...anyway today I have only done 7 min  of walking and will probably make my exercise today dancing because it is raining outside. I am counting calories. Can someone clear up for me how that works. Somewhere I read about eating two hundred cals.  less each day and burning the other 300 in exercise... Will this work? Are the calories in the anyalsis for the total I should have each day? Can I take my 500 from that or how does it work...I thought I knew but am now totally confused...

Thanks for help,

donna

I'm here, this is the club for me.  5'2.5" (don't forget the .5").  I started last Thursday 260lbs.  Today am at 254, 6lobs. so far.  Goal is 127lbs...total left to lose 127...I only have to lose 1 of me.  This is actually encouraging.  I hate the idea of being MORE than double the weight I should be.  No I'm only double.  ;)

Laps

One more joining the party here.  And another guy no less!

I weigh 294 lbs.  It's gross, and I hate it.  I should weight around 160.  That's 134 to go.  Ouch.

My biggest problem so far today is that I've only eat 664 calories today, and I don' feel deprived or hungry.  I don't know where I'm going to find 836 more for dinner time....  HELP!

Annnnnd one more person joining! Do I... really have to disclose my weight? Haha. Over 300. Right now I want to lose 150.... Yup... :D

Hello All~

I just had to share a really exciting moment today.  I dropped under 100 lbs to lose today, okay it's 99.6, but still, we have to reward ourselves for the little steps to find the motivation for the big ones.

I just want to wish everyone here good luck and congrats to all of us for deciding to make a difference in ourselves.

So...I started doing yoga, just the basic postures, last week.  I could only go 20 minutes before I felt like I was completely worn out.  Today I did 33 minuts of yoga, and 5 minutes of cycling.  I am sslloowwllyy increasing the amount of exercise that I can do.  Wish me luck, I want to be able to cycle for an hour by the time the ed of summer comes around.  I think that if I can increase the cycling a minute or two every day then I I'll get there.

Laps

So today is Feb 3:) I started on Dec 18, I was at 303. Today, I'm at 273... I know! I'ts crazy. I still have alot to loose, but the clothes are looser and people are noticing me. I get compliments all the time. I also think I'm treated better since lossing the weight. It's sad. I'm the same person but yet people treat me better since I'm looking thinner? I'm just as confident as I was when I was 303.  Sometime... I think about people who talk to me now... Why didn't they talk to me when I was 303. Specifically someone at work who would not say a hi or a smile to me, now talks to me and smiles. What's the deal? I am fat, but I carry myself well. I don't smell like fried chicken and I don't have sweat stains on my clothes. It just bugs me when people who wouln't give me the time of day before are now talking to me. Anywho... Food! Heres a tip for everyone. I've been buuying Healthy Choice Frozen Dinners. It has a dessert to it and most of them are under 400 cals per box. I skip the dessert because I hate fruit desserts, I like Chocolate and if I'm going to have a dessert, I'm going to splurg, so I skip the serrest and I'm sure the calories are knocked down. But I have a fruit, like an orange or a pear before I have the Healthy Choice and a tall glass of cold water before and after and I'm seriously not hungry and sometime bearly finish the frozen dinner. I've also been having Oatmeal with tons of Cinnamon (shich has no calorie) every morning. This is super duper good because of all the fiber.  Started to work out and noticing that my step is faster and I tend to fall asleep and stay asleep more. 273, but I have another 100 at least to loose. If I can do it.. anyone can! The only way you can achieve success when it comes to weight loss is to realize that your NOT on a diet... but a change of life style. You will not be able to do this if others are telling you to do it... you will want to do it for yourself. It's a hard process but you can do it. Anyone who needs support is totally welcomed to e-mail me. I'm always up for some chats. Good luck everyone!

Wow!  Our group is growing!!!  ~waves hello to everyone~ :) :) :)

So, I went to the docs office today and came home to see how close the scales were... 13 lbs difference... more at the docs... gah!  I just adjusted my scales...

Made me have the crazy feeling to eat a last supper and go on a *diet*!!!  eek... just the kind of behaviour i'd do, then stop and regain everything!!!

no more dieting.  I in with the lifestyle change...  eat foods we enjoy and not over-eat... cut back some to lose... and add in exercise we enjoy...  yep...

easier said than done.

1st things 1st... stopped by the store on the way home for this weeks groceries... it really makes a difference to have the foods i need available.

i use some of the single serving foods too, so they are easy to pack and go...

anyone else a food hoarder here?  I had a hard time resisting the urge to buy like 3 weeks of my chips and sweet treat foods.  I was good though and only bought 1 weeks worth.  The deal is i have to make it last the week and not eat all in 1 day...  or i will have to go to the store each day to get my treat.... hehehe ;)

ok, need to skedaddle!  Gr8 2 c everyone here :)

Raises hand.  I'm a food hoarder.  The thing is it is foods I don't eat, usually.  Things like Hamburger helper(HH), mac and cheese, and cans of veggies, and one pound chubs of ground turkey.  If I don't have at least 3 of each kind of veggie on the shelves and 3 boxes of HH and Mac and Cheese I feel the need to go buy some.  As a family we hardly ever eat these things, but it goes back to when mu hubby and I were reallllly struggling financially and when food went on sale we'd buy 20 boxes of mac and cheese because they were 5/$1, and it was very possible that this is all we'd be able to eat for two until next payday.  Things are better financially now, but the urge to make sure the cupboards are completely stocked with things like that is tremendous.  I think we eat HH about 1 time a month and mac and cheese every other month.  I do use the canned veggies to cook with, though.

Laps,

Recovering food hoarder.

Me too! I want in on this too! I started at 250 lbs last July and am down to 230 as of my last doctors apt. last week. Some of you already know I am seriously considering weight loss surgery.  I am already in a program and was just about positive and determined to have it. Been going through all the  many pre op requirements since August and the plan was (is?) to have the surgery this summer. I've done a TON of research. Enough to know that it's not a cure all... not a magic bullet, full of risks and a very hard road for the rest of your life to keep the weight off. I'm not afraid... that's not my reason for suddenly wavering on this. I just want to be sure that there is no possible way I could do this on my own. My problem is that I've lost significant amounts of weight so so many other times. I've always been successful but always gain it back plus more. I can NOT keep losing and regaining and at 52 yrs old I feel like I'm at my wits end. So I am here and have met some pretty enthusiastic and helpful folks. I'm sticking around and who knows. Perhaps with the help of all of you,  I will change my mind and not have the surgery after all. I just don't know but I'm happy to have found this group! Thanks to everyone!

-Marianne C.

steps up to the scales...slowly places one foot on at a time...gasps loudly....definetly joins the club.....

I keep reading how people are having a difficult time getting in all their calories.  Not me...whats the trick?  I am struggling not to go over.  Since starting I have only gone over once but today my weight is up, which is frustrating!  I have cut out all fast food, potato chip type snacks, and chocolate (I am a chocoholic).  It's only been a few weeks, and I am already feeling frustrated.

Oh, and I have joined the February challenges.

last january i weighed 268.5, and my suggested goal is 139.  Currently i weigh 229, i joined this site last month.  i just re-lost the 8 pounds i gained over the thanksgiving-christmas holidays, and im ready to really commit...i think...

Janet

How is everyone going to survive the super bowl parties!???  I know I'm in for a big challenge with resiting some very yummy, very high calorie, high carb, high fat foods..  I'm bringing stuff I know I can eat. I made some yummy liver pate and will have it will Triscuit crackers which are whole grain,  has no trans fats and are 3 grams of fiber per serving. I also made stuffed celery with low fat cream cheese and olives. 

-Marianne C.

I made some homemade hummus.  1 can of garbanzo beans, 3 tsp. olive oil, about 1/4 cup of water in the blender...to flavor I put about 1/8 of a packet of french onion soup mix, so it taste like french onion dip, and homemade baked pita chips...8 chips are 80 calories, and 1/4 cup of the hummus is around 100 calories.  Also the pita chips are whole wheat pita.  It's quite yummy.

Laps

So glad i found you guys..I have over a 100 pounds to loose..I need all the help i can get.  Been reading your stories..sounds so much like me..I am a night eater also.. I started my diet jan2nd this year i have lost 20 pounds already..i am so excited...Keep the good stories comming...Love you all and good luck..We can do it