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!

welcome scarter!

we have all definitely been where you are. at least you're trying to get motivation sooner rather than later. i lost my motivation for an entire year! you're nipping it in the bud, which shows that you are obviously trying to dedicate yourself to this once and for all.

on the foods thing, my only advice is to go shopping for your regulars as soon as you see you're running short, to avoid eating what you don't think you should be eating. or keeping the "bad" stuff out of the house. or reframing what you have available. for example, say you normally eat hummus and carrot sticks but you're out, and all that's in the house are the salt and vinegar chips your husband/boyfriend/roommate loves. that's not really the only thing in the house, is it? you still have tons of the frozen/canned veggies fruit you bought, you have lean meats waiting to be cooked up. you could probably make a healthy feast with just a few things in your cupboards; just go in there and look around for a little while.

edit: watchme, i NEVER order whipped cream at starby's. it tastes like cold, congealed fat. yuck!

Hey all!  I really had no intentions of breaking any records with that last post.  I have just slacked off lately on posting (but still read every day).  I find it easier to just do it all at once rather than start and then finish where I left off later.  Anyway, I hope the length didn't cause you all to roll your eyes or whatever.  I really do just want to be there for everybody, because you all have been such a help to me, finding myself and keeping on with this whole weight loss stuff.

Boots- I have often wondered about what regular life is after a contestant leaves Biggest Loser.  That must be awful to be losing hair and fighting to maintain once leaving a show like that.

fallon- Yippee!!!  I am very happy for you and your new Starbuck's job!  With every new routine, it takes a while to get used to, but I think you're going to like being done with work by quarter to one every day!  I'm also relieved to hear that your mom and aunt are safe, but what a hair-brained idea to go check it out while it's in progress!!!

watchme- Those 20's are going to feel extra good, seing as though you won't have been in the 22's for much tine at all!

pinkcobra- Little people aren't always very good at sharing, UNLESS it's a cold/flu!!!

scarter1- We're glad you found us!  We're happy to have people join at any point of their healthy life journey.  Make sure you keep in mind that it's not just the number on the scale that measures progress.  Dropping 2% body fat is really good!  Losing inches is also a great way to track your success!  Your chiropractor sounds awesome!  How cool are they for advocating for their heavier clients!  We are all going to detour from our weigh loss path from time to time, and it's really not all that bad of a thing.  You always want to keep your body guessing.  If you were consistently hard-core about weight loss your entire time, your body probably would have gotten very good at burning just the minimal amount of calories.  You'll get back on soon enough.

dalmalama- I needed to hear that.  My husband's potato chips are not the ONLY  crunchy things left in the house...  My husband's potato chips are not the ONLY  crunchy things left in the house...  My husband's potato chips are not the ONLY  crunchy things left in the house...

Ok, true confession time...  I haven't logged a single thing I've eaten for at least the last week.  I know, what's up with that!?!  I think it started on Easter Sunday and the Disneyland trip.  I wasn't able to figure out what all was in the Denny's food, so I decided to skip that day all together.  Then Monday came around and I got busy; Tuesday I had breakfast with my church group and no way of knowing what was even in half the stuff.  Now it's Friday, and I still haven't logged anything.  So tomorrow, someone please ask me what I have eaten and/or give my calorie report for the day!  This has GOT to stop!!!

 

Thanks for the welcome guys!  Dalmalama - you are absolutely right.  I am never really completely out of food, I am just out of the stuff that I eat routinely.  I do get sick of looking through the cabinets and "wondering what should I eat?" when I know what I should eat.  The downside to not eating processed foods is that you don't really have canned vegetables/fruit in the cupboards, but there is other food in the house.  But what do you do when you know what you SHOULD be eating and you don't want it?  My husband does have food in the house that I don't eat (like chips) but that isn't really the stuff that tempts me.  I am more tempted to just go out to eat or order in.

hey all... i'm going to dance class.  then, not sure what to do.  no plans for tonight.  i'm thinking of just staying in, watching one of the new movies i bought, and organizing my closet (i.e., weeding out more clothes).  i also need time to do groceries, laundry and do my taxes at some point this weekend so maybe i can conquer some of that tonight too.... tomorrow morning, i have 2 hours of dance and then a friends farewell lunch... maybe will turn into an evening hang-out as well.  since sunday i have to do a few hours of work PLUS taxes, i'm thinking i should just stay in.  not sure!!!  in such a blah mood about socializing since i have so much on my mind with the weight loss stuff, job stuff, etc.  anyone ever get like this?  since my hours suck and i go to dance right after, it's so hard to fit in the life stuff.  and like dalma was saying about never letting your cupboards get down to hardly anything -- i totally need a re-stock.  i'm down to very little "healthy" stuff and don't have any fruit around either now!!  i guess like i feel like a loner and a loser when i don't have plans and yet i get so overwhelmed with all the "life" stuff that i need to accomplish that i keep pushing to the side each and every day, week, etc. when i'm TOO busy socializing (like last weekend!)

i have similar problems, scarter. i don't cook. at all. everything i eat has to be easily microwaveable or able to be eaten raw. i can't remember the last time i used my stove. but that also means i haven't used any fats to cook with.

my point? if i don't feel like "cooking," i know just how easy it is to run out and get something, or have something delivered. but most times, right when i'm about to pick up the phone or the car keys i realize, i don't know how many hundreds (or thousands) of calories are gonna be in that food; i don't know how many servings i'm actually eating; i don't know how much sodium i'm guzzling; but i DO know how much money i'm wasting on that convenience food. the last time i had chinese, i spent 41 bucks! that could've been a few days' worth of food, not just one meal for two people!

not knowing the calories, and just being cheap, helps me out in those situations.

also: HELP!!! i'm getting worse with my salt problem. i used to hate soy sauce, but for the past month or so, whenever i order sushi, i've been saucing it up, and it tastes SO GOOD!! any ideas on how to lick my salt addiction?

You Ladies are so busy chattin it up!

Dalmal: I had no idea they had soy whip cream? Is it good, I'm afraid--now you girls got me thinking about getting a mocha frappacino--ok maybe I will just get a tea! But now it's on my brain--don't you hate that---like when you watch tv all the time and they have all these food commercials--makes me sick!!

FALLON___Congrats on the job!!!!!!!!That's so freaking exciting--I'm sure we have all been in your shoes before--looking for a job is no fun and now you don't have to worry about that--Congrats girl! You deserve a night out--have fun!!!!! O' and did you get that jog in (I couldn't help it))

Watchme--I'm more of a home-body kind of person anyways. I like to be at home a lot and watch movies or read books--I just like to be at home so you saying is it weird to stay in, to me , it's not!

Scarter---I think that if you want fast food then go for it but check out all the nutritional stuff online--some places do have that information online--Like burger king, subway, quiznos, panera bread company, applebees and a few other places--that's what I try to do--if I'm going to eat fast food or bad food then I try to make sure it is in my calories but I agree with dalma that I'm kind of getting away from processed food but every once in a while (ok once a week) I get a craving for processed food so I just make sure it's in my allotted calories and if I don't know the amount of calories then I either eat half of it and give the other half to my hubby or I don't eat it at all..I also eat a lot of organic foods--so I understand that! And sometimes, it's hard to but I just have to force myself to eat the healthy food even when I don't want to---I just eat what's in the house---I also hate to cook but the George Forman grill is my friend-

Welp, I got spin class in 45 minutes, I will probably check in again later--for those of you that won't be back because you have more of a life than me--Have a good night!

I don't know how good it would taste on sushi, but when I want to add extra flavor to something I add pepper or other seasonings that don't have salt added.  I do try to cook a lot (or I should say I was cooking a lot) so that I don't waste my money on eating out, but I don't use a lot of fats/oils to gook with.  We grill a lot, and when I do cook on the stove I use Pam to spray my pans with.  I recently discovered the joy of eating egg whites rather than the whole egg.  A single egg white from a large egg is only like 18 Calories!  I can eat a lot of egg whites for that!  And they still fill you up, just without all the cholesterol.  A veggie egg white omelet is so good for any meal.  I am home a lone a lot in the evenings so that was what I was resorting to for dinner for a while, until I fell off the wagon (I'm getting back on as we speak though). 

Watchme - I get into moods like yours all the time.  I really hate being alone so the nights when my husband isn't home I resort to getting together with friends or eating.  SO I have been trying to get together with friends more.  I also have a lot to do (I still need to get my taxes done too and every weekend I'm like I have to do the taxes this weekend but then I become a social butterfly and everything under the sun takes priority over getting the stupid taxes done).  And I keep telling myself that when I am home alone I need to focus on organizing my life, the closets, photos, etc. but then I always turn the TV on and plop down in front of it with some food and then I am done for the day!  I would throw my TV out the window if my husband weren't so attached to it. 

Being married has definitely made things harder (I love my husband, don't get me wrong).  It is harder to lose weight.  My husband is this skinny athlete who can eat like 5000 calories a day and still lose weight, so he doesn't have to think about what he eats.  So when he wants to eat something that I know is not really what I should be eating, I eat it any way, just because he is.  If he gets a bowl of ice cream I'm like I should have a bowl of ice cream if he gets one.  I know it is the stupidest mentality, but it's true.  And then when he's not around I get lonely so I eat bad then too!  I can't win.  I know I have to get over this, and just accept that I am who I am and that includes the body I have and the genes I was dealt.  All of this thinking/reflecting has made me want to go to the gym.  I think I am going to go work out to get some of this out!

Jeepers!  I just beat my 1000 cal burn time on the elliptical!  I did it in 38 minutes flat!  I also did about 10 minutes of arms, and will finish 40 minutes of outdoor walking (drop off my car to fix brakes, 20 min. to and from).  I better find some protein!

scarter- I've done that too, where there's a good choice of food in the house, but I'd rather not eat it.  I just have to keep reminding myself of how expensive each thing is and how I better eat it up before it spoils (asparagus will be for dinner tonight).

watchme- Have fun with dance tonight.  I think a night of R&R is probably good for you.  Didn't you say that you had some pretty rough nights this past week?  I know you caught up on some sleep last night, but maybe you need more.

dalmalama- Eating out can be really pricey, but YUMMY!  I'm not really sure what to tell you about the salt issue.  Maybe you need to just go cold turkey on the shakers and soy sauce?

Boots- I'm a home-body too.  I rarely go anywhere :P  I wish my husband would eat half of what I have on my plate!  My son will usually help with at least 5 bites, but I really just have to learn to take smaller portions I guess.  Grilling is probably my favorite method of cooking too.  Either that or the slow cooker!

scarter- You and me both with the egg whites.  I couldn't fathom eating an egg without the yolk before, but now I think it tastes so good!  Sometimes if I really feel like it, I will make a 2 white 1 whole scramble, but never more than one yolk a day.  Congrats for putting yourself back on a healthy plan!  Grrr... Isn't it frusterating when our husbands are like polar opposites as far as body type and metabolism goes!?!  I can't stand to eat how he eats though.  He will usually eat one, maybe two meals a day, and then a bowl of cereal before he goes to bed.  His metabolism is crazy!  You'd think he'd be packing on pounds because he deprives it most of the day, but no, he can't gain an ounce!  MEN xD

mladdy: how did you do 1000+ cals in 38 mins!!!  OMG!  that's so amazing, good for you!!!  That makes me want to go to group groove tonight, but that's not happening as I still feel like crap.

welcome scarter!!  I understand the husband thing... mine is superfit and eats like a horse... but never gains an ounce!  I smell food and gain 5 pounds!  You've come to the right place for motivation though, everyone here is great!

i'm home. dance kind of sort of sucked. and i think i am about to eat my feelings. not good.

Oh no, watchme.  What happened?  Instead of eating, grab a pillow and squish the xxxx out of it, or scream into it.

Original Post by pinkcobra:

mladdy: how did you do 1000+ cals in 38 mins!!! OMG! that's so amazing, good for you!!! That makes me want to go to group groove tonight, but that's not happening as I still feel like crap.

It was on the elliptical on 26 stride and 14 resistance (highest setting for both) going between 70 and 80 rpm!  I don't think I stepped off that thing, I POURED myself off of it!  I took a shower pronto and then proceeded to walk 20 minutes to pick up my car from the shop.  I am going to be hurting tomorrow.

so I guess we all the the skinny fast metabolism husband problem eh? Shall we get rid of them? Just kidding--I have to admit I put on some weight by eating like my husband--and eating exactly what he ate but then one day I was like you are gaining and he is losing--I can't eat like him--so even if he does eat bad I tell myself "nope" can't do it--and I realize sometimes I don't even want the bad foods that he is eaten,i'm like you scatter --just because he has it I think that I want it--so one thing that I do is when he orders fast food--I will make a big salad at home with chicken or something to eat and I will ask him for a couple of bites of his food and that's all I need to satisfy my craving--it really helped me---I eventually learned that if I want to lose this weight I can't eat like him--I'm kinda of lucky now because he is starting to understand the importance of eating healthy and is slowly transitioning to healthy food--so that really helps--I understand what you girls go through!

mladdy--good job with the exercise!

watchme: Let us know if you need to talk, were here girl!

And I don't really like Egg Whites--so what I do is put a bunch of fat-free cheese on them--and then I eat them up

Welp, I went to my hour spin class (hubby went with me-I didn't even have to beg!!)) So that was cool, it was a real hard class. Then we order food from a really nice organic restaurant--I got skirt steaks with spinach and potato pancakes with sauteed vegetables which were really healthy and he got roasted chicken--we shared food--it was really good and the whole meal was bout 500 healthy calories--I feel satisfied--We just got done watching a movie (my life as Dan--i think that's what it is called) and now we are going to watch another one! I just wanted to check in..

Boots- That's really cool that your hus-b went to your spin class with you!  He has earned some brownie points in my book!  There is probably an organic restaurant like the one you mentioned around me somewhere, but I'm afraid it would be ungodly expensive.  How does the price compare to a run of the mill family restaurant?  The food sounds amazing AND healthy!

Phooey!  I just looked at the time, and reaaaaally need to pry myself off of the computer to get some much needed sleep.  My son woke up at an astonishing 4 am this morning!!!  He's 2 and hasn't done that since he was months old.  What's going on!?!  This had BETTER not be a new trend, but just in case, I need some shut eye!  I'll probably see you all on here tomorrow.  Adios!

thanks guys... it's a lot of things....

i'm up in the middle of the night (it's 2:30 AM here)... i went to bed around 10:30 and then slept for 2 solid hours buts then i just tossed and turned for 2 hours... sleeping problems for 2 weeks now.

the job thing... not sure what to do or if i belong anymore.  don't really want to look for a new job cuz that sucks and most other large companies have even more demanding hours.  kind of just waiting and seeing what happens.

the dance thing... just cannot get some of these moves when i miss one class (cuz of that wedding) so it's frustrating.  i also don't feel like i am exercising all that much in many of the classes.  and since my time is somewhat limited given the work load, i think i should spend free time on the elliptical cuz whenever i do that at least 4 hours a week, i lose 2-3 lbs.  it's only when i stopped that did things slow down.  (i went from losing an average of 8 lbs a month in jan and feb to 5 this month -- when i first started losing weight, i lost an average of 8 for 4 months straight).  i was probably eating about 2000 calories even still the first time around.  now i'm trying to stick to the 1700 (and lately the +/= cycling) considering the pcos, i think this is pretty good. 

the boy thing still getting me down.  seeing pics of him with girls he likes, even though he told me 2 turned out to be dating each other (one is bi, the other a lesbian) and he apparently did not pick up on that fact.  still feels funny to see his arm around a girl.  also, i just look at him and think about other guy options too.  like what if the love of my life (him or someone else, whoever he is) is gonna be snapped up cuz i'm still 130 lbs away from goal? i have seen so many girls my age in **** situations and some divorces recently so my parents are kind of freaked and keep telling me to lose weight and focus on my health and career plans thinking a lot of these muslim guys are getting really superficial.  like i have said before, a lot of them want a girl from money and a trophy wife.  hardly the basis of a great marriage.  this guy in particular seems much different but he's also not waiting around so whatever.  there's nothing i can do except keep working toward my goal and meeting him eventually.  i said that would be at a size 14 and i'm at a comfortable 22, some lose 22s even, so i guess 14 may be a year-end goal. 

the friends thing.  i've realized how many of my good friends have left or are leaving the chicago area and many good friends have left or are leaving my work place too.  so i have very few people left.  next year, 2 more friends are planning on moving.  this year, one of my best friends is leaving in may.  it's very lonesome already and these people's departures will mean that i am even more lonesome.  i just don't know what to do.  it's hard to make friends once you're out of school.  it's hard to make friends at work in a law firm setting -- hard to trust people.  the firm is much like high school.  very gossipy.

anyway, last but not least, the weight loss thig. had a slower month.  ate some greasy chips today at salseria (owned by taco fresca) though i had their lowfat chicken burrito (600 calories) so was beating myself about that and ended up eating like 1950 calories in addition to those chips -- god knows how many calories were in them.  they're those thick greasy oily fried chips served with green stuff of some sort (not guacamole, this stuff is oily?) and salsa.  i had met a friend for lunch and was so stressed about work stuff that i kept eating those.  needless to say, i felt like **** afterwards and beat myself up saying "so much for my not having a problem controlling myself."  seriously though, i only do these sorts of things twice a month or so and yet i beat myself up.  and most of the time, i plan in having a slice of cake.  i always skip dessert when i go out for dinner now too.  so really, i don't know why i beat myself because it only makes me feel bad about myself and then have the mentality of "i ate bad already now, might as well keep going" for the rest of the day.

anyway, gonna try to go back to bed.  thanks for listening.  i feel like i am the only person who is struggling like hell with this stuff lately, emotions/life wise.  everyone seems to be so upbeat and on-track and i just feel like i'm eeyore (from winnie the pooh) with the gray rain cloud over my head.

Original Post by dalmalama:

i wanna ask all you ladies a question:

when  you see some of the posts by the thinner cc members, who want to get down to like 110, 120, what do you think of that? firstly, i can't even imagine myself at that weight b/c it's just too skinny. i'm very very curvy, too, and i like it! secondly, some of them come off as kinda greedy to me. like, you're 5'10', why do you want to be 120 lbs? that's unsafe, ridiculous, and just dumb!! if you're petite and looking at a weight like that, i get it, but taller than 5'4"? no way!

or am i just looking at it through fat glasses?

btw, good job, feddiechick!!

 Part of me agrees with you, saying to myself...Jeez...if only I could be 120 without looking anorexic.  It's just not right for my build or peace of mind.  But I just sometimes look at it like this, as women, most of us are hard on ourselves and no matter if we are 110 or 210, we are going to find parts of ourselves that we don't like and want to change.  I definitely think that it's better to find out what's healthy for YOU as an individual and not go for a number just cause it sounds good.  :)  I look at everything through fat glasses and probably will even once I reach my goal weight.  It's a fact of life for me, like riding a bike, I'll never forget what it's like to be trapped inside your own body of your own making and hate it.

Watchme - sweetie you can't be so hard on yourself. If you take life so seriously all the time you won't enjoy it. Don't let guys get you down. The right guy will come along and when he does it won't matter what you weigh or what you do for a living because he will see you for who you are. You sound like you have a great personality and good morals, you shouldn't change anything for a guy. You should make sure everything you do is for you. I have trouble sleeping sometimes too but I have definitely noticed that when I am taking great care of myself, eating healthy, and getting the exercise my body needs I sleep great. If this isn't the case for you you could try taking melatonin about 30 minutes before you go to bed. Melatonin is the natural sleep hormone that the body releases when it gets dark outside. It is natural, and will never become habit forming like other sleep aids. You can find it at most vitamin shops and natural food stores, just make sure its only melatonin and that nothing else has been added. And its not that expensive. I get it from my chiropractor and it costs like $10 a bottle. You sound so frustrated with your job too. I have always help the phylosophy that no job is worth that much stress. It is so important for your well being to find a job that you enjoy and that you feel is worth getting up for each day. If you don't like the demanding hours you should put the effort into finding a new job. You sound like you know what you want so you should go out there and find it. It sucks looking for new jobs, trust me I know. I have had like 15 jobs since I was 16 and I have finally found one that I truly enjoy where I get a long with the people and it gives me what I want out of a job. You should never lose sleep over a job, its not worth it. You're young and you sound like you have a lot of potential. Don't get your self down over a bad day of food. I do that (used to be worse about it). It just makes you end up sabotaging your self. You should just tell yourself "Okay I ate those chips, I am going to forget about it and move on with my day and my life". Don't get hung up on the small stuff. Try positive self talk (I know this sounds so phony, but it has been helping me). I start every day by telling myself that I need to change, I must change and I can change, now. I look at myself in the mirror and remind myself that I am a good person and I am worth taking care of. Just think of the favor you are doing yourself by taking good care of your self now, while you are still young. If you're like me and you know what triggers your bad eating habits, come up with a new plan for how you are going to deal with those triggers from now on. I am finding that when I am alone I eat really bad, so I know I have to change what I do when I am alone. One thing that is great is this group. I can get on here and talk and talk (sorry about that guys) and it totally distracts me from wanting to eat bad. It keeps my mind and fingers busy. I also write in a journal a lot. If I start wanting to do something I know is bad, I grab my journal and start talking about it. I also think that I have a lot of issues surrounding food and that maybe I need therapy to truly get over them so I am looking into that for myself so that I can be successful at losing the weight and keeping it off. Maybe that could help you (I am not saying that I think you need it from anything you have said, just that it might help over all). I hope you find a way to over come some of these challenges, you sound like you are hurting so badly now.

OMG I HATE  LOVE HATE ICE CREAM!

Does anyone else yo-yo as bad as I do? I'm down three up two down one up three down two down one more up three up one down three.

*screams!* I swear, I've been between 225 and 230 for the past three months, up down up down up up down down up down. All of those ups and downs should be lunges or pushups, NOT my friggen scale! Some days I'm totally good, and then I'm not so good... and then the scale goes up again, so I work really really hard, and then it goes down again, so I think, hell, why not, I can have a few slack days, and then I go straight back up.

I know that this weight fluctuation has to be water weight, to some extend, but I also know some of it is legit weight that I've gained/lost.

Does anyone else have this problem at all? I feel like a yoyo, and I wonder if weight loss/gain like this, back and forth, is bad for my body...

I always tell myself "this week will be it. No screw ups..." but it's never the case! I always fall back again... or gain up!

does anyone have any advice for this? or... some "get your ass in gear stop complaining and if you want it you gotta do it stop eating ice cream, biotch don't make excuses!" type words?

Hey all......my name is Rebecca 25 and on a quest to lose 100 pounds. Found this sight after I started my diet. So far 11 pounds lost, currently 243, 5'6" Just wanted to say that I read a lot of posts on this thread and found it so inspiring so see women my age doing the same as me Weight has been a battle all of my life, but I am happy with who I am as a person which is why I think I am so passonate about getting healthy. Thanks for the motivation wish me Luck!!! and I wish the same to all of you :)