I think it's totally realistic, if you stay on your calorie budget and make your workouts count. I mean you need to be bringing out the sweat here sista. For the first 4-5 months I was pretty steadily losing 15 pounds/month, with an average deficit around 1,000 calories/day. My weight loss has tapered off lately, but I've been slowly trying to transition to a calorie budget that is close to maintenance, so that I don't shock my system by one day going from 1,350 calories to 2,100. Even still I've been losing like 5-6 pounds/month, and I'm totally okay with that. My focus lately has been learning to eat away from home in moderation.

:( :mad: :eek: I failed miserably at that today! I was/am sooo stressed out about not getting to at least 1200 calories that not only did I go to a fast food place for burger and fries... but also stopped by the store ( for fruit and veggies) and walked out with ice cream and bread pudding! So I finally made my 1500 calories today!!! MOSTLY carbs and fat! :-( :rolleyes: Hope everyone else did better this weekend.

I am new here
 

Hello ladies, I am new to all of this, however I do know that I am motivated to lose weight and feel better. Although I know that I need a lot of help and support in order to continue forward. I will take advice and would love some words of wisdom..

Thanks
:eek:

It's very hard to stay on plan when you have no control over the selection. I thought I was doing pretty well yesterday, until we all went back to the buffet for ice cream. I just got a small cup, maybe 1/2 cup measured out, which I was thinking was maybe 90-100 calories/serving. Then all 3 of our children couldn't finish theirs, so DH and I finished it up for them. Which ended up adding maybe 2 more cups of ice cream to the half I had already eaten. What I did not know is that soft serve ice cream has like 350 calories per cup!!!! :eek::eek::eek::eek: So now I am a fat girl again.

Start weight.............295lb 4/1/10
current weight..........252lb 8/2/10
pounds lost..............43lbs
goal weight..............185

Welcome neaner. You're definitely in the right place if you're serious about making this change to your life!
I've only been doing this 5 weeks myself, but already learned a lot so I may have a few words of wisdom to share.

My first thing would be not to deprive yourself! If you try and crash diet, cutting out all the foods you love it's just not going to work unless you're super disciplined. It's all about balance and of course you don't want to be miserable in your new lifestyle. Less is more, and treating yourself occasionally won't hurt you if you do it sensibly.

Secondly, always try to set yourself small goals, aswell as major targets. They help keep you focused, and reaching those small achievements will help you stay positive. For example I've already reached 3 minor targets. Losing my first stone (14lbs), getting under 20st (280lbs) and being able to do 30 minutes on the elliptical/cross trainer. As you see they are not all weight-loss goals, as for me this new life is not all about weight-loss.

Thirdly, keep something like a journal or a blog. It's great to read back on your successes when you're feeling like giving up, and having a written account of your journey and reading about others journeys can be really positive and inspiring. You can keep these anonymous aswell. Feel free to read mine (the link in my signature), it's open.

And lastly, use FitDay!!! It has a wealth of priceless information, and you can always find help on the forums. Every question I've ever asked has been answered brilliantly. So many people know their stuff, and it's a fab tool to use.

All else I can say is GOOD LUCK and keep checking in and let me (us) know how you're getting on!

Welcome neaner! This forum rocks :)

almeeker-- as for the working out/ sweating it out, I haven't yet found an option that is good for that... as I said, I herniated a disc in my back earlier this year... for a while, I couldn't walk or stand for more than 5 minutes at a time without severe pain. Now I can grocery shop without pain, and walk about 15-20 minutes without pain. So I have been walking twice a day for 15 minutes each time.... Sometimes that is enough to cause my back to hurt all night, sometimes its okay. I am going to gradually try increasing that (one walk at a time)... But I don't want to make my injury worse. I see a spine specialist in Sept.

Oh, also... I know exercise is neccessary/essential for health! But, it's not neccessary for weightloss... so I am not including that (I mean, even when I walk, I am not allowing myself extra calories or anything)... to me, anything I can do at the moment is just extra :)

Hey Patti Just added you as my first contact. Just signed on yesterday to FitDay. Living in Alberta too. Over 100# to lose...one at a time. Type 2 diabetic, over 50..way over, and just learning how to exercise. Which means I am walking. LOL In great need for an accountability friend too. What is the scoop on these forums? How do they all work? Newbie to lifestyle changes...and internet socializing.

Oops, sorry I forgot you're the one with the back issues. Well, you can only do what you can do right? My DH has that exact same issue, he's had it for years and has just learned to live with the pain, some days are better than others. The one thing I know that helps him is stretching. He stretches every morning for about 15-20 minutes and then he does about 30 minutes of yoga. It never fails to amaze me just how limber he's gotten since he started doing yoga. So you might give that a try, believe me DH is very sweaty by the end of his workout.

Actually I'm one of those people that cannot lose weight by dieting alone (believe me I've tried), I have to do both diet and exercise to move the scale at all. I'm quite jealous of those who can just do it with diet.

I used to be like that- could only lose by exercising... Who knows what will happen when I get out of the 300's though... or how long I will be able to keep this up... But theoretically, its supposed to be possible!!!
I do some stretches, etc... And walking of course... I don't struggle through the pain, because apparently doing things that make it hurt doesn't allow it to heal! :( I have been resting it and "babying" it for a while, and finally having some improvement. I originally went for physical therapy, and every night, I would be in excruciating pain...