my goals
 

December 14, 2010 - 277
December 14, 2011 - 150

That's a loss of ten pounds each month for one year -- to lose 120 in a year.

Don't be sorry for the rant, Jen. I know, it's frustrating to look back. And I also hate it when kids are messed up by a crazy focus on their eating or bodies. I think my parents had good intentions. They wanted me to have every advantage in life, and we all know what an advantage being thin is. Of course it backfired, but that's also due to some other events that happened later in life, not solely because of the early focus on eating and weight.

The thing is what to do now? Work to change it, to be healthy, to make good decisions on what I'm eating every day. AND ESPECIALLY to not choose food in the face of some unpleasant feeling or other.

This is my pattern: Stressed? Eat. Overwhelmed? Eat. Angry? Eat. Sad? Eat. Tired? Eat. And my favorite bad feeling: feeling forced by circumstance to do something I desperately don't want to do...eat eat eat.

For today, I'm focusing on the fact that I'm a capable, competent, 53 year old woman who's done a lot of hard stuff in her life, as we all have. I can do this. We call can.

Everybody have a great day !!! I'm going to :p

Counting you IN Scoop!!! Let's do it. I'm collecting success stories of people who've lost ~ and kept off ~ 100 pounds or more. Maybe others could too, and we could link to them here?

When I hit a down spot, it helps me to read of others who are doing what I want to do. Of course, we're all writing our own success stories right here. In a year, we'll be linking to Scoop, who lost 120 pounds and is keeping it off.

Nice to meet you!

Here's one...

Ali Lost 100 Pounds and Kept it Off for Five Years - That's Fit

And with that, I'll hush up for the day (morning)

Hi Everyone,

My name is Julie and I am finally ready to commit to weight loss for the first time in my life! 2011 is going to be MY year. MY year to focus on ME and nobody else!
I have 150 lbs to lose to get to the goal weight that I would like to be!

I find that I am a type of person that needs constant support etc... please feel free to message me and we can support one another!

Looking forward to getting to know you all and making our dreams come true!

Mine too, though I started a little younger. What the heck it wrong with us?

To make things even worse, my 17 y/o daughter is (surprise!) overweight. Sigh! With two obese parents she never had a chance.

All we can do is go from where we are right now and try to break this destructive cycle. Checking in here every day is a good start, I think.

Regards,
Michael

Hi Julie, and welcome!

We're a pretty friendly bunch, and all of us have know where you're at. Heck, after 8 months of 1500 calorie days, I'm almost down to where you're starting, so don't despair. Take one day at a time and the weight will peel off before you know it.

My advice is to pick a calorie level that is comfortable, a good mix of carbs/fat/protien and at a level that gives you a reasonable calorie deficit. Drink lots (and lots) of water and start exercising (it's tough to beat walking).

Keep us posted as to how things are going and don't hesitate to ask if you need help or advice.

Regards,
Michael

Scoop, welcome, and YOU CAN DO IT!!!!!

Don't be a stranger and keep us posted as to your progress.

Regards,
Michael

Lynette, that is a good article. I'm going to start tracking down some too. Please post up any good ones you find. You and I are going to need some good advice and strategies in maintaing our losses soon enough.

Regards,
Michael

Welcome, Scoop and Julie! Keep coming back and we'll be here to give support and advice. Just to underscore something Michael said that could be missed...check in here every day! Add some momentum to your commitment, and pretty soon you'll feel the wind at your back.

Good luck you two, and all.

Matt

Thanks for the warm welcome everyone!! I really do appreciate the immediate support and advice! My signature timeline is clearly off! I don't have a date where I'd like to reach my ideal weight of 150 lbs :) I have 150 lbs to lose in total... half of my body weight!

I hope to lose 20 lbs by February 1st, 2011... 60 lbs by June 1st, 2011 and then my ultimate goal is something that I do not want to put a date on :) Everyday will be a challenge for sure... but I WILL do this for myself this time around. It's all about ME for once!!!

Hi Julie ~ Glad you're here. Set a goal and hang in there. I think it helps a whole whole WHOLE lot to have others who are working for the same thing. You can do it. We all can if we're willing to make the commitment and keep it up. That's where support from others on the same path means so much to me: when I'm feeling tired or weak re food or in a dangerous spot, I can reach out to someone else and maybe pick up a little of their enthusiasm or hope or success. Every time I've successfully lost weight I've done it with others. Yes we can!

lynette185

I think that's very smart. One of the things I like about simply writing down my food and watching the calories is that it's a sane, simple, normal way to eat. I'm trying to eat healthier things, but I always do. This time I'm just trying to eat healthier things in line with a calorie count that will allow me to lose weight.

The times I've used diet pills or liquid diets or any other form of severe deprivation, I've felt frantic and anxious about getting DONE so I could quit. And I would. I'd get done, and I'd quit and go back to my old habits which, of course, give me the old results.

The other thing about losing weight is it isn't that I feel bad, hate the way I look, huff and puff and then *poof* 6 months later I'm suddenly better. I start getting better right away.

Even the few days I've been doing this, I feel 50% better than I did. Way less pain walking, lots lots more energy, sleeping better, calmer, happier.

I know this can work for all of us. I'm excited :p

Had to take a rest day from the gym yesterday as my Monday 5K finally caught up with me, but I'm fighting fit today and can't wait for my martial arts/weight lifting classes later!


I'll probably be booed and hissed for saying this, but I haven't counted a calorie since the first month of my journey. It just doesn't work for me! I even did a food diary for my gym trainer and he said that I'm eating near enough perfect anyway. It's just from listening to my body, and gaining the knowledge to know what's good/bad and being able to exercise good portion control. If I had to guesstimate I'm probably consuming between 1600-1800 calories a day, maybe up to 2000 on heavy training days.

Anyway, I'm glad I got that out. And I hope everyone is having a fab day! It's almost the weekend!!!

Felicity, that is awesome! I'm so glad for you that you are able to eat "normally" and not have to keep track. You're doing so great--thanks for "coming out" :D What you're doing is, I think, what we'd all like to be able to do.

What MA do you do? In my last (brief) "thin period" I got into Tai-Chi and had a great time. I did a few classes with a nice Chinese lady, then found another instructor who was a little more "practical". I should get back into it when I'm a little smaller.

Have a great day!

Regards,
Michael

Hanging in there
 

Thanks, Michael,
I will be one of your success stories.
Gina

future success story
 

Lynette185,
Your support is greatly appreciated. I look forward to being one of your success stories. Thanks for gathering them.
Gina

Felicity, I think that's awesome! I agree with Michael, that I think we all hope to get there some day. I'll speak for myself when I say that I have never internalized any kind of food sense, and I have never exercised portion control. I have always marveled at the way "normal" people eat and it just seems to work out. I really hope this process retrains my mind and body and I can get where you are. For now, calorie counting is a really good tool for me, but I'm really happy for you.

Last night I was a bit hungry about an hour and a half after my workout and I grabbed the hummus from the fridge and these crackers I have that aren't too awful. I looked at the container and realized that I've had about ten servings out of it since I opened it. I used to practically kill one of those in a sitting. Same with this box of crackers. I thought about how long food was lasting, and how my fridge is a bit stuffed and I was wondering how I'm gonna "get through all that food" while it's still good. It's all mysterious to me, and I think that underscores 42 years of an unhealthy relationship with food. I instantly got used to the idea that I can feel full all day on 2,000 calories, but I don't trust myself to control my portions without tracking calories yet.

There was this guy who opened a restaurant locally here, and it just looked to me like a creative kind of tapas place to me. I read an article about the place and the guy who opened it, and it turns out he was some kind of scientist. He said the reason he opened a place that featured no "main courses" but rather a series of small plates to share was that our body chemistry has a limited window for reacting to new tastes. He said that after the first couple of bites the neurons aren't firing in excitement the way they do initially, and that he wanted to keep that excitement going. I think about that more and more when I'm eating, and use it as a reminder to keep my portions small and my variety up.

Be well everyone!

Felicity ~ I think being able to do it without counting calories is pretty kickass. I started writing down everything I eat here because I've been so dishonest with what I'm eating. I pretty much convinced myself I was eating just like anyone else, but looking back, I was probably hoovering up 4000 calories a day, minimum.

Getting to a point of having retrained myself such that I'm able to simply eat normally, exercise a lot, and maintain my weight is a dream. I'm happy for you. Hope I can do that one day.

Detroit ~ that's an interesting point about the tiny tastes. As I was having dinner last night, I realized I really didn't want the second little salmon patty. I thought about giving it to my husband. I forged ahead :) and finished it off, but next time, I'm going to remember that deal about a few bites.

Our family Christmas dinners have, over the last 8-10 years, evolved into appetizer buffets. We all love it, far more than cooking a bird, sides, etc. Everyone brings one or two little dishes and we all snack. I think that's similar to what your tapas guy is talking about.

I hope everyone has a lovely, successful, sane eating, peaceful day.

Okay, here's a -100++ inspiration for all of us, and especially for the guys:

One Mans trip to the Half: 200 pounds lost! Photos inside!

With amazing photos!!

Even better... his last post was 2009, but his weigh-ins are shown on the left:

Weigh in
12/03/10 - 333.8Lbs
12/31/10 - ???

Still keeping it off a year and a half after hitting his target weight.

Great link, Lynette. Here is his updated blog:
One Mans trip to the Half

It would appear, though, that he is still working towards his goal, if I'm reading it correctly. He must be a tall fellow--I don't think I was close to 500 and looked about like his "before" picture (I suppose I'll have to try and find one of me--I do tend to avoid cameras--and post it sometime) :eek:

I kinda wish I knew what weight I started at, but I was a) over my scale's capacity and b)too darned scared/embarrased to go anywhere else to weigh. After 6 full weeks at 1500 calories I was 393, so I gotta figure I dumped a good 20 to 30 pounds in that time period.

Anyway, I'm going to follow his blog--I'll be very interested to see how things so as he gets to his final goal. THAT will be the biggest challenge.

Regards,
Michael

PS It's a bit weird--he kinda resembles me--middle aged, short beard, balding, same weight. Perhaps I have a doppleganger!

Well, it's a class loosely based on boxing/martial arts. If you go onto YouTube and type in 'Body Combat' you should gets loads of videos up about it. The other class I do is called 'Body Pump' and you should be able to get loads up about that as well if you want an incite into my routine. :)

My gym also does Tai Chi classes, and I did go religiously when I was larger but to be frank I now find it a bit boring. :o I was thinking about doing a class called 'Body Balance' which is a mix of Tai Chi, Pilates and Yoga. I'm supple enough to now. :p
Definitely get yourself back to Tai Chi though. It has done wonders for my joints!

Was just messing around with my weight graph and FitDay still has my weigh-in from the last time I "sorta" decided to lose weight.

I was at 292 pounds on 08/02/06.

So, by the end of January, I'll be about where I was four years ago. [sarcasm] Yay me! :rolleyes: [/sarcasm]

I should get back into it. The second instructor I had made Tai-Chi into a "real" MA. We did open hand, sword, Taoist Temple Walking and "sparring" by speeding up the moves. His Tai-Chi was a far cry from the very nice Chinese lady's forms. It was never boring, that's for sure, though I can see how the traditional forms could be.

Regards,
Michael

Thanks Felicity for responding. It has been a rough 2 years for me. I have always been a curvy girl and I liked it that way, I am 5`7 and 2 years ago weighed about 150. I had a bunch of stressful things happen in my life that really messed with my hormones and with a family history of hormonal issues, all of a sudden everything shut down on me. I gained over 70 pounds in 2 months and my very curly hair went straight...etc etc. I had always been very active and very careful about what I ate and how much exercise I got. Once all that weight piled on i was unable to maintain my fitness level and unfortunately am starting from square one again. It took over 2 years for doctors to really figure out what was going on with me. For awhile there no matter what I ate was converted in sugar which was then turned into unwanted extra fat, mostly around my middle (which was devastating to me since I had always been proud of my flat tummy). Even since the diagnosis (of Poly Cystic Ovarian Syndrome) I got pretty depressed because I could not see any end in sight and started eating whatever I felt like, whenever I felt like, which in my life I was never able to do before. It was kind of freeing at first, not worrying about what I put in my mouth or if i went to the gym that day (if its only going to turn into fay anyways, who cares?) was my attitude. I`m mad at myself now because it is now just an extra 40 pounds now that I have to work off. but in the moment i had sunk so low it didn`t seem to matter to me anymore. Now my body seems to be getting back to working normally, i had hoped maybe the weight would just fall off....not excatly! So, i am working my butt off (literally) and trying to keep motivated. its been a struggle trying to not think about how my body used to react to things, foods i could eat and get away with, cutting calories thru the week so i could splurge on weekends...doesn`t work anymore. My body even loses weight differently now. Its so hard not to get caught up on how things used to be. Anyways, I just wanted to commend you on how wonderful you are doing. And I am definitely not downplaying how hard you have worked. Just wanted to let you know that you are an inspiration to many and hopefully that also helps you continue on your path. It sounds cheesy but honestly I have to remember that even the best tasting food in the world does not compete with how amazing I felt when I was in shape and looked the way I wanted to look. Nothing has ever been better than that.
And if anyone has any tips or advice I am happy to hear it! Thank you!

Thanks for that extra link, Michael. I didn't have time to go way into his stuff this morning, crazy day today.

IF you lose like those guys on biggest loser, you may have been 450, 475 :rolleyes: no telling. Did you know you can use two scales and combine the two weights? I learned that from the HealthStewards guy... what's his name, Dr. Nick. Lost hundreds of pounds on a liquid diet.

I would love to do Tai Chi!! One of the strangest things I've noticed since I put on this last 25 pounds (besides knees on fire, hips creaking, and a complete lack of stamina) is that I've lost my balance. I sort of careen through the world, crashing into things, onto things. I used to experience the same thing when I lost a lot of weight fairly quickly. Weird stuff. I've lost my center of gravity or something.

I've not ever watched Biggest Loser, but I have been to the website a few times. I was trying to figue out what time frame they lose that weight in. Just for fun sometime I'll try to figure out what a "typical" calorie intake for me might have been before I finally wised up and decided I wasn't quite ready for an early dirt nap (not that any of us are guaranteed to see tomorrow, but we CAN up the odds a bit).

I hear 'ya about the balance thing--I still use my walking stick when I go for my lunch time walk outside. Tai-Chi is great for improving balance, though it can be hard on the knees if you're heavy and try to do some of the move "correctly". I think it was "catch the swallow" that gave me problems--you CAN fake it, though, if you can't do the deep knee bend.

Regards,
Michael

I have full on flu. :( In bed, not knowing if I'm hot or cold, trying keep my lungs in my chest and my head from exploding. This is not how I wanted to spend the most wonderful time of the year!

That sucks bog water, Felicity. Hope you feel better soon! Take care of yourself.

Regards,
Michael

I do have a good question... Right now I weight 297 lbs... I am on 1800 calories a day based on the formula that is online to find out what the "right" amount of calories for me is... Does that seem right? What does everyone eat?

I am finding it hard to eat more then 1600 in a day!

Felicty...:(. I hope you feel better soon. Sounds awful and I hope it doesn't interrupt your holiday.

Julie. I aim for 2,000 calories, and usually fall between 1,900 and 2,100. When I started my routine, and started eating as clean as I could, I also found it hard to get all my calories. I did it, but I had to work at it. For me I think it was because I was so used to starving all day and eating all night that when I started eating breakfast, mid-morning snack, lunch, mid-afternoon snack, I was feeling completely full all day. That's changed for me, I think in direct correlation to how much I work out. I think my body wants all those calories, and I find myself hungry by the time I get to meal times, but satisfied with what I eat. I think this is a good sign because I'm pretty sure my metabolism is working a little more normally, and it's good to feel hungry when I get to my food.

I'm sure everyone is different, and your past eating habits, lifestyle, and body chemistry will affect things. But that's my perspective.

Matt

That seems kinda high, especially with you being female. I shoot for at least 1500 and less than 1600. I do have one day a month that "anything goes", but even then I keep my plan in mind and don't go TOO crazy (and I log everything).

I figure I burn about 3100 cals a day, more or less and since I started in May I have averaged 3 lbs. a week loss. I have noticed that things seem to be slowing down as of late--it may be "portion creep" so I'll go back to weighing/measuring everything.

If you shoot for 1800 it is really easy to end up higher if you're not careful. And, I find it much easier to go up in calories than to go down. Why not try 1500 cals of GOOD food and see how it goes? I shoot for a 40/30/30 carb/protein/fat mix, but some folks feel more protien is better.

Anyway, that's my .02.

Regards,
Michael

Happy weekend, fellow "losers" ;)

The scale was pretty good to me today--an even 300 lbs. :D

Could not for the life of my cajole it into showing 299.5, even with stepping on and off, fidgeting left to right, moving it around, resetting it--nothing! :mad:

But, I'm only one good bathroom trip to being under 300 lbs. (forever, this time, I swear).

Hope you all are having a nice, safe and healthy weekend!

Regards,
Michael

Michael that's awesome! I bet next week you'll shatter 300, and with the way you work will never see it again.

I believe I stayed the same this week. I say believe because the apparently cheap scale I bought isn't doing great today. It failed to give me a reading the first 20 times I stepped on it, and I wondered if I binged and put on a hundred pounds in the middle of the night to exceed its supposed capacity. Then it finally gave me a 338, but I haven't been able to get a repeat.

I wouldn't be surprised about staying the same this week, and hope that I didn't gain. I let my routine get a little rattled in the stretch with a couple of social engagements and eating out. I definitely exercised portion control while I was out but also didn't eat the way I wanted to.

I'm going to be out of town from Christmas eve until a couple of days before new year's, so I'm going to weigh in early, on Christmas eve before I hit the road, and either way hope that I can keep enough control over the holidays while I'm out of town, exercise enough, and take it easy on new year's eve to make my 335 goal.

I'll have internet while I'm away so will keep up the log and with the forum, but I won't have my "home scale" so will refrain from weighing in until I get home.

Be well everyone!

Matt, I'm sure you'll do fine, even while traveling. If I'm going to a restaurant I try to figure out what I'm going to eat before hand (if they have a web site). If not, and the portion looks big I'll ask for a take home container right off the bat and put half of it away--if it's not on the plate, it's easier to not eat.

Jen, 2500 cals seems really high for a female to lose weight on. One pound a weeks seems kinda low--do you think that's fast enough to keep you motivated? I know "they" say one or two pounds a week is recommended. I guess that would be a good topic for you to discuss with your doctor.

Regards,
Michael

Jen,

It sounds like you're not afraid of cooking, so I would start collecting recipes where you can get good bulk and nutrition from relying on dried beans and grains. If I were on a budget like what you describe I would buy my favorite beans, some brown rice, some Quinoa or other high quality grain you like, some oats, eggs, and budget in some protein that you can stretch. The beans and grains will go a long way and last you a long time, then you can start budgeting more of your money for protein and fresh veggies...some good leafy greens, and maybe some root vegetables like beets and sweet potatoes. I suspect you have a reasonably stocked spice collection, and that will help a lot.

There are great online recipe sources if these are items you don't cook with regularly. Some you can just put in your ingredients and it will tell you what you can make.

I would try to buy in bulk when it comes to grains and dried beans, and if I were you I'd pick up some nutritional yeast while I was at it. I use it in a lot of recipes to get a kind of cheesy taste and it's full of good B vitamins.

Good luck!

Hello,
I'm still here battling flu. I think the worst may be over, but I have definitely fallen off the wagon during the last few days. I've either not wanted to eat, or I've wanted to eat everything in sight. At least I'm on the mend.. Back at 300lbs I would've been ill for a couple of weeks, so my immune system must have improved some.
My Mum isn't very well at all though. She has a severe chest infection and a crazy pain in her shoulder that she can't explain. Had paramedics out last night but they didn't take her to A&E so her partner is taking her tonight. Every time she coughs she cries, so the pain is obviously bad.

Good morning ~ I'm just checking in after two days out of town. Did a delivery in Dallas (ack!! Dallas rush hour on a Friday!!) and stayed for an auction. Took all day Saturday to load up and drive home. Road food. What an ordeal. It's been a good week overall, though, and I expect this one to be even better. Soup's hot so I'll catch up with all of you later. Hope everyone's having a great day. lynette

Lynette, glad you checked in. Have a restful Sunday!

Regards,
Michael

Jen, I do hope something breaks loose for you after the holidays. It seems like a lot of businesses hold off hiring until the first of the year. Hope so for you.