Just getting started...again LONG

[ksumn1]

Hi ya'll. I'm getting back on track with my weight loss again. A little bit about myself. I'm 32, Mom of 2 DD's (11 and 6), wife and full time students. I was always skinny until after I had my 1st DD, and then started Depo Provera shots. I went from a size 12 to a 26 in a little over a year and 1/2. I went to a weight loss clinic, lost it all and kept it off for about 6 months. Went to WDW and 2 months later discovered we brough home a little souvenier. I gained a good bit of weight with my 2nd DD. Lost some, and eventually climbed to 242 pounds last year.

I started a diet program and lost 10 punds in 6 weeks. Began a weight loss program through my dr's office and lost down to 192 pounds. Then unfortunately we had a house fire in July of last year and at that point, I went totally off track. We lived with my and I love her dearly. But she loves to cook, and loves fried *anything*. And 4 months of fried food is not a good thing. I curently weigh 201.

Well, now we're settled in our new home and I'm ready to get back on track, especailly after talking with my DD 11. She's a bigger girl, built just like her Daddy at that age, bless her heart, and she needs to get healthy too. I've tried to make sure we all eat healthy but with her portion control is an issue and definately for DH. DD came to me a few nights ago and said she's tired of being the biggest of her friends and feeling "fat". I was heartbroken. I'm not blind but she's been sensitive about the subject in the past and I've kinda been waiting for her to *want* to change.

So now is the time. I'm ready and this time the stakes are waay higher. I know it won't be easy, and I'm sure at some point I'll struggle with my motivation but I want to do this. I need to do this, for myself and to be an inspiration and partner to my DD.

So that's me and I'm looking forward to getting a little support and sharing my story and struggles with others who "get it"

Thanks, Kristen

 

[iheartdolewhips]

I know how you feel about starting over again. I lost a lot of weight for my wedding - not sure how much since I never had a reliable scale then, but I lost down about 4 sizes. Kept it off for 6 months to a year, but now my clothes are fitting tightly. It is depressing to feel like I'm starting over again, but my husband is being my cheerleader and keeps reminding me: "You've done it before, and you can do it again." I'm trying to keep that positive thought in my head. Good luck, and I know you can do it too! What things are you planning on doing to lose weight?

 

[ohMom]

to the WISH board Kristen! and you're right your DD is great motivation to model a healthy lifestyle. please feel free to jump in on any of the threads...there are groups you can join if you're interested.

 

[tinkerbell87512]

I'm basicly just starting out too. Good luck to you! It's not easy thats for sure but hopefully this board will give us both inspiration and support!!!

 

[tiberius]

Kristen, you have certainly come into the right place for support and understanding, and your story is not as unique as you might think.

About 8 to 10 years ago I was up to 266 lbs and in my mid 30’s. I had used to be very active, but settling down, raising a family, returning to school and working full time all took their toll on me and “somehow” I ballooned up. I made a major effort to change my diet and exercise habits, and in the course of something like 12- 15 months I got myself into better shape and got under 200 lbs (low point was 199 lbs) for the first time since I was 26/27 years old. Then we were hit with a death in the immediate family and I stopped all exercise and eventually the diet changes as well. Over the course of the intervening years I got back up to 255 lbs in December 2006. I spent the next year taking up running and actually climbed up to 263 lbs, because I erroneously thought that my exercise would allow me to eat anything I wanted. Also, around that timeframe I started being active on the WISH boards instead of just an occasional lurker. Since late 2007 I have gotten down to 203 lbs and hope to soon be at a weight I have not been since my 20’s (I am now 44.). More importantly, my activity level has skyrocketed, my health has improved dramatically and I am a better example for my family.

This time I have no plans to go back to the way I was, and my proof of that came last year when instead of hiding from the world in the midst of a close family crisis, several members of this board helped me through it by being the friends I needed at that time.

The WISH boards can be a wonderful place where you can get a ton of answers and support, if you use these tools well. I applaud your past success and wish you well on going forward. Good luck to you and your family.

 

[ksumn1]

My main problem is making the time to work out...because you don't just find extra time, you have to let something else go or change your schedult to accomplish it. So far, I'm trying to be more concious of my food portions and making better choices. This wekend, DH fixed jambalaya. Yummy, but he gave me (and DD) a bowl with like 4, 1 cup servings in it and 2 pieces of texas toast garlic bread I took out my cup measure and dumped about half of the jambalaya and 1 piece of bread back.

I made sure I ate something this morning because I am bad about skipping meals. So I had 1/2 of a huge banana nut muffin at school, and I'm saving the other half for an afternoon snack. I brought my lunch (pb & j on whole wheat with very little jelly, wheat crackers, and a low fat, low sugar yougart)I also filled up my water bottle this morning. I did cheat already because I had a small hot chocolate for the pick me up. But I rarely drink coffee (maybe 3 times a month at most). I also started parking waaaaaay out in the parking lot from where my classes are, about a good 4 minute walk, and I always take the stairs.

I do need a little help though. When do you find, is the best time to exercise? In the morning before the kids get up or after they go to bed? I plan on doing my workout and then an extra lighter one like walking or playing basketball or softball with DD's in the afternon. We have a fitness center here at school but everyone is so young and cute and fit that I'm a little intimidated. And if I exercise at home I can shower before class and not have to drag my workout clothes and bookbag around with me.

So what do you think? Home in the am or brave the fitness center in the am??

Thanks for all the support!!

 

[iheartdolewhips]

I just noticed you're from Georgia too!

When do you find, is the best time to exercise? In the morning before the kids get up or after they go to bed? I plan on doing my workout and then an extra lighter one like walking or playing basketball or softball with DD's in the afternon. We have a fitness center here at school but everyone is so young and cute and fit that I'm a little intimidated. And if I exercise at home I can shower before class and not have to drag my workout clothes and bookbag around with me.

So what do you think? Home in the am or brave the fitness center in the am??

Really the best time for you to work out is whenever you actually will do it. For me, I am totally not a morning person. If I try to work out first thing in the morning, I won't do it or if I attempt to do it, I'll quit early because I'm "too tired". I do much better working out in the afternoon / early evening. Some people are the opposite - if they wait until later in the day, they'll just keep putting it off and never doing it. It sounds like you've got a good plan of how to do it, but if you find that doesn't work for you, just try something else until you do find something that works.

And don't be afraid to work out at your school's gym! Most of the people at the gym are focused on their own work out and aren't paying you a bit of attention. Besides, anyone that is focused on you isn't worth your time or worries. When I was in college, I used the gym a lot when I was a freshman, but stopped using it later on because I had classes that were further away and less space between them. Now that I've graduated, I really wish I had taken more advantage of it. I know my school had lockers that you could rent for the semester for a really reasonable cost - that way you could leave a pair of workout clothes there and bring a new set from home to trade when they need washing. I think working out at school would give you some variety with all of the different machines they have for you to use. And then sometimes when you don't feel like it you can just work out at home. Good luck!

 

[fall08CP]

What sticks out to me in your story is that you want and need a lifestyle change, not a diet. The most important thing is to find stuff that you will stick with. Seeing as you've yo-yo'ed in the past, something hasn't quite clicked.

My first piece of advice is to find foods that you love that are healthy. In the past, I've tried to rid the house of junk and just pick up foods that are "healthy", and I've hated it! I always felt the need to cheat because I wasn't full or happy. I've become very adventurous in the last year and am finding new foods that I really love to eat, like greek yogurt, fresh berries, spinach, and healthy nut butters. I've also been reading health food and fitness blogs and gotten loads of ideas off of there. I don't feel like I'm punishing myself when I eat just to be healthy. The weight came off quickly and effortlessly when I changed the diet, but I did it one step at a time, trying one new food each week. I pretty much live off of grains and produce at this point, yet I was the teen that hated veggies growing up! It's about finding the ones that work for you.

I'd also recommend checking into "intuitive eating", which has taught me a lot about interpreting my body's hunger signals and learning that no food is off limits in moderation. Being able to distinguish between hunger and appetite has been key.

Hope this helps and best of luck!