Biggest Loser 9 Spring Challenge -- thread closing -- see new thread Part 2!

[happysmyly]

Congrats to all the losers, maintainers and the rest of us that are still here!
Thank you so much, Maria, for being a great coach this week-I enjoyed your questions and loved reading everyone's answers.
Welcome, Kathy, to your week as coach--love the first question and thank you in advance for the time you'll put in to help guide us this week

I have really enjoyed reading everyone's story so far --so here's mine. Was 'normal' and even 'athletic' til I was about 8--then started gaining about 10 lbs a year til I graduated. I remember thinking I was huge at 180 as a freshman in 1981--and now - look forward to being 180 again.
As an adult - always been the biggest of peoples (5'10" and heavy) but was usually in OK shape and all my health markers were good (even my BP).
Then after 2000 got somewhere up around 330 (not sure what my heaviest was cause I stopped weighing ). For the last decade I've been as low as 240 for a few months after a divorce and in the last 5 years have been bouncing between 280 and 300.

And then this fall my blood pressure was starting to scare me--so I was getting mentally prepared for the jump that my sister helped me take in January 2010--left treats behind cold turkey and after a couple of weeks of getting control have been able to add them back in with 'moderation'. I've exercised 6 days a week since the COW challenge (Jan 15) except during the vacation and as of this morning am down to 270 (lost 27.5 since this started). My blood pressure is back to my normal, my pulse rate is back to my normal and I'm starting to just get into a daily groove--even when I don't want to.

Not sure where this will take me--but this time it feels different and I feel like I'm in it for the 'long haul' and am building up a collection of recipes and ideas that I will use for life--strategies that will help me enjoy things I did in the past but in control and moderation.

Thank you all so much for being here and for your encouragement and your shining examples--it helps so much to feel not alone in this journey--good days or bad I know you'll be here and I'm grateful for that - to help me get strong enough to where I can stand alone and without you--though then, it will be my turn to give back to those that are then where I am now Bless you!!!!!

 

[lovedvc]

QOTD: Being overweight has been an issue since I was a little girl. I remember my friends telling me it was just baby fat. 38 years later and some of that baby fat it still here. I remember a boy in school used to call me Miss Piggy. I would never let on that he was hurting me. I put that wall up for protection and I would go on. In some ways that wall is still with me. I have a real tough exterior, alot of people won't approach me I come off as a real toughy, but on the inside I'm a mush. I never accept a compliment with a Thank you, its always answered with some thing bad like well I did gain 10 lbs over the last year.

As a little girl I was always chunky, but remained athletic till 16. When I graduated high school I was 5'4" and 182 lbs. I was a closet eater. The more someone told me I should go on a diet the more I ate. By the time I was about 21 I was 196 lbs and in a real bad relationship. I used to work with a girl who was a lot heavier than I was and she started to lose weight. I'm always up for a challenge so I thought I can't let her get thinner than me. So within a few months I took off 54 lbs. I was 142 lbs with a 27" waist. I was in great shape. My cousin asked me to go on a Carnival Cruise with her and I accepted. My mom even paid for the cruise hoping I would meet a nice guy and get rid of the loser. Well low and behold I did meet my future husband on that cruise. When I got home I decided time to get rid of the loser boyfriend of course I didn't tell him I had met someone. I convinced him to join the Navy and then wrote him a dear John letter. (Thank god I got rid of him, he is now in jail). About 6 months after I met my husband I needed knee surgery, it was bad I was laid up for 2 weeks. I started to put weight back on, it wound up being 22 lbs. When I got married I was 162 lbs. Once again after the wedding I started to diet again. I took of those 22 lbs and became a lifetime member at weight watchers. I hit goal in October and by January I was pregnant with my first son. I had toxemia with him and ballooned to 215 lbs and he was born at 36 weeks. After I had him back to weight watchers. I got back to 156 lbs. and stayed there until I got pregnant with my second son. Once again toxemia and they told me I had 10% chance of having that again. I went up to 228 lbs and he was 2 weeks early. I kind of went up and down after that until I saw a picture in 2005. I had thrown my parents an awesome surprise anniversary party. I had friends and family fly in from all over. We had the best time. About 5 days later I got the pictures back. I was so upset I wanted to crawl under a rock. I couldn't believe how big I was. I said to my husband how could you let me walk out of the house that night. I decided enough is enough back to ww. I was at 191 lbs. Within 7 months I had gotten down to 137 lbs. on the core plan. 137 lbs was too light, I finally settled in at 142. I stayed there and worked my butt off, I was in better shape than at 16. I have struggled I'm back to 156 - 158 and I hate it here. I see the fat person in the mirror everyday. I know I shouldn't think that way I'm wear either a 6 or 8 jeans, but that fat girl is always on my shoulder. I've been real down lately. I have to find that happy place again. I had a whole thyroid panel done yesterday, because something wacky is going on and I can't take it. Hopefully by Sunday I will have the results back. I'm hoping I have hypothryoid, because it will explain alot that has been going on with me. Sorry to ramble it felt good though.

 

[LuvBaloo]

Thanks Maria for coaching last week!
Thanks Kathy for coaching this week!

Dona - thanks for the COW. I didn't follow it this week, but even when I'm not actually counting it, it does keep me thinking. I'll be back at it again next week

Well I am not going to weigh in this week. This stomach virus threw my body for a loop. I actually think I'm up about 3 lbs. After a virus my body tends to hold onto whatever I eat or drink over the next few days. It's kind of like survival mode. My stomach is so bloated I look 5 months pregnant, my jeans are so tight. Next week I will weigh in.

Hope you feel better soon

friday qotd-We are all on the same journey to good health and weight loss. When did the journey start for you? Was weight something you always struggled with or has it crept up on you over the years?

The weight loss journey seriously started in Jan 2009. I was average size until my early 20's. Once I finished school and started working full time, the weight slowly crept on, and while I didn't gain lots while pregnant (about 30lbs each one) I never lost the pregnancy weight. I had tried just exercise and watching what I eat to lose weight in 2007/2008 but I wasn't really committed and didn't get results. In Dec 2008, I was thinking of my aunt who died earlier in the year, and I was thinking about how much of life she didn't get to live. My Nana always used to compare me to my aunt (I was the oldest granddaughter, my aunt was the oldest daughter, I was similar personality, and did many of the things my aunt did, I learned lots of crafts, I went to Europe, I went to University, I didn't have kids until 30, my weight slowly crept up). My aunt ended up dying from cancer and didn't get to have grandchildren or see her kids get married, and she really wanted to do. I realized I did not want to follow in my aunts footsteps and I want to be healthy and see my DD's grow up, I want to be a grandmother one day. So I decided I had to get my weight back into one-derland and stop that pattern. Its funny, because I know that logically it doesn't make sense, but its what motivated me to start. Unfortunately after losing 20lbs, I keep sabotaging myself and can't reach the 25lb loss. I have lost inches so there's been progress, but I really need to stay on program long enough to break through the plateau and see new numbers.
This year is my year of cutting back on activities as I was getting too many things happening, so now I'm making choices to drop some things that aren't necessary, so I can have more time to do the important things. I really need to work on stress management.
I'm very guilty of knowing what I should do, but not actually doing it.
My biggest fear is failing as a parent. I want my DD's to be healthy, happy and active. I don't want to teach my children my fears. Its a balance to have them see that Mommy wants to lose weight and make sure they understand that its not to be skinnier, but to be healthier. I want my kids to be confident no matter what size they are, and to just be healthy. I want my girls to know there's lots of options out there. It has been great watching the Olympics with the girls. They like seeing all these women doing different sports.

Well, I really went off on a tangent there, so now I'd better get off here and get back to work.

to everyone who's having a good weigh in and to those of us who aren't doing so great, but are still here and still trying


Princessbride - keep venting. I have those times too, and will usually end up going for a bath to re-energize, but sometimes that leaves me feeling worse, because that bath time could have been spent getting something done. But sometimes, you absolutely have to take a few minutes to stop the world and give yourself a break before getting back on.


flipflopmom! Its NEVER to late to join us Congrats on the success you've already had!

 

[redlight]

2/26 Friday QOTD: We are all on the same journey to good health and weight loss. When did the journey start for you? Was weight something you always struggled with or has it crept up on you over the years?

I started gaining weight in college. My senior year, a bunch of my friends and I went on a diet together - it wasn't a real crash diet, but it wasn't the most healthy way to lose weight either. I got down to 135 or so, which is the lowest I've been and is probably not sustainable (I'm curvy and I like food). Over the next couple years, about 20-25 lbs crept on. Then in 2008, I went through a difficult breakup, we were constantly having arguments and I ate to comfort myself. I tried for awhile to stabilize my weight, but it kept creeping up. Then last April (when I weighed nearly 180), I decided enough was enough.

 

[3TinksAndAnEeyore]

I remember a boy in school used to call me Miss Piggy. I would never let on that he was hurting me.

Stupid boy! Isn't it remarkable how those hurtful comments stay with us for so long? You probably got 20 compliments (for school work, clothes, doing something nice, etc.) that same week, but it's the hurtful things that seem to stay with us with permanent adhesive.

 

[3TinksAndAnEeyore]

QOTD: We are all on the same journey to good health and weight loss. When did the journey start for you? Was weight something you always struggled with or has it crept up on you over the years?

Okay, this was longer than I thought it would be. Please feel free to skim or skip!!!

My concern about my weight started early with me -- in elementary school back in the 1970's. My best friend growing up is still a dear, dear friend and she can remember so many of the goofy diets we tried in junior high school. My younger sister is very small boned, and wasn't just slender as a kid, she was outright skinny. I remember my parents and my godparents (who lived across the street) offering her extra portions while suggesting I slow down. My godfather (a nice man and probably thinking he was just being funny, not mean) used to make comments like, "I knew you must have been crossing the street, I could feel the ground shaking before you knocked on the door." The funny thing is? When I look back at pictures of me back then, I was thin!!! Maybe not skinny-skinny, but definitely not "chunky"! I don't think anyone ever meant to be mean or hurtful, but there are many people in my family (mom and dad's sides) that are/were overweight and I think they worried that with my prediliction for book reading and other sedentary activities, and not being over enthused about sports (though certainly a participant), I would have a tendency to get heavier. And, I did. Nature or nurture? I don't even know myself. Probably a little of both.

From when I was little (maybe six or so), I played soccer and swam, rode my bike, all the usual things suburban kids tend to do. In junior high and high school, I played basketball, marched with a drumline, rode bikes with friends. When I left high school, I was 5'9" tall and weighed somewhere around 140, maybe a few pounds less. I gained the usual freshman fifteen in my first year of college in 1992, but took it off when I came home for the summer. Everyone in my sorority was obsessed with weight, so I was usually involved at least peripherally with some sort of weight loss/excercise plan through college, but I still slowly put on about six or seven pounds a year, so I was about 160 when I graduated in 1992. DH and I got married that summer and between our first year of wedded bliss

and the next three years of grad school, I just didn't pay much attention to what I ate. Just ate what sounded good and was easy to make or buy. Exercise? Ha! No time! (Or so I wanted to believe.)

Enter my first stint in weight watchers and my first running program around 1997. DH and I did a Train for a 10K program together and between the counting points and excercise, I dropped to 162 (I know, because I still have the little weight watchers booklet with my weigh-ins). This was great, but my goal had been to lose another fifteen and I stalled out and the weight crept slowly back for the next couple of year until I was about 185 pounds.

In 2000, DH and I decided it was time to start a family and I happily started eating for two (two full grown adults, that is!)

Well, it took two years to get pregnant. Eating for two for two plus years packed on another 35 pounds and I was 219 when I finally did get pregnant. I kind of yoyo'ed with that weight over the next three years (never getting below 221) and then got pregnant with DD #2 when I was up at 240 pounds. I gained about 15 pounds during that pregnancy and bounced around in the 230 - 250 weight range for the last few years (DD #2 is now almost four).

So, this has really been a "kind of started in college, but really took off after marriage and kids" weight gain. I'm now down to 226 after starting this challenge at 248. I can't tell you how excited I am to get to 219. That's going to be a huge milestone for me. Just to get this pregnancy weight off finally will be such a huge relief! Lot's more ahead after that, but one step at a time, right?

 

[Carys]

Thanks Worfiedoodles for all your great coaching this week, loved the questions!

QUOTE=mikamah;35602140]friday qotd-We are all on the same journey to good health and weight loss. When did the journey start for you? Was weight something you always struggled with or has it crept up on you over the years?
[/QUOTE]

Thanks for coaching us this week And thanks for all the answers to this question that people have posted so far. It's amazing how something so simple - weightloss - has been such a different journey for everyone, it just goes to show how you really can't pidgeonhole people by judging their cover.

It's a timely question because I was just talking about it with my sister last night, who has decided to change her eating too. As a kid I was tall, Very tall - always a head and shoulders literally above the others even in kindergarten. I hit my adult height of a shade below 5'11 at age 12. Because I was so tall, I always felt big, but now looking back at photos I looked absolutely normal.

I did every sport under the sun including many forms of dance and loved it. I still love exercise - just last year I took up cycling as a new activity, but because life is otherwise so sedentary and I've met very few foods I don't like, since the latter part of high school I've been on an upwards trajectory of slow gain, slight loss, wash and repeat.

I especially love all forms of carbs, which is why for me to lose weight I've chosen low carbing as the right way for me (and I know it's not the choice for everyone). Last year I had spine surgery and now I know I have to quit this slow upwards weight gain because a. the whole experience was extremely painful, slow and lengthy and there's no way I'm going through it again, so I need to reduce pressure on my spine, and b. it'll be easier to do the younger I am, and in a couple of years I'll be the other side of 30 so it'll just get harder.

Thanks for sharing everyone!

 

[lovedvc]

. My godfather (a nice man and probably thinking he was just being funny, not mean) used to make comments like, "I knew you must have been crossing the street, I could feel the ground shaking before you knocked on the door."

You just reminded of the nickname my grandfather used to call me "Crisco" which is short for "fat in the can".

I'm sorry for the way this quote looks, I don't know how to do it correctly, maybe one day one of you will explain it to me.

 

[3TinksAndAnEeyore]

You just reminded of the nickname my grandfather used to call me "Crisco" which is short for "fat in the can".

Gah! Why did our parents let people who supposedly love us get away with saying things like that as kids? If any adult makes any type of comment like that to my DDs (whatever weight they are!), they will get more than just an earful from me.

I'm sorry for the way this quote looks, I don't know how to do it correctly, maybe one day one of you will explain it to me.

You did the first part of the quote perfectly. You just need to close the quote with the part that looks like this - [/QUOTE]. If you hit the quote button (the one that looks says "quote"), just go down a couple of lines after the [/QUOTE] and start typing there.

 

[tigger813]

Back from the hockey game. We were in the 2nd row and the girls LOVED it! Unfortunately there are only 2 more home games left so we won't get to another one this season. DD1/DH caught a t-shirt so they were both happy.

Didn't eat well. Had some nachos and meatballs and then some popcorn. Also had 2 lite beers. I did get exercise going up and down the stairs to our seats. Of course, now I'm having a slight on and off muscle spasm in my lower right part of my back. Don't know what caused it unless it was the cold in there. I wore my coat the entire time with a heavy sweatshirt on underneath.

Gotta go to a meeting at church in the morning. Will either attend the meeting or be in charge of the kids whose parents are attending the meeting.

I plan on just doing the Wii Fit this weekend. I haven't done the rhythm parade or biking in a long time. I also hope to do some Just Dance!

Enjoy the rest of your night! Go Team USA! Looking good for some more medals!

 

[my3princes]

QOTD: My weight loss journey

I was a very skinny child. My mother would buy slim pants and still have to take them in (my middle son is that way now). I was skinny right through high school and never had to watch my weight. I was 5'4" and 115 lbs when I graduated high school. I put on about 15 lbs in college, but still wasn't overweight. Dh and I were high school sweethearts and married a year after we graduated in college. My wedding gown was a size 10 and was pretty lose on me. The next year I joined a gym and was in fabulous shape. I don't even think I knew how good I looked, but I can see it now in pictures. I started gaining weight while pregnant with DS14. I was nauseous from conception through delivery and vomited frequently. My solution was to constantly eat just to make sure that he was growing. I ended up with preeclampsia, but he was only 10 days early. I had gained 60 lbs while pregnant. Over the course of the next 15 months I had lost 30 lbs and was pregnant again. Again sick from the start. This time I only gained 30 lbs, but just my luck I had preeclampsia again and he was born 5 weeks early. I lost those 30 lbs over time, but managed to find 10 more. I had a miscarriage, but was fortunate to get pregnant again the next month. There is 5 year difference in age between 2nd and 3rd son. I was yet again sick from conception. Luckily no preeclampsia with him, but I vomited so much that my potasium levels dropped to very dangerous levels. I was told that if I had been a male I would have had a heart attack. I was given 18 bolises of potassium and enduced 3 1/2 weeks early. I'm not sure what my weight was as I refused to get on the scale when I hit 200 lbs. 9 months after his birth I was still 198 lbs. I realized that I would not be having any more children (the doctor said if I got pregnant again I would probably die, which is very good birth control). I had noticed that I was fat, but always used the excuse that I was going to have more kids so why try to lose weight. Once the excuse was gone I decided it was time to diet. I didn't want my kids to be embarassed by me. My DH grew up very embarassed by the size and appearance of his mother so it was a very real worry for me. Dh and I went on Atkins and I lost 50 lbs in 4 months. I felt terrific. 148 lbs felt skinny at the time. Unfortunately Atkins is all or nothing so once we stopped being diligent it stopped working. I gained back 10 lbs and couldn't lose it. That is when I started WW. On WW I lost those 10 lbs and an additional 10. Since that time I seem to gain 5 lbs, feak out and lose those lbs. Unfortunately I can't seem to get below 138 lbs. My goal is 130 lbs.

 

[donac]

I was skinny as kid but gained some in high school . I wish now that I weighed what I weighed then. During my last two years of college I lost about 30 pounds by just watching what I ate. I was pretty consistent with my weight until I got pregnant with ds1. I gained 35 pounds during the pregnancy and never really lost the weight. 5 years later I got pregnant again and again gained 35 pounds and never really lost those. Over the years I have kept adding a few pounds a year. 4 years ago I started losing weight and lost 30 pounds. I was under 200 for the first time in many years. I was happy with it except my bp never got low enough to get off medication. I also discovered that I have PVC's (a type of irregular heartbeat) so even if I lose a lot of weight and get down to a good weight I will always need a medication for my PVCs. It was discouraging and the 30 pound I lost came back. I have been involved with a few BL but I have not been too successful. One session I got the shingles and that was really hard to come back from. Last spring's session my ankle was really giving me problems and I had surgery for a bunion on my left foot. This past fall's session was difficult since I had spent the summer not doing much and I couldn't get motivated.

I am still at this same point when I really should be more motivated. A good friend the same age as I had a stroke last April. I don't know if he will ever fully recover but it reminds me that I really need to watch what I am doing with my health.

These past few weeks have been very busy but you have kept me on track even when I haven't felt like it. Thanks everyone.

 

[LuvBaloo]

Just to get this pregnancy weight off finally will be such a huge relief! Lot's more ahead after that, but one step at a time, right?

That is so true! One step at a time is the way to go

thanks to everyone for sharing their stories.

 

[LuvBaloo]

Totally copied from a post by friend last year, but its such a great visual I decided to find it and share it:

You lose weight a pound or half a pound at a time, so somethings, looking at the detail it can look like this:

Not much to see, but all those pounds and half-pounds add up, so when you take a step back and examine the BIG picture, it all comes together:

Seurat, painted one dot at a time, and we lose weight, one pound at a time.

Focus on the dots and the picture will emerge.

 

[donac]

Good morning everyone. I am stuck at the house today because my car had a light go on and I want to get it looked at. Hopefully nothing too wrong.

Ds2 came home yesterday. We went to get him early in the morning. As we were driving out the roads were still so snow covered that we called him and told him that we couldn't get him. We stopped for breakfast and by the time we got out, the sun was out and the roads were clear so we were able to get him and dh will bring him back on Sunday.

I have nothing planned until 5 tonight and then back to the local high school for the next performance. Opening night went well. Performance tonight and tomorrow afternoon. We have a big clean up tomorrow to make sure everything gets put away for next weekend.

Have a great day everyone.

 

[donac]

With all the crazy weather we have been having sometimes we forget how beautiful nature truly is.

Today find a quiet room where you can look out a window. Then spend 5 minutes looking at nature. Even snow can look beautiful. If you are lucky enought to have warm weather go out and enjoy your surroundings.

 

[jenanderson]

Today find 5 minutes this evening. Turn down the lights, light a candle and slowly breath and think about a place that makes you relaxed and happy.

I had a crazy day yesterday! When I got home from work though, I thought of this challenge...lit a candle and sat and thought about Disney of course. It really did help me just take a moment and relax.

With all the crazy weather we have been having sometimes we forget how beautiful nature truly is.

Today find a quiet room where you can look out a window. Then spend 5 minutes looking at nature. Even snow can look beautiful. If you are lucky enought to have warm weather go out and enjoy your surroundings.

Oooh...I am excited for this one too! We are having beautiful weather in Minnesota (getting up to 30° or so each day - yep, that is beautiful winter weather here). This means it will be a beautiful day to go out running! I will take a moment to enjoy nature while I am out!

Have a great Saturday everyone!
Jen

 

[mikamah]

Hey everyone. I am really late to joining this party, but I have been lurking for a month. After a depressing dr. visit on month ago today, when my weight was 218, I started a lifestyle eating change. 1 month later, after continuing healthy food choices, finishing the 3rd week of Couch to 5K, and other exercise 3 days a week, I weighed 202!!!! 16 pounds this month!

I am not kidding myself into thinking it will keep falling off like this. I was a soft drink addict and did no exercise, so the weight loss will slow down. But I am thrilled to be where I am now!

I decided to finally join instead instead of lurking, I need the accountability. On my way.....

Welcome aboard flipflopmom!! Congrats on your loss so far, you're off to an awesome start. Luvbaloo is our weight keeper, and you can pm your starting weight to her. Any questions, just ask. It's great to see you here.

 

[mikamah]

Happy Saturday!! Had a late night, and don't have much time this morning, but will be back tonight to catch up on everyone. It's so nice to read about everyone's journeys, and know we are not alone, and we can be here to support and inspire each other.

Corinna- thanks for the qotd thread, that is so helpful when planning qotds, and we'd love to hear all about your journey if you want to share it.

Saturday qotd- Since we're all disney fans, when did your love for all things disney begin? Did you get the disney magic from the first time you entered a disney park, or was it a love that gradually built up?

Have a magical day!

 

[lovedvc]

QOTD: My love for Disney began I believe in 1982. My dad took a pension loan to pay for the trip and we were able to stay at the Polynesian. There wasn't much to do at that time. There was only Magic Kingdom and River Country. I was only 10 but I remember that trip so well. I haven't stayed at the Polynesian since, but I love to visit when I can. Usually we'll pool hop and catch dinner there. One of these days I will stay there again.

Well I got my blood results back and my thyroid is normal. Have to figure out where I go from here.