Need help - MASSIVE amounts of weight to lose

[dare2dream]

Crazy day - I'm leaving tomorrow - I have a MILLION things to do.

AKASnowWhite - thanks for the words of encouragement. I have NO self esteem at all. I have recently decided that I am overweight to punish myself because I am not as good as everyone else in the entire world. Yes, that does sound crazy. Sometimes my head just does not work right. I have this recording that continually plays in my head "Brenda you are the fattest, ugliest, and laziest woman in the entire world." Yes, welcome to my madness. I can usually slap myself silly and snap out of it but sometimes the recording just won't stop. I believe some weight loss success with help me to reduce the number of times this recording plays each day.

Congratulations at making your goal again. GREAT WORK!! I realize that now the work for you is not over, maintaining can be a struggle too, but you can do it. Thanks for being an inspiration and sharing your thoughts with us.

DeAnna - game on girlfriend!! Let's do this. Get your cute little self to WW on Monday and hold your head up high. We can't change yesterday, but we can make better choices NOW. I am trying to work on a healthy eating gameplan to help me on my trip. If I go through scenarios in my head before they happen I can encourage myself to make better choices.

First no bread from the bread basket before the meal. I love my carbs and when hungry can easily overdo it on the fresh hot bread before the meal even arrives. I may do one piece of bread with the meal, not ready to give that up yet.

Second I am a breakfast lover. All those goey sweet carbs, eggs, meat, YUM. Of my four breakfasts I will only eat out for one. I am packing my hot pot, a bowl and instant oatmeal for the other days.

Third I will not go overboard with the sweets. I know I will do some, but I will skip most of them. I have already decided no goodie at the airport tomorrow morning (I'll eat my sensible breakfast before I leave) and no bag of candy for the flight. I just have a need to stuff my face while I am flying. I will pack some baby carrots and grapes for the flight.

So DeAnna, those are my three goals for the next 5 days. They aren't earth shattering or ambitious, but for me I will have to work to achieve them and I will answer to you when I return on Wednesday. I may be able to check in while I am in Chicago if I can get on my roommates computer.

I hope DH is doing better. I also understand the emotions about going to an amusement park. You are excited, yet concerned about how you will deal with the entire experience. I can understand overeating as a response to stress. I overeat as a response to EVERYTHING in life. This has to stop. I have a hard time facing my emotions, but it is time to realize that food can not and will not ever solve any of my problems. Food is just fuel to make my body function and all the extra fuel I have been shoveling into my mouth all these years has harmed my body. This has to stop.

DH got me a battery for the scale, but I put it down somewhere around the house. I will find it tonight, install it and determine where I stand.

I did WW about 27 years ago before I got married. I did not stick with it. A friend gave me copies of the point system stuff but I have not done anything with it. I don't even know if I could find the info, my house is a mess. Too tired and depressed to declutter. This has to stop. This is not how I want to live my life, with so many regrets and 'what ifs'. We are not going to feel rotten about our lives anymore. We are going to do something to change. We are going to try a new game plan. We are going to succeed, slowly, but surely. One day at a time.

DeAnna, I'm there with you. Take those baby steps, make wiser choices, we can do it and we are worth it.

Brenda

 

[DeAnna-YIKES!]

Good morning everyone! It is WAY too early to be up and around for a Saturday but, here I am! LOL I will need to take my daughter to work in a while so, I got up early enough to go on my walk for the day (yea me, huh Brenda?) before I take her.
So glad for the ones who check in to let us know it is possible to do this by the fact that they have reached goal. Thanks for encouragement!
So, everyone else please feel free to jump right in with Brenda and I on the checking in and working together on this. Would love to know that we are all working on getting better together. As a group leader at WW says from time to time I hope to "see" less of each of you losers next week! LOL

So, Brenda, very cool that you are a member of Phi Beta Lambda, quite an accomplishment. What did you major in in college? I went for 1 year and then I started working at the phone company and always planned to go back but, I never have. I met and married my hubby and well, you know how life goes on.... I hated working at the phone company so, I didn't go back once our girl came along. I have no regrets about that! She is such a blessing!

I am very proud of the 3 things you are going to work on this weekend. No small feats! I have several food weaknesses myself.... um breads, pizza, CHOCOLATE, pepsi the list goes on... the good thing is that on WW with the flex plan, nothing is off limits. I just have to account for everything.
Let's see...
My 3 goals for THIS week will be:

1. I will go to my WW meeting Monday
2. I will journal everything I eat
3. I will walk at least 4 times this week

Say, Brenda, what do you think of this idea ...
Each week we come up with something we want to work on.

I would love to be able to get into our pool and exercise (then relax) however, since it has been rainy and cloudy seriously for ages our pool is too cold to get into and enjoy. So far all we are getting to do is maintenance (sp?) not so fun.... this is way unusual for around here weather wise.

Have a great get away this weekend Brenda....
~~DeAnna~~

 

[DeAnna-YIKES!]

I went to WW today. As I told ya'll I hadn't been in a while (3weeks). I gained 1.6 lbs.... so, my new and improved starting weight is 365. I'm okay... I expected a gain. I am actually excited because I now have ya'll to do this seemingly impossible thing with! I am drinking my water as I type!

So, that was the ugly first and foremost! The good is my daughter went in for her driving test today and she passed! WOO-WOO! She is mighty excited! I'm pretty nervous! LOL guess that's how it works.

I just had a minute to stop by now the bad my hubby is having angiogram (sp?) today. Pretty nerve wracking! So, we have to leave for the hospital in just a few minutes.

I'll look back when I can to see how everyone else is ....

DeAnna

 

[dare2dream]

Having a ball in Chicago. Please excuse my typing, laptops can be a pain. This is the second time I have tried to post this response.

So far my Chicago eating gameplan is going well. No bread before meals, not too many sweets, and I ate breakfast out yesterday. No junk at the airport, I ate my baby carrots and grapes on the plane. I weighed before I left and hope to remain the same when I weigh in again on Thursday.

Today is our sightseeing day and I am very worried. Will I be able to keep up? Will I be able to deal with the heat? Will I enjoy myself?

DeAnna, congratulations to your DD for her accomplishment. I remember those days with new drivers in the house. Whenever I needed anything from the store they were more than willing to go if I gave them money for the purchase. I also enjoyed having a chauffeur to drive me, but they enjoyed driving by themselves more. When they first started driving I would not let them have friends in the car. I felt that was too much of a distraction. I remember eagerly waiting for them to get home after being out by themselves. In time that worry subsides.

DeAnna I'm glad you made it to WW yesterday. Just remember the gain could have been worse. Now you have the starting point for the journey and we will not quit until we reach our goals.

Have a great day.

Brenda

 

[dare2dream]

It is so hard to get back to the normal routine after a wonderful vacation. Tuesday sightseeing in Chicago was on a double decker tour bus. A storm rolled into town during our tour. A massive downpour resulted, luckily I was in the bottom portion of the bus. Everyone from upstairs crowded downstairs also and water poured down the stairs as the rain continued to fall in buckets. The floor of the bus flooded and I was glad I was in a seat on an elevated platform. The bus stopped during the downpour and another one was dispatched to pick up our standing passengers. After they unloaded we continued our tour and the rain subsided. What an adventure.

The best news was the scale reading Thursday morning. I stayed at the same weight. YIPEE!! Goal accomplished. What's next? I don't know. So far I have not been very focused at home. Today's goal is five fruits and vegetables. That's all I can commit to right now.

I am stressed. DS21 has decided he can not live without his fiancee so he is taking off a semester of college to stay here in town with her. He is going to do some online courses though but it will not be a full load. I am not very happy about this sitituation. The original plan was for him to return to college in Utah and she would go to the school she was attending in Virginia, December wedding, then they both return in January to college in Utah. Well it seems that is not going to happen now. We are now looking at a Thanksgiving wedding, move to Utah December 1st and stay out there for Christmas. I knew the Christmases left having him at home were limited but it's hard to believe he will be gone this year. That means this will be the second Christmas with no kids home. The last one DH and I took a road trip to see family. I am trying to convince him that I will need another trip this year but he's not buying it. I am having a hard time with this new plan. My son and his fiancee can tell I am upset about this. I hope in time I can embrace this plan. I just have to remember that it's about them, not me. Right now their happiness is what's important, not mine. Oh the sacrifices of motherhood.

Some sugar would really comfort me right now, but that is not the answer. Exercise? No, I don't think so. I think I will go get an apple, my first fruit and vegetable of the day. Here's to a successful day even though the perils of life make me want to reach for sugar. I will not give in and I will focus on eating healthy today. I know I can do this one day at a time.

What is your gameplan today? Are you enjoying success? Share you journey here. I need your inspiration and support.

Brenda

 

[DeAnna-YIKES!]

Whew! Sounds like quite an adventure in Chicago! With our new game plans for vacation we MAY go check out Chicago, it is about 3 hours from the friends we will be visiting.
Yea for you! Staying at the same weight is an accomplishment when traveling. I am doing good this week ... no perfect but, better than in weeks past. So, gotta' start somewhere... as I have already admitted I am really bad about eating when I am stressed. This week has been a trial for me! Let's see... Monday morning my girl passed her driving test and can officially drive without me there to "protect" her! AHHHH later the same day was the hubby's angiogram. I had a bit of a meltdown. It was just WAY too much for one day. My baby driving and the procedure! So, on Thur. he went back to work but, called home an hour or so later asking me to come get him. The bruising was spreading quickly and a blood vessel was feeling fevered and hard. So, spent the day yesterday at the heart hospital getting an ultrasound on his thigh, hip and groin area. Thank goodness all is fine. Just way too much stress for me! LOL
Now, my girl and her friend are going to meet some friends at the movies and go for an ice cream afterward ... can you imagine she won't let me drive them she wants to take her own car! Some nerve, as you say guess it isn't about what would please me....
I have drank my water all week. And, have had fruits and veggies... but, I did eat some chocolate I should of left alone....
So, how is everyone else's world going?
Come on... let's inspire one another!
DeAnna

 

[DeAnna-YIKES!]

Well, it's Monday so, I went to WW. All things considered I'm pleased. I lost 2.6 pounds! Yea! So, I will try some more. I have to look at this sometimes as one meal at a time.... so, that's what I'm doin'.
Anyone have spectacular plans for the 4th? We don't. The hubby has to work and, so far the daughter is scheduled to work part of the day. We just aren't certain what we're gonna' do. There are options but, just not sure yet...
We will be leaving for Indiana a week from tomorrow. Since we will be staying with friends I am planning to tell my friend I wanna' go to the store to buy some things.... I plan to pick up fruit, low point bread, SF jam, my fav. cereal, basically just do the best I can. I am planning to just try to make good choices. I know I can manage to drink my water no problem. And, we can always get our girls to go for walks with us. So, hopefully I can be successful as Brenda was on my trip.
Well, it's my favorite thing... housework time ugg hey at least I'm occupied and maybe burning a few calories... surely bathing two scotties counts for exercise!
DeAnna

 

[dare2dream]

2.6 pounds - what a great loss. Keep up the hard work. I know you can make wise choices on your trip. Don't beat yourself when you slip, just don't slip alot.

DH is also working tomorrow. DS will be out with his fiancee. I wonder what I will be up too. Probably eating too much. I can't believe I jumped on this thread in early May and have managed to just blow alot of hot air since then and not drop any pounds. I know I am not committed to eating properly and I am the only person that can change that. I know better. I am depressed and right now I just don't care about me. Kids are coming to visit July 12 to 26. We will be getting together with my mom and two estranged sisters for lunch one day. One sister had gastic bypass in September and has lost at least 80 pounds. The other sister planned our get together at Old Country Buffet. A buffet is not a good thing for sister with bypass and it certainly is not a good thing for me. Setting a pig in front of a trough full of food is never pretty. I hope I don't embarrass myself too badly.

Woe is me. I wonder how tomorrow will go. I have the power to make it what I want to be, the question is am I ready to work for the positive results.

DeAnne, you can do it and you are worth it. I am so proud of you and your accomplishments. You inspire me. Some things are difficult in your life (how is DH anyway, any other thoughts from the Doctors about all the tests?) but you are working hard on your program. I know you have the ability to continue your success on your trip to Indiana. Enjoy the journey, enjoy your friends and family, just don't enjoy too much food. Coming home and knowing you controlled your eating is a wonderful feeling.

Happy 4th. No local fireworks here, the Jaycees cancelled their show last Friday. I would love to drag DH to the beach for fireworks over the ocean, but I doubt that will happen. Probably just another day around the house, with food calling my name all day long. I wonder how long I can ignore those calls.

Brenda

 

[cinderella73]

Hi Guys, I only got as far as reading the first page so far. I plan to go back and read on after this. I wanted to share my story as well . I am 33 and have 3 kids. I have always had a issue with my weight yoyoing on me. My kind of issue is one of the worst. I am a binge eater. I mean binge till I could black out. Then not eat at all. I dont make my self purge . But my feeding frenzys followed by starving only to binge again have left me some severe health issues. Like everyone here I eat for comfort . And I have had my share of emotional scars that I have to overcome on my own. I am not the kind of person to sit around and whine or feel sorry 4 myself and always thought people should just " get over themselves" when dealing with things. Well obviously I never did . Or I wouldnt be hurting myself this way. I have had a hysterectomy that savde me from cancer and gave me a child. That child being born at that time is actually what saved me from cancer. He is my angel! I have had a ruptured appendix while pregnant and wasz terribly ill for a long time. Gall bladder ,and 3 total full term ceacearan births ( however u spell that) . My body has been through a lot. But latley I am not feeling so well . My stomach is very swollen and feels lik it is pushing up into my chest . The base of my throat feels like it is closing up and I am having trouble swallowing. I dont know if its related to the inflammatory issues that my rupture left me with from years ago. Or some of the scar tissue that I had probelms with from previous sugurys that is crowding my organs ? Or if its from all my binge eating. I have no health insurance till october at soonest. I am scared . And mad at myself . No one believes me when they see my pics but I need to lose 85 pounds ( that is according to my doctor when I last saw him a month ago before I lost insurance ). I dont want to play the yo yo thing with my weight. I have done some tv work and I always get my weight down for work. But then as soon as its over I go up 85 pounds! I feel so sick and ,ad at myself. And overwhelmed like everyone else. I am depressed ( things hard at home) which is making it hard to get better. Everyday is a fight. But I would love to join in with you all and do this once and 4 all! I know my big goal is to find something to help me with the emotional pain that isnt food. For myself and my kids. I hate the thought that having my daughter see me like this is hurting her. Kudos to u all for taking up the fight. And remember its not over unless you decide to quit.

 

[dare2dream]

I am sorry about the difficult situations life has dealt you, but always remember that those struggles make us stronger. You have overcome many obstacles in your life and I know you CAN and WILL overcome this weight problem.

Right now I am in crash and burn mode with my weight loss program. I'm depressed, it's so hard, woe is me, I deserve to suffer, I'm not worth it, etc (hear the violins softly playing). I will soon get my act together. I have to. DS21 and his fiancee started their own Biggest Loser competion today. The wedding is in November. When DD27 and other DS25 got married I felt like a fat cow. This is my baby getting married and I want to feel good about me at the reception. It is time to do this.

Over the past few years I have lost and regained the same 25 pounds at least 3 times. I know how to lose weight. Committing to and sticking to the program are things I have yet to master.

Wonderful advice has been offered in this thread. Many seasoned and successful vets in the battle of the bulge have offered their tips. Read them, use them, and make them a daily part of your life. I wish I could tell you about the secret weapon that will solve all your food issues overnight, unfortunately I can not, because it does not exist. Losing weight is hard work. It takes committment, it takes time, it takes energy, it takes planning. It is difficult, but in the long run the effort is always worth it.

So Cinderella, let's get to work. You deserve to feel good about yourself and enjoy all the wonderful things life has to offer. We can do this together, and there are people here who care about you and want to see you succeed.

I can be a binger too at times. Mostly it's just a feeding frenzy with a source of carbs in front of me and I keep mindlessly shoveling them into my mouth with no sense of what I am doing. I am concerned about how this habit is affecting your health. I also have no health insurance right now. It's a big gamble, but that is my life right now. DH is self-employed. I applied for our own policy and was told we had to lose massive amounts of weight to be considered. At least you will be covered later this year. Until then you can work hard and make some changes in your life to improve your health. You have the power to make the changes. It will be hard, but it will be worth it. You are 100% correct when you say that everyday is a fight. It sure is!! But the feeling at the end of a successful day is wonderful. Winning the battle for just one day is quite an accomplishment. I know you can do it Cinderella.

I wish I could help with your emotional issues, but I can not. My project for today is to list 10 reasons I need to lose weight. The list will include people I love, goals I would like to accomplish that my weight prevents me from doing, and memories of times in my life when my excess weight prevented me from doing something I really wanted to do. I will type these up nice and pretty and have a copy at the kitchen table for me to view whenever I eat. Other than that I don't feel like setting any other goals today. I am still in a funk and not feeling up to this battle at this time. Don't let my apathy rub off on you.

Cinderella, set some goals TODAY! Work on developing an eating plan that will work for you. Try something different, even something little can make a difference. Write your daily goals down and look at them periodically throughout the day. Make those small changes. Then make bigger changes. Take baby steps. This will not all happen overnight but with constant work we can achieve great things.

Good luck today in your battle Cinderella, I care about you and will be thinking about you today.


And hey DeAnna - keep up the good work. I know you can do it!!


Brenda

 

[DeAnna-YIKES!]

Whew! It is finally feeling more like summer here in OKC! We literally had 21 days solid on which we received rain daily. Most days it was SERIOUS rain. Like between 1 - 3 inches. Well, we had our daily dose of rain on Sunday but, we had 3 days with no rain. woo hoo we did get sprinkles last evening... anyway ...

We got some I guess bitter/sweet news on hubby's health. All tests have come back perfectly normal. Which is great news, appears at this point that the doctor feels he is having panic attacks. So, they gave him a prescription for something-something.... hopefully he'll get feeling better...

Welcome Cinderella. So glad you like the rest of us are striving to improve yourself. Congrats! We can all do this together.

I felt rotten yesterday afternoon when I ended up eating much more than I should have in a social situation. Hate when I do that. I had allowed myself to get too hungry and I ate more than I needed to. But, I just choose to get up and go on. I tried to compensate by drinking more water and walking yesterday evening.

The daughter and I will be leaving for an overnight trip Saturday evening. Since it is a church function I'll have to be careful to not over eat. The sisters at church are all really good cooks so, when it is a big weekend with a pot luck dinner after church.... yikes! Then, we will come home Sunday evening to do laundry, repack and head for Indiana! Busy, busy. But, Brenda, you will be proud. I called our friend in Indiana and I offered the idea that since we'll be staying almost a week I insist on purchasing ingredients for dinner a couple of nights and some other things I want to keep on hand there. So, I will be cooking WW meals those nights! Smart huh?

I will be able to weigh in on Monday at WW before we leave on Tues. morning. I'll let ya know how I do.

Brenda, you need start small and get your butt in gear! You deseerve to be the gorgeous Mother of the Groom in November! LOL Seriously, you have time! Get going, you havn't told me how much you need to lose but, you can get much closer by the wedding! I believe in you! Just try it a little at a time... remember how great you did in Chicago? I'm proud of you!

By the way, Brenda, do you know how to do the personal message "thing" on this site?


I'm thinking of you all today. I actually resisted eating something I shouldn't have earlier today by thinking of how I want to have another loss this next Monday to report to ya'll.

I'll check on ya'll again soon.

~~DeAnna~~

 

[dare2dream]

Deanna, I am so proud of you for just saying NO. That is the way to do it, one battle at a time. Every victory is important. Keep up the GREAT work. I will get on the bandwagon soon. (I sure say that alot. I hope it REALLY happens soon).

I hope things work out for your DH. I hope the meds help him. It is so hard to see those we love suffering and there is nothing we can do. I guess all you can do is be there when he needs you. Isn't that what marriage is all about?

Here is another display of my great technical knowledge.



A cheerleader for us all.

LADIES, WE CAN DO THIS, WE ARE WORTH IT!! KEEP ON WORKING HARD!! WE WILL BE REWARDED FOR OUR EFFORTS!!

Brenda

 

[tbstein]

Just stopping by to say Wonderful Ladies! And to lend my support for everyone. I have been struggling with more issues than I care to mention. I am thinking of everyone and I know we will all do as we need to. This board, this thread, is a great place to help with the mental aspects of changing your life style. We can do it. I need to do it.

Wendy

 

[Aisling]

How do you even start when what you have to do seems impossible?

I've only read the first post of this thread so far, and this is my exact question.

I'm going to read the whole thread now, and I'm sure I'll benefit from everyone's advice.

 

[dare2dream]

Thursday I typed up my top ten reasons to lose weight. I used fancy fonts (I love fonts - I wish I could figure out how to make them work here) and printed them on a pink paper. The paper now sits on my kitchen table for me to read every time I sit down to eat.

I also found my meal plan - Dr Phil's 14 day rapid start plan. Yes, Dr Phil is a nut but his Ultimate Weight Loss Solution might help me if I ever get around to reading the book. His seven keys to weight loss freedom are:

1. Right Thinking
2. Healing Feelings
3. A No-Fail Environment
4. Mastery over Food and Impulse Eating
5. High-response Cost, High Yeild Nutrition
6. Intentional Exercise
7. Your Circle of Support

Lots of powerful things for me to work on. But here are my goals that I am now ready to commit to:

1. Follow my WOE (way of eating)
2. Drink 8 cups of water a day
3. Eat 5 fruits and vegetables a day
4. Exercise 30 minutes a day 6 times a week
5. No eating after 8 pm
6. Write down everything I eat each day

I KNOW I can do this. I know I WILL do this. Unfortunately I know I will not be perfect, I will slip and make mistakes, but that is OK. I will get up and keep moving forward toward my goals.

Kurt (DS25) arrives on Thursday with his family. I will get to spend lots of quality time with my grandson Kyler, one of my reasons to lose weight. Saturday is Brad's (DS21) engagement party with lots of food I have no business eating. (Can I possibly resist legendary Smith Island Cakes?) Then Angela (DD27) arrives next Monday with her husband. Things are going to get crazy around here and I will have to work really hard to follow my WOE. There will be parties, eating out, a trip to a buffet, and lots of junk food coming into my house. I know with the right frame of mind I get through all this and enjoy a weight loss. I sure will need the support of my girlfriends here.

Cinderella - How are you doing? We are here to support you. We can do this together.

DeAnna - Tomorrow is Monday - Are you ready for your weigh in? I was up a pound today, but I don't care because I know it will be gone soon. How was your getaway with DD? Did you eat to make me proud? I can really dicipline myself to eat healthy at home but when I am out of my kingdom it can be very difficult. You mentioned eating in social situations. That does take a certain amount of willpower. Dr Phil says it's not about willpower. That statement makes me wonder what he is smoking. When I have a delectable assortment of food layed out in front of me it is ALL about willpower.

I know you are going to Indiana armed with lots of willpower. Cooking at your friends and having healthy things there will really help you to eat responsibly on your trip. Focus on strengthening the bonds with those you love and enjoying their company. I know on the trip you may eat some things you normally would not at home. That is OK. That is life. The important thing is to make sure that those moments are few and far between. Eat healthy. Have a plan and work the plan. I know you can do it.

Mare - YOu haven't posted here in a while. How are things? Check in either way, we are here for you.

I am so long winded, but I am very excited to be ready to go into battle. I am taking my baby steps and moving forward on my journey. I am making changes that will benefit me for the rest of my life. I can do this TODAY. I will focus on one day at a time. I WILL have success today.

Brenda

 

[dare2dream]

Your post snuck in while I was composing my long winded thoughts. I hope you get a chance to read the entire thread. Others posters have shared some realistic valuable information. Sometimes the final goal seems unobtainable. When I lay my head down at night I wish I could wake up the next morning weighing 170 pounds less than I do now. I know that will never happen. I know this journey will not be easy but there is much that I need to learn along the way. I am just going to try to focus on one day at a time. I have my 6 goals to obtain each day. I can do that. Some days will be harder than others, but I will try my hardest each day. Some days I will fail. Some days I will slip. If I do then I will just pull myself up, dust myself off, hold my head up high, and keep moving towards my goal.

It's all about baby steps. Make small changes that in time will become habits. After those changes are habits, make other changes. Keep moving towards your goal. Break the goal down into smaller obtainable increments. 170 pounds to me right now is not humanly possible, but 10 pounds is. I will just work on that for now. After I lose that 10 pounds I will focus on the next 10 pounds.

Aisling please join us on our journey to good health.

Brenda

 

[cinderella73]

edit

 

[VernRDH]

Ladies-

I have read all 7 pages of this thread and hope you don't mind me joining in. I started on my 100 pound weight loss journey on 2/1/07 and have lost 32 lbs so far. Only 68 more to go. I am doing the WW points program on my own (too cheap to pay for meetings each week) and exercising. I am finally running again after only being able to walk on the treadmill. Just started back to the gym to lift weights this past week. I am 36yo, married and have a daughter who is 7. DH is also on this journey with me, as he also needs to lose 100 lbs. He is just cutting calories and exercising. He has lost 25 lbs so far.

Losing all this weight is HARD. It is a daily battle, but one we can WIN. NOTHING WORTH HAVING EVER COMES EASY. I have good days, really good days, and absolutely horrible days (like yesterday). But when that happens, I say to myself, it is only one day, tomorrow is a new day. Remember in the Lion King when Rafiki smacks Simba in the back of the head, Simba asks why he hit him. Rafiki says its in the past, it does not matter. That's what our bad days should be.

I am no expert (or else I would not be this fat) but here are a few tips and tricks I have learned or picked up.
Just because it is there, does not mean you need to eat it.
Just because someone else is eating does not mean I need to eat too.
I did not get fat overnight, I am not getting thin overnight.
Exercise can be fun and enjoyable.
You should not completely "give up" anything. Switch to multigrain bread instead of white. Try sweet potatoes instead of white potatoes. Get the WW desserts or sugar free popsicles etc for a sweet treat that wont break your points/calorie bank.
Learn what it is to be hungry again. Many people don't know what actual hunger feels like. It may surprise you.
Drink A LOT of water. Sounds counter intuitive, but the more you drink, the less you retain. Crystal light, unsweetened tea count too.

Brenda, have you thought about a subliminal self help CD? I have one called Slim Forever for women and it is helpful. I listen before bed. The first part is the spoken message with some soothing background music. The second half is just the music with the spoken message underneath. That part can be listened to anytime. The first part you should listen to while you are not doing anything else. It is okay (actually helpful) if you fall asleep while listening. If you are interested in a copy, I will be happy to make one for you and send it to you. It may be helpful with some of your feelings and "work" on you even when you don't know it.

I am looking forward to spending some time with all you wonderful ladies and sharing in our success (and our setbacks too). I know we can all achieve our goals-one day at a time.

 

[ashleypmo]

Hello MareQ and all you other beautiful people on this thread! The first step, which is a biggie, and don't you ever forget to give yourself credit for it, is saying "okay, I'm ready now. I'm going to do something about it."

I've recently lost 70 pounds, and I'd still like to lose another 20 realistically, 40 in my dreams! I used the book "The Carbohydrate Addict's Healthy Heart Plan" by Drs. Richard and Rachel Heller. I know any one specific plan doesn't work for everyone, but this one works for me. I used it very successfully about 7 years ago and kept the weight off great, but after 1 business failure, 2 miscarriages, 2 back-to-back pregnancies (the last of which was a SURPRISE!), being the general contractor building our house & doing a bunch of the finish-out myself (because I have masochistic tendancies, evidently), homeschooling, having my youngest DD develop peanut allergy and youngest DS born with Down syndrome, well, what can I say. Show me the way to the self-pity pond, 'coz I'm gonna do me some wallowing! No, really, a lot of it was just being so totally consumed with events that I never stopped to say what-the-heck-am-I-doing?!?!

Sorry, back to business...the thing I like about the carb-addict plan is that once a day you can eat anything you want. No off-limit foods. Now, the rest of the day is pretty strict, basically Atkins, but that one meal you get whatever you want to eat. After about a week or so on plan, food cravings disappear. You have to stick to the plan, because it is all chemistry-based, insulin, etc. But I really don't have food cravings anymore, because I know if I want gooey-cheesey enchiladas & a coke, by golly, that's gonna be my reward meal. (BTW, that will be my reward meal this Thursday for my twenty-nineteenth birthday. (proud to be 39, baby!) I think tomorrow will be a big crudite-salad, chicken proscuitto tortellini w/ sundried tomato pesto cream sauce, and key lime pie for dessert. See, does that sound like a diet?

Also, here are some other tips I picked up that really knocked me off a plateau a while back:

lots of green tea (unsweetened-- some people's metabolism reacts the same way to artificial sweeteners as to sugar, which is why you can eat & drink sugar free & still not lose weight. Also, fake sweeteners can increase sweet cravings)

cinnamon-2 capsules a day, found in the vitamin section, or ask your pharmacist

Corn syrup is "the devil," as waterboy's mom woulda said. Sincerely, it is the work of the enemy. It does bad, bad things to your body. It is so highly glycemic it's not even funny. I won't let my kids near it. I'm a coke addict (of the cola variety), and I've switched to the Mexican import cokes because they're made w/ regular old sugar.

The best sweetener, if you absolutely can't give up sweeteners, is blue agave, available at natural food stores and also at SuperTarget, by the honey. It is much lower glycemic than sugar or honey.

Eat breakfast (protein, low carb veggies) w/in 1 hour of waking up every day--this will boost your metabolism, and hand-in-hand w/ this:

Do 8 minutes of cardio in the morning. Just these 8 minutes will boost your metabolism all day! Now, as you increase your stamina, you can increase your time, or add another workout time later, but especially in the beginning when you are feeling overwhelmed by the whole excersice thing (I hate exercise!), just knowing that 8 minutes is boosting your metab is great. I do high-cardio leg lifts (like marching in place) while I brush my teeth in the morning (I'm an OCD tooth-brusher, and it can take me 6-8 minutes--quit laughing!), followed by about 20 push-ups against the bathroom counter (because I have zippo upper body strength and could probably do like 2 (okay, 1) regular push-up), and then some squats w/ my exercise ball against the wall (if you don't have a ball, you can do them freestanding). Sometimes I do some girlie-weights (dumbbells) or step up & down on my iron chairs on the patio if I'm feeling especially masochistic. Jump rope is good, too, but if you're over 35 or have delivered more than 2 children, remember to go to the bathroom first . It doesn't matter what you do, as long as it gets your body moving & your heart pumping. Start out w/ that 5 minutes if that's all you can do & take it from there!

When I decided to lose the weight, I had to sell myself on two things:

1. Instead of focusing on losing the weight, I decided I was going to be healthy.

2. I had to forget about "losing weight," because my goal seemed so far away. Instead I had to come to grips w/ the fact that if I didn't do something, I was going to keep gaining weight. I knew that if I didn't do something, three months from now I'd be bigger and heavier. Goal #1 was just keeping that from happening. Losing was a happy side-effect.

Gee, too bad typing isn't cardio. I'd have burned a zillion calories already! Sorry for being so long-winded. If you can't tell, I'm really passionate about the subject ( no, really? ), and I always think it is so awesome for people to be able to come together in a forum like this and cheer each other on!

 

[DeAnna-YIKES!]

Hey everyone! Well, I survived the week. LOL I Went to WW this morning feeling a bit nervous but, I actually had a loss. Not a big one just .08 of a pound but, hey it's a loss! Right? We had what is similar to revival meetings in other churches last week so, on Sunday the kick off was a home-made ice-cream social. (gulp!) I had a small dish and none of the desserts. On the 4th there was a pot luck dinner ... let's just say could of gone better... then on Saturday we went out of town and guess what? Since it was another church function ... let's eat! urggg I did okay, it was a hotdog roast but, ofcourse desserts again then yesterday after church let's have another pot luck dinner. Whew! But, ya'll would be proud ... I had diced up fresh peaches for my dessert. So, over all I'm glad I didn't gain!

I am way excited about new folks here on line. This is great! We all need the support. I have great plans for our "Indy" trip. We are going shopping for food Wed. morning and I will be fixing dinner 3 nights... all right there EVERYONE eats WW! LOL And for our traveling snacks for the long drive.... grapes, nuts, apples, cheese and "reasonable" crackers... cool huh? Truly DH & DD do not mind. They are supportive. I'm blessed.

Do not remember if I've mentioned before that we homeschooled our daughter until this past fall. We had always told her that if she were to become unhappy we could as a family look at the situation. I believe that to a great degree the problem was the fact that she was lonely and felt isolated. We tried many, many groups but, around here they fall apart as quickly as they form. The school she should (according to where we live) go to has a student body of 3600 in the high school! NO WAY! So, after many tears, and prayers and much searching we enrolled her in a school which is in a tiny town about 22 miles away which enjoys a student body of 159 in the high school. She has done very well. She is on the basket ball team and is the school mascot. (wow, glad we paid for dance lessons for 12 years!) I truly still miss her very much, daily. I'm afraid it will be much worse this fall because she will drive herself instead of me driving her.... I'll miss the time we shared on the drive. But, I know she is GOD'S girl and he will continue to watch over her and care for her too.

Brenda, so proud of you, you got your game on! yea you! I just know you are going to enjoy your kids and grand baby! Just think what a gift you are gonna be giving them all by doing this for yourself!

Well, better get the rest of the way packed ... the dryer buzzed!

I'll check in while up there if opportunity comes about!

~~ DeAnna ~~