Need help

[poohmom3]

I haven't made many posts to the Dis, mainly a lurker, but I stumbled across this board and felt like I needed to post. I just turned 40 last Sunday and have decided I need to get busy and lose 130 pounds. It seems impossible and I have no idea how to go about it, there are so many plans out there it's confusing. I thought maybe someone here might be able to give me some ideas for getting started on a healthier lifestyle. I've been to the doctor and miracle of miracles despite being obese I am in good health, no heart problems, high-blood pressure, high cholesteral, diabetes, anything!

I would like to set a goal to lose at least 20 pounds before we leave for WDW on May 29, but I'm not even sure if this is realistic. I've started walking during my lunch hour at work, but I know with as much as I need to lose it's going to take more than exercise. I've maintained my weight at 280 for the last 7 years, so it's become almost like a security blanket for me and I'm a little afraid to lose it. I would greatly appreciate any advice/help any of you that have been successful with a big weight loss could give me.

 

[tiggerlover]

Welcome to WISH! What a great first step you are making to the road of good health. WISH is a wonderful resource when you are trying to lose weight, you can find information, support and motivation from folks who have been there or are currently there. Losing weight is a very emotional thing because we all have different reasons why we are overweight, but once you make the decision to lose and you start to lose it is a great feeling and you just deal with the emotional stuff along the way.

First you need to decide what type of weight loss plan will work with your life style. We have many people on WISH on a variety of programs so once you decide on one chances are there will be someone here on that program. I personally follow Weight Watchers and I love the flexibility it gives me to eat what ever I want in moderation. Second thing to being successful in losing weight is to get moving and exercise. Start out slow and work your way up. When I first started working out 14 months ago it was a struggle to do 10 minutes on the elliptical at the gym. I gradually worked my way up to 20 minutes, then 30 minutes and now I can go for 45 minutes. It is all about taking baby steps, but each baby step in the right direction is a baby step towards better health.

Good luck on your journey and stop by WISH often.

 

[catherine]

Hi poohmom3 and welcome to WISH WISH is the best place to be. You will find lots of help, encouragement and inspiration, from some wonderful WISHers. You have taken the first steps in your weight loss journey, you have posted here and you have begun to get some exercise. I don't know whether you drink enough water, or not, if you don't perhaps your next step could be to up your water intake. I have found that when I drink my required amount of water I lose more weight. The next thing that you need to do is figure out what type of plan is going to work for you, and your lifestyle.

Personally I don't follow any type of plan. I make sensible food choices. I Keep my calorie intake to around 1200 calories a day. I also drink plenty of water, and I exercise every day. Basically I have changed my lifestyle to something that I can live with for the rest of my life. I, like others here, have lost weight before, but I've never been able to keep it off, because I dieted and didn't change my life style. I was always of the opinion that once the diet was over I could just carry on eating like I used to do, dumb, I know!!

I think your goal to lose 20lbs before your WDW trip is perfectly doable. Keep up your walking and even if it takes you a while to decide which plan you want to follow, start now to modify your eating, for example, you could start by cutting down on portions, or cutting out some snack foods.

Good luck with whatever you decide to do. Come back often and see us. We would love to hear about your progress

 

[kaylajr]

Hi nice to meet you


This place is great for support and encouragment
also a good kick in the rear when you need one

Like the above posters said there are several plans here that people follow and with each one there are people who give great advice and support.

i personally am following the Atkns plan and it really seems to work for me.

The water intake as said above was the hardest thing for me but once i got past that it really helped with the weight loss

my goal was 60lbs i have aleady lost 12 since 2/11 and without this board and these wonderful wishers it wouldn't have been possible

so hugs to you for encuragement
post often we love to help

 

[nancyj_pa]

Welcome to WISH!

Deciding to change your lifestyle to a healthier one was your first big decision. Why don't you read some of the journals at the top of the WISH board and see how some of us are accomplishing our goals. While you are deciding, do something good for yourself each week. Drink at least 8 to 10 glasses of water a day, try to walk a bit more, etc. When you have a lot to lose, it seems hopeless but it's not. You have to do things "one step at a time."

Joining WISH and getting the support you need is essential. You'll see clippies designating our accomplishments and goals. A lot of us over 200 pounds have ONEDERland challenge clippies...that means we are striving to be under 200 pounds. You'll see clippies for short weight loss challenges as well.

I find that coming to WISH every day is a lot like going to Weight Watcher meetings, etc. except that you don't have to leave home. The Walk Away The Pounds tapes are also good for those of us who are out of shape and just beginning exercise again.

I am doing low carb eating. It's something I feel that I can do for a long time to lose the weight I need to lose. It's a slow process for me...lots of WISH'ers lose faster but we're all different. The main thing is not to give up. It took years to gain the weight. Don't expect it all to come off too quickly.

Nancy J

 

[kayeandjim00]

Hi poohmom3 Welcome to WISH! You've made an important first step by saying that you have decided to lose the weight! Your walking at lunch is a great committment to your new lifestyle. I also think you need to pick an eating plan as that will also help you shed the pounds. Your 20 lbs by May goal is very doable I think you might surprise yourself and lose even more as the pounds tend to come off very quickly at first! Which is very encouraging and helps you see all that hard work paying off. I am also on a 1200 calorie diet with one "free"day a week where I eat what I want within reason. I live in Wisconsin where the winters are pretty brutal so I have not been able to exercise outside since right before Christmas but today is my first day back and I'm excited about getting back out there. I know exercise helps melt the pounds. Drink as much water as you possibly can! 1/2 your body weight is optimum for weight loss. It will seem impossible to drink that much but once you get used to it, it will seem second nature. Come to WISH often, check in on the "check-in" thread even if the news isn't what you hoped. You'll find tons of encouragment and motiviation and there are so many WISH success stories you'll start to believe that you too CAN do this - because you CAN! There are WISHers who are on Atkins, South Beach, Protein Power, Eating Sensibly, Weight Watchers, their own plans, you name it. Whatever you choose there will be someone who can offer advice. Best of luck as you begin your journey!

 

[mum4jenn]

Welcome!! You are in the right place!!! There are lots of plans being followed around here and it can be tough deciding what would be good for you.

It might be a good idea to look at some websites and look into the different programs or like I did and go to the library and check out some books. That is what I did for Atkins and I read the book and then decided to try it for the original induction period. It was tough at first because I was totally addicted to carbs. I was drinking 5-6 sodas per day,eating bread as a snack, and ate enough candy in one sitting that could and should have lasted for weeks. I went through some major carb and caffeine withdrawal during the first week. But.... the very first week I lost 13 pounds and I think the next week was around 6. I was hooked!!! From June until just before Thanksgiving I had lost 52 pounds. I went from sizes 22,24 to sizes 16,14!!!
However let me warn you as I have found out. It can start creeping back on you just as fast. We went to Orlando the week of Thanksgiving and I ate all kinds of carbs and when I got back home I had gained about 10 pounds. Since then I have been struggling and I am doing induction again. I have actually started induction several times since then but kept sneaking stuff. I started induction again on 3/3 and I am showing a 5 pound loss so far. I had to talk myself into getting serious again because I went to put on the size 14 jeans and even though I got them zipped they were VERY tight. I got on the scale and had regained those same 10 pounds I had been struggling with since Nov. I am determined to get to my goal hopeully my the 1 year mark of when I began the journey.

Make sure your "head" is really ready for what ever program you choose. Weight Watchers is a good one also. Make sure you are doing this for YOU and not anyone else. You CAN do this. There is lots of help here on these boards. Keep in touch and let us know what you decide.

 

[Disfan1]

I started out wanting to lose 130 lbs. too. I'm halfway there already! My best advice is to find a plan that you are comfortable with. I use the Richard Simmons Deal-A-Meal plan because it offers great flexibilty and I don't have to deny myself as often as I might have to on other plans. Other than that, I second what everyone else has said. Good luck!

 

[luvmy2sams]

Welcome to the WISH board, poohmom3!

You've received a lot of great advice from the posters here, and I don't really have a lot to add. Just wanted to post some encouragement....

Your goal of losing 20 pounds by your trip is very doable! It can be overwhelming to look at the total amount of weight you want to lose. I know, because I just started, and I've got 83 pounds to get rid of. It's much easier to break the loss down into smaller goals. Doing 20 by your trip is a perfect example of that. You can even go as far as to make goals for each week, or each day, even. Everything is much easier when you look at it day by day instead of as an overall, overwhelming picture.

Do look at the WISH journal page and think about starting one for yourself. I did that, and it's wonderful! Everyone is so encouraging, so if you feel like giving up, they are right there to keep cheering you onward and downward!

You've already made some great first steps! Just keep going and come back here anytime. Feel free to PM if you wish.

Good luck on your journey!

~Angela

 

[AKASnowWhite]

I'm going to echo what luvmy2sams said....you've been given loads of great advice already! My 2cents is that everybody is different, so there is no one "magic" plan that is one-size-fits-all. Look a few choices over, see what you think fits your life best and give it a try. If you decide that it's just not working for you - try a different eating plan until you find one that you can live with long-term. For me, it's weight watchers....for others it's different.

Making the decision to take control and lose weight is a big one! We're all working towards a common goal here - a great place for tips, advice, support, hugs, cheers....you name it! Best of luck on becoming a LOSER (of pounds that is )

 

[mowsie dreamer]

Welcome, poohmom3! I'm glad you decided to join us!!

Losing weight can seem impossible, but if you take it one step at a time, you will be there before you know it. As others have posted it helps to set smaller goals along the way. I also think the pounds lost clippies are great for that. You just can't beat the feeling you get when you can change to a higher loss clippie!!

I also know what you mean about weight being like a security blanket. It can get too comfortable being the one who stays in the background. And it can be hard to change comfortable habits, but in the long run, it's oh so worth it!!

You have made a great beginning by walking during lunch and joining us here!! I can't wait to see that 5 pound clippie on you!! It'll be gorgeous!!

 

[poohmom3]

Thanks to everyone for their kind responses. I decided I needed to do some research before getting started on any set plan, so I went to the book store Saturday night and was completely overwhelmed by all the diet books out there I really want to find something I can stick to long term so I don't do the whole yo-yo dieting thing. I was about ready to give up when I found this little book in the clearance books called "The Quick and Easy Way to Getting Thin and Healthy". Since it was cheap I went ahead and bought it. I had to take my mom to the ER Sunday (she's 80 & I'm her primary caretaker) and got a chance to start reading my book while I was there. It gives some really good nutrition and exercise lessons, so I'm hoping by educating myself I'll be able to choose something I can live with. I'll kept you all updated on what I decide to do and in the meantime I'm enjoying reading all the posts on this board.

 

[nativetxn]

I just want to welcome you to WISH, <b>poohmom3</b>. I'm so glad you found us and I sure hope you can visit often.

My mother is 76 and is in a nursing home. I've sure spent my share of hours in the ER. I hope your mother is doing better now.

Good luck with your new healthy lifestyle. Finding a weight loss plan that you can live with forever will help you succeed.

We'll be here to help you along the road to goal. If you need our help all you need to do is ask and we'll be here for you

Katholyn

 

[Strings]

poohmom3,

I just wanted to say hi and welcome to WISH. You've received lots of great advice. My only further suggestion is to start a journal. You can track your foodand exercise. It also is a great place to vent. There are some very dedicated journalers on this boars who give me tremendous support. Without them and my journal, I would have quit a long time ago.