newbie- need lots of advice and support! PLEASE!!!

[karebear1]

HEY EVERYBODY! As of now, I am officially joined up! I'm very excited about this board! I've been looking for some one to share my journey with- and now I've found lots of you.
I am a 43 year old mom- my youngest is a Freshman in college, and, while, for all practical purposes, they're all out of the house (Except for the summer come home to make money thing) it's finally time to concentrate on me! YEAH. And boy- do I have a lot of concentrating to do! I have over 100 lbs. to lose- but my goal is to lose 65 lbs by January- 2004. That's when we are taking our first trip home to BCV's! We're very excited! Anybody out there have that much to lose? When did you start and how have you done? Which diet? I'm starting the Curves diet in 2 weeks. Just working out right now. ANY successes will be helpful. I just would like to become familiar with all of you. THANKS!

 

[believe]

Welcome to WISH, karebear1.

There are several members who are Curves members I am sure they can help you.

 

[Liz]

Welcome!!!

I'm a little bit older than you (will be 45 this fall) but I had a little bit over 100 lbs. to lose when I begin this journey early in February. Now I have a little less than 100 to lose. I try not to think about it because its too overwhelming. I'm doing WW and love it!

The WISH board is so helpful and supportive! I'm glad you've decided to be a part of us! Good luck!!!!

 

[Cthia]

Welcome to W.I.S.H. karebear 1.

I go to Curves for excercise but do not do their Curves Diet so I am sorry I can't help you there.

I can offer support and encouragement.

 

[DiznEeyore]

Welcome, karebear1!! I just joined WISH this week, too, and I can honestly say that I have never seen such a supportive group!

I don't have 100 pounds to lose -- I want to lose about half that -- but if feels like it might as well be that much, as I've lost and gained the same 20 pounds several times in the last year. I really am in it for the long haul this time -- I want to be outwardly slimmer and inwardly healthier for our anniversary trip to WDW in October.

I didn't know Curves had their own diet. I'd love to hear more about it. We have a couple of Curves centers near here, but I don't have the extra time/money to invest right now, so I'm doing the WATP tapes at home.

I'm doing WW, I know a lot of folks are doing Atkins ... no matter how we do it, we'll all do it *together*!

 

[nativetxn]

Hi karebear1, I'm really glad you decided to join our support group. I started my new way of life, controlling carbohydrate intake using the Atkins Plan, on 1/9/03. I've lost 26.5 pounds so far, the first 18 pounds were lost in the first 3 weeks. Seems like since I took the WISH challenge, my weight loss has slowed drastically but it is still happening.

I had 100 pounds to lose on 1/9 and now I have less than 75 pounds to lose.

You can do this, I believe in you. Just keep visiting Curves and following your eating plan and the weight will eventually be all gone.

Don't forget to visit WISH everyday. You can motivate and encourage us and we'll motivate and encourage <i>you</i>. It's so great how helpful WISH has been for me.

Katholyn

 

[becka]

Hi! Welcome to WISH!

I just re-joined WISH last week after a break of almost 2 years. I originally found WISH back in the summer of 2001. I used the support here along with following WW to lose almost 30 pounds before I became pregnant. My baby is now 10 1/2 months old and I decided it was about time to get back on the program.

I unfortunately gained back my 30 pound loss plus an additional 10. I am now trying to lose a little over a hundred pounds but I try not to think of the total. I break my loss up into little goals and maybe one longer term goal that are more attainable..some deal with the number on the scale while others are health related (exercise, drinking water, etc.).

My longer term goal is to lose around 65 pounds by the end of the year just like you. My short term goal is to just lose another 4.5 pounds to get to my 10 pound mark. My next goal will probably be to lose another 9 pounds to get me into the next point range in WW, etc. When I feel discouraged about how far I have to go I just focus on that short goal of 4.5 pounds. If I am feeling really good I can focus on losing 65 pounds by year-end.

Exercise is going to be harder for me this time around. Before I had DS I would walk/jog on the treadmill at least 3 times a week and then I tried to play at least 1 match of tennis with DH and I usually went roller skating (great exercise and really fun) on another night (the local rink has an adults only night). Now the tennis and roller skating are going to be very rare and I hope that I do not get burnt out on the treadmill.

I know the support I get from WISH is a big part of my success and I hope you will find it to be as good of a thing for you as it has been for me.

 

[karebear1]

Thanks so much everybody. I was just telling my best friend that lives in WI about this WISH board. She also has lots of weight to lose. SHe use to visit the boards here regularly, but she's just opened a B&B and doesn't really have time to visit right now. Anyway- YOU GUYS ARE THE BEST!
It's nice to know that there are people on this board that have a substantial amount of weight to lose and
Becka- what a coincidence that we both want to lose the same amount by the end of the year! That will be really helpful for me! I have seen your posts on other threads and always wanted to comment on your beautiful little baby is! What a sweetheart. You're so smart to start trying to lose it now! I wish I had done it when I was younger and the kids were younger. This weight stopped me from enjoying my kids more when they were younger!
Nativetxn and Liz- WOW! good for you! Doesn't it look good to say you had to lose 100 lbs and now only hvae 75 lbs.? That's one less digit! I'm so impressed! You will be my example-now- don't let me down!!! (DO you FEEL the pressure?!?!?! )
DiznEeyore- we'll lose the first 50 togehter! The curves diet is VERY similar to Atkins, at least for the first two weeks. Maybe I'll post each stage as I enter them (there are 3 stages of this diet) because they kinda get confusing and I want ot be sure I'm giving the right info. Phase I is two weeks of 20 carbs or less/day. That's what I'll be starting in 2 weeks when the new group is formed.
And finally- believe- what a GREAT name! it's all said right there- thanks for the welcome.
One more question- do any of you, or anyone else for that matter have diabetes? I am type II and relatively newly diagnosed with it (about a year) and I am anticipating complications of weight loss or problems. Don't know if there will be , just wondering.

 

[nativetxn]

I'm not but my husband has been type II diabetic, diagnosed in 1988, always out of control. He had a heart attack in 1998 and his cardiologist blamed the out of control diabetes. He told me diabetes is more damaging to the heart than cigarette smoking

At any rate, my husband was out of control type II diabetic with average blood sugars averaging 250+ since 1988. No matter if he followed the diabetic diet or not. His glycolated hemoglobin was 9.2, very dangerous.

He began the Atkins plan on 1/9/03. In three weeks his triglycerides were reduced by 98 points, total cholesterol went down about 40 points, LDL dropped, HDL increased and his glycolated hemoglobin dropped from 9.2 to 7.1. And this result included one month where he was still out of control, so that's an awesome number for him.

His cardiologist told him to continue with the Atkins because it was most likely saving his life. He is amazed at his results.

My husband went from never using his home glucometer to test for blood sugar to testing 2 or 3 times a day, he just loves seeing results like 78, 84 or even 100 because they are <b>normal</b> results for the first time in over a decade.

Since your eating plan will control your carbohydrate intake for the first two weeks, I think you will see some improvement in your blood sugar results after you complete your first week.

My mother in law is also type II diabetic, she was reduced to using injectible insulin because she could not control her blood sugar. She started Atkins a month ago and has not had to use the insulin since she began this way of eating.

We have been so pleased with our results. I'm sure the Curves eating plan will do the same thing for you.

 

[karebear1]

That is SO ENCOURAGING!!! I always wondered why they didn't put people on the ATkins diet when they had diabetes! When I went to the dietician, she wanted me to eat between 150-180grams of carb per day! I couldn't believe that! Anyway- I'm sure hoping that it'll work. When I asked the dietician about the Curves diet- she didn't seem to have any problems with it and said to give it a try. HERE'S TO HOPING IT WORKS! Just like ATkins seemes to have worked for your hubby and M-I-L.

I LOVE THIS BOARD ALREADY!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Rhonda]

Welcome Karebear! I'm on Atkins too - which is very similar to the Curves plan! I lost 50 pounds on it a couple of years ago, and my goal this time is 65 pounds. I started 2 weeks ago, and I'm down about 11 pounds so far!

Good luck - we're here for you!

 

[TigH]

Hello and welcome karebaer1!!!

You came to the right place!!!! I'm so glad you joined us. Every pound you lose after you take the WISH challenge is gone forever, did you know that? And a trip to the BCV in January is AWESOME!!!! I love it there (have only visited to see the room they have open to the public, but it's still a gorgeous place). January is such a beautiful time of year in FL. Imagine getting up early to sit on the balcony with a nice warm cup of coffee. I think any view there is a good view, so whether you are looking at the trees, the grass, or the pool, you'll be happy! *sigh* A very tranquil place.

I have heard so many great things about Curves. You'll have to let us know how you like their diet once you start. Seems like most of the ladies here who started Curves have seen quite a drop in inches in just a few weeks. It's very inspiring.

I'm on WW, officially lost 6 pound in 3 weeks but weighed today (not supposed to weigh until Monday!) and now it's 9 pounds in 4 weeks, YAHOO! I power walk with my DH and sister about 4 times a week and try to do as much work in the yard as I can on the days I don't walk.

It's great to have you here!!! We are behind you 100% and I know you can reach your first goal easily!!! You've got plenty of time and it sounds like you've got an endless supply of determination!!!