One More New Start--need suggestions

[luvsJack]

Yesterday I was working on photo books from out last trip to WDW (last Thanksgiving) and wanted to cry--I have gained back every stinkin', hard to lose pound that I lost 6 years ago!!!!!

We are now tentatively planning to return in March 2011. That gives me 17 months to lose 85 pounds, which is 5 lbs a month. Sounds doable. Right?

I do not want to join WW (been there, done that and don't stick to it), Nutrisystem or any of the things that cost money. I have spent a ton of money on weight loss, just to be 85 lbs overweight. So, although I know that many of those programs are really good; I am looking for something else. Can't do Atkins, couldn't get past the first 2 days--it made me feel awful!!!!

With all the weight loss programs I have done and even with the weight I have lost; I still just don't make the right choices. How do I learn to and get in the habit of doing that?

I want to cut my calories enough to lose along with daily exercise (walking 30-60 minutes a day). But I don't want to cut them so much that it makes it hard to stick to the plan (been there, done that, makes me miserable)

I plan to start November 1st.

How many calories does it take to maintain weight and how much to cut to lose a pound? Do some of you do it without counting calories or points or anything? If so, what do you look at? Instead of counting calories for each food eaten, would it work to just keep each meal under x# of calories and fruits and veggies for snacks. What about fat grams? Carbs?

Any and all help would be GREATLY appreciated!!

 

[lisah0711]

to you, luvsJack. We've all been you where are no wondering what the heck happened that we let ourselves get to this point. But that isn't going to get you where you need to be so let it go and start making plans to move on.

You might want to check out www.sparkpeople.com. They have a food plan for you and give you lots of ideas about what will work. They do a good job of helping you to maximize your calories, so where you might have had one calorie dense food, they will give you three servings of something better for you. It's free, too.

I think your goal is very reasonable. If you want some accountability for the next several weeks you are welcome to join our Biggest Loser Challenge, now in progress. It's never too late to join and you can participate as much or as little as you want. http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2275974 is a link to information about the challenge and this is a link to our thread http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2280700

Good luck on your journey to good health!

 

[pjlla]

to you, luvsJack. We've all been you where are no wondering what the heck happened that we let ourselves get to this point. But that isn't going to get you where you need to be so let it go and start making plans to move on.

You might want to check out www.sparkpeople.com. They have a food plan for you and give you lots of ideas about what will work. They do a good job of helping you to maximize your calories, so where you might have had one calorie dense food, they will give you three servings of something better for you. It's free, too.

I think your goal is very reasonable. If you want some accountability for the next several weeks you are welcome to join our Biggest Loser Challenge, now in progress. It's never too late to join and you can participate as much or as little as you want. http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2275974 is a link to information about the challenge and this is a link to our thread http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2280700

Good luck on your journey to good health!

I couldn't have said it better myself! I don't know anything about sparkpeople, but lots of folks here seem to love it.

My only additional comments would be to NOT make your eating plan too restrictive, or you will just end up frustrated and craving your restricted foods. And REMEMBER, you need to start thinking about this as a long-term LIFESTYLE change... not a temporary diet. Make changes that you can LIVE WITH for the long haul. And exercise needs to be a routine that you do every day... like showering and brushing your teeth and things like that... no ifs, ands, or buts!!

Good luck to you!...................P

 

[PRINCESS VIJA]

I just want to wish you luck as you start your journey! I am restarting on Nov 1st too! good luck!

 

[Dizneydawn]

Hi -

I want to let you know that verbatum - I get it. I started a weight loss thread here almost 2 years ago with the intention to get myself in gear. Chapter 6 now and the thread is alive and well, people have lost tons of weight, changed their attitude and guess what...I finally am on board with action and thought...not just thought.

I have sat back and been an interested participant in this weight loss journey of mine but interested from a comfortable place of inaction. Like reading a book versus writing one.

Last week - I walked W, Th at the Y for 30 minutes. Got through it by watching TV and the clock and not loving it. I saw a water aerobic class going on Thursday morning when I was walking the dreadmill and I decided to change something about myself.

It was a switch that went on and I gathered my courage and walked into that pool on Friday morning and have not looked back. I have gone each day this week as well and plan on joining a boot camp water class next week too.

I guess I am saying this because I hear the mental strugle of wanting different but not sure what to do to get there.

I have a total of 120# to lose to get to my goal weight of 140. I am breaking that down into 2 chunks to visualize success for myself.

I have always loved the water so why the heck have I been struggling at walking to lose weight and being commited to that instead of finding a form of excersize I love? It is a hard workout at one hour a day. 5 days a week and I am dragging let me tell you but I love it and I have lost 5 pounds as of today and I have not cut out every morsel I enjoy.

I have done WW and other plans but love sparkpeople as well. Free and it gives me a visual at the end of the day to help me see what I eat in a pie chart for percentage of protein, carbs, fat etc.

You are dead on that others can root you on to lose weight but the weight will come back unless you have a coming to God moment for yourself and figure out what motivates you and what you want.

The picture on my weight loss ticker - that's my kids. It was taken at the Mall of America ttheme park less than 2 weeks ago and that picture motivates me. Not because I want to lose weight for my kids - because that is a piece - to be here longer and healthier.

Most though - I took the picture because I was not in line for the ride they were waiting for. Why? Because I am always worried I will not fit a ride and stuffing myself into one I do. My oldest son was back from college for a weekend and I, like usual, sat back and looked at my kids having fun and not being a participant. The picture shows my daughter holding her head because my oldest just was funny and tapped her forehead in a joke. The boys are laughing at her. I had no idea what had happened until later because I saw from a distance. I am sick of not being a part of things and it is a self imposed punishment.

I am sick of looking at my life from a place of not belonging and worrying about my weight. Booths at restaurants, rides, airplane seats, horseback riding, go-carts etc., etc. This fat suit is controlling my life. I am an active person stuck in a non active body.

I am just flippin done.

So honey - I wish you success and I wish you peace in the new person you will find that wants that success. You need to find out what you need and want to do to change it though. Get ideas from us and then - map out your plan.

Sorry for the long ramble - but this is new passion for me. I have never excersized for a week in a row since 1991 and it feels really good to give myself the respect and dedication to my own body that I always instilled in my kids.

 

[hanutedmansionmomma]

sparkpeople is great!

I am in the very same boat or wagon or whatever as you, except my trip is in December!!!

Just keep up looking to the boards for inspiration and take one day at a time.

For example, my goal is to NOT eat any halloween candy. Very short term goal. Halloween will be over tomorrow night and I won't be feelin' guilty about anything.

Start small

 

[luvsJack]

Hi -

I want to let you know that verbatum - I get it. I started a weight loss thread here almost 2 years ago with the intention to get myself in gear. Chapter 6 now and the thread is alive and well, people have lost tons of weight, changed their attitude and guess what...I finally am on board with action and thought...not just thought.

I have sat back and been an interested participant in this weight loss journey of mine but interested from a comfortable place of inaction. Like reading a book versus writing one.

Last week - I walked W, Th at the Y for 30 minutes. Got through it by watching TV and the clock and not loving it. I saw a water aerobic class going on Thursday morning when I was walking the dreadmill and I decided to change something about myself.

It was a switch that went on and I gathered my courage and walked into that pool on Friday morning and have not looked back. I have gone each day this week as well and plan on joining a boot camp water class next week too.

I guess I am saying this because I hear the mental strugle of wanting different but not sure what to do to get there.

I have a total of 120# to lose to get to my goal weight of 140. I am breaking that down into 2 chunks to visualize success for myself.

I have always loved the water so why the heck have I been struggling at walking to lose weight and being commited to that instead of finding a form of excersize I love? It is a hard workout at one hour a day. 5 days a week and I am dragging let me tell you but I love it and I have lost 5 pounds as of today and I have not cut out every morsel I enjoy.

I have done WW and other plans but love sparkpeople as well. Free and it gives me a visual at the end of the day to help me see what I eat in a pie chart for percentage of protein, carbs, fat etc.

You are dead on that others can root you on to lose weight but the weight will come back unless you have a coming to God moment for yourself and figure out what motivates you and what you want.

The picture on my weight loss ticker - that's my kids. It was taken at the Mall of America ttheme park less than 2 weeks ago and that picture motivates me. Not because I want to lose weight for my kids - because that is a piece - to be here longer and healthier.

Most though - I took the picture because I was not in line for the ride they were waiting for. Why? Because I am always worried I will not fit a ride and stuffing myself into one I do. My oldest son was back from college for a weekend and I, like usual, sat back and looked at my kids having fun and not being a participant. The picture shows my daughter holding her head because my oldest just was funny and tapped her forehead in a joke. The boys are laughing at her. I had no idea what had happened until later because I saw from a distance. I am sick of not being a part of things and it is a self imposed punishment.

I am sick of looking at my life from a place of not belonging and worrying about my weight. Booths at restaurants, rides, airplane seats, horseback riding, go-carts etc., etc. This fat suit is controlling my life. I am an active person stuck in a non active body.

I am just flippin done.

So honey - I wish you success and I wish you peace in the new person you will find that wants that success. You need to find out what you need and want to do to change it though. Get ideas from us and then - map out your plan.

Sorry for the long ramble - but this is new passion for me. I have never excersized for a week in a row since 1991 and it feels really good to give myself the respect and dedication to my own body that I always instilled in my kids.

OMG, Thank you for posting!! You sound just like me about the ride and not being a part of things! Tears came to my eyes as I read that part and that makes me more determined than ever.

When I lost all that weight before, that was the best thing-- being a part of everything again, not just watching. I rode a horse, played on the trampoline, played volleyball with dd; all kinds of things!

I have found a buddy at work that is wanting to do this too. We have a agreed to work out on Tuesdays and Thursdays together and I love walking at our community walking track so doing that the other days (I have a treadmill at home and HATE walking on it. I almost think one of my problems is that I hate it so much but feel guilty walking at the track and not using the dang treadmill--so gotta get over that).

Now, I am off to visit sparklepeople!

Ha! I am actually getting excited here!

Thank you!!!

 

[luvsJack]

sparkpeople is great!

I am in the very same boat or wagon or whatever as you, except my trip is in December!!!

Just keep up looking to the boards for inspiration and take one day at a time.

For example, my goal is to NOT eat any halloween candy. Very short term goal. Halloween will be over tomorrow night and I won't be feelin' guilty about anything.

Start small

That's my first goal: not to eat any Halloween candy. Then I have a few weeks before the hurdle of Thanksgiving. I thought I'd wait until closer to time to figure out exactly how I want to get through it.

A couple of people have told me that I am starting at a very bad time of year. (these of course people that I will NOT be looking to for cheering me on) I told them that I haven't exactly found a "perfect" time of year to start. If I don't start now, it will just be 20 more lbs to lose by Jan. 1st. Besides, I figure if I can get through Halloween candy, Thanksgiving food and Christmas everything and still lose my 5lbs a month--I will know that I can get through ANYTHING!!

 

[hanutedmansionmomma]

Actually I think it's a GOOD time of year to start. How depressing would another Jan 1 be and still poohsized? I don't think I can handle it. It would be nice to already be in progress then.

Still haven't eaten the candy. 24 more hours. then I can send all the leftovers to DH work.

PM me if you sign up on spark - we can be disboard friends!