Rededicating myself to Getting Healthy!

[Whitewater]

Hi, everybody --

I'm not sure what to say, it's probably the same story that you guys have heard a zillion times.

I was never overweight as a kid, in fact, due to my food-phobic mom, I was actually underweight or flirting with the line between appropriate and skinny until I left their sphere of influence at 18, at which point I went crazy with food (having never learned how to have a healthy relationship with it!) and promptly started to gain weight.

A healthy weight for me is 160-170lbs, I've got medium-large bones and a very muscular frame, and I'm not one of those naturally willowy folks. I'm a throwback to the ideal woman of the 1940's! Lots of curves throughout my adult life I swore to say under 200 pounds but I kept gaining weight.

A few years ago my hormones decided to get into the act. That's when I gave up and didn't care.

Now I'm stuck at 248. I'm 5'3, and I really ought to lose about 70-80 pounds, if at all possible.

I have seen diet counselors, doctors, nutritionists, been on programs left and right, I currently belong to the Y, and have doggedly pursued this whole weight loss thing with little success. 2 years ago I faithfully followed the nutritionist's recommendations and lost about 15 pounds (I was 250 and went down to 237) in 3 months, but my emotional issues started freaking me out and now, well, let's just say I'm starting from the beginning all over again.

I am hoping that I can find the support here that I didn't have the first time. I have dealt with the psychological issues, and am ready to try again.

Due to budget issues I am doing the basic Weight Watchers points thing, and combining it with my nutritionist's guide for me -- and I hope to get support here, on this forum.

I know it's probably a bad time to start this with a week-long Disney honeymoon looming on the horizon, but if I don't start now, regardless, I never will.

I have an appointment with my endocrinologist on the 30th of September, and I am hoping that by then I'll be able to show him some results, however small.

Thanks for reading this long screed, I hope to visit often!


Whitewater

 

[Tiger Lily 03]

Glad you have not given up. Never give up.

You can do this. I'm glad you are seeing your doc. That is most important. Try not to think of this as going through that "D" word. Work with yourself to get to a lifestyle change. You want this. You can do this.

It is never a bad time to start making healthy choices.

 

[Whitewater]

I would like to report that I am already (two days into it) feeling better, merely because of changing around how and what I eat. I haven't had time to do any formal exercise what with leaving for WDW on the 8th, but I *have* been dong a ton of walking as I shop and so on. Not quite equal (lightly sweating over a total of 1.5 miles in 7 hours of shopping is not the same as a focused 2 miles in 40 minutes on the treadmill!) but at least it's exercise. Right now I'm focusing on walking in the real world, as opposed to a treadmill in an air conditioned gym, I figure that will help my body adjust better to Disney.

So far my only issues were constant hunger for the 1st 24 hours until my body figured everything out, and some, er, gastro-intestinal issues (if you know what I mean!) because of the sudden influx of green veggies and fruit, lol. That seems to have calmed down a bit also as my body gets used to them again.

I'm also using the restroom a lot more since I'm drinking a lot more water than I have been in the recent past, but that's ok. Most places have restrooms for their customers nowadays and it's easy to deal with when I'm at home.

While I don't feel more alert or mentally sharp (thank you, thyroid), I haven't had any blood sugar drops these past 48 hours and I do feel better generally, even if I don't have any more energy and so on -- that's my endocrine issues. I have really cut down on the caffeine to the point where I only drink it in a restaurant situation where there's nothing else available. Because of my blood sugar stuff, I'd rather drink caffeine than sugar!

Just had breakfast -- Special K with Red berries, 1% milk, and a handful of raw almonds.


Whitewater

 

[GrumpyOne]

I'd suggest you have multiple methods of measuring success. Losing weight is a great goal but both fat and muscle are "weight" and you really don't want to lose muscle. Muscle helps you look better, feel better and gives support to the fat. And if nothing else, remember that your heart is a muscle.

Using multiple methods will help keep you motivated when your preferred method of measuring isn't going anywhere.

Tape measure: Pick 5-6 body sites and measure them weekly and record the values. Waist, hip, arm, thigh, calf, chest. When (not if, when) the scale doesn't move and you get discouraged because you worked yor tail off that week, it's likely you'll still see progress on your tape measure.

Use the scale (I prefer one with a body fat analyzer. They aren't always totally accurate [the only totally accurate method is an autopsy] but they are consistent and it'll help show you BF loss).

The third way to measure progress is by improving on your workouts. Once you start those, keep track of how you're improving.

 

[ohMom]

to WISH! you most certainly have found a support system!

if you are interested, going on right now are sign-ups for a friendly Biggest Loser challenge. We weigh weekly and keep each other accountable. there are also challenges of the week (COW) to encourage us into healthier habits. it's a great group...come join us!

if that's not your thing, there is also a WW thread -- feel free to join in any!

i think you are at WDW now? looking forward to seeing you upon return

 

[JoanneNC]

I'd suggest you have multiple methods of measuring success. Losing weight is a great goal but both fat and muscle are "weight" and you really don't want to lose muscle. Muscle helps you look better, feel better and gives support to the fat. And if nothing else, remember that your heart is a muscle.

Using multiple methods will help keep you motivated when your preferred method of measuring isn't going anywhere.

Tape measure: Pick 5-6 body sites and measure them weekly and record the values. Waist, hip, arm, thigh, calf, chest. When (not if, when) the scale doesn't move and you get discouraged because you worked yor tail off that week, it's likely you'll still see progress on your tape measure.

Use the scale (I prefer one with a body fat analyzer. They aren't always totally accurate [the only totally accurate method is an autopsy] but they are consistent and it'll help show you BF loss).

The third way to measure progress is by improving on your workouts. Once you start those, keep track of how you're improving.

Great advice/reminder since the scale doesn't always reveal your true efforts

Good Luck - just remember to work on TODAY only - You can do this

 

[GSD4ME]

I'm rededicating myself to getting healthy, too (need to lose about 90 pounds). We can both do it!!! It isn't always going to be fun or easy, but I think the best piece of advice I've ever heard is this: You didn't put it on overnight, so it's not going to come off overnight.

Keep at it and take it day by day!