Weight Loss for your trip?

[kldmom2000]

I lost just over 100 lbs... yes-over 100 POUNDS!

In November 1999, I was weighing in @ 230 lbs. DH and I went to DisneyWorld the first week of December one last time before we were planning to have a family. 2 weeks after we got back, I found out we also had a little souveneir on it's way.....

I ended up w/ a very high risk pregnancy-developed pre-eclampsia and had to be pulled out of work in my 29th week and put on strict bedrest for the duration of my pregnancy. My blood pressure had hit 230/110!!!! I weighed 254. The day I turned 37 weeks, my water broke and DD was on her way.... I had a c-section due to her being breech and my BP being so high. She was blue and was about to be resuscitated when they did get her to pink up and cry....
It was at that moment that I knew things would have to change.

6 weeks postpartum I was still about 238. 12 weeks I was 237. My "diet" of eating very little all day and then a "regular" dinner wasn't working. I decided to get the WW at home program as I could not make it to any meetings. I had the $100 kit fed-exed to me and began it the day it came. It became a game to me.... staying within my points range. I began using my treadmill EVERY DAY.... 11 months later I was 132 lbs! I went from a size 22 to a size 6! My BP is still slightly elevated (140/70) which I am now taking a small dose of med to keep at 120/70 (we've discovered it's hereditary in my family) I've maintained my weight now for 5 years except for another HEALTHY pregnancy in 2002 which had me gain 30 lbs but then lose it again within 5 months of having my 2nd DD. I can't tell you how GREAT it feels to have accomplished something like this! My DH is so SHOCKED now when he sees pics of me from our last Disney trip in Dec. 99-just a huge difference! The saying "Nothing tastes as good as skinny feels" is so true. I still watch what I eat and I still exercise religiously. It CAN be done. I failed at numerous diets before I made the commitment to change my life. It was my little girl that motivated me. I didn't want her to grow up w/o a mom and I was determined to do everything I could to be here for her

Good luck to all of you in your attempts... I am proof that it works!!

 

[Dorisk3]

For myself, the only thing that helps me lose weight is exercise. I joined a gym very close to my house and it's really been a wonderful experience. Even doing the treadmill for a half hour every other day makes a big difference. And the great thing about the gym is that I have no excuses that I used to make for myself when I used to just walk for exercise, things like it's going to rain, too hot, too cold. The other great thing about exercise is that you don't need to completely starve yourself to lose weight! Good luck to you- it is a battle- but when your jeans start to feel looser on your body- it will give you the drive to go on!

 

[Dorisk3]

I was quickly rereading all these posts- there are so many ways to lose weight and everyone knows what works for them. I am really a chocolate addict too- I cannot have it in the house. There are some diets that say have a few small pieces of chocolate a day, i.e. a few hershey kisses to help stave off any eventual binges. That doesn't work for me- thats like telling an alcoholic to have a few sips of beer to take the edge off! If you do get it out of the house and try lower calorie substitutions like hot chocolate, eventually the cravings will lessen (thankfully!)
Just another note- as flylady (home cleaning/organization website) says- take everything in babysteps. You don't need to get on that treadmill for an hour a day. Even if you break it up in ten minutes 2 times a day- the important thing is that you are moving and doing something good for yourself!
Once again, good luck to you- you've already made your first move, so just keep going and you will be so much healthier and happier for it!

 

[aka-mad4themouse]

I will have to start small though (I have over 150 lbs to lose) wow, that's sick to even hear that.

Don't think of it as 150 lbs. to be lost. Set interim goals such as 10 lbs by May 31. Make the goals realistic. I know that if I start off thinking that I need to lose XXX lbs., it's very deflating to see that scale crawl towards my goal.

But I'm gonna take baby steps.

That's a great idea. Begin with just increasing your activity slightly. Nothing will ruin an exercise program quicker than going all out the first day and then being too sore for the next 3 days to do anything! I would love to do 30 minutes on our elliptical treadmill. Yesterday (my first day on it), I did 5. Not exactly a stellar start but it's 5 more minutes than I did the day before. And today I might just make it to 6 or 7 minutes! I'll take small victories wherever I can.

Is there a board on this site for people who are trying to lose weight before their big trip? I haven't seen one but would bet a lot of people would benefit from one. Thanks again for all your help.

Pam

There is one! Try the W.I.S.H. Board! Lots of people there to inspire and share their stories. No need to post if you don't feel like it. You can just lurk if you want to. Good luck to you. I consider weight loss to be the jouney of a thousand steps. Each day is just one step on that journey.

 

[LaurieG]

One thing that I did not see mentioned is a website that I am currently using. It is called sparkpeople.com. I LOVE IT! It has an online food journal, exercise journal, dissussion fourms, etc. You enter your height, weight etc and then set a goal weight by a certain date and it will tell you your calorie range to eat everyday and also how many calories you should burn every week. Complete with exercise suggestions. It is just the best. I considered weight watchers but the $ was holding me back. I like the fact that this is private and I am holding myself accountable to what I eat and drink everyday. So far I have lost 6 pounds (30 to go!) and my cousin has lost 10. And the best part.....its free!
good luck and know that you are not alone in this. Also, don't think of it as a diet but a life style change. I for one know that I don't want to be this way again and plan to keep using sparkpeople after I reach my goal weight to keep myself on the right track
Laurie

 

[twinz]

Three years ago, my twin sister and I decided that it was time to lose weight. We walked in to a local CURVES and haven't looked back since. I lost 80 pounds and she lost 90. Although I have put on 25 of that, and she has basically maintained...it has been the hardest thing I ever lost but the easiest thing I even found. I just rejoinded WW last week (first WI today). I quit the first time because I had hit a plateau and no one there did anything to help me. I had never ever tried to lose weight before so I had no idea that this could happen. I have also tried Jenny Craig, and in my opinion the only thing it did for me was rob me blind. It was so expensive, and yes I lost a bit, but AS SOON as I stop eating their food, that's when I gained. Like another poster said take baby steps. Say this month I will lose 5 pounds, it doesn't sound like much but it'll add up before you know it. I also believe that without going to Curves 3 times a week, it would have been much harder (and hey I got a part time job outof going there! LOL )I always said when I reach mygoal we are going back to WDW ( I don't think I can wait though! LOL) Good luck, I wish you all the best.

 

[twotoohappy]

Try the W.I.S.H. Board!

Dis W.I.S.H. board is the best!

 

[asmarykay]

One thing that is working for me that I did not see mentioned is "Body for Life." This book is great! It is by Bill Phillips and is a 12-wk program. It changes the way you eat, exercise and think. It is really good.

Baby steps are the only way to go. Just remember that change is hard and change takes time - so don't get discouraged. Just keep going. Another saying that I like is that nothing gets different until you get different - so like you said yourself - you just have to make up your mind that the time is now. Good Luck!

 

[boxer]

I didn't read through all these posts, but if anyone needs help w/diet or workouts, let me know.......I am a competitive fighter, so I am a MASTER at cutting weight (both healthy and un-healthy weight cutting LOL).

Seriously tho, if anyone needs help, feel free to PM me.

 

[loriandmatt]

i feel for you - struggeling with weight is so difficult. i am there too and will always be.

a few tips that i am still trying my best to live by....

cut that portion size. at first it might be rough, but eventually you will get used to eating less. supplement with water or a nice glass of warm tea or fat free broth. warm liquids help stave off hunger. (don't go wacky and just do the liquid thing - unhealty. but as a filler upper when you are cutting back to smaller meals - a nice way of not feeling so hungry)

don't cut out everything you like - just reserve yourself to the notion that they are rare treats to be savored in small quantities rather than daily or weekly staples.

stick to whole foods as much as possible - amazing how this can cut down on fat and other things in processed food that put on or keep on weight.

move move move - not just at a gym (that personally does not fit into my schedule - small kids, full time job and one kid that is in his "tons of activities that i have to drag him to" stage.) for instance - i walked the baby in the stroller for 2 hours last night while the boy had baseball practice. the day before i raked the yard to remove the thatch - big yard, i will stap the baby into the seat on the back of my bike tonight and go for a ride after dinner, friday night i plan to wash and vaccume the van.....stuff like that. just move. much easier this time of year - not so easy in bad weather. if you have the money and time and YMCA near you - join. they have so many opertunities there and it is generally not full of the "gym bunnies" that you see at other health clubs that intimidate the heck out of me. i don't want to go there because i don't feel quite up to par around them. also dittoing the suggestion about cable. if you are in an area with and on-demand feature, buy it if you don't already have it. they have tons of free work out stuff on on demand that you can pull up anytime you want. i try to do 20 min of one of those work out things on demand 2 or 3 times a week. nice because they change every few weeks so i don't get tired of the same thing all the time.

don't get discouraged - a small set back is normal every once in a while. don't let it ruin your entire process. and don't beat yourself up over it. feel good about the good things you have done for your health in the last few days/weeks instead of feeling horrible about eating that thing last night or not moving enough today.

understand that this is a great life change - don't refer to it as a diet. don't think of it as a diet. this is long term. it will not be a life of denial, it will be a life of health.

good luck - lori

 

[oldcrow]

I've lost 75 pounds since Jan 3 of this year. That's the day I went to the doctor and he told me I was a type II diabetic, along with a host of other weight related problems. That day I started limiting my portions of everything, cut out sweets and desserts completely, no Coca Cola or any other soda (I don't even drink diet because I'm afraid I will get tempted) and I started exercising twice a day, every day. Went from 295 to 220 in 3 and a half months. I figure I have about 45 pounds to go and if all goes well I should be at my goal well before my October Disney trip. My WDW trip is going to be my ultimate reward for the weight loss, although I wasn't even thinking about going to WDW until well into the whole thing. I'm looking foward to being able to last 10 days at Disney World.

 

[The Sweetness]

I'm a pretty big girl, and Im not trying to lose weight, specifically, but I have started exercising at least 5 days a week for 40-60 min depending on how I feel that day (I joined a gym)

Im hoping that this will build up my endurance and Ill simply feel better on my next vacation.

 

[JennyW]

Some things that have helped me:

Exercise about 20-30 mins 4-5 days a week
Summer is a great time to lose weight - eat lots of fruit!
Empty your house of your weaknesses (chocolate, dessert, snack foods)
Don't drink soda
Center your meals around your protein and fruit/veggie option, with breads and other carbs being beside the point. Sure, eat a bun with your burger, but don't plan your meal to be centered around a carb.
Make sure you're truly HUNGRY at least once per day.
When you're craving one of your weakness foods, drink a bunch of water instead (also easier in the summer).
Don't put yourself in a position where you'll be tempted to eat your weakness food (if you're at a birthday party and it's cake time, go in another room).

Good luck everyone with the weight loss! I've had a hard time, too.

jenny

 

[lisamomof3]

Isn't it true... those of us who are overweight have all the answers for how to lose weight. We know to eat less and exercise more, etc, etc, but the hardest part is starting and then sticking to it. For some it is a very emotional thing, even our way of life changes. I am a long way from my goal weight. I would love to lose 100 more pounds. I've always been very active, I play softball and volleyball, (I even coach volleyball) So being active has always been easy for me. I am more of an emotional eater. (I eat when I'm happy, sad, mad, etc, etc )
Seriously, about 2 months ago our school district had it's own Biggest Loser contest. Heck ya! sign me up! When I stepped on the scale I about died! I was at my all time high. We were given no special diet to follow, no specific exercise plan, just the knowledge that we will have to weigh in again and the winning team could walk away with $600. Just in time for our WDW vacation. In eight weeks I've lost about 20 lbs. I feel like I've been on every diet plan in the country, but I truely believe it is a mind over body matter. Always before I felt that if I didn't follow the plan exactly it was over and I'd give up. This time even though I haven't been good the whole time, I know the end result is that I want to lose weight and feel better.

Sorry for this LONG reply. I just wish you the best of luck and to Just DO IT!

 

[boxer]

The one single-best thing anyone can do to lose 'fat' (notice not weight, that is different), is to work out FIRST THING in the morning without eating breakfast. Your body was accustom to burning fat all night, so when working out in the AM, your body attacks the fat stores immediatley.

I've seen excellent transformations in people just by doing this alone. Work up to about 45min of cardio (light-to-medium cardio) for best results.

 

[SnackyStacky]

I'm going to bop this on over to the WISH board for you. That's the DIS weight-loss station!

And I have to disagree with the previous poster. In losing 168 pounds, I found that if I did anything before eating breakfast, I'd get sicker than anything. (Think projectile vomit)

The way I lost my weight has already not worked for you, and that's Weight Watchers. What I would encourage you to do is get some friends together, and once a week get together and discuss your efforts. Keep tabs on one another, and support one another.

And also, get yourself in the mindset that no matter what plan you decide to follow, you will need to follow it for the REST of your life to keep the weight off once you lose it. Once I came to that realization, it became so much easier to cope with the weeks where I didn't do as well as I would have liked.

Losing weight, in my experience, was more about how you learned to deal with your feelings than actually worrying about your caloric input and output.

Just keep on keeping, and it will happen for you. Lots of support and luck to you!

 

[vic32]

I agree working outin the morning is the best if you can do it. Portion control, lots of water! I have the occasional soda, not often maybe 1 a week. I just don't likr it anymore. My weakness is Ice cream LOVE IT. I know for myself i do not completley stay away from it because one day I will freak out and binge on it. So instead I eat WW ice cream bars and things like that. Every now and then I have Edys Slow Chuned lite Yummy. Any way try to find a sub for your weakness food. I am a person who thinks if you completely avoid a food you absolutely love eventually you will "binge" on it.

I have a il that lost a lot of weight on Nutri system, now she eats regular, just portion control.
Good luck.

 

[boxer]

And I have to disagree with the previous poster. In losing 168 pounds, I found that if I did anything before eating breakfast, I'd get sicker than anything. (Think projectile vomit)

this method of losing weight has been proven time-and-time again? If you got sick like that, it probably had to do more with your blood sugar than the method itself not working.

I've personally witnessed people losing inches off their waist in a month by this method. As for the weight watchers (as you did), that is simply calorie/carb manipulation, and you could have done that on your own for free (so long as you like to cook and maintain a healthy diet).

Diets by themselves will only work minimally----you still need to expend calories via excerise.

 

[cruislovin]

For any women who need extra support for exercising I strongly recommend joining CURVES. Not only the location where I belong but also the 4 others I have been to are ALL extremely supportive. Especially important too is not feeling "inferior" for not having a perfect body like so many you see at health clubs, Y's, and gyms.

CURVES also has a diet program that many people like. Personally I prefer Weight Watchers for the weight loss side. I lost 40 pounds over 4 years ago and have kept it off!!!

Do it - lose the weight. You will feel better and have so much more energy!

 

[gianna2006]

Also, think about all of the picture you will want to take of yourself and your family while on vacation. I took a vacation a few years ago and now have a very hard time looking at the family shots with me in them!!! These are supposed to be my cherished memories!!! I've also had vacations when I was the official "Picture taker" (self appointed) so I wouldn't have to be in too many shots. Since then I've lost close to 20 pounds and have been working out three time a week for 40 minutes (I alternate cardio with toning and weight lifting). I have another 25 to go to meet my goal, but I already feel so much better about myself and how I look. The best advice I can give you is to make the decision and STICK WITH IT!!! You are not talking about a short term commitment, but a long term, life changing experience. Everyone falls off the wagon sometimes...but you need to get right back on. It's not easy, but both you and your kids deserve for you to be healthy and strong.