Witchy Weight Loss & Support

[_ktg_]

A bewitching thread to keep us accountable with our weight loss/toning/better eating habits.


Everyone is welcome! Introduce yourself and set your goals!

Who am I? I'm Kate, a WOHM with 2 boys and a wonderful DH who is turning his life around with better eating habits and exercise.

Goals? I am looking to lose 40 lbs and get back to my pre-pregnancy weight of 180. I would like to complete this by the end of the year 2010.

How are you going to get there? I am changing my diet to low carb/grainfree and beginning to start the p90x exercise program with DH. I am also committing myself to biking 3x week to work along with taking some time a lunch to walk or run when possible.

[mary3mama]

I'll jump in although not 'witchy' at all.

Who am I?

Mary, SAH/homeschooling mama to 3

Goals?
mini-goal -- 2 lb loss per week
big-goal -- 100 lbs

How are you going to get there?
Eating healthy -- loads of veggies, whole grain grains (no white bread, rice, etc.) counting calories (ick!)
Exercise -- interval training and cardio and, when ready for it, Couch to 5K training

[Autumn Breeze]

Who Am I? I am Amanda, mother of two, wife to a Busy Geek!! (Work hours 8-8, that includes travel time). Stay at home, homeschooling, frazzled, inspired, birth-nerd, and new witch....ME.


What are my goals? Well, I'm hovering around 142, I seem to be "stuck" here. I don't mind that at all. It's a great weight, looks good on me. I was aiming for 135, but didn't get enough running done this past season to achieve it. But I've come from 165, so I'm happy

My *real* goal is to find something I can do to help me tone up and tighten up. I have floppy muscles

I would like to do something about my arms, my waist and my thighs. Maybe some belly dancing, but I have a hard time finding good beginner videos (looking for like youtube stuff here.) I would like to save up some money and spend about $120 on some running shoes (Brooks) for the fall/winter/spring. I can't run in the summer, by the time it cools off it's too dark to be safe to run. I prefer running in the cooler months when I can go out in the afternoon.

I also want to eat better. Make better choices, and more meals made by ME. How are you going to get there? By being stubborn? Maybe I'll be able to keep up with two long threads?





I know I'll feel good if I can manage this, and if I feel good, maybe I won't need my bipolar meds all the time anymore. I'd really like to get there. My goal for that was age 30. I'll be 28 this October. I think if I have a healthy, active body, my mind won't have to fight so hard to find balance.

[Ms. B. Sprout]

Hi y'all!

I was on claybear's weekly check-in thread for a long time, but I went on vacation and sort of lost track of it. So I'll jump into this thread -- thanks for starting it!

I am grainfree and low-carb, no processed junk and no sugar. I am also watching calories and sprinting once a week. I was lifting weights and making great progress -- need to get back to that.

I'll try to post once a week or so.

Dec. 29: 235
Jan. 5: 232
Jan. 11: 227
Jan. 19: 225
Feb. 9: 222
Feb. 16: 220
Feb. 23: 220
March 2: 220
March 9: 219
March 16: 218
March 23: 220.2 (new scale)
March 30: 216.0
April 6: 216.2
April 14: 215.8
April 20: 214.0
May 5: 214.4
May 10: 213
May 24: 211.8

Today (June 29): 211.4

Long-term goal: 199 by Dec. 29

[Indigo73]

Who am I? I'm Aimee, a WOHM with 1 boy. Married to one DP, who is also working on his weight (and lost 25 pounds coaching Little League).

Goals? I am hoping to lose another 50 by the end of 2010. (Lost 40ish over last two years) My true goal is to give my poor joints some relief and eventually get down into non-plus sizes. So I don't grumble every time I go pants shopping.

How are you going to get there? I have been diagnosed as allergic to wheat & dairy. So working on staying on a gluten free/dairy free (although yogurt/kefir is okay). It's tough because I can't make the household do it with me so there are days when the only thing in the house is contraband and I am too pooped to go to store. So that is step one... not sticking to meal plans (cuz when it's organized, it's all good), but actually get meal plans up and shopped.

And step two is more movement. Looking into couchto5K & 30 day shred. And figuring out a layout in the "new" living room that lets me freely use the Wii. We've been here a year, so it's obviously been a while since I've used the Wii for exercise.

Sparkpeople helps with me food journaling.

[Aeress]

Afternoon Ladies, I will be back to introduce myself. I am cleaning the day away!

[witchygrrl]

Who am I? I'm Heather. I have a wonderful DH, and a fabulous almost 2 year old DD. I'll be starting to work part-time as an adjunct instructor in 2 weeks.

Goals? Ultimately, I'd like to lose 40 lbs, though I'll be thrilled with losing 20. I'm hovering around 170 right now...

How are you going to get there? I'm trying to break my addiction of sweet and not so sweet carby stuff by going grain free. I'm working toward becoming more and more TF with healthy fats. I do also want to start a couch to 5k program soon.

[Valerie.Qc]

subbing for now... will come back later.

[broodymama]

Hi, witchy mamas, I'm happy to see this thread! )O(

Who am I: Sonja, SAHM/WAHM (though not WAHMing during the babymoon) to 4 little ones.

Goals: I have 65 lbs to lose, again. I had lost 60 lbs and was within 10-15 lbs of my goal weight when I found out (surprise!) that I was pregnant with #4.

How are you going to get there? Weight Watchers Online, it worked well for me last time. It works for me because I don't really have to change what I eat (we already eat pretty healthy and minimal processed stuff) but it helps me with my portion control, which is my area of weakness.

[Indigo73]

Phew... computer went kablewy and wasn't sure my post made it. It did.

I wanted to add, my current 50 is also my get under 180/190 goal. My next goal will be another 50 which will be my get to where I was before I got married - 130ish and I will be happy. Although according to the charts at 5'2", 130 was still on heavy side, but that is where I was the happiest with me, curvy but fit.

[DaughterOfKali]

Who am I? Liz, WAH single mom to a special needs boy.

Goals? I'd like to lose 85 lbs. Yep, eighty five. I'd like this weight to be lost by this time next year.

How are you going to get there? No idea. Try not to eat so many sweets. Cut way down on latte's. Start exercising at least 3 times a week.

[mary3mama]

Originally Posted by Red Sonja

Goals: I have 65 lbs to lose, again. I had lost 60 lbs and was within 10-15 lbs of my goal weight when I found out (surprise!) that I was pregnant with #4.

That sounds familiar! I was down to a healthier weight and on my way to losing more when I discovered I was expecting my 3rd/last baby. Now at 40lbs heavier than that point it can be overwhelming at times.

I think so much of being overweight, for me, is the emotional aspects. Yes, it is about calorie intake and caloric expenditure, of course. But can be eversomore complicated than that.

I started down this road as a child where physical, emotional and sexual abuse were my family life.
I've come so far down the road towards self-acceptance but still there's still that fear inside me of being made fun of, not for my weight, but for my 'obviously pathetic' attempts to loose it.

But the more pissed-off I get, the healthier I get because I refuse to let other people's ideas of my limitations define me.

[_ktg_]

Originally Posted by DaughterOfKali

How are you going to get there? No idea. Try not to eat so many sweets. Cut way down on latte's. Start exercising at least 3 times a week.

Oh my goodness a latte :swoon... I would love a latte - vanilla/almond, with whole milk, venti sized

I'm hiding my wallet now so I don't go to the coffee counter to get one

[eclipse]

Who am I? I'm Jeri, a homeschooling, SAHM to my three kids. We live in Mexico near the US border.

Goals? I have already lost 72lbs since September and I'm aiming for at least 64 more.

How are you going to get there?
I've mostly just been calorie tracking - and I've recently added excercise - Walk Away the Pounds and Wii Active, mostly.

[mary3mama]

I've been considering getting a Wii system. There's a play center nearby and that is where the boys have encountered one and they seem interested.

JERI -- I'd love to hear more about how you've lost so many pounds! I need all the encouragement I can get...especially stories of real people who have lost a lot of weight.

I was so motivated by this new thread that I just went to the basement and did a 2 mile power walk with the Leslie Sansone DVD.

There were several points where I thought the burning in my muscle would kill me, but I just kept on pushing. I am so excited when I get to the cool down afterwards! It is only 2 miles but it is such an accomplishment...both the miles and believing I can do it.

Can we talk about diets?
I am shooting for lots of lean protein (lots of chicken and beans) and veggies, some fruit (apples, bananas and berries), fat free dairy (can I just say that I ADORE Stonyfield's new fat free greek yogurt!!! so much protein with no fat!)

I'm doing really well with staying away from almost all bread items. I will have homemade whole wheat bread occassionally, 1 slice per day max. But I am not even interested in processed breads or pasta or rice...and thankfully things like pastries are not even interesting to me.
I do get CRAZY hungry (like I'll eat one of my children if they prevent me from getting to food) if I do not have enough protein in my diet.

Oh, and drinking LOTS of water everyday; about 128oz per day (I have 16oz glasses and drink about 8 of those a day.)

My stamina isn't there yet for Couch to 5K. Anyone interested in doing that training together maybe in the fall?

[Maiasaura]

I'm in! Merry Meet, witchy mamas!

Who am I?
Maiasaura. One 9yo boy. He's skinny and won't eat unless you make him, and he loves junk I'm 5'1" and weigh about 184. Ultimately I'd like to see 130, but right now it's one day at a time. I'm 50 years old and have been saying "by my 45th birthday, by my 49th birthday..."

Goals?
First goal, get below 180 and stay there. 2nd goal, make exercise a regular routine. I hate it, always have, even when I was getting pumped at the gym when I was younger/fitter. It's a huh-YOOGE struggle for me to get into/stay in an exercise habit. There's NOTHING I really like to do.
3rd goal: worry about long term later. I am focused entirely in today, and getting to the end of the day relatively clean, food-wise.

How are you going to get there?
Honestly? I don't know.
A day at a time, I guess. Support from you guys. My love is struggling with active alcoholism-- his last drink was the 11th-- and his way of supporting me is he says he'll go drink if I eat sugar, when I call him up and tell him I'm struggling with cravings. It works

Originally Posted by Red Sonja

but it helps me with my portion control, which is my area of weakness.

This. I have this, too. My big struggles are carb/sugar/chocolate cravings, and night eating (not late night, just before-bed night), and *portions*.

Originally Posted by Indigo73

Although according to the charts at 5'2", 130 was still on heavy side, but that is where I was the happiest with me, curvy but fit.

Me too. I'm 5'1".
I don't care-- I'd be so happy to be under 170 right now. If I knew, when I topped at 150 so many years ago, that I'd be wishing I could get down to 150...sigh.

Originally Posted by eclipse

I have already lost 72lbs since September

WOW! Go you! That's awesome.

Originally Posted by mary3mama

I've been considering getting a Wii system. There's a play center nearby and that is where the boys have encountered one and they seem interested.

I have heard you can use a Wii with just a regular old-style TV (the deep ones) and they plug-n-play, with the red, white, and yellow plugs? Is that so? If it is, I am going to consider getting one eventually, too.
My mom has the Wii fit, and that's so much fun! Even though the computer-people are so bobbly-weird. I have trouble with those. But I can handle it

My stamina isn't there yet for Couch to 5K. Anyone interested in doing that training together maybe in the fall?

Maybe. I've done it twice before. Got to about week 5 and lost interest, both times I need to find an actual race to join so I have a goal with it!

[Indigo73]

I am interested in Couch to 5K. I just need sneakers, don't own any & haven't in a few years. I promised that and a good hoola hoop will be my only big fitness spending spree.

[Autumn Breeze]

I'm interested in the C25K....I can't keep up with the Dingo/Running mama thread. I should get in touch with my friends that race and see what 5K's are around in the early spring. That'll give me a goal for keeping up with C25K at least.

[_ktg_]

Originally Posted by mary3mama

Can we talk about diets?
I am shooting for lots of lean protein (lots of chicken and beans) and veggies, some fruit (apples, bananas and berries), fat free dairy (can I just say that I ADORE Stonyfield's new fat free greek yogurt!!! so much protein with no fat!)

I'm doing really well with staying away from almost all bread items. I will have homemade whole wheat bread occassionally, 1 slice per day max. But I am not even interested in processed breads or pasta or rice...and thankfully things like pastries are not even interesting to me.
I do get CRAZY hungry (like I'll eat one of my children if they prevent me from getting to food) if I do not have enough protein in my diet.

Oh, and drinking LOTS of water everyday; about 128oz per day (I have 16oz glasses and drink about 8 of those a day.)

Yes for diet chat! I can't count calories to save my life and I was never very good at WW with the point system either. Mostly I did it for a while, and then it fell off. I'm trying to approach this as a whole shift in eating for me and for my family.

Our mantra has become everything in moderation and to have meals which are balanced such as if you look at the plate you'll see protien, veggies and some carb/grain (maybe for me). Also I know I'm a grazer/snacker - I need like 6 little meals in a day. So for each meal I have to watch the portion sizing and keep it small.

Finally we (the fam) are cutting out sodas, and a lot of our processed foods and focusing on fresh, raw or minimally processed stuff. But there are somedays we know where it will all hit the fan and so we're trying to plan our "eating out" options too.

[eclipse]

Originally Posted by mary3mama

JERI -- I'd love to hear more about how you've lost so many pounds! I need all the encouragement I can get...especially stories of real people who have lost a lot of weight.

The first 20 lbs or so was super easy. It was almost all retained water. I was having serious blood pressure issues and finally got a new doctor - the other one just kept telling me to lose weight and it would solve the blood pressure issues, but refused to aknowledge that it's hard to lose weight when your feet are so swollen they won't fit in shoes and you're too tired to stand up and cook a healthy meal. anyhow, new doctor put me on meds for bp that are also a diuretic. I spent most of the first day in the bathroom and peed out about 6 lbs . I got a lot of energy back, too, when my body wasn't expending it all trying to push my blood around my body. Around the same time, I started taking Wellbutrin to help with depression and it totally turned things around for me. Modest weightloss and appetite supression is a known and common side effect, but apparently in a small percent of patients it actually treats binge eating, and that seems to be the case for me. It's the difference between eating one cookie and stopping and eating one cookie and then following up with the rest of the batch.

Aside from that, I've mostly just been tracking my calories at The Daily Plate at livestrong.org. One thing I've learned is a key to my success is eating enough calories. I started out at around 2000 calories a day (which was actually less than the 2200 or so that TDP recommended for me - but I couldn't force any more in). I'd always bought into the 1200 calorie a day thing, and that absolutely doesn't work for me. Right now, I'm usually around 1500/day, which is around what TDP recommends for me at my current weight.

And, while this isn't particularly whole foods friendly, I've relied heavily on pre-packaged, low calorie frozen meals like Lean Cuisines and Safeway/Vons brand Eating Right meals. I didn't intend to, but I hurt my back in January and I had trouble even getting up to make it to the bathroom, let alone stand at the stove to cook. The frozen meals allowed my oldest son to be able to easily make food for me. It's only been in the last month that my back has been in decent enough shape that I can cook, and I'm slowly working back into it. The advantage, of course, was built in portion control. The disadvantages are pretty obvious - cost, sodium levels, not as many vegetables, some ingredients that I wouldn't use cooking my own food, etc. I do think that, had I not used them, I probably would have not lost or possibly gained weight during my recovery, though.

My stamina isn't there yet for Couch to 5K. Anyone interested in doing that training together maybe in the fall?

I'll have to think about it and see how my back is doing when/if you guys are ready to start. I've only been back at excercising for about a month, so my stamina is REALLY not there yet!

Originally Posted by Maiasaura

I have heard you can use a Wii with just a regular old-style TV (the deep ones) and they plug-n-play, with the red, white, and yellow plugs? Is that so? If it is, I am going to consider getting one eventually, too.
My mom has the Wii fit, and that's so much fun! Even though the computer-people are so bobbly-weird. I have trouble with those. But I can handle it

Yep, you can use a Wii with an "old skool" TV. Wii Fit is fun, and I love it for my kids and playing with my kids, but for a real work out I prefer EA's Active for the Wii. Bonuses - you don't need the balance board (although there are a few more excercises you can do with it) and the people aren't the bobbly-headed Mii's - they look like real people . The work outs are more customizable and work you out a lot better. The down side is that it isn't as much fun - but more fun and motivating than working out on my own.