Lots to Lose Tribe - January

[wendyland]

I'm not good at catchy titles.  "Losing our fanny in Janny"??? 

I thought I'd start a fresh thread for a fresh year.  I feel very optimistic about 2011.  It's the first time I feel that way about a New Year since my mom died.  I vowed when she died that I would finally lose the weight.  That was 2 1/2 years ago and I've gained 8 lbs.  Now, I'm ready to do it. 

I'm still working on a plan.  My first resolution is to quit french fries, unless I bake them at home.  I will eat more produce this year.  I will try new recipes.  I will find that I love exercise (as soon as my back heals). 

Lots to lose group:  those needing to lose 50lbs or more.   We're supporting each other for the long haul.

Edited by wendyland - 1/5/11 at 4:45pm

[eurobin]

Hey! I just found this thread and it seems like a good time to join. Happy New Year!

I've been doing WW since the beginning of October and I'm down around 25 lbs. I have just about exactly 100 lbs to get where I *should* be. So far I've gone from a size 22 to a size 18. I've also been walking for about 35 minutes a day, 4 times a week (on my lunch breaks at work).

I'm really, really pleased with the new WW plan that rolled out after Thanksgiving. I love the "free fruit" and it seems to really agree with me. What I'd really like to focus on this year is fitness. I've pledged to do C25K so many times and I can get through the first 3 weeks or so just fine... but then life gets in the way. I'm a single mom who works outside the home full-time so I have a limited amount of time to exercise (which is why I've been walking on my lunch hour). I know if I run at lunchtime, I'll end up a beet-red, sweaty mess at work, and there is only so much free time in the evenings. So I'm hoping to start C25K again -- but approach it with less of a perfectionist attitute. If I only get in one or two runs a week (plus my walks), I'll still be running 5k by summer. I can't allow missing a couple workouts derail the whole thing.

I'm looking forward to losing with you guys! :)

[Motivated Mama]

I'm in. I'm a full-time SAHM (mon-fri) and a part-time WOHM (24hrs sat-sun). I've got 70 pounds to be at an "ideal" weight based on BMI, but would like to lose 90-100. To get here, I just need to do what I love doing - running and eating a mostly raw vegan diet!

I gained all of my weight with 3 pregnancies and postpartum depression (antidepressants) over the last 5 years. I'd like to see a huge chunk (pun intended) gone this year. My plan is to not be sedentary and enjoy my life!

I believe in all of us! I know we can do it! Keep checking in mamas; we all know we need the support

[wendyland]

I've been curious about the new weight watchers plan.  I was thinking about joining online and trying it out.  Free fruit is a good incentive. 

I have 90 - 100 lbs to lose.  I'm also putting a bigger emphasis on exercise this year.  I work from home.  My schedule is definitely flexible enough to get more exercise in.  I just make excuses to not do it.   2010 was the most sedentary year I've ever had.  The year before, my youngest daughter still fit in the baby backpack and my middle daughter could fit in the bike trailer.  So, we got more exercise as a family hiking and biking.  Cleaning is my biggest exercise.  I clean a lot, but it's still pretty pathetic.

[ButtonGirl]

I would love to join in on this thread! I've been fighting with my weight for what seems like most of my entire life...it just gets me down every day. I've been able to lose quite a bit more than once, but it always comes right back. 

Right now I am on mat leave with my 4 month old. Basically from the week she was born I started walking every day for about an hour (I was so sick during my pregnancy that I hardly did anything). I kept that up until basically December, when it got awfully cold here in Canada! It doesn't seem that bad out really though these days so I want to pick up on it again.

I would also like to start swimming and/or doing exercise dvds in the evenings after the baby goes to bed. I have to finish up some transcription work I'm doing in the next week or so and then will have the time to get into it.

My main issue is food, really...I pretty much turn to it whenever anything goes wrong. My goal for this year is to cut out preservatives as much as possible and make natural, home cooked food for myself and my family. I already do pretty well with not keeping junk food in the house...just need to have a little more willpower, I guess. neway, babe is waking up now, so gotta run...but look forward to coming back!

[Caroline529]

Me too! Great thread. I have 90-100 to lose too and I gained it all in the past 10 years but mostly 30-35 pounds before and after each of my 2 pregnancies. I too gained after losing my mother almost 3 years ago. My girls are 7, 4, and 4 (twins). I have not been motivated to exercise lately, but I have been in the past. I can get to a gym with daycare often, but honestly I find that working out has never seemed to help me lose. I just can't build up the frequency and intensity enough to make a difference. Right now I could easily do 30 minutes on the elliptical followed by a moderate 30 minute walk. I guess because I have been exercising most of my adult life in some way, I really have to haul a$$ to get winded.

But I don't feel very healthy. I am fine to take care of my kids and take them out to play, but I find that I get so tired. I also have elevated cholesterol and liver enzymes (they have been like that since my twin pregnancy) and these things scare me. I have a wonderful supportive doctor, and for her, and my kids, and for my future, I do need to lose weight.

My problem is food, and for the past few years I have blamed it on the chaos in my house around mealtimes. While this is true to a point, I eat junk nearly every afternoon and evening. Often after skipping meals (not on purpose). But my kids are at an age now where they can sit and feed themselves and I can now make just one meal for all of us. I have been cooking more often this past fall. I do find that I spend hours and hours in the kitchen though and I hate it. I'm sure that those of you who are working are thinking that sounds great, but being home with the kids I do every single ever-loving meal (husband gone 12 hours a day) and I often feel like I barely get one meal finished and it's time to make more food! 

It's just a ton of effort, especially to eat healthfully and chop, cook, and actually prepare foods. But I have been making an effort and I do feel about 100x better even after just a few days of lowering carbs, increasing protein, cutting out sweets, and watching portions. Anyway I have been looking for someplace to go for support (and not the "Oh I'm so fat I need to lose 8 pounds kind of support) so I hope we can help each other with that.

Nancy

[DashsMama]

Thanks for starting this new thread, Wendyland.  Lose your fanny in Janny, cracked me up!  Hopefully we can keep this new thread busy enough that the old one won't get resurrected.

Day three of the new year and I'm still on track!  I'm doing South Beach Diet again, and starting at the beginning, so I'm In phase one right now which means very little carbs.  The first couple of days are hard for me, but then it gets easier.  I wasn't craving carbs much at all today, so I hope that I am over the hump.

Today I weighed 285.  I've got 135 pounds or so to go, and hope to make this year the year I get thinner and healthier!

Welcome to all you new folks!  Jump right on board.  Don't put off starting your weight loss journey until tomorrow, or when the time is "right," or next Monday, or when you finish that other project that you've been putting off, or when the moon is full, etc.  Take that first step now!  Log what you've eaten today on The Daily Plate, Spark People, WW or wherever works for you.  Get up and get some exercise.  Eat a big salad full of healthy veggies.  Drink some water.  Take a vitamin.  Or do something else that gets you on your way, and know that we'll be there plugging along with you!

We can do this!!!

[motherhendoula]

Oh I'm glad i read the title of this thread twice!  - I assumed it was going to be many size 8 women lamenting about how they are no longer size 2.  I weigh 280 today.  I have been overweight my entire life but i used to smoke - which helped keep the weight down to a dull roar.  When i quit 8 years ago i started to really put on the pounds.  Every January i find my determination and vow to loose the weight this year - i often loose as much as 50 lbs...but a few too many BBQ's over the summer, then my birthday in Sept followed by Halloween....its just a downward slide into Christmas (or 'chocolatemas' as we call it here in my house!)   

So its January again and i am up a few extra pounds this year as my LO is 4 mo old.  I am home with him indefinitely, my eldest is 15 and is 'homebound' from school.  She was diagnosed with Crohn's Disease earlier this year.  She is doing better and will be returning to half day school at the end of this month - but she is actually a great help when it comes to cooking/child care.  Her naturapath recommended a diet with very little grains in it,  I have used the Atkins Diet to loose weight in the past - and since these two synch up so well i am trying that again this year. 

For me excercise is a lost cause - i dont mind taking my LO out for a walk on nice days and when i get down under 250 again i do like yoga, but thats about it for me and excercise! 

Thanks for starting the thread Wendyland! Good luck to us all!

[Motivated Mama]

Today was an excellent day for me. I busted butt all day with the kids - brought the two oldest to pre-K, cooked cheesy eggs for me and the LO, put chili in the crockpot, decluttered 20 items, organized 4 breast pumps for sale, made a baked bean quintet, and after hubby got home, I went to the gym.

At the gym, I jogged a mile, walked a half-mile, cycled 6 miles, did some strength training, then jogged another mile followed by a half-mile walk. I had a lot of time to think!

So, here's my plan - I plan to work out 5 days a week. I plan to count calories. I plan to not eat after 8pm. I plan to quit drinking alcohol (except for the occassional glass of wine). I plan to eat small amounts every 3-4 hours to keep me satiated during the day. I plan to drink green fruit juice (home blended and strained) only on Saturdays (one gallon). Doing all of this, I hope to lose 3 pounds a week. It will take me 30 weeks to lose 90 pounds.

I want to reach my goal weight by August 1st. I won't be horribly disappointed if I don't make my goal, but I will be disappointed. I'm going to weight myself weekly or maybe even monthly. The point is to work hard during my workouts and really control what goes in my mouth.

[just_lily]

I'm in! 

I need to lose about 150lbs to get down to my "ideal" weight, but for me that really feels like a pipe dream.  I haven't weighed that little since I was like 12.  Realistically if I lose 100lbs I will be thrilled.  Beyond thrilled.  And then I can set a new goal from there. 

Tomorrow is my birthday, so that is when my New Year starts.  DH took me out to our favourite breakfast joint today so that was my last real treat (he works tomorrow, but was off today).  While we were out I picked up a Wii Fit Plus.  Has anyone used this?? 

My exercise plan is to do something active every day.  Working out with the Wii, doing an exercise dvd (I have plenty collecting dust), taking the kid and the dogs out for a walk at the off leash park, or going to aquasize at the pool.  Joining a gym is just not in the budget so I need to make this work at home. 

For my diet I plan on cutting out sugar as much as possible, and cutting way back on the white starchy foods (potatoes, white rice, white flour).  I know all of the foods that I shouldn't be eating, and I just need to do it.  At this point I am not intending to count calories as whenever I have done this in the past I have become obsessive about it, under-ate and then couldn't maintain.  So I am just going to focus on making healthy choices.  I will also be meal planning which should help. 

I weighed myself tonight for the first time in a long time, and I actually weigh more now than when I was pregnant 2.5 years ago.  That sucks so hard.  I have been running a home daycare for the last two years and that has lead to a seriously sedentary lifestyle as I was home all day every day with the kids, and then by the time they went home I was so exhausted I didn't have any energy to do anything for myself.  But I closed my daycare just before Christmas and will be doing childcare only two days a week from now on for just one extra child so no more excuses. 

I am tired of my body getting in my way.  I want more energy.  I want my clothes to fit better.  I want to set a good example for my kid.  I want to have better sex with my husband. 

We have been trying to conceive, and having a really tough go of it.  We got pregnant with my DD very quickly, so I strongly suspect that my added weight is the reason.  So add "I want a baby" to the list as well. 

I don't feel like I need a fancy program.  We all know what we need to do.  Move more.  Eat less.  We just need the commitment and motivation to stick to it. 

I am really looking forward to walking this journey with you ladies.  Here's to a healthier 2011!

[abbylotus]

I am SO in on this thread!! I knew I was gaining but was SHOCKED when I was weighed this morning I actually weigh as much now as I did when I was 9mos pregnant with my kids. I have about 100lbs to lose. I have a wii fit that I got from Christmans last year that I have never used so I plan on doing that for awhile before I jump in and get my fanny to the YMCA. I started school again this fall and gained about thirty pounds. I am a waitress and my job is very high energy and when I went to only working full time to only working part time with sitting a lot for school I just packed on the pounds. I am so uncomfortable in my skin right now. Hardly any of my clothes fit. Uh. Alas, it is time to make a change and I'm all for it! I am also quitting smoking and it has been five days since I have had a cigarette and I am feeling pretty good about that. I have been tossing it around for awhile that I really need to take a pro-active approach towards my health for the last few months. I am going into nursing and I want to be a healthy roll model for my family because right now I am far from it. I wear black yoga pants every day! HA! I am going to be 32 years old next month. It's time. I am going to track my food on fitday.com and get back to veg eating. Here's to us, Mamas!!

[Motivated Mama]

wendyland - can we start a list? I love lists

Something like...
Name:
Started:
Goal:
Motivation:
Plan:
Progress:

Here's a start. I didn't put in Motivation, but I did add as much as I could based on everyone's posts. Feel free to change anything.

wendyland (Wendy): Starting Jan 2011. Goal: 90-100 pounds. Quit french fries. Eat more produce. Exercise more. 0/90

eurobin (Robin): Starting Jan 2011. Goal: 100 pounds. WW. Fitness (C25K). 0/100

Motivated Mama: Starting Jan 2011. Goal: 90-100 pounds. Exercise 5/7. Count calories. Small meals every 3-4 hours. No eating after 8pm. No alcohol. Green juice on Saturdays. 0/90

ButtonGirl: Starting Jan 2011. Goal: ? Walk. Swim. Exercise DVDs. No preservatives. Natural, home-cooked foods. 0/?

Caroline529 (Nancy): Starting Jan 2011. Goal: 90-100 pounds. Lower cholesterol and liver enzymes. Lower carbs. Increase protein. Cut out sweets. Watch portion size. 0/90

DashsMama (Judy): Starting Jan 2011. Goal: 135 pounds. South Beach Diet. 0/135

motherhendoula: Starting Jan 2011. Goal: ? Atkins Diet. Control holiday and seasonal eating. 0/?

just_lily: Starting Jan 2011. Goal: 100-150 pounds. Exercise every day. Walk. Aquasize. Exercise DVDs. Wii Fit Plus. Cut out sugar and white starchy foods. 0/100

abbylotus: Starting Jan 2011. Goal: 100 pounds. Wii Fit. YMCA. Quit smoking. Track food on fitday.com. Eat more vegetables. 0/100

What do you all think? Could we add this to the top and track everybody monthly? Of course, nobody has to...

[ButtonGirl]

Originally Posted by Motivated Mama 

wendyland - can we start a list? I love lists

Something like...
Name:
Started:
Goal:
Motivation:
Plan:
Progress:

Here's a start. I didn't put in Motivation, but I did add as much as I could based on everyone's posts. Feel free to change anything.

wendyland (Wendy): Starting Jan 2011. Goal: 90-100 pounds. Quit french fries. Eat more produce. Exercise more. 0/90

eurobin (Robin): Starting Jan 2011. Goal: 100 pounds. WW. Fitness (C25K). 0/100

Motivated Mama: Starting Jan 2011. Goal: 90-100 pounds. Exercise 5/7. Count calories. Small meals every 3-4 hours. No eating after 8pm. No alcohol. Green juice on Saturdays. 0/90

ButtonGirl: Starting Jan 2011. Goal: ? Walk. Swim. Exercise DVDs. No preservatives. Natural, home-cooked foods. 0/?

Caroline529 (Nancy): Starting Jan 2011. Goal: 90-100 pounds. Lower cholesterol and liver enzymes. Lower carbs. Increase protein. Cut out sweets. Watch portion size. 0/90

DashsMama (Judy): Starting Jan 2011. Goal: 135 pounds. South Beach Diet. 0/135

motherhendoula: Starting Jan 2011. Goal: ? Atkins Diet. Control holiday and seasonal eating. 0/?

just_lily: Starting Jan 2011. Goal: 100-150 pounds. Exercise every day. Walk. Aquasize. Exercise DVDs. Wii Fit Plus. Cut out sugar and white starchy foods. 0/100

abbylotus: Starting Jan 2011. Goal: 100 pounds. Wii Fit. YMCA. Quit smoking. Track food on fitday.com. Eat more vegetables. 0/100

What do you all think? Could we add this to the top and track everybody monthly? Of course, nobody has to...

Motivated Mama - thanks for making the list! I'm not so great with all these forum shortcuts yet so hope this is the best way to respond....

So to complete mine: Kelly. Starting Jan. 2011. Goal: 100 pounds. Motivation - my daughter. Also, I want to have more kids, I hate being overweight, and I want to be able to wear cute clothes! Walk every day. Start swimming and/or doing exercise DVD's in the evenings. Cut out preservatives, processed foods, and make as much at home as possible. Control portions. 0/100.

And just an update...last night hubby took me out for dinner and even though I really wanted to, I didn't order fries. :)

I had high intentions to go walking with a friend today but I am stuck at home sick :(  It's really frustrating when I have all these good intentions but I'm trying to just be patient with myself and not lose motivation.

[AtYourCervices]

Add me to the list!

Name: AtYourCervices
Started: Around Christmas
Goal: "Healthy Weight Range" under 160 lbs, preferably 140-145; currently weigh 220 lbs
Motivation: Honestly, I want to look fabulous.
Plan: Exercise 6 days a week, Weight Watchers Online
Progress: I must start over again. I've gone without exercising for the past 4 days due to a little bout of depression/laziness.

[Motivated Mama]

I'm finding this group really helpful. It's like I have a bunch of ladies out there just like me!

I bought a tap n track app for my iphone and I started using it today to count calories. I also figured out that at my weight, it would take me 3000 calories to maintain (which of course, I don't want to do). I want to lose 3# a week, so I need to cut out 1500 calories a day. (3500 calories in a pound). I will do this by exercising (minimum of 500 calories burned) and cutting my daily allowance down to 2000. This shouldn't be hard. I also did a bunch of math to figure out exactly what I should be getting in terms of carbs/protein/fats. I know which carbs and fats are good, so that's a plus

So far today, I have had 6 cups of coffee (2 mugs full) with cream and sugar, a cheese omelet, a small serving of baked bean quintet (that I made last night) and an apple. I've also drank 1L of water so far. I'm planning on chili (slow-cooked yesterday) tonight with a spinach-based salad. I'll report on how I did calorie-wise later.

I'm planning to go to the gym when DH gets home, so now!

[Caroline529]

Hi Mamas,
Hope everyone is having a good day. I am laying off the veggies and high fiber foods a bit today. I am working hard to eat lots of protein at regular intervals. This keeps me from getting too hungry and eating junk.

I did 2 short exercise videos today. I got them off my On Demand cable for free. Does anyone else use that? They are great. Some are short others are longer, and there is yoga as well. You can get a good short workout in 15 minutes, and do another one later in the day.

A couple people here said they are quitting smoking and I just want to applaud you. Best move you could ever possibly make. I smoked in my 20s and quit 10 years ago and have never been tempted to go back. Keep up the good work, you will be so happy to be done with them.

Also, I wanted to talk a bit with everyone about sustained low calorie dieting and weight loss expectations/timetable. I am NO expert but the older I get (40s), the more I see that moderation is the only way to sustain anything at all in life. I don't mean to sound discouraging, but I also am SO tired of beating myself up for failing when I set a standard for myself that is not attainable. I don't care if it takes me 5 years to lose just so long as I am losing and getting more fit. Anyone have any further thoughts?

TTYL,
Nancy

[Motivated Mama]

Other than juicefeasting, I've never tried low-calorie dieting. I know from juicefeasting that lowering your calories does work. As for maintaining, it's just as easy to go in the opposite direction. I didn't start gaining weight until 5 years ago, so I feel like I've been overindulging and for me, I just need to revert back to the way I was. That means no antidepressants, no drinking, and lots of exercise. Over the last 5 years, I've also learned a lot about nutrition, so it's just time to put it to use.

I know I have large expectations, but feeling crappy because I'm overweight and thinking that it's going to take me 5 years to reach my goal is not motivation enough for me. Like I mentioned before, I won't be horribly disappointed when I don't meet my goal, and I won't quit either. Let's just say we all have acceptable and ideal goals. For me, acceptable is 2 pounds per week and ideal is 3 pound per week. Of course, there's always a little bit of scatter over time.

[motherhendoula]

OOH!  I gotta go check out the 'on-demand' section of the TV - that would be awesome!

top finish up my list -

MotherHenDoula, started 1/2011 -Goal:  lose 140 lbs - my motivation is needing to be able to keep up with my now 4 month old (so far, i can barely get myself out my recliner after nursing him!)  Plan Atkins - Progress 0/140

I do think being able to support each other is a great idea - for me, the hardest part is doing this every damn year and feeling like i end up in the same place!

[sosurreal09]

I have 50lbs to lose is that enough?

[Motivated Mama]

Originally Posted by sosurreal09 

I have 50lbs to lose is that enough?

I don't know that I can answer for everybody, but sure! Maybe we should have criteria in the first post as well...