Lots to Lose Tribe - January - Page 6

[musicoholic]

Hi!   I think I checked in on the December thread, then forgot to check my subscriptions and it kinda got lost.....    I don't very often get a chance to go "thread-hunting"....  

Okay, where do I start?  I think I have somewhere in the vicinity of 40-50 kilograms to lose (not sure exactly - but that's what it was last time I was brave enough to get on a scale!  According to that oh-so-personally-tailored BMI system I should be about 54 kilos - but I have an odd build and will look ridiculous if I get down that low!  (I'm aiming for 70-75).

I'm not doing any specific program, but I am going back to what I know works for me.  I have been very slack... but I'm sorted now.  I'll be doing quite low carbs - and eating them all before lunchtime.  After lunch will be lots of protein and low-gi veges (no potato...  boo!), low-gi fruit (LOVING that strawberries are cheap here right now...  sweet AND very low calorie!!).  We already don't eat a whole lot of processed/pre-packaged food, but I'm going even further with that now, and making everything myself from scratch (lucky I love to cook!).  That way, if I want a "treat" - I have to make it myself.  Also adding a lot more vegetarian meals to our weekly menu (had to convince my DS that we don't have to have meat all the time - last night made a cauliflower and chick pea curry (yum!) and he wanted to know where the meat was!  Luckily he wasn't too hard to convince.  Have also promised him we're going to make some Chocolate Zucchini cake on the weekend).  

So...  lots of whole foods, lean meats and fresh seasonal fruit and veg.

Exercise-wise...  I've just got back to the gym this week (YAY!!  TG!!  I feel SO much better!!) - and just need to get back into my routine (6am; 5/6 days a week; 20minutes on the TM, weight circuit, 10minutes on the bike or x-trainer, weight circuit, 10-15minutes on the TM).  I have to go at 6am, otherwise I don't get there.  It's the only "me-time" I get - and I've missed it terribly (stopped going early December because I was averaging about 3 hours sleep a night due to work deadlines...  when I don't get enough sleep I get clumsy - and I didn't want to hurt myself or someone else!  So it's been a battle finding the motivation to get back...)

Dang!!  Sorry for the novel!!  

Stats:

Name: Bee
Started: Official re-start date - Jan 17 2011
Goal: first goal is to lose 10kgs by Easter.  After that we'll see how optimistic I'm feeling. 

Motivation:  DH tells me I'm gorgeous and sexy every day, but I want to be more comfortable in my own skin.
Plan: high-ish protein, low-gi, carbs only before lunch.
Progress: N/A.  Official starting weigh-in on Monday.  (I'm loving the Monday weigh-in idea!)

[Motivated Mama]

I did manage 60 minutes on the bike tonight and weighed myself again this morning. The 5 pounds are back off. I need a new scale. And I need to stop weighing myself.

[purslaine]

I hab a cold.  A medium one - not the kind that keeps you awake, but not a walk in the park, either.

I have done an acceptable job on food, and a lousy job on exercise.  I just have no energy.

My two stumbling blocks seem to be evening, and social eating/eating out.

Evening are pretty self explanatory.  the social thing is everything in the soical world seems to revolve around food and it is hard to say no.  Example:  I had drove a guest to the airport.  Her flight was delayed, and she asked us out for lunch.  A lunch out of the house was not in my plans, lol.  DD said yes before i could even hem and hah.  Stuff like this (not the guest, but family members) wanting to stop and eat somewhere is really hard to deal with.  It is often spontaneous, although some of it may be averted by planning (having snacks in the car to nosh on for kids so we do not end up stopping somewhere because they claim to be starving.  It is hard on me, though...do I have the right to ask them to stop asking to eat out - even when they are hungry?  We have eaten out as a family for years and enjoy it.  At this point in time, though, I need to eat out less because it help me keep some control, and I need some control if I am going to lose weight.  Out of control eating is what got me into this mess.  I feel guilty that my goal (weight loss) may make them change their lifestyle.  I know I shouldn't - and a normal weight mom is a good thing for all of them because it ups my chance of being on this earth for a good long time, but still.....

[Motivated Mama]

Kathy - I think it is OK to ask your kids to not want to eat out, but I would also take measures to make sure they are not hungry or stop at the grocery store. A couple of examples from my family...one day last week, DS got in the car after pre-K exclaiming that he wanted "McDonald food." I avoided the situation by telling him that I would make him french fries when we got home, even chicken nuggets or cheeseburgers if they would like. 2nd example - on an outing with the kids, we stopped at the grocery store and I picked up finger foods (cracker and cheese and fruit). I find if they are full, they don't ask to eat out. Same with us mamas! It takes a little preparation, but is totally worth it.

[wendyland]

Hi Bee!  Glad you found the thread.  I can't do my carbs for breakfast or I want them all day long.  I usually eat very low carb for breakfast & higher carb lunch and lower carb dinner.  As long as I stick to that, I don't feel to hungry. 

Kathy - I know what you mean about the social eating.  It does seem like everything revolves around food.  I wish there were more places that I could catch up with friends that's not in my house with my kids us and not eating out.  It would be better if I would make healthier choices when I go out.  I'll say that I'm going to just get soup and salad, but when I get a cheeseburger instead and then feel bad afterwards. I need to stop thinking about eating out as a treat and think about it more as a continuation of my normal, healthy eating plan.

[sosurreal09]

I did horrible yesterday! arg I have been stressed.

Sundays are really rough for me b/c my whole life growing up sunday was our "veg out day" My sister, mom and I used to watch Lifetime all day and pig out, literally on bags of candy popcorn ice cream you name it. It was horrible for us, but what did I know then? Since my mom passed away it's been harder b/c every sunday I am depressed even though it's been 8 years! IDK how to break the habit.

St John's wart has been helping a ton, so that's good.

[just_lily]

Kathy, here is a link to Spark People's dining out guide:  http://www.sparkpeople.com/resource/nutrition_articles_list.asp?iSel=31

It has general tips and tricks, as well as your best choices for eating out at all different types of restaurants.  Dining out is definitely hard, but I think the key to sustained weight loss is being able to make healthy choices work with your lifestyle.  So if your family eats out a lot, you may need to take some time to pre-plan what you are going to order before you go.  (I know for me once I smell the french fries I can't think straight!!)

And before you order, stop and ask yourself why you are eating out.  Is it a special occasion, or do you just not want to cook?  If it is just for convenience then you should do your best to stick with healthy eating, and save your splurges for actual special occasions. 

As for me, I am off to visit my brother and SIL tomorrow for an extended long weekend.  I am concerned about healthy eating on the road, as well as while I am there.  I just keep telling myself that I can allow myself a couple of treats over the weekend, but overall I need to keep making healthy choices.  Wish me luck!!

[mayasmom23]

I need to join in.  I have about 70 lbs I would like to lose.  

Name: Stephanie
Started: Jan 1, 2011
Goal: My first goal is to lose 10 lbs.  We will go from there.

Motivation:  I really just want to be healthier and quit shopping in plus sizes.  I would to feel more attractive.
Plan:   Using some WW concepts and also the 3 hr diet
Progress:   Have lost 19 lbs since dd was born in September.  I weigh 8 lbs less than before I got pg.

[wendyland]

Welcome, Stephanie!  I also have a Maya.  What's the 3 hour diet? 

[Caroline529]

Wow Stephanie, that's great! Getting back to what I weighed before I got pregnant with my twins is a big goal of mine.

Crazy thing is, after they were born they were in the NICU and it was so stressful that I got down to 185, 10 pounds under my pre-preg weight! But I have gained 50+ pounds in the past 4 years. That seems almost impossible! But they have just been very busy and stressful years. My older was 2.5 when they were born, plus my mother declined and eventually passed away when they were 2.

I found the past 2 days to be really tough (kids had 2 snow days plus a holiday today) and I was craving ice cream and sweets terribly. So I indulged in a cupcake and ice cream yesterday. It was heavenly. Today I got back to they gym and worked out hard for 60 minutes (20/20/20 treadmill, bike, skim machine). I probably won't go tomorrow but I plan to go both Sunday and Monday, so hopefully my weigh in on Monday will be OK.

I got myself a sandwich out yesterday and the I got the kids take out mac-n-cheese for dinner. I had been cooking so much that it felt really incredible to just eat out of cartons. It was such a treat!

So that's it. When you eat sweets and take out only 1x a week instead of daily - it feels like a treat and a luxury. I guess that is what "normal" people feel like anyway. It's kind of new to me...

Nancy

[Motivated Mama]

I'm doing really good with my calories. Not so great on the healthy eating. I just haven't had the greatest desire to cook lately. I had a couple of beers last night with DH, but was still under my "allowable" calories. I worked out 6 days this week again and tomorrow is my day off. I'm hoping for my weigh-in on Monday that I have maintained the 10 pound loss. In my mind, that would mean that it's more than water weight The C25K program is feeling really good to me and I've been doing a lot on the bike. Weights get easier every day.

And a new motivator...I've been in contact with a Navy officer recruiter. I'm planning on taking the MCAT in the fall (just pulled out the dusty biology book to start studying yesterday) and I've been considering my financial options for medical school. I was looking at a program that would pay for school in return for service afterward, but he let me know of a different program where you are enlisted as an E6 upon entering medical school and progress to an E7 after 2 semesters on the dean's list. This means pay of around $50K and all military benefits, including housing, while in school. No boot camp, no anything until you complete school at which time you become an officer and make twice as much during your internship/residency. This would be a wonderful option for my family of 5! To sign up though, I have to be in excellent shape I have plenty of time, as I don't actually plan to enroll until 2013, but the motivator is there.

[abbylotus]

I am at my all time high, even including pregnancy. I managed to gain ten more pounds. I am weighing at a hefty 235 at 5'3". My clothes don't fit. I feel terrible. My class load this semester is super stressful and I have been eating my way through the stress, I need to gain control! I feel so overwhelmed. I know it's one day at a time but my days are killing me. I look and feel awful. My DH is working seven days a week leaving me with full responsibility of the kids, the house, and cooking....not to mention my loads and loads of homework. I have a mental illness and hallucinations have been rearing their ugly head lately. I am very unhappy. I literally ate an entire pizza last night. ugh. I know I need to take it step by step...it's just so hard. It's wither I'm eating up a storm or starving myself. I need help. I'm not sure which way to turn. Everything is snowballing into ugliness. On a positive, I'm not smoking, so that's a step forward. I need to get more sleep. I need to eat more mindfully and I need to start exercising more than trucking through campus with a literally 45lb back pack. I get winded walking up three flights of stairs with my back pack. I barely fit into the desks. This is it. I absolutely can not gain anymore weight. I have a 100lbs to lose. It seems like such an enormous amount. My mother is pressuring me to get bariatric surgery. I don't want to go there. I need to give it a natural go first. I feel so lost and everything aches.

[sosurreal09]

Abby

That is so rough! Will you're mom help you with the kids/chores at all?

Maybe you could attend an over eaters anonymous meeting? It may be the extra support you need right now. Quitting smoking is really hard! BTDT after 9 years of a pack a day habit(the last 3).

[purslaine]

Abby......

Is there anyway you can re-arrange your life so there is less on your shoulders?  You need to cut your stress levels - you are important and your health comes first.

In the meantime, try prepacking food to nosh on during the day.  Nuts, fruits, maybe some yoghurt or salad?  I find the good variety among the pre-packaged salads and they are yummy enough and substantial enough to satisfy me. 

[Hey Mama!]

Abby I am also a full time college student and wife and mother.  I totally understand the stress you are under.  I have fallen apart a bit this week with my diet and exercise program because the new semester just started.  I fell back on take out because of poor planning.  I have planned for the crazy nights in the next weeks meal plan in hopes of avoiding that. i am also still trying to figure out when is the best way to work in my workouts.   

[momonthebeach]

Hello all! I am a (mostly) SAHM of 3 boys (almost 8, 4 and 3) I have about 60-75 pounds I would like to lose. I have tons of at home workouts that do the job. I just have to do them! Along with 5 workouts/week, I am going to do at least 3 walk/jogs. As far as food, my general plan is more fruits/veggies, no processed foods, no fried stuff. I will probably tweak that some as I go but that should be good to get me started:) I look forward to getting to know you all!

Katie

today, I did the Turbo Jam 20 minute workout:)

[sosurreal09]

I so do not want to weigh in tomorrow! I know I gained!

Welcome Katie!

[abbylotus]

Ok, I weighed in early and I am down 3lbs from last week of my all time high! YAY!! I know my last post was dismal at best, but I have been doing my best to turn it around and ask help from family. I took the kids to the YMCA today for two hours and we swam and played in the tumble/kid's gym. It was so much fun! They are at play practice (for Alice in Wonderland) for the next two hours so I plan on studying and putting the house on hold. My DH works from 5pm to 5am tonight but he doesn't have to go in until 10pm on Mon so he can get the house in order while I'm in class. I also have a mandatory work meeting tomorrow afternoon. Come on! I am a waitress it's not like it's rocket science, geez. I am so ready to be out of the hospitality industry! Unfortunately, it pays well for very few hours of work. I work one day a week and the tips cover my lunch for that following week and because I get paid well for being a pseudo-manager my paycheck isn't too bad either. My plan for tomorrow is to wake up an hour early (4:30am) and go to the Y and work out from 5-6 and then hit the showers and be back to get the kids up and ready for school. I may manage to work in some studying while I am on the treadmill. Or I may read the People Magazine.  Good luck, Mamas! Oh, I am doing the slimfast diet thing until I can get my eating in check. I will supplement with lots of fruits and veggies. However, I am liking it so far. A chocolate drink for a meal replacement....awesome! Well, not really but I'm going with it for the time being.

[abbylotus]

Those with the Wii fit, what programs are you using? I have the wii fit plus or something like that and so far I have done yoga, which doesn't seem to be much of a workout. I have a game with Jillian what's-her-face from the Biggest Loser and I'm scared to try it. HA!

[Hey Mama!]

I have a Biggest Loser game and I use the wii fit yoga occasionally.  I've been getting bored so I've been looking up workout videos online as well.