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... so here I am... :-)
With a smiley face and all... my name is Julie... and I just finished some stretching exercises for the first time in a long while. It is about all I can accomplish right now. I'm 46 years old, just quit smoking, and weigh 311 pounds the last time I checked. I don't mind the numbers so much, but I'm not going to weigh myself every week... instead I'll work with the tools here to make sure I'm eating the right things and exercising and moving my body. I've studied this site so much, but today is my first day of committment to a new lifestyle... not a diet... but a lifestyle change.
I am a food addict. I love it in all of its forms. (with the exception of fruit... can't do it... can't even look at it). The tools here are wonderful so far, as they have allowed me to see what I've been consuming, and how little I am moving, and have motivated me to make some slow changes.
I'm here to get and to give support in any way I can. I hope to make a friend or two along the way... but mostly, I am here because I can't stand living like I do any longer. That is my AHA moment.
Greetings to all... look foward to lots of brilliant conversation along the journey...
Julie
Julie!!
Good morning and welcome to the group! I had to read your post because that is the AHA moment I had a few days ago. I am so used to doing everything alone, especially when it's something personal like my weight.
This is a wonderful site and a great group!!! Slow changes are the best (but the worst for someone like me who wants the instant gratification) but with good support and this site and some great people here, I know I can do it...I know we can do it!!
Keep checking in, talk to us, ask questions and before we know it, we are all going to be healthier and happier!!!
Hugs!
HELLO Julie!
Just wanted to stop by and say hello and you are NOT ALONE! I have only been here a few months and really started my lifestyle change a few days ago. The tools here are fabulous! I really like how easy it is to keep track of how much I eat. I still need to work on my movement. I am just now up to 11 minutes on my elliptical. I am like "sammarieob"; I want results now. That is something I will have to work on.
Keep up the movement and make small changes everyday!
YOU CAN DO IT!!!!!!
Good Morning Julie -
I usually do not respond to people's introductions (don't know why) but you sounded so much like me that I just had to. I am 43 years old and weighed in at 328.6 lbs when I started this journey a few months ago. Let's face it - you don't get to be 328 lbs without being a food addict! My lifestyle was very inactive (can you say TV addict too?), and my life was wasting away. Now comes the good part - I had my AHA moment during a record breaking heat wave we had in July, and I turned the page toward a healthy life on August 7 this year. Here's the inspirational part for you: I am down 38 lbs already and am well on my way to further weight loss. Slow changes wouldn't cut it for me - with my addictive personality, I'm an all or nothing kind of gal, so I threw myself into exercise and eating right the same way I used to make sure I never ran out of smokes or junk food or never missed a TV show I liked. Yes, it was embarassing to go to the gym at 328 lbs., but I did it, and I am SO glad. You don't have to be an exercise addict - just make a promise to yourself to move everyday, and you will see results too. And promise yourself to log every bite that you eat. With the support of my family and friends, and my new friends here at CC, I am seeing what I thought were impossible results. I wish you the best of luck on your journey. Please take it seriously and make the lifestyle changes you have promised yourself come true. You will be SOOO much happier and healthier, and able to do so much more with each day you are given.
Take care,
Sheila
Hi again...
I love the tools here, and keeping track of everything for a girl like me who loves lists... I couldn't have it much better. The visual of what I've eaten and the burn meter is a great motivator for me these past few days... and I know it will be going foward. But like so many I want results now, so I'll need to be here and check in and visit to see what is happening and keep using the tools.... if I can't see or feel the weightloss, at least I can see that I am making the changes.
Thanks for the warm welcome...
Sheila...
Wow.... you do sound like me, or me like you. I have now done a total 180 in the past week... getting ready for today start to the journey. I would love to do the gym thing, but for now it is the DVDs in the living room... and congratulations on your success, and I know that with your support and the support of being accountable here, I will have this kind of result in the weeks to come.
Someone once said, the reward is in the journey... I know rewards with this journey have already begun as I have this wonderful support system already in place welcoming me and encouraging me today! I am a lucky woman!
Welcome to the group Julie! Seems we are all in the same boat and keeping ea. other afloat, GL on the journey :)
Julie,
So nice to meet you. What you do and when is your business. Weighing is just a measure of progress, not everyone here does it. I like to because it allows me to see the results of what I am doing. If you need any kind of help, give a holler.
The food log is very revealing. I had NO CLUE what I was eating until I started logging it in faithfully. At first that food log was a kind of restriction, now it is reinforcement. When I am doing well, it reflects that.
Again, welcome!
Sammarieob,
Patience is a virtue. You know if you lose weight fast, you will put it right back on the same way.
Let's stick to 1/2 pounds to 2 pounds a week...well, a little more wouldn't hurt, would it?
Star,
I am falling asleep. Good night. I was going to say something witty and cool, but I'm losing it.
Hi Julie, You used the magic words "lifestyle change" There is no other way to do it, because it is for life - a good life, and a healthy one. Move as you can and when - everything counts. Moving everyday is reallly satisfying because you know you are moving toward being a stronger you. I noted your reference to fruit. I really love fruit in every way, although I respect your choice. At the risk of making you gag, one of the things I do is to slowly cook fruit and add sweetener and then it becomes a topping for cereal etc. Apples are particularly good because you can add cinnamon to them. another of my favourites. I also like dried fruit. Vegetables can be a substitute for most fruit and will add to your balanced diet. By the way, most people on this site can identify with being a food addict. It's surprising to know that on a long term basis you can turn that around. Cheers!
Hi bubbles, You are an inspiration to me. I can tell you it is a huge shot in the arm to hear that you are at the gym. We have someone at the Y who has already lost 100 lbs but has probably as much to lose. She is involved in acquafit and other activities and it is a pleasure to see her in the hot tub afterwards with her personalty just bubbling (no pun intended). You just wait - you'll get there too, and you're probably already feeling different.
Texmom, You wouldn't be referring to my post on food likes and dislikes, now would you??? No I have stopped flinging spinach on my cereal. Now I eat it Popeye style!!!
Texmom, You just don't appreciate the finer things in life like poached/mushed/lukewarm fruit on breakfast grains
Julie, you are not alone, you have the right idea to do a lifestyle change and not a diet and the weight will take care of itself. Your health will improve too. I have had to lose weight and change my lifestyle due to type two diabetes, my AHA moment. I have lost 100 pounds so far and feel so much better but still have a ways to go. I will never give up I may stumble but I will always get back up. Good luck to you and God bless.
Bill - when did you start losing that 100 pounds? Way to go by the way!!!!!!!! I am soooooo impressed.
Sunni
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