Anyone in their late 20s?!

I'm a dieting veteran.... up and down the same 20lbs since highschool! I've always lost it on Weight Watchers...but I wanted to try something new. So, here I am. I'm looking to start a group of late 20- early 30 year olds who are interested in losing weight and getting healthy. I'm 5' 9" 160lbs.  I'm looking for others that have about 20-30lbs to lose.  Hopefully there's some people out there!!

Happy New Year!

Oh there is so much yummy vegan food!  Lentils, lentils, lentils of course (my favourites).  Grilled tempeh with rice - I like to marinate the tempeh in a little soy sauce, apple juice, onion and chili pepper before sticking it under the broiler for 5 minutes each side.  Stir-fried tofu with peppers, mushrooms, zucchini - if you have a non-stick pan you really need only a teeny spritz of oil and maybe some hot water and soy sauce, and then to really jazz it up throw a tablespoon of peanut butter in, turns it into a kind of faux-Thai meal.  Mashed potatoes made with vegetable stock are YUMMY and low-fat.  Eggplant parmigiana is good with mock Parmesan cheese (probably have to hit the health food store for that).  Can't go wrong with curried chick peas.  I would also make a MASSIVE fruit salad and keep it in the fridge at the beginning of the week so you don't start craving desserts.

hi everyone,

my only good news is that i haven't gained anything, i don't feel guilty at all for not being strict about "dieting" because i am very proud of my accomplishment so far. so for the fact that i haven't gained indicates that i have changed my eating habits and its become effortless. i was in the mid 160's for a few years and then hit the low 170's  last october. so to date, i have lost a total of  22 pounds plus or minus those daily fluctuations. still 151. my mini goals changed basically daily, i don't exercise at all because i move a lot naturally all day at work, and i'm always dancing.

but... NEW mini goal ONCE AGAIN is to get from 151 to 143 during the month of april. i hope everyone is doing well. i also hope that if you splurge on something then you do  it guilt free and actually enjoy it.  i have to remember that i (we) are in control of what happens. its not about will power which is only temporary, but self control. going back to what vpireiner said ( i think??) about why we are doing this.... my reason is simply because i want to be tip top shape, and look my best ( according to my own standards for my self).

Vegetariangeek, thanks for the ideas! I made a lentil pilaf with green lentils and dark bulgur, and a veggie stir-fry with onions, zuchini, cauliflower & a little soy sauce.  Yummy.

Samiaz, I'm right there with ya.  I haven't lost a darn thing but today I looked at myself and I look good. :) No matter what, I am a success story, from 176 last April to 150 (and holding for many moons). If I never lose another pound, I am healthy and yes, sexy. 

By the way, dancing IS exercise! And therapy. :)

I became a member to a gym so I can do some weight training. I am expecting to gain some, so maybe I'll hide the scale for a while. I'm seeing some definition in the dreaded abs region, and I think toning will be good. And I want to strengthen my core.

Hey yall,

Well I'm back from being in my cave. These past few weeks have been tough. I've lost all motivation, my clothes fit so tight I just really feel fat and not sexy at all.

To top it off and what has really sent me in a downward spiral is 2 wks ago my hubby and I got into a fight. He left and told me he was going to his sisters to stay the night. The next day I had a sick feeling so I went by there and he wasn't there so I drove to his best friends home. I found his truck and before going to the door went to look in his truck to find his wedding ring in the center console. My heart sank and as I went to the door I prepared myself for the worst. His best friend opened the door and I went in to find my husband in his boxers laying on the floor with some chic! I came unglued! She had all her clothes on thank God! I got her up talked to her and then threw her out. Then later dealt with him.

She was this skinny probably size 6 blonde so now everytime I see myself naked I have an image as to everything I'm not. It's taken me to an attitude of I just don't give a damn and dont care anymore. I'm hurt, sad, and upset still but he came crawling like a dog and has been so aplogetic and is doing anything and everything to try to make this work and assure me I'm everything he wants. How can I be if he would do that to our marriage?

So I'm fighting all of this and have started taking a multivitamin to try to help and some advanced fat burners. I just need a new way to maybe get out this agression and help if you can.

So that's where I've been and everything I'm dealing with. I haven't even set foot on a scale and feel like the point I'm at right now if I was to see a number that made me sick I'd just say screw it all and really do nothing. Any suggestions? 

Paige,

I'm so sorry to hear that you're going through such tough times. It's so much easier to handle these situations when it's just a boyfriend, but your husband! Only you know his heart and yours so my suggestion is for you to make the best decision for YOUR heart. Imagine that you're giving advice to your best friend... what would you tell her.

As far as getting on the scale... dont! Just take care of yourself and treat yourself for the precious woman you are. Exercise relieves stress, anger, sadness, and makes us feel generally better. And, in my honest opinion, ditch the fat burners. They can increase anxiety.

Our hearts are with you. Keep us posted and stay active, even if it's just a walk.

Aw, Paige, that's a horrible thing to have happen after a fight.  I would be feeling pretty crappy too.  Foxy lady's right, exercise will really help relieve stress and anger and above all it makes you think WAY more clearly about things - kind of un-clouds your mind.  And some of those fat-burning supplements are really sketchy.

If you're really really mad, a boxing gym might be good :)

Also, I do know how you feel about the image of everything you're not.  I always feel like my boyfriend's ex is kind of like me, but an "enhanced" version - twenty pounds lighter, four inches taller, clearer skin, shinier hair, more stable career, etc. Every time we have a fight I think "I bet he wishes he was back with her."  Although it's probably a common insecure thought, it IS just insecurity. 

As the very wise foxylady says, you really should treat yourself as the precious woman you are.

Ladies,

Thanks so much for the encouragement. It's really boosted my spirits. Well this weekend both my daughters turned 6 and 8 so we stayed active and I chased them all over outside and walked a ton. It was something and just being with them and outside felt great. I got plenty of vitamin C.:)

I haven't made it yet to the gym yet but I'm working toward it. My attitude seems to be better and we are working through everything. I got my house organized, got rid of plenty of clutter this weekend so I'm feeling good about what seemed ever so looming over me. Now I feel that with my house clean and somewhat back in order I can focus on myself. I'm so ready to start losing. I haven't gotten on a scale and I don't plan on it. I'm just trying to be way more active, take a womens multivitamin and keep going.

Instead of getting the regular frozen lunches for work I made better choices and got lean meals for the week so my lunch will be better. So cheers to the baby steps I'm taking all over again and thanks so much for being there for me. 

Ladies,

Thanks so much for the encouragement. It's really boosted my spirits. Well this weekend both my daughters turned 6 and 8 so we stayed active and I chased them all over outside and walked a ton. It was something and just being with them and outside felt great. I got plenty of vitamin C.:)

I haven't made it yet to the gym yet but I'm working toward it. My attitude seems to be better and we are working through everything. I got my house organized, got rid of plenty of clutter this weekend so I'm feeling good about what seemed ever so looming over me. Now I feel that with my house clean and somewhat back in order I can focus on myself. I'm so ready to start losing. I haven't gotten on a scale and I don't plan on it. I'm just trying to be way more active, take a womens multivitamin and keep going.

Instead of getting the regular frozen lunches for work I made better choices and got lean meals for the week so my lunch will be better. So cheers to the baby steps I'm taking all over again and thanks so much for being there for me. 

i am new to this site and I'm 29, 5"5" and 155lbs at the moment. I have fought my weight my whole life. At my worst i was 200lbs at my best i was 125lbs (when i got married). its always been a fight and such a yo-yo effect, I would love to get back to 135-140lbs and be fit once again. i find my motivation just dwindles and i fall off the scale again and again.

Recently i found this site and i truly hope i can meet others and become responsible for things i do and eat that effect my weight. I just signed up for swimming and hockey 2 things i always loved to play, but will need to be accountable for what i eat mostly.

first goal is 150....anyone have great ideas for motivation?

hello ladies,

welcome erin, we have similiar stats and similiar goals.paige, i'm glad that you're back and that you are making yourself #1. i agree, that you should ditch the scale for now. don't ever tell yourslf that it's not worth it. you are going to do fine. small goals first!!!

the past three days, i have been on track, so i do expect a loss within a week. its not so much what i did, its what i didn't do. i never ate mindlessly, i didn't eat anything fried, no fast food. i went grocery shopping with a specific list, and i did not deviate from it at all. i didn't buy lunch or dinner, everything was home made. some motivation or pointers for you guys......

 if your gonna have chips, buy the small bag, but don't buy the family pack when grocery shopping. also, i try not to buy junk when i'm alone because i end up eating it all. i buy it when i'm with someone, and i share half of what i have with the person. last week i bought chocolatebecause i was craving it big time, and i gave away most of it at a seminar. i hardly had any left for me.

use smaller dishes.... if there are no vegetables on the menu for dinner, then use a smaller plate.

chew on celery or something crunchy when you KNOW you aren't hungry, but just restless. i eat more when i'm restless, my bad habit i have to break. i know it's easier said than done.

visualize yourself looking trim. remember, you have a great body already, it's just a matter of peeling of the layers ( excess weight) that is covering you.

in my family, refusing food when offered to you is a NO NO!! but i've learned to do it even when i get a bad reaction from people. i kept my dieting a secret, but now that i tell people, they respect my decision to refuse their offer.

don't drink your calories away. dilute it with a lighter option like water if you like. i do that sometimes with juice like tropicana. but with canned syrop juice, its  very blah. i don't really drink juice anyway. i stick to water, 1% milk, smoothies with a lot of water to thin it out.

lastly, i hear this all the time,....nothing tastes as good as thin feels, IF being thin is your goal. i know some slightly heavier people that are healthy, active, well proportioned, and look fabulous.

this is not practical for everyone, but it works for me. ttyl!

Hello everyone! Paige I'm just happy to hear from you, and our hearts are with you. I second the notion of a boxing class. Kick boxing is awesome and relieves stress wonderfully. I hope everything works out in the best way for you. My humble advise (relationships are not exactly my strong point) is focus on your children and yourself to get your spirits back up, which it sounds like you've been doing already.  Best of luck to you, and congrats on the all of the healthy steps!

I have a general question for everyone.  What's the deal with this Stevia stuff?  I tried it over my friend's house this past weekend and it was pretty good, but are there any side effects or catches to it?  I know using Splenda will eventually do bad things (those aritficial sweeteners scare the crap out of me), and I crash hard when I have real sugar in the morning.  So woe is me, what is a women to do to sweeten her morning java these days?

Sooooo sorry to hear, Paige.  I agree with Foxy ... don't get on the scale. Definitely treat yourself as the super woman you are.  Exercise will help release the stress (and you can use the anger...that's one way I get more out of my workouts) no matter what kind of exercise you choose.  I'm glad to hear that you are doing better - I hope it continues that way for you.  I am also a firm believer in cheering on the baby steps...each step forward is a step forward!

Welcome erin - I hope you find this site and group to  be as helpful as I have!

As for me...I've been home sick for nearly a week now...(stupid cold...)  I've not gotten on the scale or gone to the gym in a week.  I've not been hungry, so I've not been eating much...but what I have been eating hasn't been that good for me either.  (Or maybe I should say not god for my diet!)  Either way, though, I'm trying not to stress about it.  I am working to get better and not rush myself into doing anything before I'm well enough to actually do it.  I'd hate to stay sick or start to get better and then revert!  I'm still wanting to loose those last 5 by May...but it is getting harder and harder to keep pushing for it.  I must also admit that knowing that I failed to meet my initial goal of 125 (or 130) by April 1st (the January-April weight loss challenge) has been really depressing.  I know I should be happy about the 15lb loss, but I still feel like I failed b/c I didn't reach my goal.  Anyone have any tips about this?

Have a great week everyone.

Hey everyone. Looks like Spring is here! My spirits are much higher than they were this winter.

Paige98: It's good to hear you're staying active. Keep with it. Fly kites in the park with your girls. :)  I think it's just as good as gym time.

Erin: welcome! You're so close to your goal so it'll probably be hard taking off the last 5. I've got 5 to go also (150 to 145) and have been stuck here for months.  :(  I think your weight will fly off with all the sports you have planned. At the very least you'll be hot & fit!  Samiaz has some great advice... healthy munchies and exercise helped me.

Innocent_sin: I think Stevia is the best artf. sweetner out there. I think it's in the hybiscus family so it's gotta be better than the man made stuff.

vpireiner & samiaz... 5 lbs by May 1st.  I doubt I can do it, but I need a goal.

I'm pretty sure Stevia is one of the safest sweeteners out there, along with another plant-based one I've seen that's basically just dehydrated chicory I think?  I should look for it again.  Can I ask what you guys use sweeteners for?

VP, hope your cold is going away.  And I think you guys can totally do 5lbs in 5 weeks! As the weather gets warmer and you're more inclined to get out and about you also burn a lot more calories :)

Out and about is right.

Today I ran on the treadmill, THEN took my lab and my neighbor's lab to the park for a nice long walk/swim (they swam , I didn't), AND tonight I will go to the gym to do my weights.

In case you're wondering, I have plenty of time on my hands these days.

Getting outside has made me more trim and even though I've starting weight training, I've lost another lb!  Go me!

Awesome, Foxy!  I wish I had your motivation right now! 

I'm finally feeling better, but I'm going to give myself until Monday before I head to the gym.  I don't want to revert back to being sick.  I'm going to try to go to the barn this weekend (it is supposed to be BEAUTIFUL here) and maybe weed the flowerbed (it's more like a weed bed than flowerbed right now!). 

Monday I'll head back to the gym and get on the dreaded scale to see what I've managed to do weight-wise over the last couple of weeks.  Then I'll know what I have to do before May hits...I'd love to be 130 by May 7th....  I think know I can do it!

Hey all,

Welcome Erin:)

Thanks for the encouraging words lately. Have yall played the new game system called Wii? Omgoodness I got one and have a bowling, tennis, baseball and boxing game but to make it work you actually have to do the movement such as boxing the air, bowling a ball, batting and playing tennis. It's so awesome, fun and stuff me and the kids are doing inside while staying active.

I have a boxing gym close to the house so I'm going to check it out. I think taking out my agression would be a great idea. Maybe my gym even has something available.

The weather hasn't been the prettiest here in TX so I'm thankful for my Wii. It has kept me up and going. My women's daily vitamins are definately giving me a boost which I'm liking.  So far I haven't gotten on a scale and good lord have yall watched WWE wrestling? So they have these hot chicks on there showing everything they have and I say something making a comment like yea and I will ever look like that and my husband goes well if you would work out then you would. I don't know but that wasn't morally encouraging. Oh well I guess he is right and I've gotto get myself going.

So here is to a good weekend coming up eventhough many times lately I'd love to just go get drunk and forget it all......

finally some progress. last time i weighed myself i was 151... now i'm 147. it was in a short time frame, so i know its mainly water... but still, i feel good about it. how is everyone else?

Hey ladies. Just thought I'd introduce myself since I too am in my late twenties. I'm 26, from Kansas, and I have a 14 month old son. I've struggled with my weight since the 3rd grade, but I am currently at my largest weight. I'm 5'5'' and weight almost 260. Yikes. I'm so tired of it and I feel miserable. And now that the weather is nice its so depressing not being able to hide myself in big heavy clothes :(

welcome photomeg... i can relate to the panic of nice weather starting. although i would prefer a hot sunny day on the beach over a blizzard any day, i'm starting to stress now that its warming up. don't worry, there's no better time like the present to start this thing.

paige, although i agree with you that the comments he made weren't the best... comments like that would make me want to prove them wrong. BUT, keep in mind who you should be doing it for... YOU. i was never very overweight ( in my opinion), but i was "thick".. okay chubby. my problem was that no one ever commented on me gaining weight, so i was oblivious until  i got a scale, and clothes i hardly wore felt really tight. i wish my friends would have told me, but they said i was always positive and showed a lot of self esteem, so they thought that i was alright with it. uh no! i think you should talk to him about what motivates you and what hinders your progress.

anyone have any new tips to share (eating wise)?  what are you guys eating in a typical day and do you really count calories ? i don't, i read  all labels at the grocery store though! we can help eachother better that way.