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!

Hahaha... Tell me about it!  Something tells me though, if we were to open a Trader Joes in Calgary or Edmonton it would do amazingly well provided we could get the same product in.  If only I had more than entrepreneurial inclinations and some actual follow-through...!

I'd like to know aobut this basil, too...but I'm in the states...  hmmm...sounds like it's time for a little help from my friend, Google! 

Bailed on the gym this week (after doing so well on Monday), and I've been eating German chocolate cake and drinking wine for a couple of evenings.  Last night I really over did it eating leftovers and the cake...  This weekend, though I'll be working with horses all weekend, so hopefully I can make up for my lack of restraint.  (AF is not diet friendly for me.)

Have a great weekend guys and enjoy the spring veggie/fruit season!  We stocked up on Tuesday night on some yummies...blueberries, raspberries, strawberries, apples, bananas, grapefruit...and of course salad!  Now..I just have to start eating them instead of this cake!

If it makes you feel any better, I have been slacking off at the gym for nearly a month now.  I go here and there, but not consistently.  My trainer (fresh back from his vacation) actually emailed me yesterday and told me to get my **** back to the gym LOL.  Talk about accountability!

My boyfriend and I have two different philosphies on leftover treats.  I am all about having a little bit and then portioning it out and freezing the leftovers so you can just grab a little bit when the craving strikes. That, are just throwing the rest away after the first day.  My boyfriend believes the only way to make sure that he doesn't continue to eat the treat (usually black forest cake for us) is to make sure that he eats the whole thing on the first day so that he only "falls off the wagon" for one day :)  I think his philosophy is flawed but who am I to say!?

Not sure if you will find the same kind of basil in the States.  The place that I got it from has their own brand of plants called Gigantico and as far as I am aware it is exclusive to their stores which are only in Canada.  There might be something else out there like it though.  Best of luck with the search!

I'm not sure about your BF's treat philosophy in terms of weight loss ... but it sounds yummy. I am more into having/sharing dessert at a restaurant since we don't eat out too much, but not buying cake to eat at home.  Chips on the other handed ... those dratted chips.  I've been good since last Friday night though!

 I do also have to confess some gym-slacking. I was pretty sick yesterday (and today) and just not up to it, but I aim to be back there on Monday. Hopefully the cold clears up by then!!

My dh tends to save things...like the last pieces of cake...  He's silly like that.  He'll let food go bad because he was "saving" it.  I think I'm more like your bf, goldie.  Except that I like to ration myself out a bit more...so I'll eat a piece a day (and try to compensate for the extra calories throughout the day) until it's gone.

I guess all of us are kinda bouncing along half-heartedly with the gym.  I went Monday last week and that was it.  I did ride 1 horse Friday and Saturday and then 4 on Sunday, so at least I wasn't sitting on the couch the whole week...just part of it!    And, AF has officially "left the building," so I feel like I'll be hitting the gym this week - no excuses.  My plan is (an you guys can hold me accountable since I don't have a trainer...btw...that's awesome, Goldie, that he'll send you reminders like that) to go Tuesday and Wednesday night, and maybe on Friday night.   My mom is going to come visit this weekend, and I'm hoping to drag her to the barn. 

Today is DH's birthday, so I might have to take him out for dinner (we decided not to exchange gifts since we "gave" each other a washing machine in March.  He's been in a funk, so we'll see what we can do!

Hope y'all had great weekends and have a good Monday.

VG - Feel better soon!

Good luck with the gym resolution.  I find the only way that I stick to my guns and go is if I go STRAIGHT there after work.  If I walk in the doors of my house before seeing the gym, I am doomed! :)  I have also decided not to promise myself that I will go to the gym on Fridays.  That just sets me up for failure since I inevitable have plans after work. I  would rather not set a goal I know I probably won't meet, than set it and feel like I let myself down.  If you have the discipline to go at the start of your weekend, you have my complete respect!!!

My BF is out of town for a week so I am hoping to hit the gym at least a few times. 

A birthday celebration might be just the ticket to get DH out of his funk (provided he isn't update about the birthday itself!).  Go someplace fun and different just to mix it up.  Trying something new is always interesting :)  Let us know how it goes!

I hit the weight room at lunch today even though my sinuses are killing me (I figured if I could make it to work, I could do a bit of exercise, and I didn't go too hardcore). It didn't make it worse at least! So, if I can go with a bad cold, you guys can go when you're healthy. I am expecting good news tomorrow!!

It's been about two and a half weeks since I started with the weights and I am really noticing a difference in my legs - they look leaner and stronger. But my face looks chubbier ...

Hi! I am 28 and weight about 153 lbs now. I have teetered with about 20 lbs for about the last 6 or 7 years. Summer months always get me!!! I tend to eat so much when its hot out b/c of the parties and cook outs and get togethers. My goal weight is 140 lbs but I would like to be around 135 lbs!

Dieting is hard work, especially when you get to that plateau when you either maintain the weight your at or gain a few here and there. I think quick walking or jogging is a HUGE help! It just makes me feel better all around and does show results! It is so hard when you want to see those results quick but with time, you will see the results if you keep at it!!! I too am on weight watchers and love every bit of the diet!!! Tough at times but you still get to eat what you love as long as you watch the calories!!!!  Good luck!

Welcome chighley! Your goal weight sounds pretty doable. Plateaus are the worst. The good thing about summer is that it's nice enough to get outside and get moving, as well as hit the barbecues!

Hi guys! 

Your group sounds great... room for one more?  I'm 27 and have gained 6 kilograms since coming to England (and have switched to metric... wait let me get my calculator out!  haha!  Looks like that's 13 lbs.). I'm now 159lbs and would love to get back down to 140 for my friend's birthday in september.  I've been trying to change my habits and my friend, who's just become a dietician, is monitoring me for the past 4 weeks. My diet is pretty good, but it's all the alcohol (these brits sure love to drink!).  I've lost 2lbs so far, but it's slow moving :(

Looking forward to keeping up the diet/exercise so I can get there!

Welcome Kassy and Chighley!

Ahh yes... The booze!  I am a beer girl myself :)  Not really sure how to help you there other than to say just cut back.  I know when I joined the gym I told my trainer I would eat whatever he told me to, but I wouldn't give up beer LOL.  Maybe I would get faster results if I did!

Looks like your weight goals are pretty similar to mine.  I have accepted the fact that I won't ever give up beer entirely, so now I just try to save some calories in the day for a brew or two.  Don't give up.  My man and I try to remind each other that we didn't put the weight on overnight so we shouldn't expect it to disappear overnight.  Now of course, everyone knows this, but it never hurts to be reminded :)

Good luck with everything!

Thanks goldie!

Yea, I don't expect it to come off overnight, and don't expect to look like a fitness model either :) And I think when people give up all the stuff they really love, they don't stick with it either, so I'm trying to just cut back, not cut out.  I hope it'll keep me motivated!

I see you're goldie in calgary... I'm a canadian girl myself (born in Edmonton, grew up in Ottawa)!  Nice to have another Canadian around the place :D

This is turning into a thread full of Alberta girls! (I live in Edmonton)

Welcome Kassy and chighley!

Dieting is tough - keeping track of things and making sure to stay active.  There are always excuses!  I'm a sucker for a nice glass of red wine - cutting that back (not out, but back) helped me drop the lbs.  Actually, I just factor the calories into the day and then I can stay within my range and still eat chocolate or drink wine.  As long as the calories burned is greater than the calories taken in the lbs should be going away...

VG - awesome on the gym!  I probably would have skipped if I had sinus issues like that.  (Of course, I'm kinda a wimp in that regard.) 

I'm going to hit the gym tonight - if I can do another 500 calories on the elliptical today, that would be awesome!  Depending on what time I get to leave work maybe I can do taht and then make yoga class.  (I've not been to yoga in weeks.) Oh, and DH cheered up and we had a lovely dinner out last night.  Don't know what bug crawled up his butt, but I was glad it left before I got home last night!  He was in a MUCH better mood when I got home!

Back to work for me...then to the gym tonight...keep on keepin' on girls!

Oh man.  I just had the best lunch and tried to keep it healthy... that is until my friend (who coincidentally is the chef there) told me that she brought in yam fries!  T-R-O-U-B-L-E!!!  I LOVE yam fries.  So I caved.  But totally worth the calories .   I'll think about them tonight while I'm having salad with lemon juice for supper LOL.

How are the commitments to go the gym coming?  I, sadly have been failing miserably!  I was all set to go last night when some friends showed up my door fresh back from Italy with pictures and presents of hand pressed olive oil and vino!  So much for that idea LOL.  But it is a gorgeous day today so my plan is to take the dogs for a nice, long run or walk depending on what they're up for.  Much better than being trapped inside anyways.

Also... So glad to hear that his birthday dinner went well.  You just never know with these things so apparently luck was on your side.  It's nice to have a great evening out every now and then.  Especially if you've been together for a while (my BF and I have been together for almost 7 years) and have gotten into a bit of a routine of normalness. Date night is the greatest!

I've never had yam fries but I definitely sympathize with how dangerous it is to go somewhere where the chef is totally incredible!  Hope you got your walk/run in okay!

I just had a pep-talk from the boyfriend last night... I was moaning that I was working out 6 days a week and it felt like too much... and did I get sympathy?  NO!  He said, "If you actually want this, it's not meant to be fun, and it's going to be hard work!"  Jerk is right, and so I'm back on the case. 

My housemate, my nutritionist/personal trainer (well, she's just starting out, so I'm paying her a little bit for a weekly meeting) said to not count calories this week, but to just be more cautious of what I eat.  I think I've eaten more this week because I'm not being held accountable to the numbers.  We'll see if I lose this week.  If I don't, I'll be counting those little guys next week! 

Any of you had any luck without the counting?  How long until normal sized portions become "enough"?

Happy Friday, ladies! I'm a bit less sick than last week but not totally better either - it might be time to go ask for some drugs :( I have been good about weights at lunch (even upping the weight on some of my exercises!) but not so great about being active after work, I've just been so tired.  VP I am so impressed when you say you're going to do 500 cals on the elliptical AND try to make a fitness class afterwards!!

The scale this morning says I've maintained. I do think my legs look noticeably leaner since I started working out more, and - maybe? - my arms are a bit firmer (could be wishful thinking). Also, I have been so annoyed about being sick I have completely given up refined sugar in an attempt to bolster my immune system.  I've managed to stay away from it since Sunday night.

Glad to hear everyone else is doing well, and it's great to have a few new members! I am also a sucker for sweet potato fries, Goldie. Mashed sweet potatoes are just not the same.

Kassy, for me it seems to take 2-3 weeks before smaller portions satisfy me. P.S. Your boyfriend sounds like a hardass, but that's probably a good thing sometimes!

Ugh - must rant: I got a haircut this weekend. Way too short. Makes my face look pudgy :(

Hey vegetariangeek.... Picture? I'm sure it's not as bad as you think!

I hope you're feeling better too....nothing worse than spending your days off sick!

Boyfriend is actually a huge sweetie, but he's one of those people that, when he puts his mind to something, he's very focused (he used to play basketball and soccer very well while growing up, and knows about training!).  It's really good for me, but I can be so lazy and whiney, if I think I can get away with it.  At the end of the day, I do want to reach these goals, so if I work hard at it, I will feel like I really deserve it! 

How is going off refined sugar supposed to help?  Any studies showing how much it does for you?

Sorry to hear about the bad hair cut!  But I agree with Kassy, I'm sure it's not nearly as tragic as it seems.  That said, even if it is, that is why their are bobby pins and also why hair grows back!!  What kind of hair do you have?  Mine is super curly and I used to work in a hair salon so I was pretty open to letting them "play" with my hairstyles.  The single worst hair decision that I ever made was letting them convince me that if I went super short (and RED btw) that it would straighten out and just look kind of pixie-punk... Uhhh... NO!  I looked like Ronald McDonald on crack!! Just terrible LOL.  I like to think of that as a learning experience :) 

Not sure about refined sugars helping you to feel less sick, but I DO know that when you eat them they are more likely to be stored immediately as fat.  Whereas naturally occuring sugars are more likely to be used up as energy.  Also rumour has it that the fat that processed sugars become is belly fat (something I assume we are all trying to avoid like the plague!) so another reason to avoid it.  That said, everything in moderation, but I'm a big fan of splenda myself so I really don't miss it all that much in my day to day.  Over the weekend I had a big party at my place and instead of drinking beer (as previously mentioned, my kryptonite) I pre-mixed up a big batch of Tom Collins mix of fresh lime juice, a bit of water and splenda.  Much nicer than the bottled stuff you buy at the store.  Then a bit of gin and soda.  In my opinion, the perfect summer cocktail :)

Even though I like that my boyfriend enourages me to be active, sometimes I just want to punch him!  He gives me many helpful hints from the couch in a know-it-all tone from the couch LOL.  He is pretty athletic (hockey, baseball, golf...if you can call that athleticism) so I know he is just trying to be helpful.  I have to keep reminding myself of that because it can be hard not to take it personally (like I need his help at betterment).  Any one else grateful/annoyed by their men's "help"? LOL.  Could just be me....