300+ Countdown to Jan 1, 2009 !

   T O T A L   L O S T   I N   2 0 0 8 :   9 9 3 . 9  L B S   

       LINK to *NEW* Jan 2009 / Jan 2010 Thread 

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      We share a long journey.
      January 1, 2009 is coming ... IS HERE ! 
      What progress we'll make ... WE'VE MADE !
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~ THE 2008 300+ COUNTDOWN CLUB ~
      Counting down to JAN 1, 2009!
 1. Post your 1st of month weigh in.
 2. Check your updated number below.
 3. Let me know of any corrections.

.......................... GROUP WEIGHT LOSS ..........................
SW: 320.0   JAN 1st 2009 185.0     Lost  135.0  bigbrett22
SW: 340.0   JAN 1st 2009 173.0     Lost  167.0  danielle_20077
SW: 343.0   JAN 1st 2009 275.0     Lost    68.0  denise07
SW: 326.0   JAN 1st 2009 280.0     Lost    38.0  freethrowtommy 
SW: 354.0   JAN 1st 2009 328.0     Lost    26.0  humorpam
SW: 329.0   JAN 1st 2009 295.0     Lost    34.0  korali
SW: 329.0   JAN 1st 2009 221.0     Lost  108.0  laurabow
SW: 370.0   JAN 1st 2009 286.0     Lost    84.0  mnic
SW: 442.2   JAN 1st 2009 392.0     Lost    50.2  mwiowa
SW: 325.0   JAN 1st 2009 267.0     Lost    58.0  punkrockriot
SW: 315.0   JAN 1st 2009 226.0     Lost  100.0  renaer14
SW: 317.0   JAN 1st 2009 311.0     Lost      6.0  shnitzel (tracy)
SW: 465.0   JAN 1st 2009 220.8     Lost  244.0  sun123
SW: 385.0   JAN 1st 2009 336.8     Lost    52.0  sunnyone24
SW: 305.0   JAN 1st 2009 234.5     Lost    70.5  Tina_4792
SW: 367.0   JAN 1st 2009 299.0     Lost    69.4  topeze
SW: 576.0   JAN 1st 2009 447.0     Lost  129.0  velvetkiss 
SW: 325.0   JAN 1st 2009 255.0     Lost    70.0  watchmeshine82
SW: 355.0   JAN 1st 2009 287.0     Lost    68.0  wobbley
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I find exercise does the same for me - a real weight loss push.  I also have to be into it as habit because Im either doing it regularly or not at all.  Thinking with your last exam behind you, it may be easier to motivate and refocus on exercise, Korali. 

Several days at it, safe to say I am 229-230 and since that was my month end goal, rethinking my following goals of Feb 1 set at 220 and Mar 1 at 210. Dont want to jump the gun either - such a strong early month could mean a plateau followup but now thinking 225 is reasonable for Jan 1.  Still glad to have half the month left for that final weigh-in.

YAH, for newbies!! Welcome welcome.

Korali, I'm in the same position, stressin out. I finish finals next week, hoping to pull out a good grade in the end. Good luck with your last one. It's going to feel sooo good when you're done. I can't wait. Maintaining it better than nothing.

Sun, you're doing awesome!! I am so excited for you. You are just flying through the 200's. You're goals sound great to me. Can't believe we are just half way through the month. December seems like a good month and a gracious one for going so slow:)

I'm wobbling and maintaining at the moment. I got past my Thursday diet crisis that usually turns into a 4 day binge fest, but than had a free day Friday and Sunday ended up eating a hilacious amount of Christmas cookies at my "mother in law's" house. We baked all day and I think I may have had 4-5 cookies total and than 2 at my mom's house. Not horrible I guess, my calories for real food were really low, like to an extreme, but not on purpose. Unfortunately, we were just so busy with family and running around I never got a chance to eat real food till about 7pm I finally ate some of my mom's spaghetti, mmmm I love her spaghetti. So I don't think my calories in total were horrible, but i felt so tired and drained by the end of the day I won't do that again, I def have to have protein as my main course instead of cookies:) So, I got back down to 218 and as far as I know maintaining at the moment, I didn't get a chance to weigh this morning, after the cookie episode. I'm a little anxious to weigh tomorrow morning.

Good luck everyone for Decemeber. New Years resolutions are coming soon!

-Angie

Ang, I think its wonderful you passed Thursday knowing youve struggled with it.  I wouldnt make light of it - breaking a habit like that starts with a first step and heres to this Thursday too for a new habit.  I also find that protein is what sticks with me. Must have been great seeing your 218 back and hope anything those cookies did (if anything) will be behind as we finish off this month.

Ive got to find a more discreet way to say this but had an after bathroom weigh-in (my best scale time always) and a new number 226.8.  Granted that usually rises a bit until the next 'visit' but feeling great about February and this dress staring me down, yelling "Fit in me!" It does fit - if I dont sit down LOL. So now its a matter of being able to sit.  I bought the dress when my daughter was 4 years old - it was an event and now she is 17 so doing the years math. 

We have a freeze tonight - been drizzling and of all times. Have a doctor appt and lunch date I'd scheduled last week for tomorrow.  The doctor is for my calf edema and vein issue. Ideally I want to get strong support socks (the thin, knee high kind) that compress but you have to know what pressure for the really good ones hence the appt.  Thinking about how I'll be driving 5 mph on the ice. Plus my car ins expired today. Procrastinated getting new rates.  Im an accident waiting to happen.

Original Post by korali:

I KNOW that the key to this is exercise for me, I know it, but yet its hard to find the time or the motivation to get my ass moving.  Even on days/ weeks where I eat well and below maintenance, Im not losing weight unless I have been more active .. so I know that is key, and what i will have to work on =)

Only one exam left !! yayay !! after tuesday Ill be done, and on holidays for 2 weeks !! Cant wait !

 I feel you! I finished my last paper on Saturday.. writing papers is like death for me. Well, that's a little dramatic but seriously, it is a challenge to get the words on on cue and I drop everything else in my life. I am so excited that classes are over now. I am going to be sort of on edge until grades come out but the load has been lifted, finally. I need to get back to the gym now! It has been weeks now of inactivity and eating whatever.

I am tempted to just do my death march on Saturday (14 mile round-trip hike to the top of the highest peak in the area, 4000' climb). I still might do it. I know it will hurt me. I really want to do this hike though, and some part of me feels like I need punishment somehow to get me back on track.. is this strange? Yeah I think so too. I am still tempted to do it. It is great for starting off with a great deficit but then I can't move for a few days afterwards! Maybe not the best strategy overall...

Denise, would it help at all to get in some preparation hiking?  Only at 1.25 miles, its hard to imagine such a long march.  Ive not walked tonight or last night - we're in a freeze.  Let us know what you decide this weekend.

I have had some crazy weight last few day and wondered if my scale was messing around but a dr visit today backed it up.  Im usually 2-3 lbs weekly and my Dec 239 weight had me shooting for 230 Jan 1 but this weekend I was at 229/230 and if that wasnt surprising enough, yesterday 226 and today 224.  This is cool but very weird. The timing is perfect since I'd only expected 220 Feb 1st for my trip so thinking I can beat that assuming this loss isnt followed by a butt kicking plateau (which is quite possible).

Also got an Rx to be fitted for support stockings. I was going for socks but turns out where those end on the leg would be bad for me so these will be either thigh high (I cant imagine with my biggest part my thighs) or complete stockings.  The medical socks dont require a fitting, just knowing your needed pressure and saw them around $30 - cant imagine what the hose will be but intend to call on it tomorrow. 

Hi. I found this post and starting reading, and after a few pages I thought, "I want to be part of this group!" So I'm posting.

My name is Deb. I'm a geek married to a geek, living in Seattle with our three giant cats. I work for a small division of an accounting software company doing product technical support.

The last time I was at a normal weight was in 1994. Since then I've gone up and down. In August of 2007, I weighed about 335; between then and February 2008 I got down to 270. I stopped paying attention to what I ate after that and this morning I finally pulled out the scale: 290. Ouch.

I decided last Monday that it was time. It's time. I need to do this, and I want to embrace the process instead of fighting it and resenting it the way I have done in the past.

Right now, I am eating 1600 calories a day and trying to get As on my diet analysis here.My big problem is that I go to extremes. My therapist has noted that when I diet, I start thinking like an anorexic: I start out at 1000 calories and then gradually restrict until I'm either eating 500/day or going a whole day without eating at all. It's like I dare myself to see how much I can endure. Of course, I crash and burn eventually -- that's when I eat everything I that seemed even vaguely interesting when I was restricting.

The 1600 calories freaks me out. When my total gets over 1000 for a day, I panic. I've decided, though, that I need to do it this way because I need to learn how to be in the middle. I need to get away from "Food is evil" to "Food is a means of nourishing my body." It's really hard (and hard to get my husband to understand why it's so hard).

This has gotten really long, and I hope it's okay. I've been trying to find a place somewhere on this site for a week and now it seems like I might have.

Striped down today I was 226, a bit more expected than that 224 but will shoot for low 220s Jan 1st. 

Hi Sine - love the avatar! So you know from where we come and I see how to drop the weight as well.  Not that your happy with it but Feb to now, knowing not watching my food I'd have done much more damage but you are still 45 lbs down and stepping up. You well described the low cal mentality - I know it myself and struggle. Its not the anorexic mindset of distorted body image as much as an overcompensation issue.  Looking forward to you joining us through 2009 but know your welcome these last two weeks of 2008 and thanks for taking the time to let us know you better!

YAYAYAY !! exams are done !! Can finally focus on me !! and my eating !

WOW sun Im so impressed, I could only wish to be doing as well as you are, I am down to 288 again thankfully, lets hope that tomorrow im down even lower !!

Welcome to the group Sine =)

Hope everyone is having a good week =) ~K

Wow, Crystal, 100 pounds in 6 months is in fantastic. Please tell us how you did it, i.e. meal plan as well as exercises you did.

Went to visit old coworkers at my last two employers (one company bought my dept out from the other).  These were the folks to see me at my heaviest (when I was basically in hiding other than going to work) so they were surprised to see my loss and happy for me. One girl actually didnt recognize me - did a double take, that was really cool LOL!

Stopped by mom's at the senior center and they were having a huge Christmas bash - talk about good timing, as all  had their family members in attendance and was glad mom wasnt 'alone'. Called Alice, my ex sister in law, who ran over and had a fun night there.  Crashed early so have been up since 2am and will be out walking before sunrise.

Great turn around on the weight Korali!  Know youve still got some December left for Jan 1 weighin.  Betting you finally exhaling with school behind you.

Mnic, I live in South Africa and don't think I will be able to check out the Freezone thing. The exercises I do are all for the lower part of my body. I lie on my back on the bed and do various leg exercises, whatever I think of ... like lifting my legs in the air, bending them down to the knee level, doing scissor movements, putting my feet together and stretching them open as far as I possibly can, etc. Then I turn on to my stomach and contract my bum muscles together. I try to do about 50 of each, i.e. 10 sets each x 5. Then I get off the bed and do running on the spot for 30 seconds at a time, touch my toes and bend as far away from them as I can. I was walking for about 15 minutes in the evening with my older son who does not live with me. Since he has been busy for the last 3 weeks, I have not been out to walk on my own. It's a fairly new neighborhood for me and I don't want to walk on my own. I also have a  stationary bike but the straps have broken and I have to get it fixed first. I am going to put a lot more effort into exercising starting from tomorrow.

tubzuks, I like your intro "... various leg exercises, whatever I think of" because there really are tons of good exercises and think just picking out some and actually doing them is what its all about.  You certainly havent let your safety concern about walking the neighborhood slow you down and know that activity has to be working for you. 

Thursday weigh-in 227.4, a bit higher than recent and thinking Im heading into TOM - timing is about right and daytime had a 228 but still ahead of the game for Dec so will continue to focus on low 220s this month (at least below 225).

Sun, thanks and of course you are right. Any activity is better than none. As I don't have a computer at home and our company is shutting down from today until 5th January, I wont be able to post again until then. In the meantime, I want to wish you and all the others happy holidays and try to stick to your plans. Hopefully when January comes we will have something good to report.

Hi all,

I've been lurking.  Sun, omg, you're doing amazing!!  Welcome all new people!

Had my cookie binge Sunday (but it was my cheat day) and wound up just stuffing my face a few days.  Frustrated with that, but just been extremely stressed and worn out.  I'm back on track.  Did a whole bunch of exercise tonight, and I know I'm going to feel it tomorrow.  But that will be good.  And I'm eating well again.  I weighed in tonight, just to get a reality check for what Sat. might hold.  I was almost 301.  Ugh, that sucks.  But, I know I ate all that stuff which is still in my body, have extra salt, and just worked out.  Besides, I think some of it was TOM. But, I still have 2 weeks until I my Jan weigh in, so I can undo some of that.  The only problem is that I'll be visiting family during that time and who knows about what I'll be eating.  Not sure how it'll work out, but we'll see.

I'm looking forward to the new year.  Fresh start with all this.  Although, it's also depressing knowing that I'll still be working at losing this time next year.  I can't imagine the possible size difference though.  Now, that's exciting. 

Sun - Great job on being at your Jan 1 goal already!

I have been a busy bee the past few days and man are my calfs sore.  I went Thursday and got the books for my next term classes and I was surprised it took an hour from start to finish because the line was long and I actually managed to stand about 45 minutes of that with little spurts of sitting in between which for me is a BIG deal but the calfs are sore from it.  I also got my tree and got it decorated and the house all done.  Now this weekend will be christmas lights and watching christmas movies.

Hope you all have a great weekend and Happy Holidays!

Topeze, how those muscles doing? Stay strong - sounds like your back on track and hope those cookies were at least good :D.  Wishing you a kickbutt upcoming two weeks for final scale day.

Velvet, some might take that for granted but I and Im sure others here can appreciate your standing as long as you did, having had standing issues ourselves.  I been bad about checking whats on TV and thinking those yearly specials should be popping up now. 

Back in the 225s today and hoping everyone makes the best of the upcoming loss opportunity before end of year weigh in- I know this is a challenging time. If this is a time your allowing treats, make them worth it! 

Sounds like you guys are doing great over the holidays. I've been told numerous times that the holidays are times to maintain not lose, but of course they don't understand the drive we have to lose weight and the unhealthy state we have come from at one point or another. So I haven't been beating myself up over a holiday cookie here and there, but I am def keeping myself focused and controlled. I was thrilled this morning I hit 214 the lowest yet and my 100lbs completely lost. It feels good. I'm a little behind on my Jan 1st goal, but I'm hoping with a big push I'll make it and I'm ecstatic to think I may be under 200 for my birthday Jan 14th. It's just a dream at the moment to have a 1 in front of my weight number even if it's 199 I just won't know what to do with myself.

Good Luck and a Happy Holidays Everyone.

-Angie

Velvet, awesome job with the standing.  I'm sure your calves must have been sore!! 

Ang, grats on your 100 lbs lost!!  That's so awesome.

Sun, my muscles are doing much better.  Was fairly stiff yesterday, although it actually surprised me how much. 

So, I weighed in this morning and am frustrated with myself.  I know I've had more bad days in the past month than I really should have.  I was 297.4.  But, I also did my measurements, which have stayed the same or decreased from last month, so woohoo for that.  It made me realize though, I'm basically the same weight I was last month when I measured.  That sucks.  Looking at Dec. 1st, I'm only down 0.2 lbs.  There's no way I can meet my Jan 3rd goal.  I'm planning on weighing in the morning I leave from here to go to Jersey, but when I'm gone, I'm really only expecting to maintain.  I think it'll be really hard to lose while visiting my parents, although I'm going to try my hardest to make good choices.  Oh well, it happens.  Hopefully I'll be back down by the time I leave.  My lowest has been in the 294s. 

I'll need to learn how to deal with stress better.  I never really thought I was much of an emotional eater.  Apparently, it's mainly when I'm super stressed out and upset.  Ok, here's to good weigh ins for January!!

Ang - Congrats on losing 100lbs!  Do the Happy Dance!

Topeze - That is great you are maintaining and keeping your inches lost, that is a hard thing for alot to do around the Holidays, so that is a great accomplishment!

Sun - Yes alot of people do take for granted the ability to be able to stand and I am so grateful that I was able to do it and it didnt take long to recover, there still sore but I can move and do stuff where before I would have been out of commission for a few days.

I also realized that yes the calfs hurt from the standing but I also did alot of other stuff after that, we went and checked out the menu of a restaurant we are meeting my boyfriends family at for breakfast on Monday and I wanted to make sure they had food I could eat and then we delivered some chrismas cards and then did some Holiday shopping and then grocery shopping and then we picked out our christmas tree and brought it home and decorated, so it was a good workout LOL

Thanks for the welcome. I'm impressed by all that you guys have accomplished. It's a little embarrassing to admit it, but a couple of times over the weekend I kept myself on the straight and narrow by remembering what I've read here and thinking that if other people can do it, I can, too.

It's been a bit weird these last few days because I took last Thu/Fri off from work (we can only carry two days over into the new year) and we've had snow every day since Thursday (really weird for Seattle). So I've had unstructured days and been snowed in on top of it. Friday I went to a party that was based around brownies and Saturday a good friend was celebrating his birthday at an Indian restaurant. Still, I ended up with only two really bad days and both of those were under 2300.

Sometimes I doubt my ability to do this. I think the problem is that I find myself not hungry but wanting food, and I have a hard time ignoring the, "Well, if I do it this once it won't matter" mindset.