Who Else is short over 40 (yrs) and over 50 (lbs.) ?

I'm starting my healthy living campaign ...again.  But this time will be different.  This time I want to add FRIENDS so I can stay accountable (last year I was just a spy). So, If you're like me, lets support each other!

Hello skyewriting,

I'm 5'4... 50 years old... and I have 100 (and more!) pounds to lose! I don't know if you'll allow me into your club, but I think I would fit in!!

I read your journal entries and I can say we have a few things in common. I was on CC last summer. I lost 10 pounds but stopped visiting the site in the fall. So I am back and ready to work hard.

Also, I saw in your journal that you have financial fitness in mind for 2008. It is also my goal. I have started organizing my finances in 2007 and I am monitoring my expenditures and trying to find extra income in 2008.

So considering all this, you may want to add me to your list of friends!!

 By the way, congrats for having only that ONE beer yesterday!!

Hi makambo!  Thanks for replying.  I added you to my buddy list. I think that the reason I didn't stay on last year was because no one was expecting me to.  So if we expect to hear from eachother, we'll have to log on to stay accountable.  And it is EASY to be accountable to friends. so thanks for finding me!

 I walked twice yesterday for about 30 minutes each time.  But I overslept today so I'll have to get a walk in a little late.

The one beer post was a year ago!  I didn't have ANY yesterday and I won't today, or tomorrow, or hopefully never again and if so, only once in a blue moon.  I do have a problem with alcohol and I believe that it is the main contributer to my weight problem.  I REALLY LOVE beer, but I read that on top of converting to sugar it also slows down your metabolism (as does all alcohol)- so it is OFF LIMITS now.

How did you do yesterday?  Any ideas on how you're going to bring in extra money? 

Looking forward to staying in touch.  We can DO THIS!

Skye

 

Hello skyewriting,

Having a buddy is really a great thing... I had one last summer but unfortunately she stopped visiting CC in September. It was nice to know that there was someone to whom I was accountable. I'm really happy that I found you... I'm sure we can help each other achieve our goals!

Well, if your problem is beer, mine is exercising... Yes, I've been very good since the beginning of the week. I've walked everyday for 30 minutes. But then it has been easy because it's about 9C (Sorry, but I don't know how much that is in F degrees!) outside. Last week it was -30C! That's when exercising becomes difficult! I DO need to be accountable to someone about exercising. I used to go to a gym (off and on for about 5 years) but I stopped going a year ago because the motivation wasn't there anymore. I started ice skating lessons in the fall because I love ice skating and I was told that you need to love (or at least like!) the activity you choose. The problem is that I have to add on other activities!

I didn't realize that the "beer" post was a year ago! Well good for you if you cut out beer... It will certainly help you achieve your goals. I think it's better to cut out whatever is your weakness during the first few months and then reintroduce it once in a while. My weakness is sugar... but then it's the same as alcohol. Did you know that the body metabolizes alcohol just like sugar? I read a book several years ago, "Potatoes not Prozac", in which the author compares sugar addiction and alcohol addiction. It's really interesting how the two problems are in fact very closely related.

As far as extra income, I'm not sure yet... I'm trying to see what my strengths are. I was a language teacher (English as a second language) for several years, so I might offer English lessons. But I already have a pretty busy day job, so that's why I hesitate on adding extra activities in the evening... (By the way, I checked out your website. Very interesting!)

Right now, I am focusing on monitoring my spending! I am very proud of myself because I started 2008 with a budget plan for the whole year. So far I've been entering all my revenues and expenses on the computer.

I see that you have two boys. Are they teenagers or younger? I don't have any children of my own but my husband and I do a lot of volunteer work to help immigrant children with their homework. And we have one teenage girl who lives with us during the week and goes back to her family during the weekend. We help her out with her studies.

 Well, so much for today! I am glad we found each other and  I am sure we'll reach our goals this time!

Lucie a.k.a makambo

Hi Skye,

I just registered on this site yesterday, so I'm a newbie.  I figured I'd try something different this time to help me stay on track.  I'll be 45 next week, I'm 5'2", and I have 190 pounds to lose (my waist measurement almost equals my height, haha).  I have hypothyroidism, but I'm taking medication that will hopefully not interfere with my goal to finally lose the weight that has controlled my entire life!

TWS

Welcome Tracy! I'm glad you found the site. I find it helps me stay on track because everyone is so supportive, unlike your SIB! Take baby steps each day and before you know it you've gone a mile. 

Happy Birthday!

Thanks for the happy birthday wishes!  This is day 3 for me and so far, so good.  From the postings that I've read thus far, people seem generally supportive.  However, I just cannot relate to the folks who complain about not being able to gain weight.  I found myself getting really annoyed, especially when they post their complaints under the Forum heading of "Weight Loss".  Aaarrrggghhh!!!

Well, my SIB is what she is; nothing I can do about that.  I learned a valuable lesson, and also came to the self-realization that my compulsive need for perfection and my "all-or-nothing" attitude was getting me fatter and fatter (that and the underactive thyroid).  I truly believe in the power of prayer, and I think the Lord finally got tired of listening to me pray for a miracle and told me to do it myself by helping me realize that nothing and nobody can help me but me and stop striving for perfection!  So, I begin each day with a prayer to stay on track.

Tracy

 

Hello Tracy,

 Welcome! What a sense of humor you have! I loved reading your bio... Especially the talk you had with the Lord!!!

I don't think you should think about the end result right now (33 months, 125 pounds, etc.) It'll seem too daunting... I would cut it up into smaller goals such as losing five pounds. It will make it easier to stay motivated.

I buy all sorts of magazines with people who were in the high 200s or 300s and have lost weight. I read over and over those profiles and I keep telling myself that if they can do it, I can too.... and so can you. Lots of people have lost a lot of weight without bariatric surgery. It's possible. But I think we have to make it our top priority in our lives. I love putting my work or my family in top priority because if something goes wrong there, it gives me an excuse to eat to calm myself... But that's not a very good way to reach my goal!

Besides you have such a wonderful motivation: your son!  

So keep it up! I'll be cheering you on!

yah I hate those complainers too. It also irks me when someone says they don't "diet".  Call it what you want, "healthier lifestyle", "new eating habits"... I still don't get to eat and drink what I want when I want!  After typing that I realize that I called this my "healthy living campaign" so I'm a little bit of a hypocrite...woops.

But enough complaining. Makambo is right, short term goals.  My current short-term goal is to do 1000 minutes in the exercise challenge.  Have you guys been there yet?  It's pretty cool.  In this one you say how many minutes you're going to exercise in January, then you try to meet it.  The numbers are up there for everyone to read, so it keeps you on track.

The other one I liked, but didn't like, was the Biggest Loser challenge.  (I did it last year.) Anyone who wants to participate lets the forum leader know.  Then they are split into groups.  You have to weigh in every week... just like the television show.  My problem was I wasn't losing any weight.  I was too embarrassed to put in +1, so I dropped out.  Didn't come back for a year...

 Anyway, those challenges are pretty good ways to stay motivated.

We can all do it!  If at first you don't succeed, try try try again. (I just love trite cliches.)

True, short term goals are better. I try not to think about how much I need to lose, and instead focus on watching my calories and how much I've lost. The end result is important to me, but the way I get there is more important to me right now.

Going into the weekend! Good luck ladies - stay strong.

I won't be able to check in until Monday because I'll be traveling. Wish me luck, though because I'm going to my mother-in-laws for her husbands birthday party. There's bound to be a lot of good food, plus the stress of visiting them makes me want to eat and especially drink.

Skye

Hey Skye,

How'd your weekend with the in-laws go? Hope you were able to maintain your resolve.

T.