28, fem, looking to go from 140 to 120 lbs by this fall-similar stats and goals anyone?

I'm 28 years old, about 5'3 and currently weigh 140 lbs.  I'd like to be back at my college weight (120) by Thanksgiving.  I hope this is a reasonable goal: 20 lbs in 20 weeks or so. 

My biggest problem is motivating myself to exercise, late-night eating, and drinking.  Social activities (especially in the summertime) usually involve beer and/or wine in my group of friends.  This is usually followed by some gross diner food, pizza, or some leftovers from my frige.  Sigh.  I've been trying to walk more places and am starting a jogging routine this weekend.  But damn do I hate exercising!

Anyone with similar stats/goals/weaknesses?

 

it sounds like you are on your way with increasing your activity. do not give up....you may find something you really enjoy! have you considered introducing a group walk with your friends instead of the food and wine? or, take a walk or bike ride and then have a nice meal with them. i have a group of friends who love to walk along the creek....we have done this three mile route for many years. take the lead in introducing something active and you may make this whole goal thing enjoyable as well as attainable.

It might be hard to try and get your social circle to engage in some form of exercise in place of the regular get togethers.  I know since I've been losing weight, I've even had a hard time convincing my friends to go to restaurants where I can get healthy food!  What I've had to do is just adjust my own habits to make up for whatever group activity I will be participating in - if we're going to a restaurant that I know has higher calorie options only, then I just make sure to eat healthier/lighter during the day and/or do something to burn extra calories that day. 

Personally, I've found that I hate common exercises like jogging, playing sports, etc.  I hate the gym, too.  But I did find a couple different workout tapes that have become my saving grace - I do Turbo Jam and Hip Hop Abs, and let me tell you if it weren't for finding that I love these tapes, I still wouldn't be exercising and probably wouldn't have made the progress that I have.  I find that the workout tapes work for me because I can do them alone at home, and I can just fit them into my schedule as I see fit. Plus, they are so fun for me because I love dancing=) So, just find something that you actually like doing, and then you won't feel like a chore to get it done. 

Just so you know, I'm 27 (well, 26 turning 27 in a few weeks), also 5'3 and I was 144lbs when I started a few months ago.  I'm down to 131lbs now, and I'm also hoping to get down to 120lbs by the end of summer.  I'm sure we can both attain our goals, todeinotaton!

Thanks for your reply, skinnylv.  Sounds like we're in similar situations in terms of age/weight/goals.  (Also, I'm 27 about to turn 28 on the 4th of July.  I wonder how close our bdays are.)

Question: When you were 145/140lbs did you ever get people telling you that you don't need to lose weight?  People say it to me ALL the time whenever I mention that I'm trying to get back in shape and lose a few.  It makes me furious because I can't tell if they're being nice or what.  Also, it makes me think "oh I can eat these delicious french fries because no one thinks I'm too heavy."  Thing is, I have a pretty small frame and I know I remember feeling much much better about myself when I was 125/120 lbs.

Sigh.

My birthday is on July 8th!  It's funny that our stats are so similar, even our birthdays!

 

At my heaviest, I was 150lbs and I also have a small frame, so to be honest with you no one ever told me I didn't need to lose weight.  My body is very strange - I don't have a problem with my arms/legs/butt, it all goes to my waist!  So, when I was at 145/150, I had MAJOR muffin top going on, but in the face and from behind, etc, I pretty much looked the same as I do now!  It's annoying to gain weight that way, because there's no such thing as "spot reducing" so although I don't really want/need to lose weight in the rest of my body, I have to lose overall weight in order to shrink the little gut I've got going haha!  Anyways, that's why I think that no one ever said to me that I didn't need to lose weight, because with my stomach hanging over my jeans, it definitely DID look like I needed to lose.

Other people might tell you that you don't need to lose weight, but what really matters is that YOU are more comfortable with yourself at 120/125 lbs, so I wouldn't pay much attention to what they say.  Oh another thing, since we have similar stats - I can't wait until I hit maintenance, because we can end up consuming around 1700-1800 calories a day with moderate exercise or 1500 calories a day with no exercise.  Either way, I figure now that I'm used to eating 1300-1400 calories a day without feeling deprived at all, maintenance will be a breeze

when i was 16 i was 109 lbs now im down to 130 and im 17.  did it by becoming a vegeterian and then a vegan.  it wroks really. fruits, lots of honey nut cherrios with soymilk, alot of oatmeal, lost of vegetables form chinese store..and the whole foods supermarket...HEAVEN

Hi there, it sounds like we're in (almost) the same position, although I started losing several weeks ago. I'm 20, 5'4, and started out at my heaviest somewhere around 145-147. I'm down to 133 now, but I still want to get down to 125 by the end of the summer (which is a pound a week of weight loss by my initial goals) and possibly lose more if all goes well! I'd love to have a buddy to talk back and forth with if you're interested.

In response to lukycharms78, I'm also doing the vegan thing and having a lot of fun with it! I was a vegetarian for many years, then went back to eating meat, but have been using veganism as a way to really pay attention to what i'm eating and treat my body well for once. Whole Foods is heaven, i totally agree :-)

I'm also 27 and 5'3", currently at 126 trying to get down to 118.  120 would be fine but when I tell myself that I go "pssh, 6lbs, I can do that any old time" and then do nothing.  When it's 8lbs something mentally shifts and I go "ack! I need to lose 8lbs!  I better get off my butt!"

I also HATE exercising.  I walk everywhere, but doing anything beyond that is really an uphill battle for me.  Some of my usual negative excuses: I don't have a gym nearby, I don't have a car, I don't have very much money,  I don't have much space in my house, I don't like the crappy music on aerobics DVDs and I don't feel like I'm doing the moves correctly anyway without a live teacher watching me.

I'm 26 and 5'5. I started in April at 148 and now am at 125-126.  It's taken close to 4 months of very slow (0-2 pounds per week).  I also would like to get to 120.  I was at 118 in college. 

Original Post by todeinotaton:

Question: When you were 145/140lbs did you ever get people telling you that you don't need to lose weight?  People say it to me ALL the time whenever I mention that I'm trying to get back in shape and lose a few.  It makes me furious because I can't tell if they're being nice or what.  Also, it makes me think "oh I can eat these delicious french fries because no one thinks I'm too heavy."  Thing is, I have a pretty small frame and I know I remember feeling much much better about myself when I was 125/120 lbs.
Sigh.

 I know the question wasn't to me, but I do know that when I was 148 everyone I knew, including my husband would tell me I didn't need to lose weight, that I was fine. (Even though I was 118 in college, 110 in high school)  So now I'm wondering if they all *really* thought that, why are they making such a big fuss about my new slimmer size at 126?  Clearly there was a problem and maybe they didn't see it, but they sure seem to notice the change when you are smaller.  And not only do I feel better about the way I look and my energy now that I'm down to a smaller size, but I feel better when I'm shopping, when I'm getting dressed, and certainly when others react so positively to my healthier size.  I'm also small framed, and 20 extra pounds did not sit well on me.

Heyy:)

I am 5'3", and 140 pounds... and I would really like to get down to 120 lbs by the end of this summer... We are so twins:)

I used to be a competitive figure skater, and as soon as I quit, I immediately noticed the weight comming on.

I'd love to have someone to talk back and forth with if you'd like!:)

Best of luck with everything!

Faulknerk that sounds like great progress!

Do you guys think summer is an easier time to lose weight or de-motivating if you don't like how you look in a bathing suit?

Personally, I find that summer is an easier time to lose weight because of the variety of different summer fruits/veggies and other summer cooking options available.  Nothing like firing up the bbq on a hot summer afternoon to grill some salmon and veggies, then have some watermelon and strawberries for dessert.  Yummy!

About the bathing suit issue - I see that you mean, it can be a little disheartening when you've made progress but still are not quite satisfied with how you look in a bathing suit (FYI, this is exactly where I'm at right now!  I'm loving that I've lost the 20lbs, but the bathing suit thing is still not happening haha).  My attitutude about that is just "hey, I'm almost there - imagine next summer, I'll finally look good in a bathing suit again! ha!"

Yeah, I definitely find it easier to lose with the improved food options, longer days to go for walks,  less inclination to curl up in front of the fireplace with a bowl of buttery popcorn after a snowy day.  I find the not-quite-there situation a bit depressing, but not to the extent that it makes me give up or anything.

Sounds like I am on the same boat as you! I am 28 years old and weigh 141 right now and my goal is 120 by my birthday Nov. 18 (or Thanksgiving).  I too hate to exercise but am trying to just to a small bit everyday since it is more than I was doing before!  I have lost 2 pounds in the last week since I started cc and have been eating around 1400-1500 a day.  I stay pretty active chasing after my 3 year old but I think I am going to have to be really careful with the alcohol and such if I am going to meet my goal.  My frequent family get togethers always involve wine or alcohol of some kind.  I am going to try to limit myself to one glass of red wine and budget my calories accordingly.  I wish you the best of luck and look forward to hearing how you are doing.  You can do it!!

Hello iloveiceshow!

 

I was a competitive skater too!  I am a little shorter than you but the same current weight and goal in mind.

I've been on here since March and I am down from 155 :), but lately nothing seems to be working.

Boy can I relate, I have a problem trying to motivate myself.  I have started walking and right after  I feel great.  A sense of accomplishment, I am just trying to keep positive-my husband has been involved in trying to make sure we eat healthier at the house. I noticed if he eats something bad so do I.  So he agreed to start supporting me more and it helps both of us in the end, by support he is going to eat more healthier meals!!

Wow.  Thanks for all the responses.  Are any of you on AOL IM?  If so, message me!  My screenname is todeinotaton.

Another rant: my husband is about 5'6 and weighs 120 soaking wet with all his clothes on!  He's adorable but it's tough weighing 20 lbs more than him!  For once I wanna weigh less so I'm updating my goal weight to 115!  And I don't care how long that takes me!

I'm 26, 5'5 and started out at 131lbs (tho i've been up to 140 in the past). i've been on here about three months now and am down to 121lbs. My goal was 120 but i shifted it to 119 when i realised that was eight and a half stone. i've never been eight and a half stone so i would like to get there! i'll reassess when i reach that but i think i'll be pretty happy at that number and i'm looking forward to maintaining :P

so i've lost ten pounds in about three months (slow and steady wins the race!) by maintaining a 300-500 cal deficit and working out most days (i've dropped the intensity of the working out a bit recently but still walk for about an hour everyday). it wasn't very hard at all (although cutting out the white wine for a while was a little tough!) and i feel great - stronger, healthier, more alert and its great to fit in my clothes!!

so good luck - i'm sure you'll reach your goal no problem!

Heigh-ho, I'm not like you now, but I was 30-odd years ago.  I suppose you could consider me one of your alternate futures if you don't get your eating and exercise habits under control in your youth.  Anyhoo, I'm a nosy type, so I'm asking:  what's your academic field?  What's your dissertation topic?  Whooshi

Hi Whooshi!

Thanks for the "warning," but it looks like you're getting yourself back on track too.  I bet it gets harder to do as you get older but I'm also a firm believer that it's never too late to get healthy!  Good job!

My academic field is Comparative Literature and I am writing a dissertation about madness in 20th century African American literature.  Thanks for asking!