Welcome to the new over 100 to lose club!

Howdy guys and gals!  I'm taking over this club, not because i think i have all the answers (i so know i don't) but because i'm super pumped up right now and motivated to help those people out there who have a lot of weight to lose.  we need a place that's more than a "can i join" place.. we need a place to talk about issues related to being this overweight.. 

Who here needs to lose over 100 pounds? Who needs to lose over 150 pounds? Or more?

I did! I did! And yes.. i did!

A small amount of background on me for those of you who don't know: i am a binge eater. I have had a problem with emotional eating, hidden eating, over eating, eating with a hang nail, eating because i have split ends.. you name it i stuffed my emotions down with the greasiest, nastiest food i could find!

Why did i do that (you might ask)? Because of many many different reasons.. frankly i think it was because this is how i was taught from a young age, this is how we handle stress and emotions. I learned that it's not proper to talk about your feelings.. or god forbid, express your emotions! You have to shove them down with a piece of cake and a smile!

Anyway.. onto the reason for this post.

If you are out there and need to lose a lot of weight.. just like i've got to.. i think we need to have a place where we can discuss these issues with each other and try and work through them together. Because, let's face it, people who are morbidly obese (yes.. i hate that word too) have uniquely different issues to work through and deal with than the average person.

Losing weight, for people who have this much to lose, have to deal with so much more than the formulas to figure out how much to eat.. and exercising. It's more complex than that. We have to deal with years and years of poor eating habits that have to be unlearned, we have to deal with the emotional torment of just being this size, we have to deal with the harsh looks and comments from strangers or from loved ones, we have to deal with our emotions for the first time in our life because we aren't shoving them down our throats anymore..

this is the hardest thing ANYONE has to deal with.. but, from my experience, things are different for us bigguns. :)

also, for those of you who don't know me very well.. (because i've kinda been in hiding and not posting much and there are so many new people out there) i started out in january weighing 324 pounds. I now weigh 232.5.. i have lost 91.5 pounds so far. I am not telling you guys this to get kudos.. i got those yesterday. I'm telling you guys this because i want anyone out there who is struggling with knowing they have, what seems to be, an insurmountable amount of weight to lose, that there is hope.. it IS possible.. you CAN do it.. but it's hard.. and you will hurt.. i know this because i've been there.. i've done it.. and i'm still dealing with it.

so.. come on in and share your stories.. i want to hear them and i want us to support each other until we are all at our goal weight!

YAY!!  if it wouldn't have ruined a great piece of cheese, i would have whapped him with the cheese!  :)  i love string cheese as a snack!  :)

and you're right.. nothing is forbidden!  that's the biggest mistake most "diets" make.. and that's why i'm not "dieting"  :)  nothing is forbidden..

and it really is hard with the media out there telling us one day something is bad and then the next saying it's good.. how does a person decide.. well.. by not eliminating anything.. :) 

you're on the right path.. heck.. we all are! 

here's to health  **raises the calorie free champagne and clinks glasses**  (it can be calorie free cuz i'm in charge!)

Okay, me, me, me......I started a new eating lifestyle on 6/5/2006 and stumbled onto C-C on 6/7/2006.  Been here ever since.  Most on my story is on my profile and 'way too long to type again.  Guess I could cut and paste and, if you insist, I will but would rather you check out the profile and I bring you up to date with where I am now.  For those of you that have read my profile, I put a pic up today.  It is about 1 1/2 years old but the only one I could find.  Paul has lost considerable weight since that pic and I don't think I look that heavy any more either.  Well, I know I don't because today I wear two sizes smaller than I had on that day.  I also, changed my little description as I am no longer 5' in all directions. 

It has not been an easy 7 weeks.  Although I am and have been grossly obese for many years (starting gaining 35 years ago and never stopped until now), my problem is that I didn't eat enough most days.  Skipping meals, eating almost zero fat, very low carb, very low calories.  Well, I am sure you get the picture.  I still have days I just don't get in enough calories (like today).  I just ate an added snack just to get to the minimum for a not work out day.  If you check out my profile, you will see I have lost ALMOST 15#s.  Not quite, but ALMOST.

My reward for the first 10#s lost was a membership to the Y.  I do water aerobics three days a week and tomorrow am going to have a swimming lesson.  I so want to learn to swim so I can swim everyday.  Last week the instructor bailed on me.  This week I have a different instructor scheduled.  If this instructor bails, my water aerobics instructor told me to request her.  I would have requested her in the first place had I known I could.  Anyway, I may not get to work out everyday but I really work hard on the days I do get to go.  The classes are Monday through Thursday, but I have to come straight home from work on Thursdays, so I can't go that day.

When I feel like I am going nowhere (for three weeks in a row yo-yoed 2#s up/2#s down basically stuck), I check out Obs' profile and dream over her pics that someday I will have a collection of pics like her.  She is such an inspiration.  Another person who has kept me going totally is Jules aka united2gether.  I felt such a bond with her from the very beginning and what she has gone through this year is nothing short of a miracle!!  {{{{Hugs to Obs}}}} {{{{Hugs to Jules}}}}.

When I look at your profiles, you are all so much younger and I am so thankful for you that you are doing this now while you are young.  I wish I could have had this wonderful tool of C-C earlier and the motivation to make the changes to get healthier.  When I hit 269 (on a 5' small boned frame) that was it.  I swore I was never going to get to 170.  I mean it.  I don't care what it takes, I am not going there.  So the answer is that, YES, I have over 100#s to lose (139.5 now, I think).  I have been looking for a spot I fit. 

So, Obs, thanks for starting this over 100 club.  Finally found somewhere I fit.

Oh, can't forget.....one more person who has been especially helpful is Claire.  She has helped get my food into better balance.

Everyone has been great and I now have a very long friends list but Jules and Claire were the first two I let into my world.  {{{{Hugs to Claire}}}}

Love you,

Most people seem to be "kinda" new to the site (within 3 months) and I just want to say that I'm proud of all of us!

I agree with the conflicting media information & mis-informed hubbys (mine thinks it's all about sweating - as in wear a plastic bag & run), and I really think this site takes the right approach to eating healthier. They give you *basic* guidelines, not a "can" or "can't" have list. I really really like the listing of activities you can count, too - especially the after-dark-in-the-bed ones!! Sometimes, that's my only movement for the day & I'm glad something I *enjoy* so much is good for me, too!  LOL

I really think the sharing & being involved will help keep me where I need to be mentally.  I've already started logging in when I'm thinking about eating something, and entering all the info & finding out where it'll put me for the day's calories. I was baaaaad healthy-wise with dinner last night, but I stayed a lot under my calories for the day, so it was good!  I was very excited about it!

AND - my husband told me he's proud of me last night.  I'm sitting in front of the computer trying to figure out the serving size of the powdered ice tea we drink, and I just wasn't getting it (posted a question under the Foods Forum) and I was very upset about not being able to log it.  He said he was proud of me for trying so hard and being serious about this whole thing. Yaaay!!!

hiya veevee... i LOVE your new tag line!  :)  made me giggle.. :)

thanks for the kind words too.. and sharing your story!  :)  isn't it nice to have a safe, warm fuzzy place to be able to talk with other people in the same boat?  :)  i love it!  :)

and one thing.. i didn't start the 100 to lose club.. united did.. i hijacked it.. hehe.. i felt like it was getting stagnent.. so i wanted to kick it up a notch (i watch too much emril.. hehe)  :) 

BAM!

That was you and Emeril kicking it up a notch! ;)

Hi, I would like to join this group. Reading your stories is giving me the courage to share my own:

I have been overweight most of my life with a series of ups and downs that make a roller coaster look like a baby buggy ride. I am currently at 210 (last time I weighed at home) with the need to lose approx 60-100 lbs. I half-a**ed started trying to lose some weight last year and actually lost about 30 lbs only to add about 19 more back on. At 50, I'm not sure I'll ever be a skinny minny at 105-110, but really just want to be more fit and healthy.

I recently had a sciatic nerve injury so am very motivated by the memory of the pain. I found this site while looking for a calorie counter and have been lurking for a couple of weeks now finding a lot of great people and information to help me with my goal. I have the hardest time with staying motivated and am coming to realize what a foodaholic I really am.

My husband is always telling me it is just a matter of will power but I never seem to find any of that kind of power. If the food is around, I'm going to eat it no matter how many times I tell myself that this time will be different. I am learning not to keep things around that will tempt me to be bad and to keep things in stock that are more healthy for me to indulge in. I am also trying to do this while living in hotels as we are on the road most of the time.

In tune with the being more fit and healthy, I am also getting ready to quit smoking after a 35 year habit. I think it is just time to begin the second half of my life being the person that I am meant to be, not the one that is crippled and being held back by my poor choices.

 Shew........that was a mouthful! Anyway, I'm ready to kick it up a notch so can I join this safe warm fuzzy place? I'm really good with a bucket if the boat gets a hole in it:)

Well, as it turns out, I have an overabundance of motivation and will-power today, so feel free to borrow mine!

Don't worry about being a skinny minny, or being about 105 (how tall are you?), but work on being healthy. Eating healthy, living healthy.

Name me one thing you can do, today, and for the next 21 days, that can make you healthier? One thing only.

Thanks! (leaning on that motivation and will power today!)

I'm 4'11 1/2" (don't you love how short people always add those 1/2 and 3/4" on.........

Working on that healthy part-the one thing I know I can do is walk.....

Started this week walking Max (my 5lb yorkie) for 15-20 minutes a day. 

Then my suggestion, alabama.. is to ramp up. :)

The problem with walking the yorkie is yorkies stop :)

So... starting Monday, here's my suggestion :)
First week: Walk 4 days for 15 minutes.
Second Week: Walks 5 days for 20 minutes
Third Week: Walk 4 days for 25 minutes, and then a fifth day.. try to walk for half an hour! :D

Care to give that a try? :)

Hi Alabama!  Welcome aboard!  :) 

This thread and group of people are fantastic--supportive, safe, and motivated.  We've all struggled, and still do sometimes.  Don't worry if your willpower is puny right now--you want this, and I promise it will get stronger as you go.  In fact, I've found I actually (weird, I know) am liking my healthier ways of eating and exercise more and more, so they feel less restricting and I'm less likely to go searching for some of that will power.  You'll see!  Just hang in there!

Hk's plan is a good one!  If you can't do 4 days, do 3.  Just do something more than you did before and try to do it regularly so it becomes habit.  20-minute walks almost killed me a couple of months ago.  Two nights ago I went an hour and could've gone longer.  My pace is slow, but who cares!??  It's working!  As of today, I've lost 44 pounds, and I was an avowed bad eater and couch potato 3 months ago. :D

I'd suggest you could add 10-20 wall pushups (see the thread about these for directions) a day for a week, then up by 5 the following week, etc.  In no time at all, you'll be addicted to them like I am!  LOL!

Anyhow, thanks for sharing your story and for joining us! :)

Welcome Alabama, thanks for sharing!

It's a very good idea to increase your walking a lil at a time. When it gets too easy, you know you gotta do a lil more. It really DOES get easier!

My husband tells me it's all about will power too. I told him HE'S my will power! When I ask for a bag of chips, just tell me no! Heh, he's never been very good at doing that though :) Now-a-days my will power may not be great, but it IS getting better :)

hey alabama!  :)  welcome.:)

Oh boy........isn't that funny-I feel like I'm getting ready to go on the down portion of that roller coaster ride.......

Yes, I can give this a try-I started on Wednesday walking for 15 minutes AFTER the Max stop:)-he has short legs like I do, but is only 5 months, so has a lot of energy and loves to be outside for any reason.  We've been working on the leash training, so he will walk with me and keep up.

Sooooo, 15 minutes a day x4.....time to walk before it gets too hot here (currently in South Tx).

Thanks!

Hey, Alabama, welcome.  I finally found someone shorter than me!  I'm 5' and don't know very many people shorter (even 1/2 an inch).

I do water aerobics 'cause, with two knees that need replacing, I can't do anything else.  They are helping.  It is hard to find a place for water aerobics and I think that is sad.  Most Y's offer water aerobics.

Hang in there.  Together we will make it.

veevee- i hope you don't mind.. i added you to my friends list.. :)

Thanks to all for the warm welcome and the great suggestions. 

Obs-thanks for starting a great thread and sharing your experiences and pictures-wow, what a motiviation! 

HK-did my 15 minute walk with Max for the 3rd day in a row. 

Writestuff, found the link for the wall push-ups and just completed 10 of those-that was good. 

Garnet77-I swear, is that my husband handing you those chips:)  Mine goes to DQ and brings back blizzards for a treat......

veevee-hi there from one short girl to another-don't you just love it when people use your head for an arm rest?  I just did a water aerobics when I visited my sister last month and loved it.

Anyway, thanks all for helping get a great start on the day!

ps can I add you all to my friends list?

You're doing great, Alabama!!  Whoo hoo!  Keep it up!  You'll drop those pounds in no time. :)

I like your "travels in trucks with boys" sign; that's so cute! 

Do you have a plan for eating yet?  If so, would you share it?? I love hearing about how other people are eating healthier, and it is interesting to see what foods they've thought of that I haven't.  If not, and you want some help with a plan or just some ideas, just let us know and we'll be happy (this group loves to talk!) to give you some friendly suggestions.

Also, would you mind if I added you to my list as a friend? 

Obs, you made my day adding me to your friends list!  Thanks.

veevee- aww.. :) 

alabama- i just added you too.. :)

alabama, I'm usually in the car with my husband when he goes to DQ! I can't resist but more times than not I either have the cals or get the sugar free orange vanilla bar, yum!

oh, and yes, feel free to add me :)  *adds alabama to her own friends list*