Girls in their 20's who want to lose about 100 pounds

Hi, my name is Suzanne and I am 23 years old. I weigh 258.3 pounds(yikes) and would really like to get down to between 140 and 150. I was wondering if there was anyone else out there in their 20's who has about that much they want to lose. We could work together and stay motivated to reach our goals!!! Also, if there is anyone in their 20's who has lost that much and wants to share their success story, I would love to hear it! Thanks!

Welcome to all the new members! This women here are great support and a constant source of motivation--very nice to have you join us :)

Dalma, safa, ally, pink: thanks for the gym encouragement! I've decided to hold off a little longer on returning in order to fully heal (it's at the point where any pressure on the wound hurts sooo much, and I envision getting it with a weight or something and just bawling).

Mladdy, if you're interested, we could do a "virtual gym buddy" thing: I plan on returning a little later this week, and I am intimidated as heck, so we are definitely in the same boat!

Fallon, congratulations on getting the job! I heard that Starbucks really knows how to treat its employees (full benefits, etc). Enjoy it!

So...guess who saw the scale move? I don't know why, but on Thursday I ate like 1500 kcal, and yesterday (my "off" day) I had like 2500 kcal, and yet today when I weighed myself (I know, I was supposed to wait until next week) I saw 2 pounds gone! And this is BEFORE I get my period! I know that I am getting a lot more exercise than I log--walking an hour or so a day to get to class, living on the third floor, etc.--could it be that I am really meant to eat more than 1200? I had been adhering to it so well and not seeing any progress...I'm going to try to follow what CC recommends for me (1450) and see if this magical story continues!

Hi Ladies,

   My name is Bianca and I am 28 years young. I currently weigh 224.5 and I am 5'7". I want to get to around 150, just like you guys. In the last 5 days I have lost 5 lbs. WooHoo! I was reading all of your posts today and you all are so supportive. I know I don't have over 100 to lose, but 75 is pretty close and I would like to join you guys.

   A  little about me: I am a finance manager at car dealership in CA so I spend a lot of time sitting on my well cushioned butt in my office. It is about 99% men here so the nutrition factor in our food we get is low and the calorie count is high. I have worked here for 4 years and have gained 60 lbs while doing it. I am not blaming them, but I know my decisions to enjoy the pizza and burgers and stuff lead to the weight gain. I am a vegetarian now(for a year and 4 months), so it makes my decisions easier. Recently I have been bringing my food for the day to work and it has helped a lot. I try to eat between 1250-1400 calories a day. I know it seems low, but I do not exert a lot of energy and after a 12 hour day I do not go to the gym. I know I need to exercise and I am going to incorporate that soon and increase my calorie intake a little when I do.

    Thats my story and I am sticking to it. Hopefully you guys will accept me! Thanks and keep up the great work!

Hi! Its Bianca again. I know my first post was today, but I forgot to include how I am motivating myself. For every pound I lose I put $5 into an envelope. When I get down to my goal weight I should have $400 to go out and buy myself a new outfit for work and one for play. You can doit with any denomination of money and I feel great every time I add another $5. I also tally my weight loss on the envelope.

welcome manic and bzb!

watchme:  I'm sorry life is sucky right now.  Doesn't it always seem that when it rains, it pours?  I mean it would be easy for you to deal with one or two things at the same time, but all at once is so frustrating!  Know that I'm thinking about you and sending good vibes and prayers your way.  And don't worry about being an Eeyore... that's what we're here for right?  To pick each other up when we're feeling low?  And hey, 5 pounds a month is still awesome!  I've been on my damn plateau for awhile now and would kill for 5 pounds!

hilwe: congrats on the 2 pounds!!!!

feddie: I'm yo-yoing on my plateau... I'm sitting between 181-185... up and down, up and down.  bleh.  I feel your pain!  Let's bust out of these plateaus together!!

boots: I can't eat like my hubby either.  But he does go to the gym with me when he's home, yay!  He helps me with strength training, which is great, b/c I have no clue what to do on my own.

I'm feeling better today, although still fairly crappy.  I slept till 11am and then i got up and stretched for about 40 min.  That felt good.  I still feel exhausted though and am about to watch a movie or something and doze on the couch.  I'm going to lay low all wkend in hopes that I can make it to the group classes on Monday.  Hope you're all having a good day!

hello all you beautiful ladies!

I've been lounging around all morning reading a book--taking it easy. I made my 6 hour a week exercise goal yesterday and today is a rainy day so like pink, I'm just lounging around reading and fixing to watch a movie with hubby, not too much exciting things going on!

And as for the scale, yup it used to fluctuate for me but I fixed that--feddie I only allow myself to step on the scale once a month because then it doesn't fluctuate and I couldn't take it anymore--it made me sad, mad, angry, depressed when I used to step on the scale everyday or once a week so I just stopped--so all I do now is let my trainer weigh me once a month and that's the number I take--it's still hard because I still find myself obsessing a little over the number but it does help a lot---And it's just normal to fluctuate rather it's your period, salt holding on, because of a new exercise routine and millions of other things---I encourage everyone to step on the scale a little bit less and I also encourage you all to take your measurements--that way when the scale doesn't go down you have another number to go by!

wow watchme: you are going through a lot! lovely lady, first thing I want you to do is take care of yourself, I hope you are getting the rest that you need this weekend--even if you can't sleep at night, I hope you are taking naps--next I think that if the elliptical thing was working out for you, then you should do it more but also are you still enjoying dance? I'm a big advocate for if you are enjoying a certain exercise then stick with it! Next, I just want you to know you are in my thoughts and I will pray that everything works out for you--I don't understand what you are going through because we all go through life in different ways but I do want you to know that you don't have to go through this alone that even though I am far away from Chicago, I have the computer to use all the time--so I'm here and the gang is here, we all care about you so please take care of yourself!

Welcome mancivi and bzb

Congrats Hilwe! On the 2 pound weight loss you must be so happy! I agree maybe you should try the higher calories for a couple more weeks just to see how it works out and how you feel...

Pink: get all your rest in, sleep sleep sleep, take care of yourself girl

And a big shout out to all the lurkers and to everyone else that belongs to this group, hope you are having a good r&r weekend!

Hi everyone I would LOVE to join your group if Im welcome! I am 21 years old and 222 lbs. I started at 237 pounds about a month ago so I am doing pretty good. I have hit a little bit of a plateau though. I hit 222 a little over a week ago and am up and down between 222 and 224. I want to get down to around 130-135. I was 140 a year ago. I had an extremely complicated pregnancy that put me on strict bedrest. I had to drink 3 protein shakes a day and eat high fat foods to put weight on my lil one. And at birth she was still only 3 lbs. I wouldnt change a thing though. I just need to work hard to lose the weight again!

hey dudettes. thanx for all of your prayers. i  am still stoked about the starbucks job. i went to visit my grandparents and granps told granny to clean the cabnet and give us food. yea!!!(he's got  alzhiemers and today was a good day. thank god) anywho.  than we went to my aunts and for some reason she did the same thing. we got chicken, tuna, breakfast drinks, and alot of junk food for my mom and he bf.  plus my uncle went to kellys and got a baked potato with bar-b-que and left me a decent amount.  that probably isnt the healthiest thing to eat, but its i love it. i could probably live off of that and it was good. sorry havent had time to read everybody else's. hopefully i will have time tom. me and my dog are going t o the park again. gotta get rid of some of the potato. thanx guys  

Hey guys! I suppose I'd be a success story in that I've already lost over 100 pounds, but I'm still not finished. I started off at 325 pounds, and am now at 201 pounds after 88 weeks. My goal weight is 135-145lbs. (I'm 5'9") That's about an average of 1.4 pounds per week so far. It's not easy either. Some weeks it would just fall off me. Other weeks, it would just stubbornly sit on me. What I find helps during the latter is reminding myself that the calorie-restriction, nutrition-watching, exercise, and weight training isn't temporary so getting worked up about the scale not budging won't do much. Sometimes I manage to break the plateaus, sometimes I ride them out. I'd like to be thin for the holidays this year but, if not, that's fine too. It'll happen, and I know it will, because I'm sticking with it and will not go back.

Fallon great job exercising--your doing amazing! I wish I had a dog to go with me! I wish I could rent a dog for an afternoon---nice to have a buddy to go on a walk with but I guess I do have my husband--lol but I think I would like a dog

slaina, your story is so awesome, and encouraging. welcome to you and all the other new girls.

i went to the kite festival/cherry blossom festival in dc today. it was fun, though most everybody bailed except for one girl, and she invited a damn date! so it's them and me. god, it always feels like i'm the third wheel. i was NOT born to play the sidekick, dammit! so i interacted with the guy like there was no date, like it was just 3 friends hanging. though i did give them private time when they were saying goodbye, or looked like they just wanted to be together. that she didn't tell me he was coming hurt bc it felt like i didn't belong there, when i did.

then afterwards the girl and i went to another friend's house for a games/movies night. so fun! there were like 15 people there. and some guy brought a friend with him, a really nice guy i was hitting it off with. i mean, really well. we kind of fell in step with each other, it just felt comfortable. and he was cute! then i get up for a drink, come back, and he's making out with some random chick! i tried really hard not to let the embarrassment show on my face, b/c everybody saw how well he and i were getting along. i kept telling myself, if he's out for a quick score then nothing was meant to happen with this guy. but i just felt dumb, and uncomfortable.

then i get in the house, like 10 minutes ago, and i'm just sad. and when i'm sad i have to sing. so as i'm typing this i'm singing this song, which i love:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uIeyfM-6QTg&am p;feature=related

as soon as i started typing this, though, i realized i wasn't sad about mr. makeout. i was sad b/c of both situations today. how it just seems that i'm always the odd one out, and it's not necessarily about my weight, or my personality, i don't know what it is, but i have involuntarily been the third wheel more times than i'd like to count, and it seriously pisses me off. i'm worth more than that. i'm worth everything, but sometimes it feels like i'm the only person who can see that.

oh my god, i'm actually crying right now, i can't believe this. but i'll be okay. once i listen to my song a few more times, sing along a little more, then wake up later this morning i should be okay. i'm going gown shopping with my mom tomorrow, and i'm sure this'll be gone by then.

hey dalma,

i feel the same way as you do all the time.  most of my friends are married or engaged so i am often feeling like the 3rd wheel.  sometimes, i'll invite my female friends to hang out and they bring along their husbands without even mentioning it.  that's just the way things seem to go at our age. 

as for the dude:  i keep having to remind myself of this personally too, though it's hard to find comforting -- when we are ready to meet "the guy" we are supposed to end up with, it will happen.  think rumi: 

The minute I heard my first love story,
I started looking for you, not knowing how blind that was.
Lovers don't finally meet somewhere.
They're in each other all along.

(i'm kind of a cheeseball, romantic sort and really do believe in true love and magic and soul mates )

that guy is a fool for passing you up for a quick lay.  clearly, you are outta his league.  just focus on yourself and forget about him.  i know that's hard to do but maybe this will help (it's what i keep focusing on and PICTURING):  you are probably already turning heads cuz you are so awesome BUT when you are turning even more heads, six months from now, and a couple more sizes down, think how much he is going to REGRET having missed out on an opportunity to be with you!!!  you will basically get to snap your finger at whatever guy you want in the whole line!!!!!

xoxo

 

i agree-the boy doesn't know what a great girl he missed out on --he should be crying not you! (((HUG))))

dalmalama- What a turn of events you had yesterday.  Your experiences would have made anybody a bit blue.  I do hope that you had fun in spite of being the "3rd wheel" at the kite/cherry fest.  Maybe you should share with your friend how uncool you thought it was for her to bring a date so that it doesn't happen again next time?  As for Mr. Make-out, he only wants one thing, and girl you have WAAAAY more going for you than just that one.  The only one that will be regretting anything is his man-whore butt and the chick that went along with the bad idea.  You're much better off for not getting together with him.  I hope find a dress that makes you feel gorgeous today and that your mom showers you with love and affection.

Welcome to all who are new.  Thanks for sharing your stories.  Experiencing this together is what is going to see us through to our end goals!

i tried on the size 20s guys... and boy, do i have a long way to go.  they will NOT button (there a good 4 inches apart from buttoning!)  so discouraging.  i figured since my size 22s were so comfortable and baggy, that meant that my size 20s might be a tight squeeze.  it's funny though, they look and fit really well from the legs, unlike the size 22s.  but the midsection buttoning area -- horrible.  i guess that's my biggest problem.  i carry the most weight in my mid-section. 

spent an hour on the elliptical today, burnd 750 calories.  it's about 3 pm now so i am going to run out and get groceries (maybe some berries and stuff too!) should probably exercise again today or swim or something.... i'm under for my "28 hours of exercise" in march goal... after weights tonight and exercise tomorrow probably only by 2 hours but still.  oh well!

Picking it back up at 980. I am determined to get completely caught up because I have a way busy week coming up.

Feddie: I love love love your prom dress idea. That's so cute! You will look great in it! I am so with you on the up down up down up down! I also agree that it should be push ups instead of the scale! I am the same way...gung ho for a few days, slightly slacked for a few days, then up down up down! We have to get through this! We can do it!

watchmeshine: I think losing weight is always a roller coaster of emotions. It's depressing, exciting, time consuming, all consuming! Don't feel so overwhelmed, I hope you are doing better. Don't forget that the elliptical and all those other machines are just an estimate of your actual calories burned, unless you are putting your age height and weight into the machine. So you may be burning more than the machine says you are! I had a free month to curves before my wedding. The actual workout was ok, but the lady who hosted it was so mean. Instead of saying things like "you can do this" she would say "work out here, but your workouts don't matter if you are still going to eat like pigs." Or "skinny people don't get that way by going so slow they are going backwards" She was a real idiot, so I never went back to curves. Thanks for the prize on longest post! Thank you for the article on daily weighing, I am obsessive compulsive about checking the scale, and do it every day, sometimes more than once! That article helps! What new movies did you buy? The 20's will fit! Give it time!

dalmalama: I hope you have a great hike! I hope you find a cardio class that is better fitted to your capabilities! Once I was taking a step class, and I fell over the step sooo many times, the instructor told me to just pretend I had a step in front of me and she took mine away! Lol. It's funny now, but it was terrible then. I hope you had a great time in dc, and on movies and games night! Dalma, morton makes a salt substitute that is pretty good in a pinch. I absolutely love salt, and one of the things I did when I started this was quit added salt completly. I usually try to cook with the salt substitute when a recipe calls for salt. I know you don't cook, but the substitute salt is stiill pretty good! The love of your life, him or someone else, will love you no matter how close you are to your goal. I believe everything happens for a reason. Just have faith in yourself! You are smart, hardworking, and although you are not your ideal weight now, you will be, and any guy you meet will see how hard you are working for your goals! As for your friends, them moving is no reason you have to lose touch. Plus you will make new friends as time goes on too! Don't beat yourself up for eating bad once in a blue moon. Even the skinny people do that sometimes. Just work out a little harder! You will be fine! I am sorry you ended up being the third wheel. You should talk to your friend, and let her know how you felt! Boo to the maker outer! You deserve better! Don't cry dalma! Come to PA! We will have a shopping girls day!

sroscoe: I like your friends theory!

allydan: I am like you, somedays it's like I can't do this, and some days it's watch out world! I hope the guy comes to his senses and makes time for you soon! Did you get your full length mirror? I wish I had one. I usually go outside, and check out how my outfit works in the reflection of my glass door! I have a mirror that shows up to my hips, but I like to see how my shoes work with everything else!

fantasyflight: Yay for losing your first 5.2 pounds! Hooray! Keep it up!

hilwe85: I hope your pain from falling down the stairs has eased! I too am taking forever to see results. It's like my body is like NO! It's MINE! I won't throw it away! when it thinks about the fat I carry around. My husband won't go to the gym with me because he feels like all the bulked up guys are looking at him like why are you here. When I used to go, I just ignored everyone else. Also, one of my friends is like 110 pounds. However, if we go shopping or something and have a lot of walking to do, she huffs and puffs, while I am fine. She doesn't smoke or anything, she just isn't at all fit. Skinny doesn't mean fit, so don't let them intimidate you!

pinkcobra: I think all of you girls are the encouragement! Ooh, I really hope you are feeling better! It's awful to be sick to your stomach! I will send you some cyber chicken noodle soup!

bootser: I agree that the guidelines are sometimes ridiculous. I am sorry, but I would not look right at 125 pounds. I would look like skin and bones, with no curves, butt or chest. No, the guidelines don't really work for me. Yay for your hubby turning into your own personal trainer! I too gained a few pounds by eating like my husband. And my mom. And my brother. And my step dad. I always feel like I should be eating the same thing as whoever I am with. I have really tried to stop that! Awesome that your hubby went to spin class with you! I love potato pancakes, and am so jealous that you had some!

scarter1: Hi welcome to our group, we are always up to having fresh ideas in our posts! Weight loss seems to tie into everything I do as well. I am obsessive by nature though, so this just adds something for me to obsess over. I hope we can help you find your motivation! You can do this! Good luck! I am lglad your reflections had you heading for the gym! See you have motivation in you yet!

mladdy: I too read everyday, even if it takes forever for me too reply! Usually I read while I am at work, but it's hard for me to reply there, because as soon as I start typing, I get busy. I love grilled food too! Grilled food is the absolute best! Yay for your amazing workout!

manicviolinist: Hi, welcome to our group and congratulations on your loss of 11 pounds! Good LUCK!

Bianca: Hi, welcome to our group! Out of curiosity, what size are you in right now? I am 5'7 too, and I think I was in 16's at that weight, but I don't remember. You are welcome to join us! I like your motivation idea!

lovemym_m: Hi, of course you are welcome! Wow for losing 15 pounds already! Great for you! I hope your baby is currently healthy! Good luck!

slainna: You are welcome to stick out the remainder of your journey with us! It is so inspiring that you have lost so much already! Good luck on the rest!

Ok, going to go play some basketball with my hubby and our friend kooch! I suck at basketball sooo much, but it should be fun!

thanks for the motivation, suzanne!  i'm frustrated because i'm fitting into size 14/16 shirts at lane bryant (and not just cotton, stretchy t-shirt kinds but even the fitted kinds) and yet i'm still in size 22s on bottom.  i feel lopsided! 

it's especially a pain for dresses.  either i can get a dress that is fitted properly on top but then look pregnant from the bottom OR i can get a dress that is looser around the stomach area but then is completely baggy on top.  i guess i'm going to be wearing a lot of skirts for a while yet.

on a brighter note, i found these delicious double chocolate chip muffins called vitamuffins at the grocery store today.  the muffins are kind of small but good!  1 muffin is only 100 calories, 1.5 g of fat, 21 g of carbs, 6g of fiber and 3g of protein.  they actually taste pretty good too!  since i like muffins/cake over pretty much any other kind of dessert, they are fabulous.  now i DEFINITELY won't care about skipping dessert at restaurants ever.  i've found such great low calorie, low fat substitutes!

I ran yesterday for the first time in probably 3 years!  It wasn't for very long, but I did it.  I did some interval training on the tread mill after my workout, so I ran for a minute walked for 3 and I did this three times, so I officially ran for three minutes!!!  And today I went to my second spinning class ever, it was really fun (now that I have the shorts and my butt didn't hurt so bad).  My eating today was pretty good, but I did have some ice cream this after noon (I think I am going to have to ask the hubby to not buy it any more for a while) so for dinner I am going to have a grilled chicken breast and some salad (the hubby is in the kitchen making it as I type - he really is a pretty good guy).  I went to CostCo yesterday and picked up all kinds of really good food.  Lots of fresh fruits and vegetables, a big thing of mangoes (which I have become addicted to lately, they are so good), some really good fresh meats, all kinds of organics and yummy good food.  SO I am all stocked up again, so I shouldn't be having food issues.  I feel pretty good about my progress this weekend.  I even went to a soccar game (we got to see David Beckham play live it was awesome) and I only had one lite beer and a pretzel.  Well, dinner is ready. 

Original Post by watchmeshine82:

on a brighter note, i found these delicious double chocolate chip muffins called vitamuffins at the grocery store today.  the muffins are kind of small but good!  1 muffin is only 100 calories, 1.5 g of fat, 21 g of carbs, 6g of fiber and 3g of protein.  they actually taste pretty good too!  since i like muffins/cake over pretty much any other kind of dessert, they are fabulous.  now i DEFINITELY won't care about skipping dessert at restaurants ever.  i've found such great low calorie, low fat substitutes!

I LOVE vitamuffins!  I order them online (vitalicious.com) and stick them in the freezer.  You can often find coupons and such for them on hungrygirl.com- another fave site of mine!  I love the chocolate flavors, but not the peanut butter chocolate... and the bran ones aren't my favorite either.  They just taste like I'm eating cardboard... at least to me.  

Quick update, I've lost 6.6 lbs total so far, but I don't think I'm gonna do that great this week since I'm starting the week wayy over my cal limit (mom's birthday cake lol) and developing a major head cold that will likely decrease my desire to exercise.

thanks for all the kind words, ladies. you're all awesome! like i said, i feel much better now. my mom and i went gown shopping, which has gotten way better since i've lost some weight. the dresses were okay, but nothing felt like an "it" dress. my mother volunteered to make my gown, so i said okay since she wouldn't take no for an answer. it's not gonna be my dream dress, but at least it will fit me exactly. i'll post a picture after the event next month so you guys can see the results.

have a nice rest of the weekend, and talk to you guys tomorrow!