I'll be 43 this June anyone around the same age want to join my weight loss quest?

Greetings!

I am hoping that this site I stumbled on will help me out. I have been on a diet or fighting with food my entire life. About 8 years ago I lost about 100 pounds, my lowest weight was 204 then I had my first child at 40. Now I am 220 and he'll be three this June. The only good news is that I do not weight 300 + pounds anymore having said that - No excuses, my food addiction problem has been out of control now since his birth. I try - and try - and try - and still nothing seems to be working. Maybe I can find a friend here who will help give me the strength I need to be healthy. I need to stay alive for my family.

Wow folks...sounds like a crazy week for everyone. Hopefully all is well. Sorry to hear about the accident Alicia. Hopefully he is doing well. Cycling is a dangerous sport for sure.

Things are fine on my end. Been really busy and my birthday is coming up soon. Planning a weekend getaway, but not sure where. Right now I am thinking either DC or maybe Milwaukee to visit the Harley Davidson museum.

Other than that, things are fine on the weight side. I am up or down the same pound or two for the past two weeks. Still riding my butt off...literally.

Cynthia - 189.2 - down 3.2

Kathryn - 210.5 ~ Down 1

Terry - 191 same

Alicia, so sorry to hear about the accident. Make sure to let us know how his recovery is going. Very scary stuff, your family is in my prayers.

Glad to hear that everyone is still fighting the good fight. I am still in a stall here, I am really trying to shake up my diet and exercise routine to try to break this cycle. I was happy that I had to buy some new pants and I was very comfortable in an 8. The first 30 or so lbs were alot easier than these last 20 (or so). I was reading the comments about "seeing" yourself one way and others seeing something else. That is why I have a horrible time getting my picture taken, I see fat! I have noticed that I look less fat now in pictures than I did, but I still see too much FAT. I don't know that I will ever get comfortable in my own skin.

I am working more with some light weights to try to tone some, I am hopeful that this will ease some of that "I see fat" when I look at myself. Good luck on the weigh in everyone, I almost hate to waste the time at this point...months at the same weight...I am in the twilight zone!

Hey Sandy…good to hear from you and sorry things are frustrating. Have you gone back and re-evaluated yourself since you have lost? The amount of calories you can have in a day will decrease as you drop. 30+lbs is significant and you may need to adjust your intake to reflect being smaller.

You may also just need a break. I lost like 40lbs through May of 08. After 4-5 months, I was totally frustrated and burned out, so I decided to take time off for my mental health. After a few months, I was recharged and ready to attack it again. Just be very careful to not undo what you have accomplished to this point. Try to set a goal of maintaining for a month or two and see how you feel. Stay in the habit of weighing in and just keep an eye on things. I am sure you look great, so enjoy what you have accomplished for a while…then finish it when you are motivated and ready to go.

Sandy, sorry to hear that you're so frustrated.  I know exactly what you mean, though, when I look at my weight chart it looks like a zig-zag around the same 5lbs.  Hopefully the weights will help; don't be afraid to lift heavier weights, because it takes a LOT of work and a specific diet for a woman to look over-muscled.  A really good book that a friend of mine recommends is "New Rules of Lifting for Women"; she looks healthy but you can't see muscle lines or anything.  I've read it but I haven't done the workouts yet.

I've lost almost all of what I gained on that weekend a couple of weeks ago, yay!  I've been good except for a piece of chocolate cake Wed. night, but I need a treat once in a while or I'd go crazy.  My sweet tooth is my big failing.

Cynthia - 186.8 - down 2.4

It's been a decent week, and I lost one pound...so no complaints from me.  I only need 1/2 pound more to reach the 30 pound mark.  Yay!  Hope everyone had a great weekend!

Cynthia - 186.8 - down 2.4

Kathryn - 209.5 ~ Down 1

Still staying right at 191…was up to 192 on Tues, then 190 yesterday and back to 191 today. I have been really busy and didn’t ride much this week, but I should be able to make up for it this weekend.

Cynthia - 186.8 - down 2.4

Kathryn - 209.5 ~ Down 1

Terry - 191...no change

Hello everyone.............

Well it has been a crazy few weeks and I think its just the beginning.

My husband really did a number on himself. He has brain injury from the fall. His memory is somewhat better for the most part. Depending on the day I guess. His vision is really out of wack. He has what doctors call "cranial nerve IV palsey." Not sure what it means, but I think it might have to do with pinched nerve or something. They had to replace his right elbow.  He will be out of work for quite sometime. I get frustrated because he repeats things alot not knowing he has said it already.  He can not be left alone. Financially things will be tight for us with him not working and me missing some work to be home with him, but we will make it through somehow.

Anyway, with all the stress and lack of exercise, I have put on a few pounds. I just can't get to the gym right now.

Thank you everyone for your prayers.........

Alicia ~247~

Cynthia - 186.8 - down 2.4

Kathryn - 209.5 ~ Down 1

Terry - 191...no change

Frustration - okay...going to take some space here and vent. I am really not very motivated. Yesterday morning, I got up around 4am to take my wife to the airport. There wasn't really enough time to head home and go back to bed, so I stopped and had a bagel for breakfast and came into work. My son called and wanted to do a bike ride after work. Now, I haven't been feeling all that motivated, so I reluctantly decided that I would go. We get to the trail right after it had been raining. It was really strange, but it was kind of chilly yesterday evening. Anyway, the trail is wet, so that means more friction and harder riding...not to mention grit and waterspray from the tires. As we are riding on the trail by the marsh, we are getting eated alive by bugs....and to make matters worse, I am having knee issues and my right knee is killing me..of course, I am dog tired from being up since 4am. So we finally get our 15 miles in. I am wet and nasty from road spray, I have a bazillion bug bites, my knee is killing me and I am tired...did I mention that I wasn't real motivated from the beginning. Anyway, then my younger son has a hockey game at 9:30p in Cincinnati. The game is finally over at 11:30p and after the drive home, I finally get in bed a little before 1am. Anyone knows what happens when you are up for 20+ hours? You oversleep the next morning...So, I am supposed to have an "off" day from riding tonight per my schedule, but it is supposed to rain tomorrow and I have plans Thursday...that means I can either ride tonight (ugh!) or I can wait until Friday. The problem with waiting is that I am doing two charity rides this weekend. 25 miles on Saturday morning and 50K on Sunday. I don't want to ride Friday, Saturday and Sunday...so, I guess I am riding tonight...talk about lack of motivation? Sheesh.

As a side note...when I was losing, I was always having people tell me how great I look, how they are impressed and most importantly, I LOVED the way it felt to get smaller, drop sizes, and see the transformation. Major motivation to watch the scale drop. So now, I am honestly where I want to be size-wise. I have pretty much been here for a couple of months. The problem is that it is starting to lose that "newness". I mean don't get me wrong, I am VERY thankful that I was able to lose almost 90lbs and I am happy with where I am, but it was almost two years ago that I started. I am finding that the motivation to work hard and stick with a healthy diet are tougher when you aren't seeing results like you see when you are losing. I guess there isn't as much "reward" when you are maintaining as compared to when you are losing.

I think I need a new goal...something to work towards. I am almost at 1000 miles on my bike. I am at roughly 875, so I should be there sometime in early August. I'll probably add 500 and shoot for 1500 total before cold weather, but that isn't working in regards to motivation. I think I need a challenge that ties into fitness and being healthy...

Anyway, thanks for letting me whine. Just typing it made me feel better!

I think we all lose our motivation from time to time.  Maybe you just need to shake it up a little...maybe add in some weight training or a Karate class or something.  Just do something totally different, and make mastering it your new goal.  Good luck!

I understand completely about the motivation.  I've been hovering around the same five pounds for months.  What keeps me going is the 5k race in the spring, and the Terry Fox cancer run in the fall (coming up in September).  I know I have to be in shape for them, or I'll disappoint not only myself but the people who pledged their support.

Is there a charity fund raiser or race that you could compete in to see how you do?  I find it very satisfying to compare my times from one year to the next and see how far I've come.

Another suggestion might be to try triathlons.  They have some really short ones for beginners, depending on where you are.  I'm a terrible swimmer so I haven't done that yet, but it's something I've considered.

Hey guys…happy Friday. It has been a long week! I took the rest of the week off from riding after feeling like crap earlier in the week. Big weekend riding plans. 25 miles tomorrow and hopefully 60 on Sunday.

Everything is going well…did manage to drop a pound. The scale has been up or down a pound for the last month, so probably just standard fluctuation.

Anyway, hope all is well!

Terry – 190 – down 1

And it's Friday again!  I've had a pretty good week, with the training program continuing.  I worked out on the elliptical last night, because it was raining, and I've been eating well.

Hope everyone had a good week!

Terry – 190 – down 1

Cynthia - 186.2 - down 0.6

It's been an OK week.  I've been eating well but kind of slacking on the exercise while I've been fighting a bug.  Scale was up .05 pound on Wednesday when I officially weighed in, but it's gone again, now.  Eh.

Terry – 190 – down 1

Cynthia - 186.2 - down 0.6

Kathryn - 210 ~ + .05

Wow…I had fries at lunch…It is the first time I have had fries in over 10 months. It was an impulse thing…I was in the mood for them, so I ordered them. Funny thing is that they didn’t taste all that great. Oh well….I’ll put in a few extra miles tomorrow I guess.

Terry – 190 – down 1

Cynthia - 186.2 - down 0.6

Kathryn - 210 ~ + .05

Sandy 150 (up 1)

Sorry I am late posting, been a busy weekend & upcoming week. We have parties every weekend for the next month (lots of birthdays & anniversaries). I had a little piece of cake (our youngest granddaughter turned one, had to celebrate). I had some fries last week also, shared an order of fresh cuts fries at a local deli....they were still as good as I remembered....I had to share or I would have eaten them all. I have been much better at food choices, I don't have fries (once a month maybe, if I share), I haven't had any soda (pop) in about a year now and I have been avoiding sweets (sugar addict).

I have been feeling better since making all these changes, I just wish that I could get the scale to move again. Oh well....I'll keep at it. Doing some light weights and trying to run more (walk if I don't feel up to a run)...but I am feeling good and so I will keep working on it. Hope you are all having a good week!

I have not really done any execising since my husbands accident. Pretty much just the walking around the office at work is what I get. I haven't been able to go to the gym like I was and not able to go for a bike ride.

My husband can not be left alone, which is frustrating for the both of us. My son is with him during the day so I can go to work.

Anyway, my weight has not changed from last week. I guess I can be thankful it hasn't gone up. Have a good week.

Alicia- 247

Terry – 190 – down 1

Cynthia - 186.2 - down 0.6

Kathryn - 210 ~ + .05

Sandy 150 (up 1)

You have not gained; with all that stress, life changes and schedule upheaval! Way to go! I always pack on the pounds under that kind of pressure so I am impressed. Keep up the good work, lately I really work at reminding myself that not gaining is as important as losing.

Well my husband was put back in the hospital on Monday. He came home yesterday. Since his accident he has been pretty much sedetary, so now he has a pulmonary embolism. For anyone who doesn't know whaat that is, its a clot in his lung. Could be fatal. Doctors think we caught it early so thats a good thing. Now he is so paranoid about anything. I am trying to stay positive with everything, but I am going crazy.

I really need to get out and go to the gym or something but he does not want me to be gone. So pretty much, my work is my sanity right now.

Anyway I just needed to unload.

Have a great day

Good Friday morning...Hope all is well.

Alicia...I hope everything works out for your husband!

I had a lazy week, but I did eat well, so no change in weight. I think I have finally settled in at the weight I want to be. I got in all my miles last weekend and I am over 900 towards my goal to 1000, so hopefully I will hit my milestone in the coming weeks. My birthday is tomorrow and I will be 43. That means a BBQ, birthday cake, etc are in my near future. I'll just make sure I get in my miles all weekend. I am planning to start lifting weights next week. I had intentially not lifted during my weight loss process.

Terry - 190 - no change.

Hugs to Alicia, I hope your husband recovers quickly.

I had a good week overall.  I finished my 8 week training program for 5k runs last night, and I'm very pleased that I stuck to it.  Now comes the hard part, for me at least - maintaining that level of commitment.

Next week we head down to the East coast to visit my mother for a week and a half, so I won't be able to check in for the next two Fridays.  I'll bring my running shoes and try to keep up with the runs, though.

Terry - 190 - no change.

Cynthia - 186.0 - down 0.2