100 + pounds to lose...I've started fresh.

Hi all!

It's been awhile.  (sigh)  But that's okay, today is a new day! 

I started this thread for accountable, so here is my story.  As of this morning, I weighed 245 pounds and need to lose 120 pounds (5 foot 1 1/2).  My husband was starting a weight loss challenge at his gym where the one that loses most % in 12 weeks will win a cruise for 2!  Well, he and I work in different towns, so I don't get the opportunity to workout there.  I told him I wanted a challenge.  So, as of today, our challenge (which goes longer than the 12 weeks) is that the winner gets to pick our "getaway" for the fall that we always go on.  Now, for me, that will be a bed and breakfast and a full day of Spa treatments...I mean, the works!  It will be all about me!!!!  (if he wins, I'm sure I'll be off to some Civil War site somewhere....so, I'm gonna win!)

I tell you all of this so I am held accountable.  And to hear great words of encouragement...success stories from you, helpful hints,...anything~  

Thanks for listening! 

Good luck and keep us updated. 

I've been getting better at going to the gym.  And I'm feeling a lot better.  Although I gained a pound this week. : (  But I had lost 5 last week.  I guess it all works out in the end. 

A cruise for 2 sounds really nice.  Just think if you get the cruise and get to decide where your next get-away is.  Gotta think big!

PS - It might help if you start journaling.  You are on my friends list so we can stay in contact that way too.  : )

thanks...I plan on doing the journaling!  thanks for reminder!  (wasn't so great at it last time, I think it will really help)

Good 4 U,time!  We are in the same boat w/100+ to lose.  I've been doing really well...however I always do in the beginning. It's the long term thing I haven't mastered.  I am a volume eater so I rely on lots of veggies to fill up the plate and make me think I'm eating lots of food.  My real love is pasta, rice, bread.  I have been trying to stay away from them for a while until I get a handle on it.  I do eat low carb tortillas from time to time and they're fine but...I still miss my pasta.  BTW, my Dad was a civil war buff and I have memories of touring battlefields from SC to PA as a child.  YOU HAVE TO WIN!  Good Luck!!!!!

I got dragged to lost of battlefields too as a child.  We live in Maryland so I visited quiet a few.  Boring!!

It sounds like you are off to a good start. The bed and breakfast is a long term goal so I think you should make some short term goals. This way you get a series of small rewards on your way to the ultimate spa weekend. Its a way to keep motivated and to really take note of your progress. Long term goal, no matter how great they, are tend to get lost from time to time. Good luck and hang in there. The getaway is worth it but even more so, you are worth it.

thanks tinav--yes, I am all about short term goals!!  When I lose 5% body fat, I will get a pedicure.  (my toes are begging right now),

You know how you finally get "it", well , today was my "it"day.  For the first time in YEARS, I didn't feel as if I was giving up anything b/c I am worth it!!!!  It's been so long to feel this good about myself. 

Food logged everything today, and all is good!

Thanks for your support everyone!

just wanted to say that day 2 was great as well!  I feel so much better about myself....already!!!

Success stories, huh? I peaked at 245 pounds (at 5'7") myself after the birth of my daughter. I stayed there for about 6 months until I found the motivation to lose the weight. Sounds like you have plenty of that, so I hope it goes well for you. Anyway, over the course of the next year and a half I lost 100 pounds. The bulk of it came off simply through watching what I ate and taking up walking. I hit a plateau around 160, but then was hired to do landscaping for a golf course. The rest just melted off with the added physical activity. After that job ended (the course is only open seasonally) I maintained it by taking up dancing. Sadly, I put a lot of it back on due to a couple of medications I had to start taking daily, but I've switched those now and it's coming off again. 32 pounds since December.

As for hints, my first one would be to watch sauces and dressings that you add to food. I was brought up in a house where most meals had some form of sauce or gravy with them. I substituted things like fresh squeezed lemon and orange juice in place of most of those and the results showed within days. They add up. I also switched to eating fish or different varieties of nuts instead of red meat. It's worked well for me. Make sure you're getting enough water, too. I also found that it helped to attach a sheet of paper and a pencil to the fridge so I could mark down everything as I took it out.

What works for everyone is a little different, so just assess what changes you can make without feeling like you're sacrificing something terribly important. Moderation and all that.

Congratulations on finding the motivation to commit to this. That's the hardest part, in my experience. The fact that you're here means you're on track mentally.

Way to go!     I wish I lived near you, I think I could give them a run for their money (cruise)  I started at 392 lbs on Jan 1.  As of Feb 28th I'm at 352 (40 pounds)   I do plan on slowing the process to about 10-15 lbs a month from here on in.    It's 1500 calories a day--(protein and fruit AM)--(Protein, veggies and fruit for lunch)--(protein--lean meat-a baked potato every night-salad and fruit). I'm eating more now than I did while wrestling in college!  Now  back to you!!! Good for you!  Be careful that you don't become your own worst enemy!  Some days you will feel warm and fuzzy--some days you will feel like it's not coming off fast enough. Don't give in to those feelings. Follow your routine and if you slip a bit, get back to the original plan.  Someone is watching you and wants you to succeed!   BUttttttt  Do this for YOU and no one else!  

    I fill a small can with 1 lb of sand every time I loss a pound.  So far I have 40 cans in one duffle bag.  If I feel like the whole thing isn't worth the effort (werththeeffort) I grab the bag and go up and down the stairs a few times!  I can't believe I allowed myself to carry that much baggage around!  I plan on another 100+ pounds by the end of 07 for my own personal Christmas present.  Sorry to ramble but support in many different forms is the key to success! In the end it will be      "werththeeffort!"

evilsource -congrats and thanks so much for the words of encouragement!  Water is my big thing...I'm getting better (and also MAJORING cut back on diet cokes )but still need to improve. 

werththeeffort--if you were here, you would be a serious threat!!lol  Congrats on all of your hard work! 

I appreciate both of your input!  I knew it was time to comeback to this site!  As encouraging as my friends are, this is the place for me!

I fight with myself over diet coke, too. I used to drink five per day. I switched to buying water (even though I know it's just tap water in there) and found that the sensation of drinking from a bottle helped, and the fact that I paid for the stuff made me more likely to choose it over coke. I still have one coke in the morning and hope to cut that out within the next week.

glad you're back. go for it! maybe i'll join you.

evilsource-yes, I drink my diet coke in the am, and at noon I switch to water...I put it in a big "to go" cup with crushed ice...It feels like a big 44 ounce one...but it's ice, b/c I put a can diet coke in there.  it's all in the mind......

thanks yak!!  come on and join me!!!

I even survived "cooking team" at church last night.  We have a bunch of people that rotate and cook on Wed nights.  We served Lasagna, and some of the BEST looking desserts .....but I had a salad and some green beans! 

I felt so good afterwards!!!!  So, I would be accountable , the first thing I did was tell one of the girls about my challenge with my husband....this is something I would never had done before.. (you know, they could NEVER tell I needed to lose weight..so I just didn't talk about it!!!lol)  anyway, it helped me stay accountable!

Have a great day!

just to update...end of work week, and feeling great!  Amazing what trying to improve your health actually does for you!  lol

Couldn't resist and got on scale today and I've lost 3 pounds!  woohoo!  Weigh in with hubby is on Monday.  I had never, ever weighed in front of him until last week.  This has totally been a different experience..

Accountability for me is a huge thing!

woo hoo!!!

3 lbs ~ that's gr8 :)

ok, ok, joining you!  day 2 for me :)

hi united!  glad to hear from you!  It's Sunday afternoon..and the weekend hasn't been as scary as it usually is!  official weigh in tomorrow morning!!!!!

glad you are joining me!

Good Morning and Good Afternoon to some.  I am so excited!!!!  I have lost 14lbs I am on my  way to lossing that 100lbs.  I finally joined a gym and I'm walking.  Yikes, No kidding I  am  walking  I haven't been able to walk like this in a long time.  Still taking it slow.  I started at 243 as of yesterday I'm at 229lbs HOOOOOOORRY!

wow loven!!!!  that is great!!!!  this is more motivation for me!  congrats!

lol ~ i think i'll survive day 2 ~ woohoo ;)

*yay* loven ~ that's really gr8! 

i think i need to start back to water aerobics tomorrow... yikes... will have to get up super early ~ with the time change and all.... picked a good time, eh?  I'm sure I'll survive day 3 also ;)

Have a gr8 Monday everyone!  We can do this!