New Member - southern food problem

Hi everyone!

Just wanted to introduce myself... My name is Ashley and I'm 22 years old. I moved to North Carolina 3 years ago and I've been steadily gaining weight ever since. Something about all the fried foods, all-you-can-eat buffets, and big meals! I recently got engaged to the man of my dreams in February and we set a date for the wedding May of '09.

I weigh 250lbs (well around there, don't have a scale) and I don't want to be this big when I get married. Also, my dad is getting re-married in October and a friend is getting married in November, I really don't want to go to a wedding with the size I am. CC says I should weigh about 140- and I know I can weigh that much, since I did just about 6 years ago!

I went to my future stepdaughter's Field Day at her school last week and was photographed with her by my fiance, and I was shocked to see how big I look! It was a very big eye-opener and I joined CC today.

I've tried dieting in the past but after about a week I go right back to my old eating habits, I'm not very good about sticking to my guns. But I'm very determined this time- I'm hoping CC can really help to motivate me.

Any advice to someone who is very bad at excersizing and is needing to start out slow would be very helpful!!

Ah I live in North Carolina too! The one thing that helped me out the most is to become vegetarian (although I still eat seafood- so like shrimp, fish, mussels, etc). Cause that way it pretty much eliminates all fast food! Also, stay away from the DELICIOUS DELICIOUS BOJANGLES!!!!! *drool*

I'm a NC vegetarian too!

If the fried foods and buffets get in your way, maybe check out all the great farmer's markets and stuff around here. You can get some GREAT locally grown veggies that are super healthy. Maybe try to focus your eating habits on those more than the barbecue and other junk.

In the evenings, the weather's really great, and you can start trying to find something to do outside. Take a walk, throw around a Frisbee, get a croquet set, anything to keep you moving. Best of luck!

Omg except for the fact that it's like 97 degrees outside and humid as a mother!

Yeah, that's why you don't go out in the afternoon ... at all. But around 8 or so it gets pretty nice. I spent a good while outside today playing some games. But I guess it also depends on what part of the state you're in.

Bojangles yumm. :P

But you're right fast food has got to be the first thing to go!

Oh and I tried the whole vegetarian thing already- but it was too hard to cook 3 separate  meals at dinner time. One for a picky 6year old, one for a meat loving man, and one vegetarian option for me! So I went back to eating meat... mostly chicken though, I'm not a big fan of red meat.

If it wasnt so hot today (and even tonight) I'd be out walking my dog, because that's one thing I'm going to start doing (instead of just letting her out to poop while I stand there) A nice long walk will do both me and the dog good.

I'm pretty much in the same boat minus the marriage part (Congratulations btw) and the living in North Carolina (TN here).  I'm 21, 5'7, 250lbs and have a goal weight of 140.  I've been on CC for about a week now and it's probably the most helpful tool I've ever found. 

One of my biggest vices is fast food because I'm a full-time student and I work.  Once you look up a couple of the things you've been eating (see Chicken Quesadilla from Taco Bell) you will probably say "WTF?!?!" when you see the caloric value.  Now that I check the caloric value of things before I eat them I am more likely to say "Wait, I'm not willing to waste 400 calories on one biscuit."

I'm yet another NC calorie counter. =) I think my eye opening moment was when I had my picture taken for graduation--it was apparent to me, by then, that I had gained quite a bit of weight, and that it needed to be rectified.

However, I lost 30lbs the incorrect way and gained 20 of them back--and now I've lost the 20 I gained back, and aiming to lose more. As for the exercise thing, little things like walking your dog certainly does help. Add little extra things to your day to burn small amounts of extra calories--they add up over time. =)

congrats on the engagement.  Big thing for me was using measuring cups.  I just made mac and cheese last night.  Each serving is 320 calories!  Which freaked me out.  Mind you, I probably used to eat at least 2 servings instead of the 1 cup cooked that the box says is a serving.  That's a huge thing for me is eating what the size actually is instead of a large spoonful or two of things.

Definitely take a look at some of the things you eat to see how many calories there are.  And I moved to the south and am getting used to all the tasty fried foods, but once you start seeing how many calories are in things, it's disgusting.  One chicken breast from KFC is 360 calories (Original Recipe).  And that's only part of your meal.  Add a biscuit (220), baked beans (220), and mashed potatos (110) and you're already at 910 calories with no gravy, no butter, and no drink yet.  I think when you start to view things that way, it helps change what you choose. 

And make sure you eat stuff you love.  Just in moderation.  I have chocolate every day (this week was ice cream every night).  But instead of buying whichever brand and overeating, I do Edy's slow churned ice cream that is only 120 calories and tastes great at a half cup.  And I enjoy it more than I used to...more of an indulgence.  But if you don't let yourself have these, you probably do what most of us do, stuff your face with it when you finally give in.   Besides, viewing it as a diet won't keep the weight off.  Most people gain it back when they go back to the old habits.  Do you not expect to eat any of your favorite foods ever again?  No more fried chicken....ever? 

Good luck to you on your new lifestyle.

Thank you to all on the Congratulations!

But yeah, the hard part is going for the serving size, that's a good idea to measure with a cup instead of my "eyeing it" I'm going to break out the measuring cups tomorrow!

also, i think I might just buy a thing of "ice cream" and stick to moderation like a 1/2 cup or a cup at the end of the day, only if i've been good all day before then. although i'm lactose intolerant so it will have to be sherbert for me!

thanks soooo much for the advice! oh and to "armandleg" yeah pictures are the worst proof, thats why i posted the one of me that was my turning point for having to lose weight as my main picture on here, maybe if i have to look at it everyday, it will motivate me to lose wieght.

my biggest hold-back in this diet will be my fiance, bc he loves fast food, and is used to big southern cooked meals, he said he is supporting me on this though, and so far so good... but the first time he comes home with a bag taco bell im going to be drooling, lol.

Haha...I can totally relate to hubby bringing fast food home for himself.  It sucks!!!  And smells yummy...Hubby got mozarella sticks from Arby's earlier today.  I looked it up and decided to have half of one of them (50 cals, did not even look at the fat thought).  It amazes me that I'm sticking to it, so if I can, I know you can.  I have pounds on you!

Hi!

I can totally understand southern's food... my mama is an okee, and bad habits die hard! lol! All the corn, corn beef hash, and bisquits in the morning drive me batty! But you can totally make your goal, and you will if you have the will power to say no sometimes :). First thing: make friends with similar goals! My bff just joined bc I went from 205 at a size 18 to 139-143 and a size 4. I don't take pills, and I don't do lipo or any of that. In fact the majority of the weight loss was without exercise but just dieting right. Now I'm getting all toned up. Lucky for you you have a perfect reason to! Congrat's on getting engaged!!! :D

If you ever need help or advice hit me up! I love to help!