Over 200 club!

HI! My name is Laura and i am 5-5 and 235 lbs as of today. I did weigh 240 almot 2 weeks ago. I am counting calories cuz I do not know what ele to do. When i gave birth, I only weighed 201 lbs! My son is 5(his bday is halloween). I cant believe i have put on so much lately. I have high blood pressure so I am on Diovan. I am also on protonix( for heartburn). I took myself off depo provera lat Sept and currently have the IUD, Mirena. Birth control was part of it but that is why I switched to IUD. I am taking it slow, and watching what I eat. I guess I am supposed to stay under 1700 calories and I walked 20 minutes today. I hate exercise now but I have to do it to lose weight the old fashioned Way!
if you have any suggestions, please tell me....

Wow! size 18!!!! good job for sure! i'm so looking forward to getting there myself...got about 2 sizes to go to fit into 18 jeans.

...and don't even get me started on the boob room thing! I'm little in the boobs and big in the bum, and the clothes are always cut for the other way around it seems!

yeah, i'm pretty surprsed i only ate one cookie, LOL!

I used to never eat breakfast, eat a tiny lunch, a huge dinner, and snack all evening. Now i have myself regulated to where i eat a slim fast shake with frozen berries and fat free yogurt at about 8:30 or 9am, then a half grapefruit and two hard boiled egg whites somewhere between 10 and 11:30. today i added a piece and a half of bacon, and my calories only hit 601. I'll eat a chicken breast and some sauteed veggies (i use Pam spray)...and then a snack in the afternoon and slim fast smoothie again for dinner, with a half sandwich for snack with my arthritis meds before bed. My calories stay in a reasonable range with my daily activities. took me a long time to work this all out, but it seems to be working well for me.

Actually, I have a whole boxful of Black Jack sitting in my desk right now...I'll have to bring some back.

It's past noon now, and although my stomach rumbled briefly, I still don't feel that compelled to eat.  I guess I should have SOMETHING...I just always feel I'm "being good" and shouldn't be encouraging myself.  A part of me still kinda wants to see how far I can go, even though I know that means maybe two or three more hours.

You may be rt. regarding something to occupy our mouths.  I eat candy when I'm bored, not hungry. 

Oh yeah, oh yeah...uh-huh, uh-huh....oh, yeah...oh YEAH!!

I just finished my semester!!  I'm doing the happy dance in case you're wondering....

....I have to confess....the first thing that came to mind was...oh, I should celebrate with a BIG BAG of chips but, then I read that I was so close to 200 that I guess I won't....

I'll just stick to my happy dance...uh-huh, uh-huh...yeah, yeah....

*shaking non-existant butt and boobs*


*belly shaking all on it's own!*

I know how you feel.  I've had plenty of "last meals".  We're conditioned to celebrate with food.  Granted, my ideal girl would LOVE food, and I'd encourage every bit of it 'cause I think girls look best kinda chubby...although I'm trying to lose a lot of weight myself.

Good for you, though...it's all about breaking habits. 

Blue, I had a hard time with worrying that I was eating too much in the morning and like VK and HYE, I was terrified that I would run out of calories left and be hungry at night.  I have been slowly changing what I eat to be more food at less calories.

ie.  I used to make pancakes, 2 cups flour, 2 eggs, a spoon of butter, baking powder, milk, splenda.  Now I make them 1 cup of flour, 1 egg, splenda, baking powder and water.  taking away the milk and the butter saves so many calories and I still get pancakes.  when you add the syrup, you don't know the milk and butter are not there.  I use sugar free syrup. 

My maintenance calories is 2800 a day because I am so big.  My goal had been to eat less than 2000.  Now these days I am eating less than 1800.  It took a while and don't worry...using food as we do makes us think wierd things sometimes...like not being able to eat at night.

My goal now is to be at 1200 calories by 4pm.  I can have a good dinner and then a snack.  I usually try to make my dinners around 450 to 500 calories and then a snack around 100+ calories. 

Plan out how many calories you have for the day...then break up your day into times...try to eat every 2 hours or so, something small.  If you can, lay out your food for the whole day...telling yourself that you get to eat ALLLLLLL that food.  The first couple of days I did this I was going through the food pretty quickly and would go over my caloires a little.  THen I started feeling comfortable that the food was still going to be there if I did something else...now it is getting to be so much better. 

Hye, can we dance with ya????   Yippeeeeeeee!!!!!!!

BTW, Shannon, thanks for the article on loose skin...gave me lots of things to think about....

Way to go HYE!  it always feels good to finish something.  keep doing that happy dance, it will help burn more calories. oh yeah!

Ginny -- i'm so jealous.  i want to be there with you.  I'm so-o-o-o happy for you.  it looks like you have really come a long way!!!!!! Good for you!

As for calories.  i also try to save the most for the evening because that is usually the biggest meal and the one I have least control over.  Sometimes we go out to eat, sometimes my husband cooks (or buys pizza) and sometimes, i just eat what is handiest...  i don't get home until 6 or 6:30 and even then i may be running errands, picking up kids, dropping off kids, baseball practice, you name it.  And this isn't just one night a week, it's multiple nights and includes the weekends.  So, i manage to usually go over in the evenings even though i have plenty of calories for a large healthy meal. 

one thing i've learned is to eat breakfast.  A decent one too.  i always add protein and fiber because these two things really do help keep you from being so hungry.  i usually try to stick around 350-450 calories.  Same for lunch but i usually try to add some high fiber fruit.  Strawberries, raspberries, or even apples are really good.  (Grapefruit would be wonderful but I can't have that with the cholesterol medicine). 

Because i am diabetic and your blood sugar tends to drop overnight, I am supposed to have a snack before bedtime.  Popcorn is a good choice (100 calorie packs) and it has lots of fiber.  Fiber and protein take longer to digest, so they are in your system / stomach longer and you feel full and satisfied longer.  i just have to get past the 'it tastes good, so i'll eat it' part.  You know, like the dark chocolate M&Ms.  The sugar free popsicles are the best.  i've been trying to allow myself "tastes" of the fattening stuff, like ice cream and chocolate syrup, just to kill the craving, and it seems to be working. 

Calories.  you should NEVER go below 1200 without a doctor's food plan (specific plan).  if you go under 1200, more likely than not, you will not get the nutrients and vitamins that your body needs to function in one day.  My doctor also said a couple of years ago that there was a study that was referenced in one of the science magazines on low calorie hazards.  Apparently, women that had followed a 1200 calorie diet on and off over the years were showing signs of heart problems but just 1400 calories were not showing the same problems.  So, i've made it a point not to go below 1400 calories when dieting unless I'm following the doctor's diet (like the diabetic diet for 1200) that is specifically designed to meet your calorie and nutritional needs. 

Sorry about rattling on, but it seemed important.

My success for the day...we had doughnuts at work this morning and I passed them up...:) 

Kt...I can imagine how sore you must be...just take it easy...get one of those little doughnut pillows to sit on...might be a cushion for your tushy...

ginny...32's to 18's...you must be thrilled!  I am so happy for you that they went right on...what an amazing feeling for you!!  WOOHOO!!!!

Hye...201.4...that is terrific!  I can't wait to be that close to being below 200...I think you have a good idea with eating a little more to try to jump start things again...good luck!!

I eat most of my calories during the day and less in the evening...I eat 2 granola bars and a banana for breakfast...I try to vary lunch and dinner but my snacks are always the same...WW yogurt, grapes, fat-free Pringles, pretzel sticks, applesauce.  I eat 1/2 can of sliced carrots with my lunch and I drink upwards of 88 ounces of water a day! 

Sounds like everyone has a success...keep it up!  We can all do this!! 

Hello all my bosom (or lack of them) buddies...lol.  I don't have that problem...I'm the other way around and that too can be a problem. :(

Hye-Keep doing that happy dance and you'll be under 200 in no time.  Good for you.  Must feel good now that you're done eh?

Tabby- Awesome on passing up those doughnuts.

katie-  ouch!  like tabby said...doughnut pillow may help a little.

ginny- Isn't it the nicest feeling to be able to fit in something we've been trying so hard for so long to fit into.  WTG

I'm the same...I seem to eat more in the evenings...I think it's because I'm so busy working hard all day...no time to eat so most of my calories end up getting eaten for supper.  Maybe I should try getting more earlier in the day.

Hope everyone is doing ok! :)

Success!  It is 10:30 at night and I am at 1400 calories and NOT hungry.  I haven't done this in so long, I can't remember when I really did.  I think remembering what the doc said about the 1400 calories, helped me stay within that range today.

keep working hard everyone.  let's kick butt this weekend!!!  We can beat the weekend binging if we just hang in there and use the weekend as an excuse to have fun (exercise) instead of eating. 

Thanks for being there!

hello people....

happy hye...no more pencils, no more books, no more teachers dirty looks!! happy, happy hye!!!

ignorance, what is black jack?

ginny, you had me drooling for the pancakes. well until you got to the sugar free syrup, ick. maybe cinnamon and splenda would work for me. I wonder if the low fat Bisquick would make low cal enough pancakes.

tabby, no doughnuts, so hard, good for you. Applesauce, yum. I never get any when I buy it cuz my son sucks it down. Need to go to Costco maybe and get a mega jar of the stuff.

Good job blj!

hi mama:)

Black Jack is old-fashioned gum, black licorice flavored, made in small batches now.

ignorance, that should be okay to eat, no? don't like to call you ignorance maybe iggy??

everyone seems to be doing so good.  its very  inspiring to hear everyones stories, and accomplishments.  I just want to tell someone i lost my first 10lbs.  Im excited because that means im really "doing it" a bit nervous of failure.. but heck let me celebrate my small mile stones.  gl this weekend everyone.

YIIIPPPPEEEE!! I'm so excited I've lost 7.5 lbs this week. I'm doing really great! I've even learned that healthy foods are yummy! (Not the kind of yummy you get from a cheesy pizza washed down with rootbeer, but still yummy! lol)

Excercising is going great and I'm staying on track! I'm getting so excited and nervous to see my husband. Less than two weeks!! Time is finally flying by although I bet next week will drag. That always tends to happen when you're looking forward to something. I'm getting a little worried, though, because he keeps asking me what I'm going to wear.  He's never done that before. It's alot of pressure!! lol

I hope everyone's week is going great. I haven't had a chance yet to really read through the latests posts but I'll do it after work. Just wanted to check in, and know ladies, I'm thinking about you!

Happy Friday!

CBmob...He is probably trying to picture you and that is keeping him occupied for the last 2 weeks...you have losing weight to keep you going and a goal to meet before seeing him...he has his mission and you...WTG on the 7.5 lbs...he's gonna be happy to see you in an shape....

Blue...I use the Maple Grove Farms sugar free maple syrup from walmart...it is good and not like the other braands of just brown water making your pancakes soggy....1/4 cup is 30 calories....My little batch makes 8 small pancakes.  I eat 2 of them(123 cals), one egg(70 cals), and then syrup...sometimes I use a 1/4 cup, sometimes only half of it. (30 cals)  for a total of 226 cals.  I use whole wheat flour for the pancakes soooooo, whole grain, protien, very little sugar...and it makes me full for a while...until 10 am...then I have to eat again...I have found that even if I eat a bigger breakfast, I am hungry by 10.   So it's 8, 10, 12, 2, and then dinner at 5:30, snack around 7pm.

Josette...I am withyou on worrying about failure...I can't let that happen...You can do this...we can do this...keep reading and keep posting, we will be here.

iggy...if gum helps, that sounds great. 

tabby...great job on passing up the donuts...I keep trying to think of my reward for hitting 230.  *With a huge grin*  I can't decide if I want the oreo blizzard or a new pair of jeans (maybe the size 12s to hang on my wall as motivation)...I looked it up and I can fit the blizzard into my calories for the day....who knows???

Hye...let us know how it goes up your cals for the day...I have been thinking of this because so many people have been saying to keep your body guessing...one thread on the weightloss page said that you should up your cals by 400 every 4 days...It may sound crazy but here lately I have been consiously thinking of doing this and then afraid to at the same time...

Blj...I am so happy for you that you were at 1400 and not hungry.  You can do this...

Hi Rockin...I wish you didn't have to work so hard...maybe some grab and go snacks during the day will help out...

Carol...keep up the good work...

Stats for yesterday, May 3, Day 39, no exercise, 1781 calories, and 80 ounces of water.

Have a great day!!!

It's so hard to keep up with the posts when 2 or 3 pages pile up since I last read them. But be assured, I DO READ THEM and I am there with you. And my hopes and concerns and joy are with you too.

As for me, Today's weigh-in was good. Lost 3 more pounds. Down to 206.5. That's 18.5 total!

mama, try taking your vitamins at night, that's what I do.

kt, hope your head and tail are better!

blue, hope today brings you SUNSHINE!

ginny, congrats on the size 18. Guess I'm gonna have to go shopping soon. I got rid of all my size 16s & 18s the last time I got skinny. I swore I wouldn't be needing them anymore ... but ... SURPRISE ... here I am again.

caroljoy, my sister and I used to tell each other that there are no calories in broken cookies? Go for the broken ones!!!

Well, it's back out to the garden for me. Have a great day everyone!

wow looks like everyone is hving a successful week, was just reading and checking in on everyone!!!  Wanted to say hi to all!!

Good morning everyone!  It is still morning right??  Hehehehe...

Thank you everyone for doing the happy dance with me yesterday.  It was great!  I feel great for finishing!  I get two weeks off and then, it's the summer session.  I hope summer gets here soon!

ginny - I guess through this journey of a healthier lifestyle, we all finding our new comfort level.  That pancake recipe sounds yummy!  I've been going through this phase of healthifying everything.  There are some things that you just should not make healthier...cheesecake is one of them...but, other things you could and get away with it.

tab - You passed on the donut??  Good for you!  Proud of you.

blj - I plan on kicking lots of butt this weekend!  I'm with ya...no more weekend binging.

josette - That is a big milestone that first 10 lbs.  I was so excited when I hit it.  I know exactly how you feel about being able to "do it".  Keep up the good work!

cbmob - Wow!  7.5 lbs!  That's great! You shouldn't feel pressured about your husband asking you what you're wearing.  He's just trying to picture you in anticipation of making up for lost time.  *wink, wink*

ell - Great job on the 3 lbs.  The gardening is definitely helping.  What you planting in your garden??

chris - Hi!  How have you been doing??

Alright everyone...as you know I upped my calories just a little bit yesterday.  Actually it only turned out to be 166 calories more than my allotment of 1500.  I just could not eat anymore.  This morning I weighed-in...drumroll please..............I don't hear them.........alright..........ready......200.6!!  The scale finally moved and it is now at 200.6.  .6th of a pound left before I hit my first goal.  I'm sooo excited!  The only thing I did different yesterday was re-distribute my calories a little bit more evenly throughout the day.  I still drank lots of water.  So...I don't know if it really worked or just the fluctuations happening but, whatever it is, I'll take it!

Drumroll? You get an entire brass band for 200.6!  WTG HYE!!! Not planting anything new in my garden (except maybe some unwanted pounds, lol). Just taking care of what is already growing there. Every time I try to plant something new, the rabbits and the deer EAT IT! Check out my garden pics.