30 somethings size 16+

Aanyone interested in keeping each other motivated?  I am 36, 5'3 and size 18.  I refuse to weigh myself until I get down to at least a size 16 again.  Why beat myself up even more than I already do just knowing I'm bigger than I've ever been in the clothes department?

So, let's get started!  I'm choosing better food choices (limited whole grain bread, fresh fruit and veggies, lean protein, limited portion sizes on sweets, etc.) and trying to get my walking in.  What is anyone else doing? 

Hi everyone!  Just checking in, spending a relaxing night at home.  I have been really sticking to my calorie plan, but I haven't been exercising lately.  I just can't get myself motivated to do it.  I have been very busy at work, but I know that everyone’s busy, and that’s really just an excuse.  Even today, on a Saturday when I didn’t have work, I kept putting off going to the gym.  Then it was after 6 PM and too late to go, because the gym closes at 7 PM.  I did go for a walk outside, since I felt guilty, but it wasn’t at the same pace as workout walking, more like a stroll.  I’m hoping to get back on track with the exercise next week. 

lynnhaslost, sounds like even though you have a lot of stress right now you are handling it well and have a good plan in place!!

kthopson92, I'm sorry for all that your stepdaughter is going through, but it sounds like this tough time is going to lead to better times for her and your entire family. 

Enjoy the rest of the weekend everyone!

Wow lots of things have changed around here. Newbies have joined us, good things have happened and bad things. But more good than bad. Well I havent posted lately because I fell of track to for a few days. On thursday my mom went to the emergency room well she ended up haveing to have surgery for an appedicidis. That was a late night. She is doing better now. She has had some stomach pain for a while now and just didnt go to the Drs for it. Old fashioned. But she wasnt expecting to have surgery, but she is glad it is done with now. And then the weekend was here. Overtired I was and just not up to snuff. But tomarrow is Moday and it is a new day. So bring it on!

I hope you all have a GREAT Monday!!!

Hi everyone, I'm going to reset my life style change since it's been a mess for the past 2 weeks. I'm going to get my plan back in order and do what is best for me, and what is also best for my great uncle. I'm no good to him if I am not healthy and in my best shape you know.

I'm wishing myself good luck.. Seeeeeee you all later

OMgoodness!  Stress sure likes to take over if it gets the chance in our lives, doesn't it!

I am so sorry to hear about your SD, kt.  I hope she adapts quickly and smoothly to her new home (100% of the time).  It sounds like you are a warm enough person that her mother felt comfortable coming herself to bring her.  She can be an extra motivator for you perhaps in your eating habits.  Making sure the family has solid, good nutrition and healthy habits sounds like it definitely wouldn't hurt!

Good for you hanging in there lynn.  You just keep on a'goin.  What an inspiration to all of us.  

Welcome leelee!  Good job keeping off the extra weight, and good job looking for further inspiration.  

Welcome duct!  1200 calorie diet...brutal.  Wow.  i'm glad to hear your getting smaller according to your clothes!  That's good news!  Those late night snacks..they are a killer.  When I was on Jenny Craig, they taught to make sure I get enough calories during the day, and that helped curb appetite at night.  Instead of eating sugary things, perhaps try lean protein.  It tends to take away a sugar craving.

mj, get your rest, especially now with cold season coming on.  get your vitamins!  I take airborne.  It has echinacea and vitamin C and a whole bunch of other stuff.

Take care CC buds!

Thank you so much for the encouragement! I have been struggling the past few days, stress is killing me! I have been working hard to stay within my calorie limit, although yesterday I went over a bit :( I seemed to have hit that damn platuaue (sp) but I figure I will get over that too. I havent eaten any late night snacks the past few nights, so that was one accomplishment I spose.

I hope everyone is doing well!

Good Morning Everyone! I understand about the late night snacks. I used to take ambien at night and I would get up and eat & eat. Thats what helped me to gain like I did. But I believe it is my birth control too that has added to me over the years. But I have cut my calories to about 1200-1400 a day. And my cravings for snacks at night are gone. I no longer take ambien. Stress does a job on me and I cant sleep at night that is when I take it. But I walk after work to help relieve stress and I sleep just wonderfully at night. The colder nights help too. Last night I actually wore gloves and a jacket! I did take the gloves off half way because I warmed upped but it is still cold. This morining they said it was 48 degrees out!
I am on my lunch right now and am eating my salad. And boy it is good. 1 3/4 cups chopped lettuce, 3 oz. cubed ham, 4 baby carrots sliced, 1/4 cup black beans, crispy onions, ranch lite, crutons, onions, cheese. Oh and I did not have my regular Mt. Dew today! I switched to Diet!!!!! 170 extra calories!! Woo-Hoo!Tonight I have salmon out and I think I will take out one of my steamer bags of veggies I just got to try and have a roll and some milk. So what is everyone else been eating??

Hope you all have a good day!!

I am starting Phase One of South Beach Diet today.  I also just got suckered into a "free" sample of acai online.  I just paid $3.95 for shipping.  

I'm trying to work myself up here to go work out at my gym/club (whatever you call it).  

Here is the link to the forum for South Beach Diet:  http://caloriecount.about.com/welcome-south-b each-diet-thread-good-ft72210

I know nothing about this Acai thing.  Anyone else?  I'm such a sucker!  

This is how I got suckered in to buying it:  http://www.consumerselected.com/index.php?t20 2id=613&t202kw=

LOL ~ There is no such thing as "FREE" sucks when they do that to you. And no I dont know anything about Acai? Never heard of it! I will look it up tho just becuase I am curious.

I posted "Before" pix on my gallery.  Anyone up to joining me?  It's motivational!  Try it!

I would love to join!

I am 34,  237lbs and a size 20. I just started my weigt loss journey for life and cant be more excited. Sunday 9-21-08 it started with a 15 minute walk on the treadmill and I am now up to 45 minutes 2 miles a day. I missed Saturday and I think I might make that my (break day) I have also started to count calories as of today but it started with portion control a week ago. My goal weight is 150.

I am so glad I found this site.. 

-Angie

Good job angie!  Try to make sure you have at least one picture of your whole body now, so you can track visible results as you lose weight.  Remember, you'll get to post it next to your new "you" when you lose all that weight! 

Hi everyone & thanks for the welcome.  I’m happy to be here. 

Hi ducttapedhalo, I too have been struggling with lots of stress.  I am definitely not the type to lose my appetite when I’m stressed.  I do the opposite.  I think it’s great that you have been able to avoid the snacks at night.  That’s a huge accomplishment.  I have been chewing a lot of sugarless gum at night.  It’s been helping me not give into those late night cravings. 

Mjbilly – a while back my step dad’s mother had an issue with eating and taking ambien.  In the morning she would find wrappers & stuff of things she didn’t remember eating.  When she first told us this it was a while back and we just laughed.  Then it started coming out in the news that it was a side affect.  I too had a salad for lunch today & was quite surprised at how much I enjoyed it. I have been trying to not only look at the calories of foods but also the quality of food; looking to more natural food like apples, celery, tomatoes, etc. I read something about certain foods actually helping to burn more calories.  The foods listed were mostly fruits and vegetables.  Of course, just because I read it doesn’t make it true.  However, obviously fruits and vegetables are good for you, so it can’t hurt.     

 Welcome angiek74.  Sounds like you’re off to a great start!

Have a good weekend everyone!

Well, it's been a few days on South Beach Diet.  I don't think I've lost any weight.  I've been eating a lot of eggs.  It says you can have unlimited.  I haven't been that hungry, so that's good I guess.  

I went to the store last night and was really eyeing up the fruits!  I am missing them!  I got jello cups and italian ice w/splenda instead though.  I also got Crystal light to drink at night when I want sweets. I remember that being a life saver last time.

Hey Ladies! :)

I am glad to hear everyone has been doing good. Welcome to the newcomers as well. I am still new too, so still learning names and such. I have been having HORRIBLE foods... tacos, pizza, etc, but have been watching my portions. I am now down to 210. 45 pounds down, so many more to go. But hey, its a start! :D Also, I have found making your own pizza is better than buying from a pizza place or frozen pizza, veggie pizzas arent bad on the taste and YOU control what goes on it!

I have noticed a lot of people here are eating salads. I love salads as well, and I have made a promise to myself  come Wednesday, I am back to where I need to be. we will be out of town on a company trip and not sure what they will be serving for meals... but, my suggestion on the salads, get various salad dressings. Eating the same one all the time gets old. I went from HV Ranch to HV  Ranch light, not much of a taste difference and is great. Also, there are many Kraft dressings that are fat free that are really good as well. Catalina Free is really good. Also, dont add the same things all the time, make a variety of veggies in your salads. If you make them the exact same all the time, it becomes very tiresome very quickly.

When I am having a good food day, I usually eat oatmeal with 1 tbsp of margarine, sweet and low, and cinnamon. For lunch i eat either a salad or a wrap.  I am not sure were else to get them, but at Walmart, by the deli they sell an item called italian herb flatout bread, it comes in other flavors as well, but I perfer the italian herb flatout bread flavor. It has 90 calories per serving and are larger than a tortilla, and tastes much better. I usually have a serving of deli sliced chicken or turkey, onion, cheese, lettuce, a bit of ranch dressing, and a diet coke, I also change this up as well, adding various veggies from time to time... cucumber, bell pepper, etc. For dinner, among other new finds, I have found a new product at Sams club. I do not like fish much, unless it is fried catfish... can we say countrygirl? :P But, this was a parmesian crusted talipia, very good, even the kids loved it. Low cal too!

Seems I have rambled a lot today, just wanted to maybe give a few suggestions on some foods that I know that have helped me along the way. I will be back in a few days after our trip to PA, then I am back to counting every single calorie as I need to do!

You ladies have a great weekend and good luck to you all! :D

Hugs,

Halo

I will have to try and find a full length pick..(dont take many of those)

Well I have had a crappy 4 days! I spent the night in the ER Thursday night with horible stomach pains that had started that morning.I went to my dr and she said she wanted me to have a CT done. Well 2:00am and I am in so much pain.  They seem to think I may have crohns disease or some other GI prob. Friday night went to the ER with my 14 month old.. she and her older sister were playing and she fell and split open under eye.. she did not have to get stitches tho. And now I think I have pulled something in the back of my ankle. I have iced it and streched it but it sure does hurt. I walked yesterday and today it was painful but I walked thru it. I am hoping next week will be better. I hope everyone had a great weekend.

-Angie

Oh my Angie, that does sound like a rough 4 days! I so hope your week is better!

Am going to PA for the next few days, so I hope everyone is safe and has a great week! I will see you all when I get back :)

I'm so sorry to hear about the ER visits angie.  You poor thing.  You're in my prayers.  God bless.

Hi everyone! Sorry I have not been around lately.

I want to say Hi to all the NEWBIES! Welcome!

I guess I have just been too busy with life to get on here lately. I am in the process of getting estimates on insulation and new siding for my house. I am sick of freezing in the winter. And also getting a few prices on a new furnace since mine is not Efficiant! and I pay way to much to heat my house. 1 guy that was at my house yesterday for the heater said that we could revent a few rooms (my house is way old and was built for military people like over 60 or more years ago) what he was telling me was getting me so excited for winter to come just so I could be warm. I got the estimate today and it was $10,000~ I bout had a heart attack!!! No way ! I cant believe that. So that is why you get estimates! THe first guy said that I couldnt revent my house so now I see why he didnt want me to do it because it would cost me more than I have!!!!

So anywho! I hope everyone is still on there road to loosing weight. Last week my mom called me because she was at a rummage sale and found a walking machine ( I dont really know what you would call it ) on the order of a Gazelle thing. I left work and went there and looked at it and yes paid $20.00 for it and I really like it. Now my son and I can still walk when it gets COLD out!!!

Well I have to get back to work so I hope you all have a good afternoon!

Thank you ladies!

This week has started off much better and I feel great. I have a follow up dr apt tomorrow and they always weigh me so I am excited to see how much I weigh. It will be a week since I was at her office so I'm keeping my fingers crossed. I hope you get a great estimate for your house mjbilly. I hope everyone is having a great week so far. Well  I have to go get my daughter from school.. Talk to you all soon.. bye!

-Angie

Hi everyone,

Just wanted to say hello and check in.  I have been doing well.  Work's been busy, but otherwise it's been a pretty quiet week.  I thought I was going to have to go for my fitting for my maid of honor dress tomorrow, but it just got postponed, I can't say I'm disappointed.  Looks like we are going to get the shoes done first, so I have another week!!!

In a recent posting I mentioned reading something about foods that help you burn calories.  I now remember what they call them; "negative calorie foods".  Some examples they listed were celery, oranges, strawberries, tangerines, carrots, tomatoes, lettuce, apples, cauliflower, etc.  Of course, who knows if it is true or not.   If anyone is interested, it does definitely seem like there is a lot of info. about it online. 

Angie - glad you had a better week. 

Have a good weekend everyone.