10-20 pound support group?!?

I really would love to have a group of people to share tips, successes, frustrations and support!  There are several other groups out there that I contemplated joining, but some of them have been together for so long now that I kind of feel guilty joining a group where everyone has already been together for a year. 

Anyway, I am 28 and just joined this website about a month and a half ago.  I have tried diets for several weeks at a time in the past several years but was never fully committed like I am now.  For a little history - I was always thin growing up, played tennis and then played tennis in college.  My unhealthy/"eating whatever I wanted"  didn't catch up to me until after college when my activity level dropped substantially and my metabolism slowed down as well I guess.  I am still not overweight really, but am overweight compared to what I am used to.  My goal really isn't a weight goal (although I have set one at which I think I would be happy 125), but rather to have my clothes fit again.  I started at 140 or 141, and am currently 136.6 after 4 weeks of recording my foods and activities. 

I would love to lose 2 lbs a week, but just haven't yet. I am trying to run at least 3 times a week and am doing weight lifting, pilates etc. at home on most of the other days.  I think I have gained some muscle back in the past month and am noticing more changes in the way my clothes fit than 3.5 lbs would likely produce (or maybe that is wishful thinking?).  I am trying to stick to a 1500 calorie diet which I think is reasonable for weight loss.   I am also going on vacation to the Caribbean in about another 5 weeks and would be really excited if I could be under 130 pounds (probably a bit of a stretch considering I have only lost 3.5 lbs in the past month). 

Anyway, I would love to have a group of friends to do weekly weigh ins, celebrate each others successes, and to have support when every week isn't a success.  Anyway, if there are any other like minded people I'd love to start a thread where we can check in with each other regularly, maybe even share recipe ideas, our daily diets, exercise and other life events. 

I'll join. My pet peeve with groups is usually people stop posting after a week or two and the thread dies because no one is active. Info about me: Female 5'2 HW:140 CW: ??? GW: 105-115 Calories per day: 1,350-1,700 Exercise: Walking around. I don't own a scale so I can't do weekly weigh-ins.

Awesome, well I don't plan on dropping out, I have been using this site everyday for over a month and if I don't come here and log my food there is no way I am going to lose any weight!  That much I know!

Does the flexible calories per day work for you?  I have been trying to hit right at 1500 a day, but I am not quite sure yet that 1500 is right for me.  The last four weeks I have only lost 3.5 pounds (a little over a pound a week until the week before last when I didn't lose any).  However, prior to joining CC and starting my diet I hadn't been exercising and I have started running and lifting weights again.  It may seem cliche, but I really think I am gaining some muscle back again which I'll take.  Do you ever lift weights?  I used to have a gym, but now I just have 5 lb, 8 lb, and 10 lb dumbells at home as well as a weighted medicine ball and big exercise ball that I workout with when I don't run. 

I don't do traditional workouts (treadmill, weights, and machines) since I'm broke.I will be joining a gym by Sept hopefully.

The flexible calories do work for me. I actually used to be super anal about hitting 1,400 everyday but after a while it got annoying so I give myself a range for those days where I want to eat out with friends or indugle in something cheesy. 1,850 is maintaince for me so as long as I have a 500-150 deficit I'm happy. I know some people try to aim for 1000-500 but that's too crazy for me, I'd end up binging the next day!

Sounds like you are doing good, 3.5 in 4 weeks is very good. I'm hoping to weigh in soon (I don't own a scale so I don't know when that will be.)

I'm in!!!! I joined CC about a month ago and have lost about 5 lbs so far. I am 5' 7' and my CW is 142, my goal weight is 130. My calories per day are ~1,300. I have been doing Jillian's 30 day shred for a few weeks now and definitely see slight muscle tone in my arms and upper abs. It's my tummy and thighs that are being a PITA. My husband and I are taking our daughters to Disney World in a month and I would love to be able to wear my fitted T shirts like I used to without having rolls showing. I had gotten down to 141 but fell off the wagon and didn't do any exercises and ate whatever I wanted all last week. I was so disgusted with myself but here I am starting over this week and hoping to see the high 130's by the end of next week, we'll see!

I'm in too! I'm 33 yrs. old, 5'2", 138 lbs currently, my goal weight is questionable too, maybe 110-115lbs. I just really need some accountability because I feel like I'm all alone in this and if I log in and have to tell others how my progess is, I feel like it will help me. I've been a member since April 2009 and when I first started, I was really commited and I lost 7 lbs in about 4 weeks. I don't know why I fell off the wagon, but I'm definitely back on. I'm tired of making excuses of not working out. I really enjoy running (outdoors if possible, on my treadmill if I absolutely have to!) My problem is strength training, I hate doing it, but I know how important it is in weight loss so I'm gonna try and do it at least twice a week, while running about times a week. Another problem is the food part, some days I don't eat enough calories 1400/day and some days I cheat. I will do my best to stick to my allotted daily calories and I like your suggestion on being flexible with my calories based on my day. Wish me luck! Should we log in daily and do weekly weigh in's? Good luck to you all!

Hi busymom and tinkfan, welcome!  I'm so excited that there are some other people that want to do this together! 

Yesterday was an ok day for me - I ate right at 1400 calories and I did weight training at home but I also meant to go for a run and then I got home late and that part fell apart.  I have a 50 minute commute from work to home - so it seems like after I sit there for that long on the drive home I am hungry and ready for dinner and just don't work out.  However...I have a plan.  Today I packed my workout clothes in my car and instead of sitting in the 5 o'clock traffic I am going to go to a cross country 3 mile course that is a block from my work and run, then hopefully skip some of the traffic and when I get home I will already be done. 

Tinkfan - Oh I can totally relate to the tummy and thigh thing - I am definitely a pear!  My mom did weight watchers last year and lost 50 lbs (yeah pretty impressive) and they emphasize that you need milk to lose abdominal fat.  They insist that everyone have 8 oz of skim milk.  I don't know if you drink milk now, but I have tried to start doing that either with breakfast or my evening snack and I think it is working!  I like that you have a goal to look good at Disney!  My husband and I are going to the Dominican Republic the middle of September (yes, that means bikini) and so I am motivated to do really well over the next four weeks too.

Busymom -  Yeah, I really find it easier to be accountable to someone other than myself.  It sounds terrible, but it's just too easy for me to go home and make excuses for myself, but when I know I have to share my lame excuses with others it helps me to make better choices.  I can't do the treadmill thing b/c all I do is stare at the little screen and want to get off it.  I am excited about this 3 mile loop, b/c once I get over the first 1.5 if I want to go home I have to finish it.  I don't think I will be able to run the whole thing - but I will let you all know how I did tommorow.  Hmmm..I never have problems eating all my calories :)  We'll have to keep each other accountable to not only running but doing strength training too.  What did you do yesterday?

Soupcanx- Yeah I don't belong to a gym either.  You can get really cheap dumbells for free weights at thrift stores or goodwill.  I just have 3 sets of little ones, but it makes it so much easier to do it while watching TV at home or something. I got all 6 of mine for under $15, which is a nice alternative to a gym.  Don't CVS or or some of those places have scales?  I thought I have seen them in some drug stores which you could use once a week for free. 

Yes, I think we should do weekly weigh-ins.  What about Tuesday?  I have been doing mine on Tuesday b/c it gives you Monday to lose any water weight from the weekend (in case of splurges!) but still early enough in the week to feel like you have the week ahead of you. 

The mall has these scales you can use by inserting 2 quarters which I use. I also visit my friend at his job (he's a nurse) so I use the scale there :P

I can't trust myself with a scale in my house becuase I'll be tempted to weigh myself everyday which is what I did last year. Big mistake.

Today I had a breakfast of cracker and lowfat cream cheese, a green apple, and a soy latte.

  Breakfast chex mix bar     140 Light Banana Cream Pie A 170 110   Lunch Tomato Tortilla Wrap     71 Deli Fresh Turkey Breast Smoked C 64 60 Reduced Fat Deli Style Sliced Provolone Cheese C+ 19 50 Our Chicken Noodle - Soups C 360 195 Extra Thick Light Ranch B+ 15 35   Dinner gia russi gnocchi     250 world classics vodka sauce B+ 122 90 Milk, Nonfat, Fluid - With Added Vitamin A (Fat Free Or Skim) A 368 125   Snacks Vanilla - Low Fat B+ 100 140 Total Calories Consumed 1,266

 

That was what I had yesterday. I think the hardest thing about dieting for me is that I don't like vegetables.  It takes salads and stir-frys and all of those low-calorie things right out of the picture.  So I really have to try to eat a lot of good for you protein like skim milk and turkey, and chicken.  yesterday I was craving pasta like you read about and so I measured it out and the sauce and suprisingly it was only 350 calories for 1/3 of the container of gnocchi - and really satisfying!

soupcanx - Well, it sounds like you have ways to weigh yourself (it just might be hard to stick to the same day every week).  Your breakfast sounds great, good work.  I had 7 mini-rice cakes w/ 1 tsp peanut butter and a light yogurt. 

wltennisgeneral - A Tuesday weigh-in sounds good to me. I actually do not drink milk at all (other than the whole milk that I use in my cereal) but I'm willing to give it a shot. I am going to switch to skim milk and try to make myself drink 8 oz a day. What the heck!!!

Good Morning All,

I was trying to figure out how to post what I ate yesterday, how did you do that wltennisgeneral?

Yesterday was just okay for me, I ran for 25 minutes which is 20 minutes less than what I usually run, but I didn't plan well and was short on time. And if I can figure out how to post my food log, you'll see that I didn't get to 900 cal. Let's just say, I'm working on organizing my time better. To give you a little more background about myself, I'm a mom of two, my daughter will be 14 in Sept. 5th and my son will be 7, Sept. 18th. My daughter just started High School this week on Monday... Yikes! and my schedule has been a little off this week. My husband works a lot and has a weird schedule working 24 hr shifts at a time, so most of the time, the kids and household stuff is up to me. I'm attending community college right now, part-time, but I'm still on summer break and only my job is to take care of my family and house. I really shouldn't have an excuse not to work out.

I've also heard that milk is helpful in weight loss. I will try to drink about 8 oz. a day to. I like ice cold milk anyways. Tuesday sounds great as a weigh in day. I actually was suprised this morning when I got on the scale, when I posted my weight yesterday, I hadn't weighed myself in a few weeks and I haven't done too much but I weighed in at 134 lbs, so that is nice to start off a little less than I thought. I still have a lot of work though.

Tinkfan73, I'm jealous, I've always wanted to go to Disney World and it definitely is something to look forward to and stay on track.

Soupcanx, I don't belong to a gym either and that is why it's so hard for me to do weights, I own several different weight sets but I can't seem to get a workout routine set. When I had a gym membership, I did the weight classes and it is much easier for me to follow someone. I like to run outdoors though, which doesn't cost a thing. You can also use stuff like soup cans for weights and chairs for tricep dips and basic lunges and squats. I know, its definetely easier said than done, believe me. I hate that stuff.

wltennisgeneral, let me know how your run after work goes... and how you posted your food log. Thanks.

Have a good day! Today I'm gonna try this routine called HIIT, I'll let you guys know how it goes.

busymomandwife, I'm in community college too! Woot.

I just remembered that I do own The Perfect Push Up and a Sit Up bar that's connected to my door.... and a jump rope. Holy crap, man, I just brushed all these things aside and forgot about them completely. Sit ups is what I should be aiming for, I have a case of the jelly belly.

There you go Soupcanx! The jumprope is an awesome cardio workout, I once did it for about 30 minutes straight and forget it, I was worn out and my calves were way too sore the next day to even walk, so be careful! Sit ups are my true enemy and I should be doing those as well!

I tried a new workout today and it took a lot out of me. It's called HIIT and you sprint for 30 sec. as hard as you can and jog easily for 60 sec. alternating, including a warm up and cool down, you do it for 25 minutes. I usually run for about 40-45 minutes straight and just the 25 min. doing HIIT was a true workout. I feel almost the same as if I ran 4 miles... Tired!

i am totally in! im 5'1 about 127 and want to be around 112-115. i work out 6 days a week.. trying to keep my daily cals around 1350 but i take sunday dinner off to eat with my family at my moms house :) have lost about 4 lbs in the past month and a half.. so excited to be a part of this group

Welcome Caseymichelle369! I wish I could say that I work out 6 days a week, but I'm definitely going to try. 4 lbs is great! It's nice to hear that people still spend quality time like that with their family! I wish I could say the same, but my family is so spread out around the nation, my closest family is my sister and she lives about 100 miles away!

Soupcanx - That's great! I just remembered that I have a set of the Windsor pilates DVDs in my closet so I may have to dust them off as well.

Busymomandwife - We are sooooo excited about our trip! I'm really trying to stay on track..... I have heard so much about HIIT and I really want to give it a shot. High intensity exercises work better for me because I really hate exercising for a long period of time. I tried running on the treadmill/elliptical machine for 1.5 hours but I hated it. I really prefer shorter, high intensity workouts. I just like to get it over with, LOL! Let me know if you like it!!!!

 

I love how active this group is :D

And hi caseymichelle369! I'm a shorty too, I bet we can relate on a lot of things. I actually had success with 1,350 (except for on the days I was offered chocolate. Grrr.)

Mind if I join in?

I'm 19, 5'5 and I weigh 155 (down from 178.) I'm trying to lose the last 20 pounds, which is difficult since I've come across my first real plateau. I've been stuck at this weight for a few weeks now.

I'm trying to stock up on all the plateau advice I can find. I've started working out 30-45 minutes on the weekdays with dvds. I use to eat a steady 1300, but I've upped my cal intake to 1500. I'm not sure if I should lower it again after a while or zig zag. Anyway, I could really use the motivation and support!

Original Post by soupcanx:

I'll join. My pet peeve with groups is usually people stop posting after a week or two and the thread dies because no one is active. Info about me: Female 5'2 HW:140 CW: ??? GW: 105-115 Calories per day: 1,350-1,700 Exercise: Walking around. I don't own a scale so I can't do weekly weigh-ins.

heyy thats my goal weight & HW, not lyin :)

well i'm not 5'2 but i'm 5'3 so its pretty close.

hi. mind if i join aswell? im 5'10 and im 153 pounds. im well aware that im not big or anything, but basically im just not comfortable at this weight. ive only been on here for a week, but ive lost 2 pounds so hopefully ill be able to keep it up! most of my friends have never dieted and the few that have did it in a really unsafe way so some like minded people to talk to would be great.

YAY! another shorty :) the thing with being so short is 5 pounds is like 10 on our small frames so it doesnt take long of slipping up and it really shows.. about to watch a fight with the fiance so time to relax for the day! see you guys tomorrow! love this group!