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Wagon Jumpers - Week 1

If you are wondering what the wagon jumpers group is please see out start up thread:

Wagon Jumpers - Anyone Need a Lift?

Thank you to the 8 (and growing) people who have signed up to try to support each other in staying on track with our goals and plans in a long term capacity so that we are not on again off agin the wagon, as we all have been in the past.

To date the people who have expressed interest are:

Supersized (myself)

Jane3001

JCR

Shrinking_Caro

Newsjunkie1

Juicer17

Safina1

Tamarbee

Karenie

Kreitter

Kaydeefalls

Thin27

Jburgin

Vicki8seekers

FantasyFlight

Tally-Ho

Got2getthin

Hopeful31

I've sent everyone a PM to confirm that they are in.

Those who do not want to participate I will edit this post to remove the names.

If there is anyone who would like to join us please leave a message here, on the original thread or PM me and I will add you to the list.

Next Steps: Everyone on the list try to check in at least once before Saturday midnight. If someone has not checked in by Saturday midnight (including myself) then please contact that person!

I figure we will stay away from designating someone in particular to do the contacting. Specifically so that if that person is the one who does not check in that we're not relying on them to do the contacting. Also I tend to lean towards the idea that if we jump it's not a bad think to have 7+ people saying how happy they will be to have you back.

I expect that all of us are polite and positive with each other. I think it goes without saying that rude or offensive messages or contacts are intolerable, any such posts or PM's will result in removal from the group and a report to the moderators of the site.

Okay now that there is a plan lets see what we can do with it!

Suggestion: Tag this thread

I would suggest that everyone in the group tag this thread. We are committed to checking in here once per week, which may mean this thread will disappear from the first page on the forum. If you tag the thread it is easier to find and much less frustrating than searching through the motivation forum. 

First of all, I would just like to thank Supersized for starting the thread. You are definately NOT a daft lunatic (or else we all are ;-)). I'm also really glad to have the opportunity to learn from all of you, and hopefully we can all deal with this together.

For me recovering from a stumble that occurs due to socialising is not so hard. The problem is recovering from a stumble that involves emotional type eating because very rarely does the food actually solve the problem, it is still there the next day, and after eating too much one day, eating too much the next is just that bit easier. By the time the emotional problem is kind of better, the bad eating habits have set in, I've started walking the shortest way to uni, and it takes awhile to get back on track.

Juicer, I'm so sorry to hear about your company, I really hope that you find something soon.

I will probably try and post relatively often, if I post every day or two I think I will have a better chance of being accountable, and not slipping or whatever.

Lets get to know each other!

IMO if we know a bit more about each other and start to feel like a community then we are more likely to try to stay connected and support each other. 

I'm sure we all have different comfort levels with divulging information online, different weight / size / health goals, different ages etc... What we do have in common is a common weight loss pattern and a bit of need for some support. 

I'm not exactly shy, which you've probably figured out, so if you are shy please don't feel the need to tell all, I encourage each person to participate to the level that they feel comfortable and that this remains fun not obligatory. 

Personally I'd like to get to know a few people enough that we feel comfortable exchanging our regular e-mails and perhaps phone #'s so that we can get in touch with each other if we go completely offline. However this may take some time. I don't expect that everyone will want to do that. 

Me:

My name is Sara, I live in Downtown Toronto (Ontario), I'm 28 and I'm back here for round number 4. I've used this site for 3-6 months since 2006 and have been successful in loosing between 20 - 50 lbs each time. The problem is then I go off track and gain it back!

My challenge is not the bad night out, or the occasional binge, it's the slow downward spiral into "too busy, lets order pizza". 

I'm about 8 weeks into my plan this time. The big change for me this time is trying to do things gradually. When I've jumped back on the wagon before I do so with lots of gusto and bravado. I drop my calories to 1500 right away and start exercising for hours at the gym everyday. In hind sight it's a pretty good plan for burn out. 

So, this time I started by figuring out how much I was eating on average per day. It turned out to be 3000 calories OMG! I was shocked. But then I looked at what I was eating and it was all pre-made pasta, pizza, breads, chinese food, lots o maki (the sushi rolls), tonnes of juice etc... etc...

Since then I've been dropping my calories by 100 per week. I got stuck at 2700 and now I'm slightly stuck at 2500 hoping to be going for 2400 as of next Sunday. 

Likewise with the gym instead of going back 7 days per week hours per day I started with 30 minutes once per week. I increased the number of days I went per week each week until I reached 4 days which I think is a commitment I can make on a long term basis. Some weeks I may go more, but I know I can't do 7 days all the time for months on end. After I reached 4 days I started to increase how long I spent there, and now I'm going for 1.5 hours per day which includes 30 min elliptical, 30 min treadmill and 30 min abs workout. If I can maintain this for the next week then I will add another 30 min next week to include some weight training. After that I don't plan to increase my time or days any further and I'll work on fine tuning what I am doing at the gym. 

The single biggest change for me has been to avoid my scale. I was a compulsive daily weigh in person. I think when I started I was likely slightly heavier than my heaviest weight which was 205 lbs. I figured if I looked at the scale I'd freak out and not be able to take things slowly. So I've made myself a deal.

First, reach a point where I am eating on average 1500 cal and going to the gym 4 days per week for 2 hours per day. Once I get to that point I need to maintain it for 12 weeks. If I do that then I can look at the scale. In other words I want to make sure I am committed to this before I put the pressure of having to see the scale go down. 

Some other non-diet factoids about me: I work in politics although I'm currently looking for a new position in the corporate world for some blue chip experience to add to the resume, I have a live-in partner of 7 years, 2 dogs and 3 cats (yup, in a 2 bedroom downtown apartment), I have also joined the cult of apple.

So this is my weekly check-in, I'm not sure how much I will or won't check in through the week, but I'll try to be fairly regular in the first few weeks and then maintain at least starting the weekly threads.

Cheers,

Sara.

Hey Jane -

Thanks for letting me know I'm not a daft lunatic, I really do need reassurance on that sometimes  What Uni are you in? What are you taking? (If you don't mind sharing)

Juicer - what line of work are you in? Have you tried linkedin?

Hi, just checking in.  Some info on me.  I am a nurse living in northern california.  I am married and have 2 grown daughters.  We are in the process of remodeling our kitchen.  taking a long time.... we  are doing it ourself.

 

I think that part of  the problem of wagonh jumping for me is that I dont  log daily and then start estimating.  I am an emotional eater....and I love food.  I am NOT a picky eater!!!  would be easier if I was a picky eater.

 

I like the idea of checking in weekly and calling or sending a pm message if someone has been mia.

 

 

Time for me to check in as well.  My name is Joyce and I live in Ohio.  I was working for a startup airline as a flight attendant, and the company just couldn't make it through the rising fuel costs, recession, and poor corporate management.  We were all so close and it broke my heart to find out while I was out of the country that I no longer had my fun job. 

I did forget to mention in my previous post that after my 2 weeks of job search, I found an okay one to get me by while I continued looking.  Tomorrow I'm going in for drug tests and tax forms for a job that is much more interesting with much better pay.  I hope that means that I got the job, though they haven't given me a direct 'yes it's yours'.  I'll keep you posted.

Now I'm going to finishing logging my food, then do some pilates.  There, it's in writing.  Once I log it, or get it in writing, I always feel obligated to follow through.  :D 

Karenie - great to have you with us! For anyone who has not met Karenie before she's been a rock for me in the past on this site. I'm so glad you're here to encourage us and support us. 

Joyce - What is this new interesting job? I'm always amazed at the small differences between the US and Canada, with the exception of military positions no employment can request drug tests before offering employment in Canada. 

I think we're off to a good start quite a few of us have checked in already this week. Now we just need to see the week through. 

Check in time for me. Like Karenie, I'm married with two grown daughters and live in PA. I am without doubt an emotional eater, one of the reasons I've jumped the wagon so many times in the past. If I'm stressed, tired, or bored, I grab food - usually sweets.

I prefer to weigh myself on Monday, so that will be my accountability day. I'll try to check in other times during the week as well. I also am committing to log my food daily. Since I'm recovering from surgery right now, I am not able to exercise. When the Dr. gives me the go-ahead, though I'll add that to my commitment. To be honest, right now I'm very worried about gaining instead of losing since I'm much less active.

I look forward to joining all of you in becoming FORMER wagon-jumpers!

Good morning all :-)

I'm checking in.. my weigh day is Friday.. so if I check in on Mondays.. that's 2 days I need to be accountable for something in the week.

More about me- Im 25 and I work for CNN..Im climbing the ladder but with it comes "doing my time" with the crazy schedules and such.  I moved here about 6 months ago so it's been an adustment. I love what I do, though.  I also recently got out of a pretty (ok, very) bad relationship and moved into my own place.  So, a alot has been changing.  I started this plan about a month 2 months ago, also though I have fallen off the wagon a few times during that time.  So far without a fall, Im on week 2.

Good luck this week everyone! Im excited to be part of this with all of you!

Great to hear from you JCR & Newsjunkie1,

JCR - I am of course wishing you a speedy recovery. I can really relate to worrying about gaining weight while you need to wait for your body to recover. I really wish I had that foresight when I had my accidents and subsequent surgeries a few years ago. Logging your calories daily is a great way to stay on top of that challenge.

Newsjunkie1 - no need to explain your nickname  Sounds like you have a lot to contend with at the moment. Have you thought about coping mechanisms to keep you on track through all of your changes?

Hi guys, since everybody is sharing I guess I should too. I am currently writing my phd dissertation, and living in Conntinental Europe. I have no kids, a boyfriend who lives in the UK, and I am hoping that this year I will finally be able to make the move there. I've struggled with eating for a long time now, and have probably had some sort of eating disorder in the past, overeating normally isn't so much of a problem because I am lazy or get side tracked, but because I'm overeating to compensate for something else that is troubling me in my life. Ideally I would like to lose 25-30 pounds.

Joyce, gald you were able to get an another job to tide you over, and I hope that you get the better one you are trying for. I'm starting to get really scared about having to find a job at the end of this year. Everywhere the economy seems to be getting worse.

jcr, I hope everything goes well with your recovery and that you are back on your feet soon.

Anyway, so far the past couple of days have been rather strange. I haven't been feeling quite right all the past week, and then got drunk on Saturday night, and it now Monday evening and I still feel pretty under the weather which is not at all normal, specially since I normally recover pretty well from drinking. So i've eaten a little more than I would have normally, but I haven't ordered any type of takeaway, which is a really good thing. Anyway, I hope to be really feeling well tomorrow, so that I can start getting up earlier and go for a walk, and start the day on a good note.

Anyway, I hope you are doing well.

Jane

Hi all,

It seems we are an interesting eclectic group.

I am 25 from Israel. I finished my BA in cinema and communication studies in Sep. and have been promoted (if you can call it that) to a managerial position in a small start up company run by my brother (where I have been working for almost 2 years now).

My weight history - I was always told I was overweight by my mom and have always had self esteem issues. My highest high was 170 pounds and my lowest low was 125 pounds - where I aim to return. I am now around 145 I estimate (I will have my first official weigh in on Friday) after holding steady at 138 for a good 4 months (Result of jumping off the wagon).

My ultimate goal - is to fix this abusive relationship I have with food. I want to have all the treats I love in my place and have them only when I want them in good measure without it being a struggle to stay in control. I was almost there and then a month and  a half ago work got crazy and I dove off the wagon.

Now I am back taking it 1 step at a time short term goals:

1. Log food during weekdays

2. Finish the couch25k plan FINALLY - I am in week 4 (I have been on the program for 2.5 months and am just in week 4 but easy does it I guess)

3. Do yoga on weekends

 

This friday I weigh in I know Ill get discouraged and am so gratefull I have a place to go with these feelings!

Have a great week guys!

 

I'd like to join.  This is totally me, I'm good for a while then any percieved crisis and I'm done.  Sometimes not even a crisis, I was doing really well several years ago losing weight, excersing and eating well.  My husband and I went out of town with another couple for a long weekend.  We had a great time, but when I returned after 2 days, somehow I couldn't bring myself to go back  to the gym-(whats up with that???).  Of course I regained everything I had lost. 

I'm also an emotional eater and can totally blow my diet if I'm not careful.  I'm more of a grazer but if I don't write it down I will 'graze' all day long. 

I'm 41 living in Tucson AZ, working full time w/3 kids. 

5ft 4, highest weight was 258 (jan 08) now 227 with a goal weight of 150-160.

 

 

 

WOW! Thank you to everybody who is keeping this going! I heard from safina1 by e-mail she's got some great ideas for ways to keep the group together and motivated. I have not heard from Shrinking_Caro yet, she was on briefly in our introduction thread. I'll make sure to send her another PM mid week to make sure she wants to stay with the group. 

We really do have quite a diversity of people. So glad to know that wagon jumping is a common issue. 

Jane - hope you are feeling better and energized soon. 

Tamarbee - sounds like you are really busy with a new start up. I work in government relations and all my clients (and my 4 person firm) all all small businesses. It's crazy busy and really long hours, but I like the variety of things I get to do each day. What is the couch25k plan (I'm guessing from the couch to a 25K but not sure). I love yoga!

Kreitter - welcome to the group! Full time career with 3 kids! I can't imagine how you do it! I think you and I have similar goals. I'm not sure what my weight is right now, I'm staying well away from the scale for awhile. My heaviest was 205 lbs and I know I'm over that by at least 10 lbs, I'd like to get to 150 - 160 range as well.

Have a great week everyone!

Sara.

Hello...

I think I would like to join you guys This is my first day - I joined very briefly in September and fell off the wagon almost immediately. I don't know what my problem is but I would like to fix it!

I successfully lost 15 lbs. with Weight Watchers a few years ago, gained it back. Lost 15 lbs. with a diet pill from the Dr. and gained it back. Tried Dietpower, started and stopped Weight Watchers literally like 6 times...saw a nutritionist and lost 10 lbs. then gained 5 back and stopped all together...I think you see where this is going!

I am at the point where I feel stupid even mentioning to my family that I am trying to lose weight because I have been "trying" for like 9 years.

I am 28, an art teacher, finishing up my Masters, married 5 1/2 years, just bought our first house, broke as a joke! I am 5'7'', my highest weight was 200, I would like to be 150. Right now I am at 189 :( and it seems impossible to me that I can even get to 180...so I need some help!

P.S. I have no idea what "PM" means!

Hello Thin27!

We seem to have an ever growing diverse group of really talented very educated women here! Good to see!

As the name of the group implies, we've all been there done that with the on again, off again, try this one that one and the other one methods. I'm sure we're all trying different things right now. What we have in common is a need for support on the consistency level. IMO the more people who are interested in supporting each other on that level the better.

Oh, and PM means private message, I've sent you one, you should be able to go to the community tab, look for your mailbox and there will be 1 message from me in your inbox. 

Cheers,

Sara.

Hi All,

 

It is really neat to hear about everyone.  As everyone said we seem to be quite a diverse group which just makes everything more interesting. 

I've also had my weight go up and down.  I used to be a Flight Paramedic and we had to have public weigh ins.  Weight was critical because of fuel balances etc..  So the pilots had to know what each crew member weighed.  We also had to be in the 'normal' range for our height on a standard height weight chart.  This was a good job and kept me in shape, but when I became a nurse and wasn't held accountable anymore the weight came piling on again. 

I still work in healthcare but now I work in the computer department at our hospital.   I still have a lot of trouble when I'm bored, and as Karenie can verify hospitals always have all sorts of unhealthy food that people feel compeled to bring in for everyone.  You would think in healthcare we would do a little better! 

 

Hello!

I've never joined one of these groups before, looks like it's off to a good start. :)

I never had much to lose, weight-wise -- started out this summer probably at around 145-150 (didn't buy a scale for a few months), got down to 135 easily, then...well, it's those last 10 pounds, right? I'm 5'3", small frame, goal 125. Managed to creep down to 128ish in early January, and have been sliding back up ever since. I'm back at 131 now. Most days I eat at or below maintenance, I try to work out three times a week (plus lots of long walks, now that the weather's finally warmed up a bit), but slowly but surely, I'm moving back up, and I'm having more and more cheat days. I only go over by a couple hundred calories, but over time, they all add up, I suppose. Ah, well. I'm not particularly stressed out about it -- but then again, that's probably why I'm letting myself slide! A little accountability will do me good, I think.

Oh, right. I'm currently 22, live in Chicago, and work as a freelance theater artist (director/stage manager/house manager), with a dreadfully dull day job as an administrative assistant at a major financial institution. So I sit on my butt from 9 to 5:30 every day, then run off to rehearsals in the evenings and house manage on the weekends. Fun! Insert stress/boredom eating here. This summer, I'm moving to D.C. to start a position in theater administration, and I'm hoping that having a job I actually like will make it easier to eat healthily, but I'd rather not get totally off track in the meantime!

Er, and I'll shut up now. Hi. :)

The couch 25k plan - not 25k :)

Its the couch potato to 5k runner plan. I am now on week 4. I keep slacking off and having to re-do weeks. Hopefully Ill get better.

Hi Kreitter - Flight Paramedic that must have been very intense to say the least. I guess if we all had public weigh ins we may be doing a bit better (physically, not sure about emotionally). LOL health care and the non-healthy eating, seems like most office environments.... here are the brownies I made yesterday for no reason please eat them for me!

Kaydeefalls - We hope we're off to a good start. I think Tamarbee is fairly close to her goal as well. And also in an arts field. Good luck on the new and more interesting job. When do you get to go?

Tamarbee - Thanks for the clarification, I was thinking 25K WOW that's like from the couch to a marathon! 5K sounds much more manageable (I say that never having measured my running and being reasonably sure it's not 5K, although I'd like to run in our 10K next summer - it just past this weekend).