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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!

Okay so I'm 20 years old and 219 as of this morning.  This actually made me very happy, because it meant that in the past 3 or so weeks that I was off the bandwagon, I only gained back 2.4 lbs.  Based on how I'd been eating I thought it would have been much more.  I've decided to get back into things slowly.  Instead of launching into calorie counting and exercising, I'm starting with just calorie counting.  That's not to say I'm going to completely ignore exercise, but my plan for that is to just do little things like park farther away and walk more when I can.  After a few weeks, once I can keep myself counting without a lot of cheating, I'll start adding excercise for the sake of excercise back in.  For now, I'm just going to stick with trying to bike on a nice day or something along those lines, maybe dance a little while cleaning my room lol

Hi everyone < waving >

So, I was basically off the wagon this weekend, sigh.  Although I was on a walking weekend and did in fact walk about 8-9 miles each day, I ate and drank for Britain and undid the past few weeks good work, I think.

So, I'm 38, live in the UK and have a brother and sister that live permanently in the US.  We are British though!  My parents still live here.  Um.  Falling off the wagon.  I think that for a long time I thought I was either on a diet or not. No middle ground.  So when I wasn't on a diet I ate what I wanted, when I wanted and didn't think about keeping some of the healthy habits I'd developed on whatever the previous diet had been.  Result?  I've been overweight pretty much all of my adult life, gradually getting higher and higher until I said "NO MORE" last July.  I've been struggling to lose weight since before Christmas but staying on CC and the help, support and motivation I've received here helped me to pretty much maintain, for the first time ever.  So now that my motivation seems to be returning, I don't have to start over from scratch.  I finally feel that I'm making lifestyle changes;  that I'm not on a diet.

That's not to say I don't struggle - witness this weekend's excesses.  But I don't decide there's no point and chuck in the towel - I know that this is a choice for life and that I have to forgive myself for slipping up.  I will get there.

I love this idea for a thread - thanks supersized

Warning - rant inside!!!!

Well, today has not been such a great day. I really think something crazy is going on with my hormones (I have been taking the pill continuously the last year or so, to try and even them out, but this month that doesn't seem to be working at all)

Anyway so already feeling like crap, when tonight I get 2 emails complaining about exams that I have graded from students who aren't happy with their results. I haven't taught the class, just graded it, and it isn't my fault I have to mark to a 7/10 average, when really they all did so well they deserved to be marked at an 8/10, maybe even 8.2 average. And to make it even harder, nobody really failed, how can I give people 9.5s if nobody fails, and half the class deserves 8 and only about 5 deserve less? Now I'm going to be the one who gets into trouble for the grades and have to write detailed defences of thier grades, and even worse look like an idiot!

Anyway, so I ate too much today, good points were though that i went for 3 walks (the last one at 9:30 pm must have been pretty fast, because my normal half hour route only took 24mins), didn't buy a bottle of wine when on my last walk, and am now just drinking water.

All I can hope is that tomorrow gets better. Hope you are all having good days.

jane-Sorry about your day! Good job on getting the walks in and not getting the bottle of wine!

I eventually had to go off of the pill......it just wreaked havoc on me, and my time o the month. I ended up going with an IUD (not recommended if you have never given birth, so talk to doc if you haven't). Not only am I more normal, I barely get it anymore, and the side affects are way less. Just a thought!

 Shrinking-I know what you mean....it seems to be all or nothing with me too! It seems if I don't really police myself, I go nuts!

I'm actually proud of myself today. I have eaten well, got ou8tside for a bit with my daughter, did a great weight workout, and a great cardio session....keep it up, ya know?>!?!

Flightfantasy - welcome to the group! I am totally on board with the slowly easing into it (as you may have seen from my previous posts). I haven't had much success with diving right in, which is my usual pattern, followed by a crashing right out. So Slowly this time and I hope this helps me integrate the good habits into an actual lifestyle change instead of just saying "life-style change" and meaning "temporary diet until I loose this damn weight". 

 

Shrinking_Caro - Great to see you here! Part of the taking it slowly for me is realizing that I have to ditch the all or nothing. I'm going to have to work the beers, the nights out and the dinners out into real life and not let them derail me, or belly up to the buffet. 

 

Jane - That sucks about the grading, is it bell curve? Or just a prof setting a standard? 

 

I'm doing okay today. I haven't done well in setting my daily goals. I set some little goals in five areas (household, health & beauty, finance, career, entertainment) to try to keep me working on work-life balance issues. This forum obviously falls into the health & beauty category, which I'm not doing badly in, but I need to keep working on including a bit from all of the areas so that I don't end up living in a swamp, with lots of shiny tech gadgets and an enormous tax bill that I can't pay because I didn't look for a new contract while I was spending all of my time doing god knows what instead of finishing that book for the book club. 

I didn't plan well today and in order to try to meet my friend on time and make it to the gym I realized that I hadn't brought any lunch and was short on time and stopped by the dreaded drive thru because I'd only eaten 200 cal and it was now 3pm and I was headed to a 1.5 hour work out.... Well at least I ate, but friggin 500 calories for a Harvey's veggie burger!

See, this is what I mean when I tell people it's real easy to be a fat vegetarian! 

I digress, I'm still within my daily calories, by quite a bit. My friend fortunately or unfortunately cancelled on me so I don't have to face a second pub night in a row (with a girls night scheduled tomorrow) and I can now be sure of not exceeding calories for the day.

Hmm, I went on a bit longer than I meant to.

I'm thinking of trying to find some sort of challenge question for next week. PM me with ideas (don't want to blow it before the new week).

Congrats everyone for meeting the once a week posting requirement for the 1st week! (and it's not over yet)!

Cheers,

Sara.

 Sara, Vegetarians dont eat just veges as some ppl think.  They just dont eat meat.  I am a vegetarian.  I am trying to curb the amout of fat that I eat.  I have always eaten a lot of veges.  I love them.

jane, hate to hear that. that must suck. I had a day like that too. I made a kid in my youth group cry! :( I kinda snapped at him over a technical mistake he made and that set the tears a flowing. Argh, I felt so terrible. on top of all that, my diet today hit sucksville so im upset about that as well. looking forward to a good rest tonight because I get the day off tomorrow to get my car fixed.

Good Morning All,

 

Today is a new day and I'm optomistic that I've gotten over the 'unfortunate marshmallow incident'.  I did drag my behind out of bed at 5:30 (only a 1/2 hour late) and got a 1/2 hour cardio work out in at the gym.  Today was one of those days I kept hitting snooze and finding all of the reasons I should stay snuggled in my bed.  But I do feel better that I worked out - so that is an accomplishment.

 

Hope everyone else has a better day today - looked like yesterday was bad for several of us. 

Hey guys, thanks so much for your support, I really appreciate it.

super - The grading isn't an official bell curve, it just has to be to an 6.8-7.2 average (the program is in several universities and this was introduced in order to have greater standardisation in marks between all the universities, so they could do a class ranking) The main reason i am pissed is that I did the same program 3 years ago, and it never would have occured to me to question a grade (at my undergrad uni questioning a grade was an official procedure and cost 100 bucks) so the idea that these people would think it was fine to actually say in an email they believe they should have gotten 10/10, when thier paper was actually completely illegible, and unreadable makes my blood boil (even worse the prof wants to give it to him, because he was such a good student in the class!), in this case what is the point of only having student numbers on the papers. I wish the prof would realise that if you want to do this, you should have class participation marks, not fold when the student complains.

vicki - I actually went on the pill because before I was an absolute nutcase about half the month. Being on the pill, and taking it continuously, once i got over the begining month or so, has actually evened things out quite alot, until the last couple of weeks. I just feel like something is different. Just feel blurk. I probably should go back to my doctor, but I'm going to be out of town for most of the next 6 weeks, so there isn't really time.

burgin, thanks for your support too, I know what it can be like working with kids (I'm not at the moment, but I taught and nannied through out grad and undergrad school) I hope that today is going better and that fixing your car isn't too much of a shock!

This is yet another day though where I haven't achieved any work. I walked about an hour, but that has been about the only constructive thing I've achieved today. I really hope tomorrow I start to feel more normal. Hope your days are going well.

Karen - my problem with the veggie diet is pasta, mmmmm pasta..... mmmmm oh yeah, and pasta. I haven't met a pasta that I don't like. LOL Of course I'm still veg, it's not that I don't eat the vegetable as well, just left to my own devices it's veggie stir fry with rice, or rice noodles, pasta primavera, pasta salad, veggie lasagna, you get the idea. 

Kreitter - You hit the snooze alarm and still got up at 5:30 am! You are my hero! About 4 years ago when I finished uni I switched from a bartending job to an office job. I've never quite got the hang of it. Now, granted my office job is not strict office hours and it does involve going to a lot of evening running into late evening functions. But I'm a complete BITCH anytime before 9am, and I think I've made a world class achievement if I've made it to the office by 9:30am. I do have a home office, most mornings you can find me blurry eyed in front of my computer at 7:30 am trying to make sense of the e-mails I answered at 2:30 am. 

Jane - I don't know if I would have ever questioned a grade, I can't say I ever needed to I scored well except the first time I did my one and only science cred and I deserved to be failing that class before I dropped it. I think education has now become more of a consumable product (more's the pity). I know I'm considering complimenting my MA with and MBA not for the knowledge but because I know it's now the price of entry if in 5 - 10 years I'm going after executive positions. I think in that case I may be a demanding student if I'm paying $15000+ and am doing for career advancement. 

 

THIS IS WHY THIS WILL WORK

Okay I came to this conclusion today at the gym, it's a bit of a ramble my apologies. 

This is going to work because I am in control. 

Sure, that's very reductionist and mantrafying of me (nice made up word by the way - "mantrafying"). 

Here it is: Some days, oh hell, some hours it's driving me nuts not looking at the scale. I know I'm heavier than my heaviest right now. I know this because the clothes that fit me at my heaviest don't fit now. I keep thinking I could just take a little tiny peek. It wouldn't hurt. But, fortunately I've buried the scale but good (in a crate somewhere under the X-mas supplies in the storage space). 

So I'm feeling kinda down today because I'm having that little battle with myself. And, then I think about it, about me and about how I act when I know what my weight is. I panic, I develop grandiose plans and then get really frustrated and eventually drop them when they aren't working fast enough. 

So this time I don't know how much I weigh.

What I do know is:

- If I keep reducing my calories by 100 each week I will get to 1500 avg/day in about 10 weeks. My exercising is on track to be at 4 days/week 2 hours/day before then.

- When I do reach the goal above then I get to do a count down with a tangible end in sight of 12 weeks. Which is when I get to do my first weigh in. 

- That is followed by a tangible 12 week count where I weigh in once per week and do not change my program so that I can establish a 3 month pattern.

So what I know is I have a plan that will take me at least 34 weeks to complete the first 3 phases. 

All I need to do is make choices that get me through those phases, like going to the gym and counting my calories. In the next 34 week I am never asking myself "did I loose weight" I'm asking myself only "did I follow the plan"?

When I know what I weigh I freak out and beat myself up when I don't loose, when I gain a pound or two and I begin to wonder what I've done wrong. Even though I may have done nothing wrong it may just be water retention (women's cycles), muscle gain, my body adjusting to it's new composition. I know this in theory but I never give myself enough time to really focus on integrating the plan. 

I see so many people on here falling into the same trap, shredding themselves because they gained a few pounds and can't deal.

So, if all I'm controlling is the plan I can control if I went to the gym, and if I ate properly. I can't control which days my body decides to retain water, add muscle or adjust to new composition. But hopefully by the time the 34 weeks are up I'll realize the plan works if I just give it lone enough to work. 

Sara - great post!  You're right - this WILL work.  By giving yourself achievable, attainable  and sensible goals, you've made things totally do-able.  Like "mantrafying" btw

You've obviously thought this through and worked out a way for it to work for YOU.  I'm so impressed that you took the time to consider past attmpts and where they went right (and wrong) and then came up with the right plan for you now.

I'm not good with longterm planning, but accept that this way of eating and exercising has got to be something I can do longterm.  It's not just about losing the weight, as you say, but about making changes that will become lifelong habits.

I'm always surprised about how good eating right feels - guiltfree is the way to go!  Plus, I have more energy and feel better - what's not to like?!

Anyway, enough rambling - hope everyone is enjoying life on the wagon!

I agree. Very good post Sara. I WISH I could be that organized. i've tried in the past, but I fell off that "wagon" as well. :)

 

Just an update, the car is ok. It was just an oil change, plus a slight repair due to a recall. So all is well with that. Hope everyone had a great day

Well the weekend is coming up fast!

I'm making a promise and commitment to myself to NOT over eat, over drink, and to get my exercise in!

Well, the good news is that today I am finally feeling more normal. I've gone for a couple of nice walks, eaten pretty well, and even done some work!

I'm with Super, Kreiter I am also in awe of anybody who gets up at 5:30 am, I sometimes think I shoud force myself to get up earlier, but I figure I may as well sleep in the last few months while I am still a student, and before I have to get a real job.

Super, I haven't really questioned grades before either, even when I probably should have. MBAs are super expensive, my boyfriend did his 2 years ago at a very pretigious UK school. Basically he paid 30,000+ GBP to ensure a work permit for the UK. And moved into almost exactly the same type of job he had before in the US, with a little more money, but because england is so much more expensive, about as well off (but now in debt) my advice is if you are planning it, try and get your company to pay for it!

 I'm also with shrinkingcaro, I'm impressed with your plan. I'm even more impressed that you have made it a third of the way through, and jealous that you have a life stable enough to make a 34 week plan. I don't even know what country I am going to be living in in 34 weeks!!! In about 20 weeks I'm going to be visa-less, funding-less and still not finished my dissertation :-(.

jburgin, glad to hear your car is okay.

anyway, better get back to work, hope you are all doing well,

Jane

I had a bad evening yesterday.... my verdict on diet pop now... never, ever, ever again!

Calories on track, feel a bit more awake this morning (tried juice), must still do laundry (I hate laundry - my personal finance goal is to make enough money so that I can send my laundry out every week) and go to gym. 

Jane - nope no stable life here, I'm not quite going to get booted out of the country yet, but the job is contract (I run my own business and have a few contracts) and my main client looks like they are going under. I am however determined that I am not going to yet again let job derail my getting fit. Yeah MBA very pricy, no chance of company paying, but I'm worried that if I loose the contracts I have now that I need to upgrade the credentials to keep getting positions that level or higher. 

Oh boy! May I be added to this group? I've had my first wagon jumping since starting on this site March 9th. It wasn't pretty and I could use some support in getting back on track...

supersized-thanks for all the good advice you've given me on my other post! And thanks for recommending this one.  I've just finished reading through it and would LOVE to be a part of it!

So, a little about me first off.  I am 33 years old(on the 14th), 5'10", and currently weigh 220 lbs:(  Right now I am a stay-at-home mother of two, ages 8 and 5.  I've been married for almost 12 years.  We recently relocated to sunny St George, Utah. 

Like most of you here, I've been on and off the wagon more times than I care to count!  I've tried just about every fad diet/drug known to man.  I'll have some initial success but usually end up gaining back every pound lost plus a few friends.  I thought that our recent move would be great for my weight loss efforts.  No family or close friends to distract me from my workouts.  At least that was the plan.  Instead, I found myself hating going the gym alone, so I eventually stopped.  I was lonely and bored, which led to comforting myself with food.  Next thing you know, I've gained 30 lbs in the last year and am at my heaviest. 

I started making small dietary changes mid-February.  After about a month of no results, I decided it was time to step up my efforts.  I started going back to the gym, nothing regular, just the occasional workout when I felt the need.  Still no results.  So, I found this website and joined April 1st.  I religiously logged my food and upped my workouts to 5x per week.  I lost nothing the first 3 weeks, the fourth week I dropped 3 pounds and was thrilled.  Sadly, my excitement was short lived as I have gained those three back plus 1.  Even sadder still, that caused me to not just "fall" off the wagon these past two days, I DOVE head first! 

But, today is a new day and after reading through everyone's posts here, I am ready to get back on track.  Wish me luck! And good luck to everyone else!

Tally-ho - welcome to the group, drop us a line to introduce yourself.

Got2getthin - welcome to the group, thank you for introducing yourself. 

EVERYONE - NEXT STEPS

Okay so today is Friday, tomorrow is the end of week 1. Congratulations everyone!

While I think everyone has posted at least once having a few second sets of eyes on that would be a good thing. If anyone has not posted all members are encouraged to send that person a polite and positive PM to see if they are on track, encouraging them to get back on track if they are off and come back to the group. 

Thank you to everyone who has put so much effort into this thread in the first week. I will be starting up the week 2 thread on Sunday morning (likely sometime after 11 am EST DST - sorry to the early risers). 

I am thinking of calling the threads by the date range, for example the next thread would be Wagon Jumpers - May 11th - 17th. I'm thinking of doing this because as we continue we will likely continue to pick up members which would put them on week 1 while members who joined this week will be on week 2... I can organize the names in the first thread under headings of week 1 and week 2 to give people a sense of accomplishment and a goal to reach towards next week. 

If anyone has any objection or think this may be discouraging please let me know. 

Good idea on the way to title the posts!