Welcome to the Group

Welcome! We would love get to know you, so please tell us a little bit about yourself. You can choose any format you'd like, but most of us here share some or all of the following details:

1. History with weight loss:
2. History with Calorie Count:
3. Reason for joining this group:
4. Some interesting details about yourself, such as your job, your family, your pets and your interests:

And now just go ahead and make that first post!

Hi all,

My name's Heather and I'm 66 years old.  About a year and a half ago, I had all my teeth replaced with dentures.  I hate them!! Shortly afterwards I developed pneumonia which the doc said was partially due to the fact that I was losing weight which I know was because I was run down and not eating hardly anything (mostly because of the teeth) I am 5'4" tall and currently weigh only 100 pounds.  Before the teeth incident I was 125 which is my current goal.  I would love some suggestions on some weight gaining ideas for a mostly sedentary (I do a little gardening) lady. I live in Colorado. Mother of 4. Grandmother of 11, 2 dogs, 1 cat.  Love the computer, knitting, my gardens and reading.  I'm just tired of being so SKINNY!!!  I know that most people have weight loss issues but my problem is a difficult one as well.

It's nice to meet everyone and hear all the stories.

Best regards

Heather

 

 

Hello all, I just joined CC today. i am a 22 year old, 5'4 female who has always had trouble losing and/or maintaining my weight due to my thyroid. When I was transitioning from 8th to 9th grade I topped 190 lbs and wore a size 16, I lost 40 lbs by the end of my 9th grade year. Today I way 130 lbs and it continuously fluctuates from 130-136 lbs within any givin week. I noticed that one thing that helped me get down to 130 lbs is wheatgrass, taking the tablets and exercising helped me to lose about 10lbs in two-three weeks :) and I am still losing, but at a slower rate. My goal would definitely be to lose about 10 more lbs.

Weight has always been an issue for me throughout my life (I'm 27 now), but I have never been serious about losing it until I actually lost some weight by accident when I started walking my new puppy daily.  Once I lost the weight and became more active things were looking up.
I then met my now husband and gained it all back as we went out to eat often and I started eating what he eats (never good!).
I am now a member of Weight Watchers and have been on the program for a little over a year and 1/2.  I have had alot of success with the program (I have lost 80 lbs).  The past few months have been hard as I have tried to reach my goal weight.
My body does not seem to want to let go of the last few pounds.  I have been exercising a few times a week and eating well within my points range.  I am going to try to count calories for a while. 

My goal weight is 149 lbs, and I am currently yo-yoing right around 156-157 lbs.
My current challenges are that I am not seeing results.  I have changed my exercise routine a bit.  I walk 45 minutes in the morning and do step aerobics two nights a week.  I also try to get to the park after work and jog at least 3 nights a week.  I did The Biggest Loser workout DVD for a while and it really boosted my weight loss, until my body got used to the activity and simply maintained my weight after that.
As far as food weaknesses go, I don't have too much of a problem with temptation because I have spent the last year and 1/2 forming healty habits.  I just simply don't keep junk food or other tempting things in our home.  If my husband wants a Reese's cup, he better eat it elsewhere!  I crave healthier foods now, so that's good.
This is my first time doing calorie count or any sort of forum.
I joined this group as a means to get ideas about shedding those last few pounds and then maintaining my weight for a healthier life.
Interesting details about me...hmmm...I a newly wed and we have two awesomely hilarious cats.  I am a full-time college student soon to graduate and I work full-time as an office manager.  My weight loss journey would not have been possible if it weren't for my husband's support and my weight loss partner--my mom!  She's lost over 85 pounds!  She motivates me daily and is my exercise buddy.

Hi Heather,

Want to gain weight?  Just eat lots of sweets - dessert for breakfast, lunch, etc.  Eat lots of protein, too.  Go out to eat a lot - restaurant food has so many hidden calories that even if you're good & try to eat healthy you still gain weight.  I personally gain weight if I eat 1700 calories for more than 1 or 2 days in a row.  Try that as well.  Lifting weights is also good for gaining because muscle weights more than fat.  Start with 1 or 2 lbs, get a really good DVD that shows you how to do all the moves, and then go for it.  You'll like your figure better too.

Hello!

My name is Katie and I'm 29 years old. I'm 5'3" and currently 116 lbs.  I honeslty don't have a history of weight loss...I've never really had to deal with my weight as a problem, well, up until I wanted to donate blood and couldn't because I was too light...I was 100 lbs all through high school and even into college...it was only a couple years ago that I started gaining a little weight...I quit smoking in February of 2008 and have been steadily gaining just a little weight over a year...I just joined CC today actually! I thought it would be a good tool for me to use in counting my calories and making sure that I can keep my weight balanced...my main reason for joining this group is simple...I wanted to be around people who share the same goals as me...

A little bit about myself...I work at a library in my hometown, so I do a lot of walking...I also teach an art class to the kids there at least once a month...I'm an artist and have been trying to get back into writing...aiming to get a book done (hopefully) this year...a couple years ago I went vegetarian, but it's kinda fallen apart since then...I realized that I need the animal protein in my diet in order to have a balanced one...I still can't stand the smell of beef cooking though...it totally grosses me out!  I don't like people calling me "skinny" because I'm not...I'm the right weight for my height and build (small boned) so I guess you could call me "thin"...I'm not starving myself...I love food too much! :) But I'll shut up now...

Howdey all!

i've been overweight for most of my adult life, but was comfortable with myself so didn't really do anything about it. A few times i tried to cut carbs from my  intake; that it never seemed to do any good and it was SO hard to do that i gave up.

About a year ago i stumbled upon this web page and it has done me a world of good. Counting calories and weighing food has really helped me learn what a real serving size is.

I finally decided today that 150 just isn't attainable for me, and since i'm already at a healthy BMI at 155 I'll just make that my "goal" weight". Now I need to learn how to ease back into "regular" eating. (Regular being not dieting.)

I've got 2 great kids, 6 & 2, and a wonderful husband, of 20 years. Overall life has been good. Don't really like my job right now, but have my sights on another one!

hi all.  I'm a woman, 43 years old - at 5'6" & 146lbs I'm on the curvy side of the normal healthy range (no surprise - at age 14 I was 114lbs with C cups!)  my husband is 6' and 155-160 lbs - slim, but still in the normal range.

we eat a healthy whole foods diet with lots of veggies, fruit, whole grain and legumes with a little dairy. we avoid packaged and processed foods, rarely eat at restaurants and we eat meat only occasionally. virtually all our treats are homemade.  our 10-year old son is long-limbed and lithe, like his dad.

here's the issue: our 13-year old daughter is 5'5" and weighs 167.  she was a plump baby, a plump toddler, plump child and plump tween.  now she's hitting her teen years with about 40 more pounds than is healthy for a girl her age.  I'm concerned that she is courting life-long health problems.

I don't want her to feel she is in any way bad, lazy, out-of-control or undesireable because she is big (and so far she doesn't), but I do want her to be fit.  it is a very delicate balance - I'm concerned about her health, not her looks - she's gorgeous!  but I do want her weight to be in the healthy range.  I also want her to understand why, but it is so difficult to talk to a 13-year old about long-term anything.  we didn't think about heart disease or diabetes at 13 - we thought about make-up, boys, music and clothes... and so does she.  it's her job!  ;)

our family already has healthy habits and our lifestyle works for the rest of us - putting our daughter on a reducing diet is difficult when the rest of us don't need to join her.  I've offered to join her exercise regime (I can use it, I've gotten flabby) and reduce my calories a little, just out of solidarity. 

what else can I do to support healthy changes for her?  any ideas?

There are weight loss groups for teens in many cities.  They offer a community of girls who are working on diet, exercise, & weight loss, lots of support & the best psychological help one can get.  Shop carefully cuz they can be expensive. 

thanks - I'll see what I can find although i won't get my hopes up, as we live in a rural area.  our closest town has 2500 people and most people here are overweight and below average in health & fitness (it's quite startling when I compare the kids here to city kids, who seems to be slimmer and fitter in general - perhaps because they can walk and actually get somewhere).  

my daughter definitely supports the recent theory that you tend to be the same weight as your friends - most of the girls in her school are significantly overweight, too. perhaps they can get together as a group - one of the local moms is a personal trainer and I'm interested in nutrition - together we could guide them towards better habits.

thanks for the tip that lead me to an idea!  ;) 

Hello, I am Taylor and am 18 years old.  I have always been extremely active ever since I was little and was always super fit until I entered into high school. 

Around 14, I was diagnosed with polycystic ovarian syndrome which goes hand in hand with weight gain, high cholestrol, and diabetes.  My freshman year of high school I weighed 120 pounds and gained twenty five pounds within six months, even when I was putting myself on high protein low carb diets.  I went to the doctor and was then diagnosed.  I have a family history of diabetes, thyroid problems, and high cholestrol so I really have quite a great gene pool to dive into.

Currently, I am 5'4" and 147 pounds with a body fat percent of 8.  I have been solid muscle since I was little and due to my disease, I had an overproduction of testosterone which made me way too muscular for a female.  I am content with the way I look finally after graduating high school and right now my goal is to shed fifteen pounds or so.  I have now been put on medications which have helped a lot and am starting to look into pilates and yoga to lean out my muscles. Also, my stress level has gone way down in the past month which has helped with my eating habits and how I retain my weight.

Athletically, I have been involved in dance for 16 years (yes since I was two years old), cheer for four years, I was a catcher for softball, a discis thrower and long distance runner in track, and as of now I am studying and taking classes to get my personal trainer license and yoga license.

This fall I will be a freshman at ASU and my major is biology/pre med.  I am really interested in pursuing a career in sports medicine and I have always been a sun devil fan since the day I was born :). College is also known for the "freshman fifteen" pounds that girls tend to put on, but I think this website will help with my dietary and exercise habits.

All through high school, my mother and I battled my weight gain through countless diets.  At many times I became anorexic, but with my disease it still wasn't helping.  Going on and off diets lead to more health problems, weight gain, and even depression and self esteem issues. 

So now I am just trying to live a healthy life style.  I am prediabetic and don't want to end up like my other family members who are overweight and unactive.  I work out at the gym every day and have started taking yoga and pilates classes at my local recreation center. 

I stumbled upon this website as I was looking at nutritional info for restaurants which I often like to do (I like knowing what I'm putting in my body before I do so), and thought it was very cool and well organized.  It seems like a good step in trying to start a healthy life style, and I plan on sharing it with other friends and family who could benefit from it.

 

Well that's about it!!! :)

Hi, am Fern and retired.

I have been struggling with weight control all my life.

I started at sixteen weighing 165 and stabilized at 340 around 55 and have maintained that weight ever since.

High blood pressure came with the diabetes symptons about 12 years ago.

This is all new for me. i never counted calories before.

I decided to get educated. I am learning about fiber.

Hi. I'm  John. I just joined CC today. I began a change of life-style around Christmas when I weighed about 192 pounds at 5'9. The first thing I did was to become a vegetarian. I've dropped over 40 pounds and feel a lot better about myself. I've also started working out regularly and that has helped me. I do tend to snack a lot and that I think is my biggest weakness(if you don't count smoking ). I'm always looking for ideas to help maintain my weight and improve my conditioning and I think this will be a great place to learn. I'm always willing to talk and even though I don't consider myself an expert on weight or exercise I'm more than willing to share my experience.

hello everyone

i'm new in this site n it looks like this site can make us get in shape.. until i started training 3 years ago i was too skinny.. i became bigger by doing wrestling n boxing. But important point is knowing how to feed your body i think.. this site definetely support information that we need.. anyone can ask me questions.. for this let me ask u questions :))

i am19 5'2 and weigh like 129 and it sucks horribly....b4 i had my baby i weighed like 155-160 i had big hips big butt small waist basically the ideal body but then i got pregnant and my weight went to 192 i was a little bigger but i still liked it....and mow my daughter is 2 and in just like the last 7 months i have been loosing weight out of control i cant stop it and i hate it.evrytime sumone sees me they noticed that i have lost more weight evn if its only been like 2 or 3 days!!!!its just obserd and in a sence it hurts kuz i used to always get good comments about my body and now people are always saying stuff like dang what happened 2 you? i have no butt no hips.................i dont have any thing remind you i only weigh 129 and i want....no i need to at least get to 160 please someone help i need some advice thankxx-kayla-

Original Post by nevienmommy:

i am19 5'2 and weigh like 129 and it sucks horribly....b4 i had my baby i weighed like 155-160 i had big hips big butt small waist basically the ideal body but then i got pregnant and my weight went to 192 i was a little bigger but i still liked it....and mow my daughter is 2 and in just like the last 7 months i have been loosing weight out of control i cant stop it and i hate it.evrytime sumone sees me they noticed that i have lost more weight evn if its only been like 2 or 3 days!!!!its just obserd and in a sence it hurts kuz i used to always get good comments about my body and now people are always saying stuff like dang what happened 2 you? i have no butt no hips.................i dont have any thing remind you i only weigh 129 and i want....no i need to at least get to 160 please someone help i need some advice thankxx-kayla-

I think this forum is more for maintenance than weight gain. Your weight seems fine for your height and age, but if you really want to put on thirty pounds (giving you a slightly overweight BMI of 29.3), there is a specific forum dealing with weight gain. Maybe the pregnancy forum can help too?

Good luck.

I’m 57 currently weights 141 in the height of 5’6”. 7 years back I realized that I’m not healthy at my weight of 154. I started to reduce by walking and jogging 1 hour 5-6 times daily and reduce my food intake. I reached my desired weight that I have now in 1 month and maintained throughout . I have no idea how much food intake I have daily until finally my friend told me about this site. My calorie intake according to my physique should not be more than 1,946 and thanks to my effort that I’m taking an average of 1,637 this week. I choose this group as it fits my purpose of maintaining my healthy physique.  The respondent is a native of Philippines now currently working in Saudi Arabia as administrator under finance department of a chemical manufacturing company. 2 of my boys are grown up of which 1 has just married. I love fishing, swimming and boxing.

I joined Calorie Count in January 2008.  My highest weight was 170, I posted before and after pictures in my gallery.  I didn't take weight loss very seriously until I read and saw what other people here were able to do.  I got down to 155 in about 6 weeks and have maintained that since.  We all use the same tactics I guess, here are mine:

(1) I keep a spreadsheet of all calorie intake.  At first I wasn't careful, now I enjoy being as accurate as possible and it really makes a difference.  When I go nuts on a particular day and see that I took in 3200 calories, it shows the need for cutbacks.  I can average it out any time.

(2) Simple exercise.  20 minutes of good cardio everyday, weights 3 times a week.

(3) Positive psychology.  It's easy to get negative, to start thinking "this isn't worth the trouble, who cares, what's the difference", etc. That leads me to do less than I can. Positive cognition increases inspiration and motivation and fuels me to do more.

Through my own work and reading about studies done, I've learned that exercise and diet are vastly important for improving the quality of life.  I was trying to make progress only through cognition.  

John

 

Hi everyone!  I'm a 20 year old girl, 5'4" and now 128 pounds.  :) 

I just joined this group and I've been on CC for about a year now. Essentially, since I started college 2 years ago, I've lost about 28 pounds.  Until this summer, it was kinda slow and I was up and down but this summer I really decided I wanted to change for good and just be able to feel really confident and good about myself.  I started lifting more weights, rollerblading and just finding lots of everyday things to work in.  And now, for the first time in my life, I honestly have no thoughts in my head telling me I need to be skinnier, or fit into a smaller size or anything - I'm very healthy and I love the way I am! 

I don't exactly keep track of all my calories, but I pretty much know I guess how much of things I should be eating and all.  I've also realized a lot more that staying at this weight doesn't mean I can't have what I want, I just have to be sure to work it off at the gym haha! 

I guess I joined this group because it would be great to have other people with the same goals and just wanting to be healthy and happy!  Oh and I guess for interests:  workout wise, I love Zumba classes and rollerblading (probably my 2 favorite activities); with just everyday stuff, I love to read, go shopping (especially now that I can wear smaller sizes!), learning Russian, and everything fun from being in college!

Hi, I am 19 years old and i am 5'3" and 112 lbs. I am a freshman in college, and i am recovering from bulimarexia. I am trying to be able to accept my body as it is and instead of worrying about how i look, worry about the needs of others. I love food and would love to eat, and eat, and eat. And sometimes i find myself losing control because i have something i would normally not allow myself to eat and then lose control. I have come very far in my recovery from a year ago. Now i am trying to show myself that i really havent lost control in my calorie intake. That i am finally getting to the point where i need to be. I joined this group to maybe meet others who have struggled like i have. 

HEY, AM 22 YEARS OF AGE AND I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN THICK GROWING UP. I AM 5'6" 170LBS. I ALWAYS WANTED TO BE OF AN AVERAGE SIZE COMPARED TO MY AGE, BUT EACH TIME I GO ON A DIET I ENDED UP QUITTING AND EATING MORE AND GAINING MORE WEIGHT THAN BEFORE. I ALSO HAVE A PROBLEM WITH MY CALORIE INTAKE BECAUSE I DONT COUNT MY CALORIES.  I JOINED THIS PROGRAM WITH HOPE THAT IT WILL HELP ME AND I WILL MEET PEOPLE WITH THE SAME OR SIMILAR PROBLEMS.