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!

Hello all -

Just joined the group and the whole calorie count site today.  No history at all with weight loss/gain.  The site says my weight is right but I'm 51 now and have begun to notice weight and a thickness that I don't like.  I've been an athlete my whole life and have always eaten healthy.  But now as I get older and I find my body and lifestyle changing - I'm not sure how to handle it.

So - I'm hoping with this new approach - I may get back into a different balance that fits with where I am now in my life.

My husband and I hike quite a bit.  We live in Las Vegas and the desert/mountain trails around here are quite beautiful.  We don't get out as much as we'd like - about every other weekend.  We mix it up with walks and I bike to work (2x per wk) and swim (1x per wk)

Anyway - I'm anxious to hear from other people that may like to join us in a hike or know of other great day-hikes or overnight hikes in and around the western US.   We have some land up near Elko, Nevada near the Ruby Mountains - oh man, if anyone would like to hike Lamoille Canyon.  woo wee!

1) I was thin and very active into my mid 40's (I'm 56 now)...hiking, running (usually 3-5 miles a day). I developed a thyroid tumor and after the treatment began, I steadily gained a couple of lbs a month, eventually gaining 30 lbs. All of that is way under control but of course I want to lose the 30!!  I'm also not sitting at a desk in front of a pc for 12 hours a day anymore (yeh!!)  

2) I've been doing CC for a few weeks and have dropped five lbs. I like the design a lot better than WW online.  

3) Joined the group because we love hiking and are lucky enough to live on the side of a mountain just 20 minutes over the Golden Gate Bridge from SF...so we do a lot of local hikes and city walks...and in SF city walking can be a lot like hiking!

4) I was lucky enough to be able to "retire" a year ago and have the time now to focus on having fun with my husband and our two crazy dogs.

 

 

That's great that you've begun to lose the extra pounds.  My husband and I love hiking too.  We're in Las Vegas but my husband, Dave, is from the San Francisco area too (Burlingame).  It is a beautiful area.  I'm wanting to lose about 20 lbs . . . somehow over the last 9 years it's just slipped on.  I only joined a couple of days ago and haven't lost any pounds yet, but I'm going to stick with it.  Well, just wanted to say, "hi".  - jody

My big regrete is that I let things get to 30 lbs (the last ten lbs went on over two years so really happened slowly).  I really like the calorie counting options on this site...and it's free!!

'Vegas is so interesting...but it must be hard to hike about six months of the year because of the heat. I have a friend in Phoenix who get's out to hike with a group near her house at 5:30 a.m. in the summer. They watch the sun rise and bring along a thermus of coffee and they're done before they've got to go to work. Sounds great, but it would be hard for me to get up that early!

Yeah - I enjoy an easy morning too.  The summer is tough - we really try to get into the mountains or head to Utah during those times.   We have some ranch land up in Northeast Nevada and it's only into the 90's during the summer.  The Ruby Mountains are absolutely my favorite area.  Do a google search for Lamoille Canyon in Nevada.   They call it "Little Switzerland". 

How long have you been in SF?  I've lived in Vegas since 1960 (with a 4-year stint in Colorado).  I'm anxious to retire (in 3 years).  We're planning on building our retirement home in the Lamoille area and moving to some cool weather.

I've never heard of the Lamoille Canyon area and will have to check it out!

We've lived in the SF area (Mill Valley) since 1999. Because of our jobs we did two stints in Sacramento and two in Cleveland. When we had the chance to move to Mill Valley almost ten years ago we grabbed it!  I actually grew up in Los Angeles and lived there until 1984. I know most people from outside of LA have an "oh yuk" reaction, but I loved living there. Some great hiking. One of my favorite hikes there is a trail head into the Santa Monica Mtns that starts right behind Will Roger's Ranch in Pacific Palisades. Fantastic views and it's incredibly wild, yet so close to the city.

 

Happy Halloween!  Happy Nevada Day too.  It's actually a state holiday here in Nevada so my husband and I, both city employees, get the day off.  It looks like a bit of a lazy day, but since it's sort of cool and there are actually clouds in the sky . . . I think we'll take a short jaunt up into our mountains to the west.  The aspen are starting to turn although here in the city not much is happening, tree colorwise.   My step-daughter is attending college at Cal State Fullerton - so we may take a look at your Will Roger's Ranch hike sometime when we're in that area. 

I'm not having much success with my losing weight  . . .  I'm guessing that just writing down what you eat isn't the actual magic that helps you lose weight.  lol.  I may have to change some eating habits . . hmmm. 

I was stalled losing weight for weeks then sat down and really made myself look at what I had been writing down every day. It also helped that for awhile I did this with my brother....I didn't hesitate to say things to him like "where's the fruit??" and he said "boy do you snack a lot"..harsh but true. Healthy snacks like nuts and dried fruit but just giving up that dropped my total almost 300 calories a day. I also started measuring things more accurately. I allow myself a glass of red wine with dinner. Four ounces turned out to be almost a third less than I had been pouring.  I also cut back the amount and types of salad dressing. Nothing really magic and I think it's always unique to the person. 

One real inspiration..my niece. She had piled on some pounds while she wasn't feeling well and nobody was critical of that. But one day she decided "enough". She got a little weight loss booklet from my Dad (this booklet has to be 35 years old) and in it were height weight charts and what you needed to eat calorically for your height to lose either one lb or two lbs a week. She chose the two lb calorie limit (she's only 4'11" so it was pretty strick). In six weeks she'd lost 12 lbs.  It really was one of those "if she can do it I can do it" moments for me.

Well, I think I've finally figured it out how to lose a little weight.  Basically, for my body/lifestyle, I need to burn 1000 more calories than I consume each day.  That's sort of hard.  I mean I really have to work out and not each much for that to happen.  I ride my bike 16 miles to work 3x per week and I swim laps for 1.25 hours 1 x per week, and we usually get in a good half day hike on the weekends.   Those are the big exercise days.  Other days I just walk the dog for 30 minutes or do some floor exercises . . .  with all that I've finally managed to lose 4 pounds.   I guess the thing that suprises me is that I can only eat about 1000 calories a day . .  and then add the exercise.  It just doesn't seem like  . . . oh I don't know.   I haven't gone out to eat at all in a month - I can't even imagine what kind of calories are involved in restaurant food.  I don't know where I got it in my head that once I was 50 years old I could slow down.  My dad is such a little skinny guy I thought for sure it'd be easy for me sliding into a slower lifestyle.  I have taken your advice and measure foods now.  It's amazing how little 1 cup is.  lol

I changed doctors two years ago. I like my "new" doctor. She's young and clearly very interested in my health...but...it was interesting listening to her lecture about how I could add exercise to my day. She was stunned when I told her what I was doing and what I had been doing for how long (I have been a runner for years, but I don't do seven mile runs five times a week anymore..I've cut back to three or four miles  three days a week...but now have time to hike etc).  In fact, I think she was aghast. I was her worse nightmare, but she was also fascinated.

A friend who did Jenny Craig told me that they've got this all figured out. She and her daughter joined and the daughter (who was 28 and had just had her second child) was allowed to eat a lot more than her mother.  Both lost 30 lbs but the mom figured out how many calories she was eating and it was pretty close to 1,000. 

I just want to lose it so I can enjoy just maintaining!!

My husband is suggesting I only weigh myself once a week.  That way the days that I may not lose, I won't be frustrated.  I did a 40 minute ride to the pool and swam laps for over an hour, went for a walk, only ate 900-something calories and guess what?  Same weight as yesterday.  So today - I'm eating an omlette, yolks and all.  I used to be a runner/soccer player too.   Then, two ACL reconstructions (first one 10 years ago and the last about 6 years ago) . . . and it's time to start hiking instead.  Without that coach pushing, or people depending on you . . it's just harder getting regimented again.  

We're heading out for a hike to an area called, "Hidden Forest" and "Christmas Tree Pass".  It's a wierd area where people have decorated quite a few of the trees with ornaments . . . strange sight miles and miles through the desert into some low mountains along a dirt road.  Taking the dogs - should be nice. 

My name is April I am 28 years old and I have a 8 year old daughter, I joined this site because I have been overweight since My daughters age and now she is begging to be just like I was.I know I need to change now. Because if not its gonna be too late. I love to walk and thru the mountains and to look at the beautiful different areas. I have found this little trail thru the woods  recently and also started riding my bike thru it. I want to learn more about hiking because I don`t know a lot about it I am new to it and I want to try to learn about places that are close to my area that we can go to and try. Any suggestions for SC?

I loved hiking with my mom and started when I was six or seven and kept it up with her until I moved to another state when I was in my 30's. You can probably find hiking guides for your area at the library or local bookstores. You should also check some basic safety things to consider (snakes; poisonious plants etc. that might be in your area). We have rattle snakes and coyotes in our area but I've only seen either once or twice in the last twenty years...but I see poison oak all the time. Finally get some good footwear. I hike at least ten miles weekly and have invested in two pairs of hiking shoes (one is water resistant).  I use to wear my old running shoes to hike and then ended up spending a lot one year at a podiatrist. I really could have avoided that problem!

Have fun/invite friends/take pictures!

Sorry about not replying sooner. Travel/other distractions. One thing I've noticed is that results (or cheating) take a couple of days to show up. I also know I need to weigh myself daily (just once) or things get out of hand. If I eat fish for dinner/exercise and keep the calories in line, I see the loss a couple of days latter. Also, sometimes when you exercise a lot your muscles apparently will add briefly to your weight gain (it goes away). I can remember Jane Fonda, on her tapes 25 plus years ago, talking about that temporary muscle weight gain (I think she claimed you retained more water briefly).

Thank you for the tips!!

1.  The only time I ever lost weight was in 1999 when I hiked the AT northbound (went from 185 to 145).  I am 5'8" and 181 lbs, down from 199 in September, exercise and better diet being the strategy.

2.  Calorie Count is fairly new to me.  Suggested by the technician that took my BMR.

3.  Reason for joining: I like to hike and want to lose weight!

4.  I am a graduate student studying the effects of climate change on plant-mammal interactions.

Hi, I am Roni and am new to the site.

I have had difficulty with my weight since childhood.  I just do not take time to cook and eat right when it is just me.  I am now an empty nester and living alone.  I find it hard to cook for one.

I joined because I want to feel better and my weight is now causing me to not feel well.  I have always been healthy and really love being active.  I can change things by losing wt.  I was looking for a calorie counter online and found this site.

I really love to be outside experiencing the beauty of nature.  I really like to walk my dogs.  I live near the mountains and the beach and like both for walking.

Hi Roni,

 

welcome.  I understand about not eating right. It's about the same when it's just 2--the other being a spouse that's not particular about what he's fed. I have found it easier not to cook much. I've found a handful of easy meals, frozen foods, and restaurants that I stick with. I also found a friend at work to journey with. That's probably been the most help. We take turns bringing food for the day, report to each other on our intake, and even walk together. She even got me a membership in our local hiking club for Christmas.

Keep with it. It's do-able.

I'm Erika, 30 from Ohio.  I don't really have a history with weight loss yet LOL.  I did lose 45 pounds last year from combining Alli and a very strict work out routine.  Then after vacation it kinda fizzled for me.  My history with calorie count starts today so that was nice and short.  I'm joining this group to meet more people (hopefully in my area too) with the same weight loss and fitness goals that I have.  For me it's never been about looking like a pussycat doll or britney spears.  I just want to be healthy to enjoy my children's lives and my life.  My husband is a SGT in the Ohio Army National Guard so I am big time embarassed for him to have an overweight wife.  We have all the resources provided for us.  I am an at-home medical transcriptionist and a nurse aide.  I have 4 kids and a wonderful husband.  I really need to buy some warmer clothes to walk the trails in this beautiful place I call home.  For those of you that don't know where Bainbridge, Ohio is it is the foothills of the appalachians, so I have lots of nice trails and bike routes to choose from.  So anyways, that's me kinda in a nutshell.  Here to lose weight like the rest of ya.

Hello ~ 1. History with weight loss: up and down - mostly up 2. History with Calorie Count: just ran across it 3. Reason for joining this group: Like the outdoors 4. Some interesting details about yourself, such as your job, your family, your pets and your interests: I am from the mountains of Colorado and love the outdoors. However, blew my knee out 3 yrs ago skiing. Just had a total knee replacement in July and am ready to get back outdoors. I work in an office as a project manager, have two grown children and 2 grandbabies, I have a one eyed cat and have several acres to walk around. Had a bear in my house last summer and glad that he was more scared than I was! Still doesn't stop me from nature walks. I like to learn about natural plants and vegetation that is around my area.