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 everyone! I'm almost 24 years old, married to the love of my life, mother of 3 beautiful kids. I joined CC about a year ago after having my 2nd child. Shortly after that I got pregnant with my 3rd so now I am finally able to work on this. I love to cook & especially bake. I love to read cook books also, I could literally just sit down and look at them all day.

I have never dieted before, first timer here. I have always been overweight, my whole family is pretty much (my mother's side mainly). I am currently at about 220, I was 240 when  I had my last child. My current goal weight is about 172.

I joined this group because I do love cooking & I am definitly always looking for new recipes to try. I am trying to find some healthier alternatives also. I like easy recipes too seeing as I have 3 little ones. Anyways, thanks for letting me join & I am looking forward to getting to know you all.

Hello there:

I am fairly new to CC and decided to join in after lurking for a few weeks. As mentioned in another group, I am encouraged and delighted by the warmth and support I see in this community. It is inspiring to witness!

1. History with weight loss: Although I have never succumbed to yo-yo dieting or diet pills, I have struggled with my weight for as long as I can remember. As a woman with a larger bone structure, I know that I will never be slim or thin and nor would I want that kind of image. Still, I have had my own body image issues, emotional eating (particularly after losing my fiance to Cancer some years ago) which lead to irregular more than unhealthy eating habits. Still, I have managed to lose around 40 lbs in the past two years, although very slowly. . . merely by eating mindfully and incorporating more healthful meals to my diet, but the struggle continues.

2. History with Calorie Count: I followed the suggestion of a friend last month and I have been lurking ever since. While I have never been obsessed with counting calories, I do believe the site has helpful tools to help me make smarter and more astute choices.

3. Reason for joining this group: Quite simply, I want to be a better and more consistent cook. Since moving to a new place this summer, I have been relying on buying my lunch (despite the relatively healthy flair), and I want to be an instinctive cook, a healthy cook which will allow me to nourish myself and to lose weight in the process.

4. Some interesting details about yourself, such as your job, your family, your pets and your interests: Recently, I turned 30 years old. Unlike other single 30 year old women, I am rearin' to go. Besides the "age is a state of mind" thing, my twenties were rocky and I am full of hope that my thirties will be full of mindfulness and healthy living.

Cheers,

Saro

Hi all!

I am Yaaquut, 5' 2" ft tall, 33 years. Living in the Middle East.

1. History with weight loss: Need to lose about 16 lbs and maintain
2. History with Calorie Count: Joined few months ago
3. Reason for joining this group: To share women only recipes, tips on healthy cooking
4. Some interesting details about yourself, such as your job, your family, your pets and your interests: Married ,no child yet but working and praying hard to get, I like flowers and nature in general. I love to cook. The kitchen is my office! :)

Hi

I am a 28 Year Old stay at home mom of a two year old son and returning CC member.  I joined CC about a year ago for weight maintenance then got a little lost in my old habits which caused me to gain 8 lbs back which I am in the process of taking back off.  I joined this group because I need to cook more and there is no other way to cook then healthy.  I really love to bake and have some great recipes for baking but I need to expand my lunch and dinner horizons instead of always going for dessert.

1. History with weight loss:

I've had issues with weight since I turned 16 and got a summer job in a kitchen at a camp.  I didn't get a lot of exercise, but a lot of camp food.  So the pounds have stayed with me and I'm 32 now.  I'm 5'10" ... I tipped the scales at 231lbs in July and my doctor told me to lose weight or I'd suffer massive health complications (diabetes, cancer, etc).  So, I started playing squash and limited my caloric intake to 1500 per day.  I'm at 190lbs now and have 25lbs before I reach my goal weight of 165lbs.

2. History with Calorie Count:

I just joined recently ... this week in fact.  I find it very helpful and informative.  I really like the recipes section as well.

3. Reason for joining this group:

I love food... I love trying new foods and I like flavors.  I think I'm a food addict... it makes me feel good and I realize that you can't lose weight easily if you don't make all your own food.  So, I'm just here to get new tips, recipes and ideas.

4. Some interesting details about yourself, such as your job, your family, your pets and your interests:

Secondary high school teacher (history and civics), I love to work out... my running is getting faster and better.  I started playing squash in August... wicked cardio workout.  I have a cat and a boyfriend and I live on my own.

Hello. I'm new to CC. My name is Jayme. I'm 28. I've been married 9 years, and am a sahm to 3 kids ages 7 1/2, 5, and 2. I also have a 3 1/2 year old beagle. I have lost weight before (60 lbs). But had PPD with #3 pretty bad, and lost all my motivation. I will be counting points as well as calories, since that's how I was doing it before and I know that's what worked for me. But I can't afford WW meetings right now, and feel I really need the support. I also love to cook. My favorite thing is experimenting with different herbs and spices. I am hoping to find some new yummy and healthy recipes here, and hope to share some with you.

Hi All!

New here and wanting to learn more healthy cooking. I have been struggly with my weight for the last ten years and have been through ww program without steady success. I stumbled onto CC and think it will be a welcome change.

I find it hard to find healthy recipes that please my skinny husband and 2 year old boy who both start losing weight when I am on a program because of the foods I cook.

Happy New Year!

My name is Rob Leighton and I am the founder of Kardea Nutrition,  a new company dedication to enabling natural cholesterol management through gourmet nutrition.  As a foundation,  we start with the Mediterranean framework,  but we also are very aware of getting therapeutic levels of soluble fibers,  omega-3s from fish and plant sterols while minimizing sat fats and trans fats.     We also take a somewhat more restricted view of total fat intake (30% as opposed to the 40% in the Med. diet studies).  

And we really are looking for innovative blends of flavors, tastes and textures.   Yep--Mediterranean cuisines are a favorite,  but there are some many great cuisines that need to be fused into this basic approach to health eating.

Hi!

I joined this group to learn some new healthy recipes for me and my husband to cook and eat. I love to bake and I just got a stand mixer for Christmas so also looking for healthy recipes for baking.

1. History with weight loss: Rollercoaster - At my largest weight now though
2. History with Calorie Count: Had been a member a few years ago.
3. Reason for joining this group: Finding Healthy cooking and baking recipes for me and my family.
4. Some interesting details about yourself, such as your job, your family, your pets and your interests:  I dont currently work, I am married, no children as of yet. Have 1 dog and 2 cats. I like to play computer games, scrapbook and go antique hunting at Estate Sales.

Hi.  I'm new to the group and also new to Calorie Count.  I have started using the site to journal and track my calorie intake (it's amazing how it adds up!) and my activities.  I've tried other programs and I was successful, I felt deprived and not plans that I could stick with.

I love to cook and eat.  That coupled with getting older and being inactive has me needing to lose more than just a few pounds.  I'm interested in finding new healthy creative and tasty recipes to help me with my weight loss goals. 

Hi. New to the group, enjoying Calorie Count. Just started a new diet and ready to lose weight! My friend and I joined at work together so we can motivate eachother during or weight loss journey.

Hi. My name is Carla. I'm a member of another group on Calorie Counters, called Working Moms 2009. That's a very small group of five friends, who use the site to support our ongoing efforts to lose weight. It's open to anyone, though, so if you would like to check it out, please do so. The creator was Rachel Neeley, so I think you have to ask and be "confirmed" as a member, (or something like that!)

I used eDiets for years, starting in 2000, but eventually got tired of the same old meal planning data base, and needed a change. But, it did work, and I was able to lose 33 pounds and reach my goal of 150 back in 2001. Since then, I've slowly crept up, and last summer tried to get serious about losing again.

I'm 53, am married and work full time. I have three daughters, ages 21, 18 and 14. (What stress??? ) I'd like to lose 20 pounds in the next three months, which is do-able, with lots of focus, planning and continued support! That's why I'm here!

Hi, my name is Rachel. Just started back here at CC after trying weight watchers online, which worked, up until they wouldn't take my debit card. (Very strange) It doesn't matter too much to me, though, since I couldn't afford it anyways. I think CC is a much better program, since it actually lets you know what your putting into your body instead of basing it on points. I'm 22 years old and I've been happily married (most of the time, anyways) for 5 years. So far, we've beat the odds. My husband and I have 2 little boys, ages 4 and 2. I got pregnant and married at 17. At the time, I was 5'8" and weighed 120lb.s. which, come to find out, was considered underweight. I was just too busy to remember to eat! Now, I weigh 174 (started on CC at 181). Last year, I lost 30 lbs, hit a plateau, and gained 20 back over a period of 3-4 months. I absolutely love healthy food, it's just hard for me to control my portion sizes and keep myself from bingeing on things that I shouldn't be eating so much of. My husband got laid off of the job that helped him keep his lean figure on New Years Eve. His family has a history of heart disease and diabetes, so now I am really paying attention to what I put in our meals... but it's awfully hard to keep him from loading up his plate 3 times and piling on the salt! I'm getting tired of the same old recipes, so I'm looking to branch out. We sadly don't have any pets at the moment... my husband's jack russell that he brought into the marriage had to be put down because of liver cancer last year, and he's still heartbroken over it. I love cats, but he's allergic. I'm still trying to talk him into it, though.I'm just trying to get down to what doctors consider my "healthy weight," which is between 130-140 lb.s within the next year. It's kind of hard to do, not having much time to exercise what with kids and working 40 hrs a week as a bank teller. My lifestyle is pretty sedentary. Wish me luck!

Ni, My name is Nikki. I joined this group because I wanted to improve my cooking skills. I never really liked cooking and when I was living in the dorms I didn't have to. Now thou, I have my own apartment and I am SO sick of eating out that I need to improve my skills and quickly.

This is the group for me!!  I love to cook and try new healthy recipes.

I was always thin and after having my last son (22 years ago) I gained mucho weight and have been struggling to get it off ever since.

I just found Calorie Count so no history yet.

I love to cook and am always looking for healthy recipes.

My husband and I retired at 55 (recently) and have a retirement home in Fl and live in NC the rest of the year.  I have 5 grown children, 4 beautiful grandchildren with 2 more on the way.  We're finally enjoying time spent with each other and life in general.  I just want to enjoy it thinner!!

Hi, my name is Kim and I am trying to get back on the band wagon to loose weight again.

1.History with weight loss:I have always loved food. It started when I was just getting my first job and able to start trying new foods. I found that I loved seafood...fried usually and many other things that I had never had growing up. It has always brought me way too much comfort. Well after i married, my husband would always rave about my cooking so it made my whole identity wrapped up in cooking for him. He never gained too much, however I did, 10 pounds with each child and then some. As of two years ago I was extremely heavy for my 5'3" height. I decided since my cholesterol was high and my doctor wanting to medicate me, me refusing, I set off to loose some weight. I lost 30 pounds by using a 1200 calorie diet from my insurance website. I also used the CC to keep track of what I ate. I would walk for 5-6 miles while I was off in the summer. However, once I went back to work in the fall it was harder to keep up that routine. I did try to get in 3 miles everyday before work for the first year, but didn't keep up with my food intake. So I maintained the first year. Then the next year, I didn't do either and have put on 30 lbs again. My knees have been acting up this year, I think due to hormones, so walking has not been as easy as before. I would love to get my weight off again because I do not want to end up like my grandmother, with heart disease, diabetes, loss of a leg...

2. History with Calorie Count: I used it for keeping track of calories but have never joined any groups for support. It would be nice to have someone to help with keeping you accountable. Weight watchers has never been an option for me nor a fitness gym because of the cost.

3. Reason for joining this group: I like to cook and would love to change the way I cook to stop my habits of cooking that hurts my health and weight.

4. Some interesting details about yourself, such as your job, your family, your pets and your interests: I work in an elementary school in Special Ed. I love working with the kids, but can be stressful which I am sure that doesn't help with my weighloss. I have 3 girls. One graduated from Baylor. One is now attending Baylor and one more in high school. I found out in about 1985 on a trip to Vermont and climbing Mt. Washington, that I love mountain climbing. I have not had alot of opportunity to do that living here in Houston though. I have visited in Utah and got to do some there. I am looking forward to a trip to Montana this summer and getting some hiking in. My big dream this year is to go to Hawaii for our 25th wedding aniv. and hike there. I also like to sew, but little time to do that with my job, except for in the summer. I just finished my first appliqued quilt top. I am hoping to get it quilted soon....I do like to garden also, but have not been real successful here in Houston and also working limits that. I am very active in my church also and teach a group of girls. My hearts desire is to one day go into some country to do mission work.

Hi,

My name is Debbie and I'm new to caloriecount. This is a great tool!

I've been on weight watchers several times and have gotten bored with the repetitive structure of the program. I have battled with weight ever since I came to the US 28 years ago from India. I never had a weight issue when I lived in India.

If anybody is familiar with indian / vegetarian food calorie listings, please let me know. I can't find some items in the food database - such as whole wheat semolina dishes.

Hi Claire, I am looking forward to learning a little more about how to stay healthy, I have it down how to not.

1. History with weight loss: I have gained weight since getting married in 83 and having kids, and then some more to boot. A couple of years ago I set off to loose weight and lost 30 pounds. Then I have not been exercising or watching what I ate and it has come all back. So I am beginning again
2. History with Calorie Count:I used it two years ago to keep track of my calories. I used Simple Steps for Life to give me ideas for a 1200 calorie diet. Together they worked for me. So here I am ready to use them both again
3. Reason for joining this group: I like to eat and I like tasty food. I would love to find more ways to make my food healthier. Break some bad habits in my life. I do not have the resources to join Weight watchers or a health club so I am hoping for the support to help keep me focused on my goal.
4. Some interesting details about yourself, such as your job, your family, your pets and your interests: I work as a paraprofessional in an elementary school. I work with Special Ed. I love my job and my school. I have a husband and 3 girls who are growing way too quick. One out of college, one in college, and one in high school. . I like hiking in the mountains, but do not get to do that very much here in Houston. I like sewing and crafting. I love studying the Bible. I am learning to play the piano.

I wish everyone success on their dieting...

Hi everyone! My name is Marta, but call me Nikki ;-D I am proud mum 8 mounth old boy Sebastian! I put lot of weight thru pregnancy, coz i have some problems. I start loosing allready, but love to come back on my normal weight. I use to be size 8 and now i am 12-14.(after lost weight, before been 18!!!!!!) I just move to Dubai and i love it, its so much better for healthy living as well! In UK i just eat and eat. Here is so many things to do! I trying now cooking dinners for ours little family(my husband, me and little Seb).Want to try something new and nice, thats why i join this group and oviosly want meet some interesting people!

About my weight....i never use to be overweight, I been really fit, i am an ex-dancer. I am now home, not working, but will do soon. I hope this is enought and i looking forward for some acction ;-D

I am looking to drop 25-30 lbs and joined this group to learn to cook better.  Obviously need to cook better to lose weight and maintain it.  I am a dairy lover and refuse to give up my cheese, milk, and sour cream.  I also love cottage cheese and yogurt, but those are not too unhealthy.  I joined calorie count 3 weeks ago.  Love the site and all the help offered.  I especially love the recipe feature that allows you to put in recipes and find out calorie per serving.  I am married with 2 dogs and 1 cat.  I am volleyball fanatic, which is the main reason for losing weight.  I have bad knees from playing volleyball for 20+ years and need to lose weight before summer so that I can try playing in doubles tournaments again.  Hopefully less weight equals less painful knees.  I am radiographer and MRI technologist.  Both require alot of movement and lifting so weight loss would also be helpful there.  Can't wait to meet new people and learn some good recipes to use for life long fun.  :)