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, my name is Terri and I am a proud mom of 5.  I was part of a weight loss program through my dr. up to a few months ago.  I was able to loose 20 lbs successfully but since I stopped going, I gained half back.  I attribute that to not counting calories after that, and I reduced my excercise habits.  Being full time mom, employee, and student I began eating out a lot more often and find myself fatigued and not wanting to cook much.  One morning my doctor called me in to his office and told me that my cholesterol was high and that I had 2 choices; pills or 6 month program.  Well, I chose the program.  His news brought panic and it opened my eyes to reality.  I am motivated and willing to make PERMANENT changes in my eating habits, I want to be there to see my kids grow up.  I once weighed 193, I now weigh 182.  I hope to find in this support group the encouragement that I need. Thanks.

Hi my name is Alex and I need to lose weight. Summer is coming up, and I'm determined to fit into a bikini. I've always been fluctuating when it comes to weight gain and losses. This is my first time with Calorie Count. I really think this will help keep me focused and motivated to keep the food and activity log. I'm a student studying biology right now. I'm graduating soon, so the pressure of last minute planning and passing all my classes is really putting a strain on my diet. After graduation, I plan on moving to Houston, Tx with my boyfriend. I'm excited to see if this works and if I can keep the changes.

I am new at this so i might need help. I have always been bigger than everyone else. My dad was 6 foot 3 and weighed 400 or more.

Hello, 

My name is Carol and I just joined today, though I have been poking around the website for a few months.  I have always battled with my weight and went from a chubby kid to an athletic teen/ college kid to an obese adult.  I decided to join CC to increase my committment to learning a healthier way to live.  Starting in January I began eliminating processed foods, started calorie counting and doubled the amount of fresh fruits and vegetables I comsume daily.  Without any other changes I have lost 14 pounds in about 14 weeks and I am thrilled with this weight loss pace even though I have over a hundred pounds to lose.  My partner is also heavy and has lost around 18 pounds and dropped her bad cholesterol by 20 points.  We fully support each other on this journey.  We don't have kids yet, but we want to, and we don't want to pass on unhealthy habits.

My goal is to build a permanent healthy lifestyle for myself and my family to end this roller coaster once and for all.  I love to cook so I have made it my own personal adventure to become an excellent chef specializing in making healthy, lowfat, high-vitamin foods that taste amazing.  I hope to talk with others who can help me maintain a positive outlook as I go through this journey.

Hello, my name is Priscila Shartener da Silva Baltieri, I am brazilian, so forgive me my bad English please :) I live in New Zealand and I am trying lost 4 Kg, me and my husbund are doing some work out, he want to win some Kg. I just joined the Calorie Count because my husband liked this site... he is good with his English.

I liked this group because I am a chef patissiere and I love cook, desserts are my specialyt but I can cook anything from any country.

I work at cafe and I miss so much my family... my mummy and my daddy. I don't have pets but me and Tony want a puppy, maybe a Labrador puppy, I love animals. At Brazil I have one pit bull dog and one siames cat... I really love them.

So that is me, thank you to acept me at this group, I hope everbody take your goals.

Hi everyone,

I'm Josh.  I am new to this whole thing.  I am a ex football player and have always been able to carry my wieght very well.  Now I am getting a bit older it is time to loose some of this wieght and I am hoping CC can help me out.  I have never had to worry about eating right playing football and lifting enough wieghts to move a house.  Thanks

Hi Everyone,

I am a proud grandmother of 3 who has lost and "found" the same 50 pounds about 3 times in my life.  I just discovered calorie count by accident about 10 days ago.  After browsing the website and the supportive way the whole thing works, I decided it may just be the right thing for me.  I like the food and activity logs which help me keep track of everything too.  I am really trying to eat healthy and change my habits this time so the weight doesn't come back again.  I am hoping to find some good low cal, low fat recipes in this group.  Too often with diet recipes I have to pretend "this is as good as the real thing".  I'd appreciate all the help you can give me.  I'll be happy to share anything I find as well.  Thanks!

Hi!

Like you, I have lost and found up to 75 pounds.  But I have found that as you age, losing it is much harder!

I've been on CC for quite some time now, but never really joined any groups.  I hope this one will be of some help to me!

I have dieted many times and lost up to 45 pounds and always gained it back but that was no ones fault but my own. It is about change I know we have heard that word before. Your lifestyle has to change if I eat right watch my fat intake exercise I loose weight , if I eat what I want or anything I want I will gain the weight back I have lost. Which I have lost 25 pounds this time . It is our choice what we put in our mouth. Water is great more the better walking anyone can do . That is my secret. No secret change the way you live for YOU. Start my day with oatmeal put honey on it raisind in it cinnamon . Water at least a glass full in the morning. Fruit , yogurt , turkey , wheat bread, Salad with fat free ranch dressing , bake evrything or cook it on the grill , do not fry anything...Good luck

Hi,

I am a new member here and in a few years I will be out of the 20's something group. When I moved here in Dubai, I gained max 15lbs...

Now I lost about 20lbs. by counting calories, being more active etc..

I realize that although I try to be conscious with reading labels and trying to count calories... I need to be more accurate since my work keeps me busy during the whole day (tendency to skip meals) and feel hungry in the evening.

Since I feel tired, I end up eating high carb, high GI food.. Instead of the healthy ones..

By keeping track of my calories with a support group, I will be motivated to take time and cook healthy food thus eating breakfast, lunch, and most especially right portions during dinner.

I can skip cake, pizza and pasta but my weakness is cinnamon bread and strawberry ice cream... I need your help and hopefully can help too.

Nice you meet everyone!

Abi

 

 

Hi.  I'm Renee...

1. History with weight loss:  I go up and down.  The lowest--I was a size 8 in my 20's and now I need to lose 76 #'s.
2. History with Calorie Count:  I've been using CC since March and I've lost 5 #'s.
3. Reason for joining this group:  recipes and support.  I want good tasting yummy food that is low cal.
4. Some interesting details about yourself, such as your job, your family, your pets and your interests:  I work for a health insurance company, I am married with a step-son and son, we have a Papillon dog named Diego.  I love to scrapbook, cook, and take care of my family.

Hi, I'm Pam and I'm going to be 50 in August.  There I said it and it's not so bad once you get used to the idea I guess.  I certainly don't feel old, at least I don't most of the time.  I guess the real trick is to enjoy whatever age you are and to not worry about it.  Anyway, I'm doing the best I can.  I joined CC in Feb 06 but didn't really do anything with it for over 2 years.

I was an overweight kid and always the last one picked for teams and such.  As a young adult, I lost a lot of weight and wore bikinis and looked pretty good in them.  I was at a good weight for my height, but I wasn't particularly toned.  It wasn't that important to me though as long as I had that flat tummy.  Well here I was 2 kids and 25 years later and applying for some more life insurance which required a physical.  That evil scale that I had been avoiding said 200 lbs!  Well I was completely dumbfounded.  I knew that I was quite overweight because I had recently taken a new job that made it necessary to buy new clothes and I had to buy them at a big girls store, but I was still not prepared to be 5'3" and 200 lbs!  That was my wake-up call, June 14, 2008 and I came back to CC and got serious.  To date, I have lost 46.5 pounds and recently joined the ranks of the slightly overweight.  I know that the last 18 or so pounds are the hardest so I'm just going to keep at it.

I joined this group because I'm looking for some new ideas for meals.  I hate to cook and would love to find some easy stuff that's healthy and low calorie.  I used to love cooking but now I'm just tired of it.  I've been cooking dinner on a regular basis since I was 14 and I just don't like doing it anymore.  I get home at 5-ish and want to work out right away so that puts dinner off, and I go to the gym on Tues & Thurs so that also pushed dinner back.  I tried fixing some stuff ahead of time to reheat, but I just don't keep it up.  Who wants to spend a week-end afternoon cooking when you don't like it?

Anyway, I've been happily married to the love of my life for almost 26 years.  I have two grown sons who still live with us and a furbaby named Cody who is a 2 year old shamelessly spoiled Black Lab mix.  I used to go caving a lot, hence the name Caverlady but I haven't done it in a few years.  It's something I'd like to get back into if I can get into better shape (which I can).  Anyway, lately all I've been doing is working out and enjoying my life with my husband.  I work out 6 days a week (taking Fridays off).  I eat what I want, within reason, on the week-ends and allow myself to drink beer on Saturday and Sunday.  That has worked for me because it keeps me from getting too frustrated.  That's about it for now! 

Hi!

I'm 63 and have been divorced for 6 years after a 38 yr. marriage!  I have two grown sons and two beautiful grandchildren, ages 4 and 1 1/2.  They bring me such joy!

I have always struggled with my weight and went on my first doctor supervised diet at the age of 12!!  It was easy then, my mom cooked and I only ate what she cooked.  As I got older, it became harder and harder to lose the weight.  I have lost as much as 93 pounds and have gained it back.  I am the original "yo-yo".....lol.  Right now I'm overweight again and this time I'm a lot older and it has affected my health.  So, now I'm scared. 

I joined this group for some tips, advice and support.  It's comforting to know that there are others like me who are willing to support me.  I'm anxious to join other groups and hopefully get some good low -fat, low -calorie recipes that are easy.  After 38 years of cooking every day, I really don't like it any more.  So I need quick, easy recipes that don't taste like cardboard...LOL!  Currently I'm living on Lean Cuisine, Eating Right, Gourmet Budget, etc.  I do prepare my salads and try to purchase fresh or frozen veggies.  I like vegetables, so it's not hard to get them into my daily diet.

Hopefully, I will learn some things in this group, make some new friends and be on my way to a healthier ME!!!!!!!!

I turned 50 this year!  This milestone birthday has given me the opportunity to look back on some big events in my life.  I was 125 lbs when I married my husband over 21 years ago.  I gained 20 sneaky lbs over the course of 10 years.  Now, I have gained another 15 or so lbs in the last 5 years (not so sneaky!).  I stepped on the scales yesterday and saw a shocking 162 lbs staring at me!  Gosh, this is happening fast now!

Today, I am considered "overweight" at 5'5".  I can't believe it!  How did this happen to a girl that wore a size 0 until her 20's?  Let's see, childbirth (2 beautiful grown kids), menopause (finally, after years of that "peri" nightmare), and high stress work that involves zero physical activity.  My only saving grace is that I have always enjoyed activities like running, biking, etc. - but who has the time?

I have decided "no more excuses".  Believe me, I know them all! 

1. "you look great, you have nothing to worry about!" - damn those friends!
2. I work hard, and deserve this extra helping or dessert.
3. my stomach feels quesy, eating always helps.
4. my (back, foot, leg) is bothering me - just skip exercise this one time.
5. I am exhausted, just skip exercise this one time
6. I am exhausted, lasagne and ice cream with perk me up!
7. repeat #1-6

I really am looking for some ideas of how to break out of this downward spiral.  I know it can be done, because some of you have amazing success stories!  I hope I can be making similar posts one day real soon.

You are so right!  Getting older does make losing the pounds much harder.  I am finding, by following the advice of others on CC, that I don't have to starve to do it.  I still have to push myself to get the activity level up.  But, hope it will come more naturally over time.  Eating less red meat and more seafood seems to work for me too.  Though I do give in to the cheeseburger craving every once in a great while.  I just try to allow for it earlier in the day.

Thanks so much for everyone's suggestions!  It really does help to know I'm not alone.

Hello I love recipes and cooking except when i have to be rushed. I enjoy food so i really like to find new ways to make it more healthy. I am trying to lose 61 lbs by the end of the year and have lost 19 so far.

Original Post by sunnybra:

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!

 

I was a very skinny, ill child, then when I turned 11 I stopped getting sick and I started eating more and since my metabolism was shot from all the years of being ill, I gained weight quickly and was unable to lose it until I seriously started dieting properly when I was 15-16.
I've actually been with CC for 2-3 years, my regular CC name is Restless_girl however I've lost my About.com password and have to wait until my bf gets back so hopefully he can find it on his pc again!
I've recently been stuck for ideas for food, so end up eating crappy food.
Like a heaping mound of mashed potato and ketchup.
With a ton of butter.
Not the nutritious meal a lacto-free vegetarian should be eating!
So I'm here for some recipe ideas!
I'm not working at the moment and I'm not studying, so I'm just at home all the time.
Last two days I've been using food to distract me from my numbing boredom!
Laptop died so all my usual entertainment is gone and my boyfriend is away so I can't even fill in time with him.
My mother is also away with her new partner so its just me and my un-talkative brothers.
Equalling in one very, VERY bored Claire bear!

Anyway, msg me if you feel like a chat. :)

59 year old ex-pat Brit living in California.

Staedily gained weight throughout my life 'cos I like to eat and drink, but last year decided enough was enough, joined the Optifast program and lost 70#.

Been in maintenance now for about 6 months and my weight is holding fairly steady, but I do still work at learning how to live with my new lifestyle.  Added exerciose to my days and count the calories.

Joined CC about one month ago to help me monitor my intake (I can acces it at home and work -- nice)  Need to keep monitoring so as to stay on the straight and narrow.  Too many years of lax habits and no exercise have become ingrained and breaking free is tough.

Married with 3 kids and 4 grandkids (2 more due this year) They all live in other areas of the country and so we do not see them as often as we would like (Texas, Virginia and Delaware)

Hi All,

I'm new to Calorie Count. I heard about it from a friend in Yoga class. I Joined because I'm looking to loose the weight I put on moving to a new country (Canada from the US). And also to return to the healthier lifestyle I used to have when I was more social and less stressed.

I'm a real foodie. I love to experiment in the kitchen but these days my recipe box definitely needs a pick-me-up in the low-cal department!