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. The challenges you face as a teacher:
4. Some interesting details about yourself, such as what subjects and ages you teach, your family, your pets and your interests:

And now just go ahead and make that first post!

Welcome teachers!  I'll start with the introductions:

1. History with weight loss:

I tend to gain during periods of stress and then get my act together and lose the weight I've gained.  I'm working on learning to manage stress better and maintain a healthy weight (well, first I have to get to a healthy weight and then I'll work on maintaining it ;) 

2. History with Calorie Count:

I lurked around the site for a long time before I got more seriously involved last fall.  I love the support and education that come with this site! 

3. The challenges you face as a teacher:

I'm often physically exhausted at the end of a school day, which makes motivating to go to the gym difficult.  The refrigerator is on the other side of the building, often is stinky, and is subject to theft...so I'm challenged to make and bring lunches that don't require refrigeration.

On the plus side, I find my students to be so supportive - they notice and compliment small weight losses, and I think the fact that 150 kids are looking at me every day, and noticing changes, makes me feel more accountable.

4. Some interesting details about yourself, such as what subjects and ages you teach, your family, your pets and your interests:

I live in NYC and teach science in a public high school.  I'm 33, single, and I enjoy running, weight training and long walks. 

Have a great day! 

HI!! Andesite, we need to promote the group; I'll do that after I introduce myself. Hope you don't mind!

1. History with weight loss: Gained a ton with my 2nd pregnancy due to some "metabolic disorder of pg" and wasn't concerned about it until now (10 years later!!) Tended to maintain without thinking about it, so gaining outside of that pg hasn't been an issue. No real "history" of weight loss, therefore--just the gain, haha. Needing to lose about 60 total, now about 47, to be where I want to be.

2. History with Calorie Count: I logged in May 2008 and lurked, then made a commitment in June. I think the tough nut to chew was accepting the pace of a healthy loss. Down about 13 lbs in 8 weeks or so. Feeling great!

3. The challenges you face as a teacher: Faculty room treats, lunch room favorites. We have a so-so salad bar option and I plan to bring chicken most days. I may bring some type of container and just carry my salad back to my building to eat--a lot less temptation. I would miss the time with my colleagues, however, since most of them eat in the lunch room.

4. Some interesting details about yourself, such as what subjects and ages you teach, your family, your pets and your interests:
Teaching: High School history, small private school in the upper midwest. LOVE my job--colleagues and students, especially. Our campus is spectacularly beautiful all seasons, too, which really makes life good! I have an advanced degree in history and have just started a licensure to masters program in Ed. would love to be more actively involved in History Education.

Family: Married to an English Prof; 3 kids--18 (off to college now; boo-hoo!!); 10, and 6.

Pets: 2 Guinea pigs (mine), 2 gerbils (the kids). A new puppy will be my reward for maintaining under 150 for a year. I have to GET there first, however!

Interests: Travel, other cultures, reading, education, trail running, soccer. I'm also starting a new "collection" of fabrics/shawls from around the world. I like my "art collection" to be functional and wearable!! Right now I have Cambodia, India, Italy, Nepal, Ethiopia, and Kenya. :0

I'm really glad to be here. I really enjoy other teachers, too!!

Maureen

Hi guys! Checking in here!! My name is Stephanie.

1. History with weight loss: I'm 5'7" and at my highest non pregnancy weight, I was 171lbs. When I broke the 170 mark, I panicked! I went on the South Beach diet and lost 23lbs. Over the course of about 3 years, I gained back up to 166.6. I did Weight Watchers, which worked well for me many years ago and nothing..... I ditched all dieting efforts and maintained 166 until I just got sick of myself. I've been doing CC since June and I've lost a mere 10.5 lbs. I don't eat enough, I never have. I definitely don't exercise enough.

2. History with CC: I found it in June and jumped right in. I've loved it. My daughter hates it because every time she looked I was logging something or reading the forums. I have to try really hard not to compare myself to others because my weight loss has been s-l-o-w. I did the diet profiler thing and it said that I eat just fine, but don't exercise enough....ugh!!

3. Challenges you face as a teacher: Faculty room treats and lack of exercise. Someone is always treating us to something delicious like Chick fil A chicken buscuits for breakfast or BBQ for lunch. I'm on the coaching staff and we're ALWAYS being treated to something yummy.

4. Interesting details..subject,,ages,,,family,,pets,,intere sts: I teach 8th grade English Language Arts in a somewhat rural middle school. I love my job. I was a nurse for 15 years and I went back to school and changed careers. The pay cut has been PAINFUL but the peace of mind and quality of life has been wonderful. I'm divorced and looking. I've been single for a long time and I'm ready to find my mate. I have one daughter, 13 years old, in 8th grade. I have 2 dogs, a black lab mix and a lab/bassett mix, both adopted.

My interests include travel, home improvement, reading. I'm a sucker for a puppy and have to hold back from having a house full of dogs.

I've learned a ton on CC and I have benefitted greatly from being here!!

Steph

(I've cut and paste some from my introduction in another forum - I'm working on this "work smarter, not harder" concept.)

1. History with weight loss: I tend to yo-yo with my weight and body composition. I am usually within a healthy bmi that is mostly mushy. I'm 5'2 and my highest weight has been 138, and my lowest adult weight has been around 115, although I didn't maintain that for long. Mostly, I want to be able to fit into my clothes comfortably and be healthy and strong. I'm more interested in size and composition than numbers on a scale.

2. History with CC: I discovered CC when my weight hit almost 140 when I was recovering from an appendectomy a little over a year ago (that struck the day before school was out - talk about exciting end to the year!). I've been on-again and off-again during that time. I've learned a lot and been inspired by others through the various tools and forums. My current weight is somewhere between 122-124, but my clothes fit better than they did at that same number from a month ago!

3. Reason for joining this group: It's nice to have a place to go where others are facing similar challenges: the rushed pace of the day/week/year, the constant temptations which are filled with love AND calories from families that want to show they care, and the multi-tasking with a smile culture that puts everything before our own health and wellness. The constant battle to plan and prepare meals and snacks, and then get the dishes home, cleaned, and replenished. I'm a bit excited to be around folks who want to get counter-to-that-culture and embrace that we have to be healthy and well to serve at our best.

4. A bit about me: I'm a middle school teacher and I love to geek out on the subject of teaching, and how to teach my students to be better readers and writers and learners in general. I love to spend time with friends and family. One of my goals for the past few years, has been to take back my evenings and weekends. This is for multiple reasons, professional ethics to respect the amount time my union and district agreed I should work and be paid, and for the health of my marriage, which needs to be a priority, but for the first few years was not being treated as such. Improving on that goal means time with the husband around a sporting event, movies, or a meal.

I'm not much of an athlete, but I love walking and often have the attitude that the "world is my stair-master." Golf is something I love and I play with husband when the weather and the budget allow. I've developed a serious crush on weight lifting and I'm loving reading all I can about the subject. My current addiction is anything Alwyn Cosgrove. The teacher in me loves his analysis of data and assessments, and I love his tell-it-like-you-see-it attitude. I'm also interested in finding new authors and articles to read for information as well as inspiration.

Hi everyone!  I'm glad to find this group.  I am also in the Christian group but I would love to talk to other teachers.  Some of the friends who I journal with are teachers. I will lead them this way!

1)I was 104 when I got married 19 years ago.  I'm 5'2" with a small frame.  Now, after babies and inactivity I am 151.  My highest was 159 when I first joined CC.

2)I joined CC in January and have had ups and downs since.  People here are great!

3)My biggest challenges as a teacher are that I am a stress eater, faculty goodies, and school food (so very fried).

4) I work in a rural high school with students with learning disabilities and emotional disorders.  I started working in a psychiatric hospital for adolescents and have moved from a separate day school for emotionally disturbed students to the collaborative teaching position at the high school.

I have a husband of 19 years and two kids, 14 and 10.  My 14 year old daughter just started 9th grade at my high school.  Weird!

We have 5 cats and a dog.  We just lost our older dog, Nina, last week.  She was a 12 year old chiuauah (sp?)  Our oldest cat is 15, blind, an creeps around the house and yard.

My interests include running with my daughter, scrapbooking, and church choir.  I am so busy with kids and work that my interests take a back seat.  That stresses me and I eat.  I also have bronchitis right now so my running has been minimal this week.

Nice to be here!

Peace, Sarah

1. History with weight loss:  I married my husband at 19 weighing 136 lbs( I'm 5'3) and insecure about my weight.  I gained 30 lbs during our first 2 years of marriage because of laziness and problems with portion control.  I found myself eating the exact same amounts he ate, which was practically double what I needed to be eating.  After a trip to Florida to visit my husband's parents, I realized that my eating habits and weight were out of control. My top weight and size was 165 in a size 14.  I started to research healthy eating habits and calories.  Since July 2007, I have lost 36 lbs (gained back 5 this summer) and am currently sitting at 135.  I would like to lose about 15 more pounds. 

    
2. History with Calorie Count:  I can't even remember how I found CC, but I would be lost without it.  I love all the information I find on this site.  I joined CC in July 2007. 

3. The challenges you face as a teacher: I eat lunch at 10:30 and am starving by the time I get home at 4:30.  I try to eat a snack, but it doesn't always help and its not always healthy.  Teaching first grades means lots of nasty junk snacks are readily available.  I have a very active teaching style.  My kids are always moving and doing something.  We do minimal worksheets each day, and I feel that my job is somewhat physically and mentally demanding.  I'm normally very tired at the end of the day, and I have a hard time motivating myself to exercise. 

4. Some interesting details about yourself, such as what subjects and ages you teach, your family, your pets and your interests:  I teach first grade in a low income school.  75% of the children at my school are on free or reduced lunch.   This is my second year teaching, and I love it.  I started out as a music ed major, but realized after a year that my passion for music wasn't my desired career. 

I am 23, and am married to the most wonderful, supportive man in the world.  We've been together since high school, and will be celebrating our 4 year anniversary soon.  We have two beagle mixes that we adore.  They are our spoiled children for the time being.  :-)

I'm currently obsessed with nutrition.  I find it so interesting what foods can do for your body.  I also really love to cook healthy meals. 

1. History with weight loss:

I have struggled with my weight for most of my life. I actually suffered disordered eating during my teen years. Right now I have been on my current weight loss plan (I don't use the "D" word) since April 2008, and have lost 48 pounds.

2. History with Calorie Count:

I joined CC in April, and stopped using it for a while in favor of another site, but I found that site to be too cumbersome, so I came back here.

3. The challenges you face as a teacher:

This is my first year as a teacher, and I am struggling with wanting to snack! I eat breakfast at 6am, lunch at 11 and then I don't have dinner until 6. I need to find more balance in my eating. Also, teacher pot lucks are evil!

4. Some interesting details about yourself, such as what subjects and ages you teach, your family, your pets and your interests:

I currently teach Physics at an inner city school. Most of my students are Juniors and Seniors. I am engaged and getting married next March. I have a cat named Creature and when I am not teaching I enjoy photography and exercising.

hi all!

I am 31, in an unhappy/long term relationship that is oh so complicated, I teach high school English in a rural Kansas town, and I am addicted to cc classic.    I am really , really sad I have to switch.   I hate it that they crammed it down my throat.   

I am a reader and writer, I love music and people, I love running and biking and using my Bowflex.   My bf plays far too much World of Warcraft. I am bored a lot. 

I started cc classic in June last year at 230 lbs.    I am now 157.      Original goal was 150, but I want to keep going when I get there.   I was worried when I went back to work in August, but all my hard work this summer in instilling a 5AM workout routine WORKED, so I am doing pretty well at exercising every day before work AND on weekends, drinking lots of water while at work and home, and eating right through the day and at home to keep my weight loss moving.    I never thought I would be in this kind of GOOD --HEALTHY shape in my lifetime.  

  Rock on.   I am glad to part of a group like this one.   ( :    Olivia

Hi everyone,

I am 51 and teach at a community college.  My history includes weight watchers (several attempts/none successful after 5 lbs.), a brief time with a personal trainer through my doctor, and slim-fast (which worked well for me actually).  I am the mother of 2 girls 19 & 22 both in college. 

I try to eat healthy but I just seem to eat often.  A challenge I face as a teacher is that I spend hours sitting at a desk correcting papers, attending meetings, and counseling students.  Getting up and walking (other than to class) is a treat.  I also am overcommitted at school but I really don't have any other options just now to cut back. 

Since I teach reading, I love to read.  I spend time on the internet to enhance my students assignments.  I also love to cook and did I say read?  My passion is teaching and seeing the students change and learn over 16 weeks of class.  My husband is a pastor and is a diligent excerciser.  My daughter is also very active in martial arts and excercises several hours a day on some days.  I am a couch potatoe correcting papers and reading books, magazines, internet news, etc. 

I am just beginning my journey again, but this time I am doing it to be healthy and to feel better about myself as a model to both my girls and my students.

1. History with weight loss:

I successfully lost weight. Looked great. Then I had 2 knee surgeries, a hysterectomy and turned 50 and I am a mess.

2. History with Calorie Count: Started today.

3. The challenges you face as a teacher: I work as an adjunct so I teach at 2 online colleges and 1 job in town. I am finishing my dissertation so I am overly busy but it takes 3 jobs to make a decent wage.

4. Some interesting details about yourself, such as what subjects and ages you teach, your family, your pets and your interests:

I teach psychology. My favorites to teach are lifespan development and positive psychology. My dissertation in on first generation students/women with children under the age of 14 at home going to college. I am doing qualitative intereviews with these women.

I have a sweetheart for a husband. We live by his parents and his dad has dementia. He now lives in residential care and we help with all that goes with this. My son left home this fall for college. He is in New Orleans at Loyola. I have a dog and a bird. I spend a lot of time on the computer. I love to read.

Hi! I'm a middle school and high school science teacher. I teach or have taught just about everything except HS Physics. Starting about 10 years ago, my weight slowly edged towards the 170 lb. mark. I became seriouly ill five years ago and went on a low-fat diet..my weight stabilized at 150, then began creeping up to almost 160. I don't get enough excercise. I wotk a small K-12 independent school and my schedule is so full that finding time to get an aerobic workout is difficult. Our school now offers a free lunch for faculty with few options that are calorie reduced but satisfying. (You get tired of slad for lunch after a few days). I also am the schools trainer. I often do not get home until late, which means 4 nights out of five, I do not eat properly... I'm trying to prevent weight gain rather than react to it.

I really like the tools on this site. I've only been at it 2 days. If I make my choices ahead of time, then I won't make excuses and not do wnat I need later on... It's worked before. The key is excercise, aerobic, 40 minutes at least 4x a week.

Interests: photography, hiking, camping, birdwatching, canoe, skiiing...much more. Busy life.. 4 kids, three at home, and a wife who works opposite hours.. time is precious.

Hi!

I currently teach middle school English at a boys school in San Francisco.

My current height and weight is probably 5'6" and 150 pounds.  I am very curvy, Italian, and I love to eat.

I have always struggled with my weight.  When I was young, I was the fat kid who people laughed at.  When I got into middle school, I thinned out considerably-- I was 5'5" and weighed 115 pounds. I remember thinking that my life would be over if I weighed 125-- my "healthy" weight. Ha!  I had to have a hysterectomy on the young-side: I was 27.  The hormone therapy increased my breast size from a B to a DD in one month! Hello breasts! My weight has fluctuated ever since then.  Last year, my jaw locked and I was on soft foods for over 7 months.  Ice cream became my perfect food and because it was all I ate, I still lost weight. I dropped 15 pounds and I looked great. But once I was able to chew without blinding pain, the weight came back on and here I am again.

I had been a member of calorie count about 2 years ago.  I lost about 10 pounds, felt good about it, and then my jaw problems started and I let it go.  Obviously, I need to get back on it.  From a recent blood test, I have found out that I have dangerously high cholesterol (thanks mom!) and I have to exercise more because I have asthma (thanks dad!).

The biggest challenge for me as a teacher is that I never have time to eat....properly.  Sure there are lots of nibbles around, but none of them are truly healthy.  We have a great lunch everyday from an organic food company, but my jaw is still sore sometimes, so chewing crunchy salads arent always an option.  I find myself eating lots of grains because they don't upset my stomach, but then I've eaten an entire box of crackers by the end of the day.

Another bad eating excuse for me right now is that I'm recently separated, and that has been very emotional for me.  Where's the ice cream?

I'm a middle school AND high school business/computer teacher in Goshen, Indiana.  Married with two teenage children of my own; one just started college this year and is living at home.   The other an active athlete in the 11th grade.  We have three dogs (in the house even - how stupid am I - lol) and two cats inside as well - one up and one down; another seven cats outside and a couple of fish as well as a lizard downstairs (in the cage of course!)  

I usually haven't had trouble with my weight, but in the last year, I've put on an additional 30 pounds.   I'm not sure if I'm just getting lazy or what, but I know I have noticed it often.   I refuse to go up in a size, so I wear what fits and won't buy anything new.  

I have new thyroid medicine now, but the damage is done.   My mother is struggling with breast cancer, so the stress factor is very high.  

I think this group should be under vocation titled as teacher rather than other, as it is hard to find!   Surely you deserve a title of your own!  ;)  

I've been exercising this week, while on vacation, but I know it will be harder once classes start again next week.   I thought maybe making some friends would make me more accountable.   So, hello everyone . . . how can I help you?

Hi :-) My name is Natalie. I am a single woman aged 38 :-) I am a grade 2 ( 7 year olds) educator and live in beautiful Cape Town South Africa. I love walking, being in nature and camping. I usually spend 3 weeks camping along the Garden Route South Africa over Christmas and New Years with my family. My goal is to lose my extra weight by next year. Maybe I will even meet a nice single guy along the way :-)

1. I have pretty much been putting on weight slowly since starting teaching 15 years ago and now weigh 20 Kg (44 pounds) more than I did then. I have tried to lose the weight twice but I am afraid I gained it all  before I even reached the finish line . . . . even though I got close. I have come to realize that losing the weight is going to only be a small battle . . . . . . reaching the goal line and keeping it off is my biggest difficulty.

2. Both the previously times I lost weight I counted calories . . . . . that with 45min of brisk walking every second day worked for me. I joined this site a few days ago as I am determined like never before to lose my extra 20 Kg in 2009 and then keep it off :-)

3. I have never really been an unhealthy eater in that I very seldom eat junk food. I just eat far too much. In fact I have a habit of eating in case I may get hungry. I love bread . . . . . . . :-) even on its own :-) As an Educator I find that I often eat on the run as even my intervals are taken up with phone calls from parents or meetings or crying/hurt darlings. My problem is I pack my basket with loads of healthy foods and fruits ( I have to be a good example to the kids I teach) but find myself eating whenever and without thinking . . . . . in case I might get hungry. That has definitely got to stop!!! I will only pack a healthy snack which I will eat at 10:30am (1st interval) and a healthy lunch for 1pm (2nd interval) I will plan these meals the day before and know how many calories they are worth.

Hi!

I am a vocal music teacher (pre K-12) as well as the director of the high school musical and the speech coach.  I have 5 children at home (15, 15, 13, 13, 10) so I am constantly running to ball games and activities when I am not working.  I have recently remarried (June 28, 2008) and life is great.  The kids have been good friends for years so the blend of families is going quite well.  I have been teaching 19 years and love almost every minute of the time I spend with the kids.  I have always had to watch my weight and now it is just harder to focus on eating healthy and not binge at night because I am tired, happy, excited, sad, mad....  Do you see a trend here?  I put on weight initially when my husband became terminally ill and life spun a bit out of control.  I am just a beginner with the calorie count and I am looking forward to finding a way to get my weight under control.  I would like to lose 30 pounds by this summer, but it seems to be one step forward 3 steps back at times.

1. History with weight loss: Trying to lose weight is a new and very challenging endeavor for me. I was a national level competitive endurance athlete from the age of 13 until my late twenties. With all of my training there were times that I had to force myself to eat just so I would not lose weight - those were the days! Then my focus started to change towards my career and a relationship. Several difficult life events occured seemingly all at the same time and I turned to food for comfort. I went from a 5'8" 132 lb elite athlete to a 191 lb non exerciser at my worst :(

2. History with Calorie Count: One night while searching the web on a quest for some solution to my weight gain issues I discovered the caloriecount website. I did the program seriously for about 4 months and then took a year break due to life stresses at the time. I have come back to the program again and am now down to 168 lbs. My goal is to get down to 140 lbs.

3. Challenges I face as a teacher: I sit next to a teacher in our office who is the best baker ever. She often bakes blonde brownies, mocha brownies, fudge, oatmeal scotchies, pie etc. (I think you get the idea) that are just soooo hard to resist. It is unfortunate that the counter she leaves them on is right next to my desk and the fact that she always asking me to take a bite - boy would I love to! Also my job can be stressful at time prepping for three separate classes each day. I love what I do but I am a perfectionist and that can lead to much stress.

4. About myself: I am a highschool Biology and Introductory Physics teacher in a top notch school in Western MA. I am single and live with the most beautiful, well behaved black lab ever. His name is Angus and he is one of my best friends. I enjoy cycling, x-c skiing, running in the pool, watching movies, reading, flower gardening, training Angus to become a therapy dog so we can visit children in the hospital, and sending letters and packages to my friends just because...

 1. History with weight loss: About 5 years ago, I lost 100 lbs on Weight Watchers.  I bought a kit on ebay and did it w/no support, no groups, nothing. Since then after a series of exciting but not so healthy relationships, I have gained it all back.  I've tried South Beach and found it rather restrictive and tried a bariatric specialist when I was a teen.  My weight has always been an issue.  My step-mom's nickname for me was Thunderthighs. 

2. History with Calorie Count: I just joined today and jumped right in.  I love being online late at night when I am grading papers or writing lesson plans.

3. The challenges you face as a teacher:  I teach French, so I constantly have kids wanting to bring in french food.  It is impossible to resist.  My days are sometimes so exhausting that I have a hard time getting motivated to workout.  I am a nightowl and suffer from insomnia.  When I do fall asleep I have a rough time getting up in the morning which makes it tough to fit in a morning exercise routine.

4. Some interesting details about yourself:  I am 39, single mom of a teen and of course a teacher (high school French).  I have a great cat, make my own jewelry and love to read.

History with weight loss - I am 5'10" tall and have struggled with weight since I was in highschool/university.  I was very athletic in high school, but as I became more devoted to my studies, I also became more sedentary and used other ways to cope with stress (drinking, smoking, eating).  Reached my highest weight last August at 231.4lbs.  My doctor told me to lose the weight or suffer serious health complications.  So, I did.  I stopped drinking (1-2 drinks per week), I got rid of the crap in the fridge (you all know what I'm talking about), stopped eating out and eating fast food, stopped eating at the dreaded high school cafeteria (poutine anyone?), and started making exercise a daily habit - like washing your face or doing the dishes.  Now, I'm down to 167 and would like to reach 150 by April 20th - my 33rd birthday.  I am an emotional eater who binges on food when stress becomes an issue - so now I address stress before it becomes an issue.  I have a supportive network of family and friends who encourage my healthy lifestyle.

History with CC: Last November, I was looking for ways to stay motivated and was needing help with portion control and counting calories.  This site is now a part of my daily schedule.  It is a habit. 

Challenges as a teacher:  I get stressed out by my job because I often feel disempowered by the bureaucracy of the education system - so many hoops to jump through and so many ways that kids fall through the cracks.  I tend to spend a lot of time and energy on kids that like to give up and that stresses me out.  Similarly, I am very conscious of the importance of being a role model.  When I was 230 lbs I was self-conscious and self-loathing.  Kids are intuitive and that was a challenge.  Now, I have more self-esteem and control over my life and my teaching has improved as a result.  As a coach, I find it very important to stay fit and active to set good examples for the girls I coach.  Eating small meals through the day takes a lot of planning and time is precious in education, but I think I've mastered it.

Interesting details: I teach history and civics in a highschool in Ontario, Canada.  I teach some at-risk students and coach as well.  I am very passionate about students and the subjects I teach.  I love to run, play squash and I adore my cat.  She is the best thing for my blood pressure to date!  I am very close to being engaged (so very very very patient) and have alovely boyfriend who supports me, regardless of my weight.

Hi everyone! I guess that I will share a little bit about myself.

History with weight loss - I am 5'7" tall and have always been overweight. I only remember wearing a size 16 to 20, never any smaller. I am a snacker and like to eat between meals and especially at night. If someone offers something to me, I tend to eat it even if I am not hungry. I used to eat lunch from the school cafeteria, but stopped a few months ago. I have not made exercising a priority until recently. I want to lose about 50lbs. I have been at my current weight for a few years now and am ready to lose some weight.

History with Calorie Counter: I just joined CC yesterday. I need motivation and I feel like this would be a good place to get that. I have also been trying to count calories and need help with keeping track of what I eat. I never realized how many calories I was eating before! Since I am out of school for the summer, I have time to get on CC and track what I eat.

Challenges as a teacher:  I am the Special Education Coordinator at an elementary school. I also teach inclusion in a first grade classroom. It gets stressful at times trying to handle the SpEd needs to the school, as well as be there for my own students. I love teaching and couldn't imagine doing anything else with my life.

Interesting details about me: I am married to firefighter. He is a wonderful husband and father. We had twins, a boy and a girl, in March 2008. They are very active now and are so amazing. I am active in my church and enjoy working with the children there. God has truly blessed me in my life.

Hello all! Here's a little info...

1. I've consistently gained weight my whole life and only had one successful diet attempt when I started college. I'm now 27, 5'7" and my start weight was 231.

2. I just joined yesterday and this morning I weigh 227. Yea! I love counting calories... it appeals to the math geek in me.

3. As a teacher my schedule is not that condusie to healthy eating. Last year our lunch time was late (11:50) and there wasn't a break for snacking in between. I'm hoping that next year at my new school the schedule will be better.

4. I've worked in middle school for 4.5 years and next year will be my first in high school. I'm super nervous but my goal for the summer is to lose weight so I can start the year off feeling more confident. I live in Westminster, MD with my boyfriend of almost 2 years (he is also overweight and we are working on it together) and our cat, Sola.

I am hoping to meet people that I can share with about this new weight loss adventure. Talk to you later!

~ Gillian