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

1) I gained over 100 lbs after the birth of my 4th child.  He's now 16 and I'm ready to have it gone. I've lost 21 lbs since joining CC in December, but I think I'm finally catching on.

2) I joined in Dec. 2008 when my mother told me about it (that was after her telling me how concerned she was over my weight)

3) I'm just ready to learn how to make long term permanent changes - and from what I keep reading in the success stories is that you have to make that mental adjustemt.  It's come about slowly for me, but I think I'm ready.

4) I have 4 children ages 27, 25, 19 & 17 (so hard to believe).  I live in Florida and work at UF as a secretary/office manager/company photographer and have been married to my best friend for almost 26 years. I also love to sing and love sharing God's love.

Hi!  My name is Norma Jean living in Southern California (just over the hill from the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library).

1. History with weight loss:

I have battled with my weight ever since I can remember the boys in 2nd grade calling me Norma "the cow".  The problem is - I was not fat just tall.  I wish I could post my prom picture from high school - I am so thin and tall 5'11".  At age 21 when I applied for LAPD - according to their height/weight standards I was 20 pounds overweight.  I let go of my dream of being a police officer because I did not think I could do the agility test after passing the oral exam.  Slowly the weight started creeping on after I turned 30.  When I became engaged I was 235 pounds, married 5 months later 265 pounds, delivered by son in 1988 I was over 330 pounds (that was estimated).  At one point I was willing to go to a a hospital for over-eaters.  Unfortunately, after two days, I wanted to leave.  There was more attention given to the bulimics & anorexics.  This left me feeling I had once again "fallen through the cracks".  You name the "diet" plan I have probably tried it.  I get as far as six weeks or 60 pounds loss and there is a setback.  Then I gain the weight back I lost and then more.

In June 2007 I decided to give it ALL in losing weight.  I joined Weight Watchers. As I started to lose weight my knees and muscles started giving out on me.  By September 2007,  I ended up being bedridden and home-bound.  September  2008 I was just starting to be able to move with a walker.  November 2008 I was hospitalized with a pulmonary embolism for 6 days.  

2. History with Calorie Count:

I have been a participant of the group "I Can Do All Things Through Christ" since August 2008.  I became the Founder in November when there was a resignation.  I have developed several close relationships since starting, This has been rewarding and incentive - sometimes addictive.  I can't wait to go online to see the progress of all and what I can learn. There are many who have lost 100, 150 and over 200 pounds on this site by counting calories and exercising.  It can be done.  Patience is a virtue.  The weight did not come on overnight and I can't expect it to come off quickly, especially the age I am now.

3. Reason for joining this group:

My friend Lorraine is leading this group.  I came to support her as she has supported me in the group "I Can Do All Things Through Christ".  I desire to interact with some more Christians with like-mindedness.

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

I am 55 years old, 5'11".  I have been married to Andy for 22 years and we have a son, John Michael, who is 21 years old, starting his junior year at CSUN with a Journalism major.   We have 2 Shih Tzus - Babe and Butters - both brothers from the same litter, 6 years old.  They are such a joy!  I spend my time on the computer, reading and watching movies because of my limited ambulatory status.

Hey Norma Jean,  I've learned something new about you again. I didn't know you went to a hospital for overeaters. Our OA meetings were held in a hospital for eating disorders and there were a lot of people there for bulemia and anorexia. It does seem like they would have programs all over the place to help people get on track without surgeries.  I met with a friend that had surgery last year and she still looks the same and has had terrible complications and wishes she had never done it, and so we're going to start walking together.  I called her after my doctor was promoting surgery to me and even though I knew I didn't want to do that, I was curious as to how it had worked for her.  And am sooooo glad that I met with her because it will help have more confidence when I go back to see my doctor next week. 

1. History with weight loss:

I've always been overweight. Well, really starting in the 1st or 2nd grade. I've always tried diets for about 2 days then gave up. For me its always been to easy to sit down with BK or Mcd's or just a bag of chips for supper.  I've had good intentions with buying different health foods but you know where is paved with good intentions....

2. History with Calorie Count:

I started CC 2 weeks ago. Now I'm about 3-4 weeks into my 'diet'. For me I'm just trying to eat healthier and smaller portions. I have high blood pressure and a month ago I was at my heaviest ever. I needed to do something to bring my bloodpressure down. I find its easier to look up calorie counts on here. Its a great way of keeping myself in check and keeping myself on the straight and narrow!

3. Reason for joining this group:

I'm now starting to look into the groups as a way to get into the community side of cc. My profile quiz said that I'm a social eater. So I figured it would help to be social with those losing weight! And as I'm a christian I thought I'd look up to see some spiritual diet advice from other christians.

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

My boyfriend's name is Chris and I have only 1 pet; a beta fish named Fish-sidious. I have a roommate and I tease that she's a pet enough for me.   I go with my boyfriend to Joy Christian Center but belong myself to Journeys through Harvest Fellowship in Sauk Rapids, MN.  Hmmm..... Also I'm 30 and kid #3 in my family. My siblings are 12 and 11 years older than me. So growing up was strange having siblings but not growing up with me. Almost like an only child. I love photography but I don't have good enough self esteem to make it my career. I love dressing up for the Renaissance Festival here in Minnesota. For me its a yearly thing. I go as much as I possibly can.  Huzzah! And wellmet!

Hey Bellelayne!  welcome,  it has really helped me to have group support.  It's been a slow process for me, but am making better food choices and even exercising now.

I love photography too but wouldn't want to do it as a career - too much pressure I think - right now people are appreciative because they know I'm doing them a favor and I love making people smile!

I have several friends that do the Renaissance Festivals, that sounds like fun!

Okey dokey then.  Guess I'd better share some info on myself....

1)  I'm on a really super-fun weight loss roller coaster.  I just love it.  But not really...never had a problem with weight till I had kids...got in the area of my "goal weight" last year using Slim4Life, then Christmas came along....haven't been able to re-gain the willpower I had last year, so I have regained about half of what I lost in the first place.

2)  I saw that a friend had joined CC, and thought it might help me stay on track...it actually has been helping to see the calories right in front of me, and seeing the weight graph helps a bunch, too...

3)  I thought this might be a good place to get some extra encouragement and meet some new people who might be having some of the same struggles I am...I know I need to "let go and let God"; thought this might make that a bit easier!

4)  I have two boys (9 and 12) and a wonderful 2nd husband...between us, we have three cats, one turtle, one dog, and two horses...I work for a veterinary pharmaceutical company and have a bachelor's in Biology...I love to sing...I do not love to exercise....

Hi everyone! I was very delighted to come across a forum where I can not only lose the weight I need to, but do it with other followers of Christ!

1. History with weight loss I never had a vast amount of weight to lose, but I did want to feel comfortable in my own skin. Throughout high school and much of college, I was a size 12 and maxed out at about 175.

At that point, I wanted to set some goals for myself, and went on Weight Watchers. Overall, it actually helped quite a bit - I lost about 20 pounds and kept it off... give or take. I had started to gain a few pounds back, so I was determined to get back on track... but tracking Points didn't seem to work for me anymore! I decided to try this site to simply track calories and nutrition, and it's motivated me to exercise at least three times a week!

2. History with Calorie Count I just joined this month (everyone at work was doing it! :P), and I really like it! The resources are amazing - I get just as much from a paid site - and I find that it's much easier to track my caloric intake and exercise online than it is to scribble it down in a journal.

3. Reason for joining this group As I mentioned above, I'm just very excited to strengthen my faith and my body at the same time - they are not mutually exclusive! I believe that, though I am a creation by a perfect, just, and loving God, He also wants me to take care of His creation... and I ought not to be an exception! :)

4. Some interesting details about yourself, such as your job, your family, your pets and your interests I used to be a cast member at Walt Disney World (I did an internship there last year). Now I'm working a standard 9-5er, but I do enjoy teaching first grade Sunday School at my church! I love leafing through books, going to museums, shopping, and yes - even eating out!

I'm 5'7", at 152.4 (as of my recorded weight last week), but my goal is to see how close to 140 I can get by Christmastime.

Akelim - I love to sing as well - And love turtles - you have quite a collection of animals!

Jacquie - that must have been a blast to work at Disney for a year.  What does a cast member do? Did you have to dress in character?

Welcome Jacquie and Akelim !!!

1. History with weight loss:   I was a scrawny kid until puberty, then it all went crazy.  I have never been extremely overweight, and never been over 200 lbs.  I am 5'4'' and currently around 190 and would like to be in the 140's.  I'm not trying to be super skinny, just healthier and more active.

 
2. History with Calorie Count: I joined maybe a year and a half ago and saw results in the beginning, around 15 lbs.  After moving a lot and losing track it came back on, and I was never very connected, just kind of did it on my own.  I would love the accountability because I feel really ashamed in talking about my weight loss.  I eat a lot more healthy than I used to, so my body feels better, but the weight hasn't changed too much.

3. Reason for joining this group: I need motivation from people who share a conviction about the body being a temple, about self-control and a Godly outlook on image.  

4. Some interesting details about yourself, such as your job, your family, your pets and your interests:  I am 25, married to a wonderful man of God who is very supportive of my weight loss efforts.  I work as a nanny for a 4 month old boy and I am the oldest of 2.  My sister was a size 22 and has gotten down to being a size 10 by personal training and eating better over 2 years.  I just cant afford the personal training part.  I have a 6 month old German Shepherd which has added much activity to our house.  I plan on doing a lot more biking and walking with her.   As far as activities go, I love photography, hiking, biking, shopping, reading (with hot tea or coffee), movies with my husband, and I do enjoy the gym when I have someone with me, or a great day of motivation.

Hey Shannon,   I seem to need someone working out along side me as well, and God sent me a walking buddy that get's off from her job around noon and comes to my work and walks with me. That's great that you and your sister will get to do that together.  Is she older or younger than you?

My sister is 2 years younger than me (she's 23) and has been a great inspiration.  Unfortunately I cant afford the personal training to see the results she has in the time she has, but I know I'll have my own pace and goals.  Also unfortunately, she lives an hour away so she can be there for support and everything, just not actually working out together.  My husband is making the effort to go with me more often, and to be the one to say "we should go anyway" if I don't feel like it that night.   I actually used to go with 2 ladies from my church, but they both have 3 young children and cant go consistently.  I guess I need to be praying for and practicing discipline in my food choices and in doing a workout more frequently.

1. I've been overweight ever since I can remember.  I don't know what it's like to be trim, thin, or skinny so I can't exactly imagine it.  I have lost 42 lbs but over a 3 year period... I'm working on losing more faster but doing so reasonably.  My current motivation is fashion- being able to shop where I've never shopped before!
2. I joined CC August of '09 and haven't really utilized all it offers.  That's why I'm here now!
3. I can't do this alone.  He and I both know that.  I just thought perhaps this group would be the best place to get the uplifting encouragement I need to stay motivated.  I also love meeting new people who share the same interests or are going through the same things.
4. The current love in my life is my chihuahua, Mira.  I love all things film, tv, behind the scenes, and in front of the screen.  I'm a receptionist (but the unofficial title includes the word 'extraordinaire') and I work with actors.  I'm single with no kids but hope to change that someday!

Smiles!

Liluma