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 Jennifer. I'm 35 and live in Austin, Texas. I'm a single mom with wild curly hair and a crazy sense of humor.  I have friends from all walks of life and each one is beautifully human and individual and I love it.  I love all kinds of music and movies and I like to read when I have time. Of course, being a parent, I've pretty much spent that reading children's books to my son - but hey - I love kid books!  Louis Sacher and Harry Potter books.. good stuff!

Anyway, I'm too fat and when you start having difficulties whiping your own ass - it's time to lose some weight! Plus - I went to Six Flags in San Antonion and it was soo hot and humid. I was sweating like a whore in church... but when I looked around, no one else had hair completely drenched like mine! I barely got on the rides (think I had one centimeter left).. I was mortified. I want to be healthy, live a long life and get rid of my back pains.  So, I'm ready to get focused!

Back Ground on my weight:::

At my heaviest I was 290lbs.  I

I managed to lose some weight by myself before finding cc.  When I found cc I weighed 257lbs (March 2007).   In six months I was down to 225 (Sept 2007). And then! I fell off the wagon!

Here it is Sept 2008 and I started over at 258lbs! 

Hi, my name is Susan.  I am 40 years old and I live in Brevard North Carolina.  I am married and have four teenage daughters.  We have two Scotties that I dearly love.  My husband and I both have Harley motorcycles.  We love to ride together.  I want to lose weight because I am tired of being fat.  I lost 30 pounds last year and have gained it all back!  I cheated for my birthday and could not get back on the wagon!

Last week when I started I weighed 194.  Today I weighed in at 189, so I am down 4 pounds.  All of my pants were too small.  I had one pair that fit really good and I wore them so much that they ripped last weekend!  I don't want to buy a bigger size.  So, I need to work hard.  I would love to weigh 130-135.  I got down to 123 about 10 years ago, and I thought I looked great, but everyone thought I looked too skinny.  I wish I had those worries now!  I have always fought with my weight, and I have a tough time keeping it off.

So, nice to meet you and maybe we can help each other become healthier!!

Hi, my name is Di.  I'm 48 and live in O'Fallon, MO...married (26 yrs to HS sweetheart), a son and daughter in their 20s, a dog and cat.  I'm also so very very tired of being fat.  I'm 5'8" and at my heaviest 234.  I joined CalorieCount in Jan or Feb of this year, but really stepped it up in April when my DH went on 2nd shift and decided that I'd go at this Biggest Loser style, my car is always packed with my gym bag and I average 2000 minutes of exercise monthly.  I lap swim 3 days a week, walk, circuit train 2x weekly, and workout on the elliptical.  In May and June I successfully lost 20+ pounds, but since June the losses have been slow.  I'm currently, depending on the day and the scale, hovering at a total of 28 pounds lost. 

I need to gain control of my eating, instead of my 1200-1500 goal, I've been more at 1600-2000.  I have the exercise down, it's the diet that is stalling me along with my stubborn metabolism.

So..back on the wagon.

My name is April.  I am also married to my high school sweetheart for 12 years.  We have three children and I stay at home and home school (I do not wear my hair in a bun, nor do I own a denim skirt--not that there's anything wrong with either of those things).  I have only really struggled with my weight since having kids.  My heaviest was 163 and in 2005 I had lost over 40 lbs, but have recently gained back 20.  So, I'm back on the wagon so that my clothes fit again.  I don't like to work out, but I enjoy feeling strong when I do.  I sit straighter and my back feels healthier.  It's also very important for me to model healthy habits for my children.

Good luck everyone!  Stay positive and think of how good you'll feel when you're there!

Hi, I hope I can still join the group.

I"m 26, 5'5 and 210lbs. I just moved to the middle of nowhere Newfoundland for a job. The stress of the moving away from my home family and partner have lead to many of nights in front of the tv shoveling down chips and cakes and god only knows what, in the last month I have put on 20 lbs! NOT GOOD! Usually every 4 days I drive 6 hours to go home which includes a few stops to fast food joints and 3 or 4 energy drinks. Then when I'm home it's usually madness trying to see my family, errans and trying to make up for lost time that a meal is usually the last thing on my mind and it's usually take out Again! I had a friend that just lost 50 lbs and got a job at LA weight loss. I was talking to him about how unhappy I am about my weight gain and the need to get my but in gear. He had me come down for a consultation. We'll I nearly hit the floor. Twice, once by my weight. 210lbs which is the most I have ever been in my life. And then the next by the price of what it would cost to join LA weight loss. I couldn't afford what they were asking so I got on the net and found CC. I have been using CC since Sept 3 and have lost 7lbs. Not much but it's a start. I would like to get down to 165 by March.

I am starting to feel better, my mood is changing ( for the better lol) and even my hair feels healthier if that is possible lol I run 5 days a week, do small weights every other day and 2 days a week I ride bike.

I haven't been home for the past month and I need some motivation not to fall back into the habbit of fast food and what not when I get to go home. ( the good thing about living in a small town, no takeout!)

so I guess where it goes :)

Hi, I'm Andrew. I am 24 and live in St. Louis, Missouri. I currently live bunked up with my sister, her hubby and child. A kitty, and a fat little lizard.  I'm cheap and need to save money. Haha.

Anyway, before I fell off this wagon I weighed in at 179. (original starting 215.)  9 lbs from my goal! I was sooo close. I had a new work, and at first it was nice. But then the other side came out! Complaining about everything, boss being a total jack...you know the other half. Get this done now, get that done. Just a nice pile of stress. Well, I couldn't take it, so guess what happened. Tada! Let's do the diet breakdown! over a year, I gained all but 5 lbs of it back! Well, since then, I've proudly quit that evil part of the job about 3 months ago. Just to avoid confusion, I work Custodial, and have different buildings (jobs) to manage. Advantage to it.. I'm walkin' burnin cals all night!

Now, I've restarted back on Sept. 1. A rocky restart to boot. I hovered at 210 for over a week before anything happened. I blame the mindset. But now it seems to have taken off into overdrive! I'm back on the same recommended 1700-1800 cal a day.

I'm Gonna paint this wagon! I'm gonna paint it good! LOL

Well hey again everybody!!

My name is Jada, and I am from Wright City, Missouri. I feel of the wagon in January, at 180 lbs. I am currently at my highest weight, 201(ish). I don't know why I fell off. Stress? Probably. I remember, I was doing so weel, and then my best friend had a fancy France themed birthday party. I drank a LOT of wine and ate a LOT of really amazing french food. The next day, I was hungover, so I ate more crap. And I just haven't been able to get back on that wagon ever since!! ARRRGGGHHHHH!!!

Day 5!

Cheers to a fresh start, everybody!

Hey, I'm Heather. I live in Vancouver, BC. I'm 36 and married to the man of my dreams. I have 2 cats and we are trying for kids (lots of them and having fun trying). I used to be a gardener (had my own small business) but gave it all up and moved to the other side of the world, Scotland, to be with my husband until he could immigrate back here. I was always very active and atheletic and my 'normal' weight was  about 160lbs. That is until 4 years ago when while riding my bike to work I was hit by a truck and  my back was broken. Since then I have struggled to keep the weight off as I am not able to be as active anymore. As well I am having to relearn what activities I can do without causing strain or more injury. This of course means I now have to reduce my caloric intake. This is the hardest part for me because I was always able to eat whatever I wanted and burn it off easily. Working out isn't difficult for me to keep up as I have to to help keep the chronic pain at bay. Here's my so called stats....

before the accident: 155-160lb

highest weight: 210lb

lost last year: 25lb

fell off the wagon and gained back: 8lb

final goal: 155-160lb

I know this next week and a half will be slow progress cause as I mentioned in the weigh in thread, my dad is visiting me for the first time since my mum passed earlier this year ( gained 5 lbs that wek alone! )and I'm not going to be able to count calories  while he is here but I am being very concious of what I'm eating.

Good  luck everyone!

Hi, I'm Tami and I live in a small town in southwestern Ohio.  I am 37 years old, have been married to a wonderful man for 3 1/2 years.  We have 4 children between us...my son...his son and 2 daughters.  They are 21, 15, 15, and 12...lol.  I have fallen off the wagon so many times, you would think I would eventually get it right...maybe this time is IT!  I am at my highest weight...5'3" and 241 pounds.  I weigh 60 pounds more than when I gave birth to my son.  I am very down on myself right now.  I hate to look at myself...I hate that my mom mentions my weight every time we talk...in case I did not know I was morbidly obese...or that I was going to die if I did not do something...I just struggle so much with willpower.  I want to do it...it is the "getting it done" part I have trouble with...lol.  So here I am...back on the wagon again...

I will check in daily...that will be the only thing to keep me moving in the right direction...it will be knowing I am not alone...:)  so thank you!

Hey everyone.. let me know if there is another category you want.  Wow, it's cool seeing where everyone is and that we're all in the same similar boat! Last time I was on cc I had a roommate that help me but now that she's gone, I have to do this on my own and so hearing your stories will help a lot!

sdmerrill -  I hate running out of clothes to wear but not wanting to buy new ones.. it's bad enough being overweight and not having decent looking clothes makes you feel worse. My problem is with shoes! I used to be able to buy any size 8 1/2 but now, from the weight? my my feet are soo wide! I can't find any shoes! And out of the few nasty pairs I had, my dog ate 3! haha

di - That's great that you can exercise so much! That's my tough area.. I hate exercising! Post what you normally eat and maybe everyone can give suggestions/alternatives so you can have maximum food for less calories?

Hey April (calijodouble) - I was thin before being pregnant and put on bed rest.  I shot up to 210.. but instead of losing the babyweight..it's 10 yrs later and I'm 253! 

ange123 - Welcome! That's why I love cc.. it has worked better for me than anything else AND it's free! I love it. 7lbs since 9/3 is not bad!  Last time I did this I stayed the same weight for 3 weeks straight and then would have a 4lb loss.. even though it's slow it's in a healthy way and it's better to slowly lose than to quickly gain. Keep up the good work, you can do it!

newwave - haha, you're cracking me up. Man, that sucks to be so close to goal and then gain it back (sigh). Oh well, good news is that you're still starting 30lbs less than your biggest! You'll get it this time.. Now go paint that wagon good and bring your fat little lizard.

Hey Veggiedoodle - I fell off during my b-day last Sept as well! Only instead of french food and wine (so classy!) haha  I was on Chinese and ice cream. ha

Scotland - Did you have surgery on your back?  I have a friend with broken disks in her back and she hasn't had surgery yet, she's just been living on pain pills. I wanted to know if there's exercises she can do that wont hurt so much? I bet Scotland is beautiful...

Hi Tami - Does your husband/kids mind if you cook healthier for meals or do you have to cook tempting meals for them? I got my 10 yr old eating Boca Burgers and salads so that's good.. but when I have rice or potatoes I have to make him easy mac and OMG, it looks so good! lol  I'm checking in daily during the week.. reading the forums helps a lot.  

Good luck to everyone on our second week!!! Fingers crossed for us all on Friday. :) 

ahhh, I missed the first weigh-in?  Was out of town to help with harvest on the farm...no internet :(

Hi, I'm JoAnne from Saskatchewan, Canada.  I am married to my supportive hubby of 10 years. I have 3 children aged 6, 7 and 16.  I was a very skinny girl (too thin i think) all the way up to the birth of my second child  Have struggled ever since. 

I run a daycare out of my home but with my baby starting school full time I am starting to wonder what to do with my time.  I once worked with special needs children and loved it...but it took alot out of me....It weighs on my mind and ummm I eat alot!?

Just recently I decided to take some "me" time (something I havn't done in 16 years) and I hired a trainer.  CC sure helps with the food end of losing weight and I'm so glad to have and give support in this group!!

Started CC in March '08 and have lost  17.5 pounds. What a horrible summer...I fell wayyyy off the wagon, oops  It's today that matters most right?

Friday, weigh in...bring it on!  Let's go everybody!!!!

 

Jennifer...I am going to begin the Harry Potter books soon...but I love to read most anything...mostly murder/mystery/suspense.  And no...my husband and kids are not interested in healthier meals...they want macaroni and cheese with the beef & noodles...or beef roast with carrots and potatoes and mac & cheese and gravy...and there is not enough money to buy different foods for everyone...so I am going to be creative...eat lots of salads...and just eat less...

sdmerrill...nice to meet you.  I am glad to know that I am not in this boat alone!  North Carolina is beautiful country.  We have 4 dogs here in our house so I can understand how much you love those little guys! 

Di...wtg on the exercise!  The pounds will come off if you keep it up...slow is better...but it is so hard to remember when you want to see a loss so badly...just keep up the terrific work!

April...I would love to homeschool my son...he has some learning disabilities as well as some social issues...but I think that much time with him might not be good for either of us...lol...plus he enjoys going to school, even though he does not always do very well...

Ange...a new Newfie...isn't the country beautiful, though?  We can do this together...you sound like you have a lot going on...new job...trying to make new friends...missing old friends and family...it is tough...but you just made a bunch of new friends right here...:)

newave...you have a great attitude towards starting over again!  I am sorry the job stunk and the stress caught up with you...but it happens to all of us.  I am definitely an emotional eater...that will be the hardest to get over for me...glad you are here with us all!

veggie...good luck!  The party, though a diet killer, sounds like it was amazing  :)  WHat fun to have a themed party...I live in a bubble I think...we just sit home...watch tv...play on the computer...and be lazy...lol...though I am going to start walking tomorrow!!

Heather...you will find the exercise that is right for you now...you just have to give it all a shot until you find what works and what you enjoy...it is the same as being sedentary and then beginning some sort of exercise...which is where I will be...I like to walk...but I have to remember to start slow or I will burn out from doing too much too soon...good luck!

Joanne...hi...I also babysit a couple of little boys in my home...and they are fun...but tough sometimes...they are foster children...and you have to love them...but not knowing what they went through...or not knowing all of it...the oldest is a terror...he is full of NO's...and "I don't want tos"...and screams and hits me all the time...he does not hurt me...but he is mean to me and my animals...I have to watch him all the time...and "me" time...good for you! 

Today is DAY 1...I have eaten 490 calories...I have a class tonight so I already planned my salad from McDonald's for dinner...I can fit it in without any trouble...I have had 3 bottles of water (almost)...I feel good...but DAY 1 always goes good for me...it is every day after that I have trouble with...lol

Thanks for being here, all of you!!

Hi josemdg! Nice to meet you and congratulations for taking time for you!  Working with special needs must be very hard work but also very rewarding.. Bring it on is right!!! Good luck!

 

Tabby - I've been reading them to my son and we LOVE them! We had seen the movies first which are great but there was a lot of things I just didn't get.  Reading the book explains MUCH much more.. and of course, some of the books are so big that they had to change facts and skip a bunch.. so the books are way better. We're excited as we just started the 6th book Half Blood Prince and should be done with it before the movie comes out. This is the first time we're reading it w/o having seen the movie.  Great books.. I will be sad when it ends.

wow! you all sound so motivated! i love it  :D

jennifer - mmmmmm chinese and ice cream **drool**

tabby - yeah the party was fun, but that was 9 months and 20 lbs ago! what have i been doing the rest of the time??? ohhhh yeah, i remember. eating dominos and taco bell in front of the tv every night after work. oops!!

you guys all have such interesting stories. mine is basically just excuse after excuse. every day i start a diet and every night i come up with a reason to sabotage it! this is day 7 and i've only goofed twice, so i'm getting better!

what is everyone doing for exercise? i have been taking it slow because i am afraid to get burned out. i go to the gym maybe twice a week and the rest of the time, i either go walking with my best friend and our two 4 year olds or i do extra work around the house.

does anyone have any short term goals? i tend to do better with short term goals. i want to lose 10 lbs before halloween. it's about 6 weeks away. hmm..

It's nice to see that we're gaining people. But it still looks like I'm still the youngest and only guy! ahh! *hides*

Oh well. it doesn't bother me. You'll see why down below. Heh.

veggie-  good job! you sounded like me when I was trying to get back on track a few weeks ago. I would be doing reeeeally well during the day, but once I hit the offices.. someone would have cake or donuts (or both)! Bye bye! Curse this horrible sweet tooth.    But now I'm back in my zone and I refuse to touch it unless I know how much I'm getting and how much allowance I have left.    As for exercise, I live in a decently hilly area, so I do my nice fast walks Monday-friday. On days I don't feel like going out, I plant myself on the bike in front of the TV. I also do some weight lifting to get my upper body back into shape mon-wed-fri.

Tabby- welcome back to the wagon! I know how family can be when it comes to your weight. I have 4 other older siblings (3 sisters, 1 bro), 2 are health freaks, one worse than the other. the Sister I live with, not so much so. She kinda supports what I'm doing, but when I'm trying to be picky about what I eat, she gets annoyed. And makes it apparent. I just took the Support from the other two sisters that were health consious and that helped me enough to go through, not to mention stuff from here.  Anyway good luck with getting back in to the groove of things, and don't let anyone talk you down! I've developed a pretty good ignore switch that I turn on. LOL

Overall, to add something that works for me. One day a week... Sunday, I "take off" from being too picky mostly because it's a hard day to count anyway. I even did this the first time around and was still quite successful. I never went over maitnence, but the boost in cals seemed to also help out the Metabolism a bit. It gives me something to look forward to.. a small goal maybe?

newave - I agree about slacking off on Sunday and having it boost your metabolism a bit and giving you something to look forward to. That's why I refuse to exercise on Sundays! ha

Veggiedoodle - I was going to call you VD for short but stopped myself when I realized what that meant! hahaha  I am so fat and out of shape that I do good on walking on the treadmill for 30 minutes/day.  Last week I only got 3 days in and still lost so that's good.  I need to add in some sit-ups and bat-wing exercises though.

Sounds like you guys are doing great!  I'm glad we have a good group going.  It is fun to see how everyone is doing.  I did pretty good over the weekend.  I started walking again and I have really enjoyed it.  The weather is really nice for walking right now.  Today I took our two scotties walking with me and they were so tired.  You know you have a problem when your dogs are fat too!Lol!  So, it is my goal to lose this weight and become healthy, but also to help my dogs become healthy too.  And the rest of my family.  I love to cook good old Southern food and it shows!

jenninferthepennifer I laughed out loud when I read what you were gonna call veggiedoodle!  You are too funny.  I am with you on the too fat to work out, I am going to ease my way back into the exercise. 

You guys be careful slacking up on Sundays, that's what got me in April, my birthday!  I cheated, and then I couldn't get back on this wagon!

I know, for me, that I won't be able to take any days "off"...or I will lose all the hard work...one day screws me all up and I go off the wagon again...but I do understand the thought...and I think it is terrific...I just can't do it!

As for the exercise...I think you have to start slow...too much too soon will burn you out and you will quit everything...

As for small goals...I think it might do us all good to pick one...10 pounds by Halloween is a good one for me too...but I might say 12...that would put me at 229...that would be huge for me...:)

I managed to stick to it all day...1115 calories...I know I should have at least 1200 but I ate decent...apple and banana for breakfast...grapes and a salad w/ ham for lunch...grapes and a salad from McDonald's for dinner with a Diet Coke...and 22 pieces of Candy Corn...lol...oh...and 4 bottles of water...so I think I did okay...I did not starve myself...

I am glad we are all here...for support...motivation...kick in the pants...etc

Thanks for the motivation, newave

And veggie...I am full of excuses too...one slip and the day is shot...might as well start over next Monday...anyone used that one lately???  lol

Original Post by sdmerrill:

You guys be careful slacking up on Sundays, that's what got me in April, my birthday!  I cheated, and then I couldn't get back on this wagon!

  Nah, I held that tradition quite well for over a year on my first round. Even on my bday.. Heh, I ate a tiny bit that day and I saved the cake and ice cream for that weekend so I could have it! *sneaky*  

The only days I excluded were Thanksgiving and Christmas, and only those days

Wait, this is supposed to be an intro thread... woot! thread hijack!

Hi all,

My name is Autumn. I will be 32 in November. I am also married to my high school sweetheart! He's the love of my life. We have no kids because that has been how we want it so far. Until we decide we do, I will continue to be spoiled rotten. :)

My weight issues began about 4 years ago. I started a birth control called depo provera. It completely stopped my "cycle" and I had no periods for 3 years. I gained 20 lbs in what seemed like overnight to me but was probably 3 months. Depo provera is received every three months. When I weighed in for my 3 month injection I had gained the 20. I put on another 20 in the 2 years I was on the shot. From 120ish to 160ish in 2 years. I struggled to lose it. Tried counting calories, going low carb, slim fast, counting more calories. I would lose 10 pounds max and then just lose nothing.

 I would get so depressed when I would look in the mirror. I was tired all the time, I had no sex drive (I also wouldn't let my husband see me naked because I was so ashamed), no energy, my house was a disaster area because I had absolutely no energy to do anything to it. I would get up at 6 am, go to work at 7 am, I was absolutely exhausted all day (I often thought about crawling under my desk and catching a few z's, I thought the snoring would probably give me away so I never did it), I would come home at 4:30 and by 6:30 I was ready to go to bed. Forcing myself to stay up until at least 8:30 was a big deal. My husband insisted something was wrong with me and made me go to a doctor. Evidentally what that shot did to me was stop my body from producing the hormones it needed. So now at 31 years old I am on hormone replacement therapy.  I do feel better, I am now having to force myself to go to bed at 10 so I get 8 hours sleep. I have the energy to do stuff that I need to do.

On another note, in 2003 I was diagnosed with a neurological disorder called Arnold Chiari malformation Type 1. Many may never have heard of it so I will briefly explain. It is where the brain stem descends out of the skull and shares the same opening where the spinal cord goes into your brain. This causes dibilitating headaches, muscle pain and can also cause a lack of energy. There is a surgery I can have done but I am absolutely terrified of having it done. Especially when if I just avoid some things I am ok. Exercising is a real challenge for me. If I push too hard I develop severe headaches. Running is out of the question, it just hurts too bad. I have found I can do a little time, about 15-20 minutes on the eliptical. I enjoy walking my dogs, which is pretty much how I get my exercise. I just try to be really careful, if the exercise involves anything vein popping I won't do it!

So I have begun counting calories again in the hopes that my issues with losing weight were just the hormone imbalance. I have dropped 6.4 lbs in a week. But I think the majority of it was probably water. hopefully I'll start losing fat.

I have been struggling a bit. I am constantly hungry, I know my stomach just needs to shrink to normal and get used to eating less and that feeling will go away. Sometimes I feel really dizzy and light headed (kind of a drunk feeling). I am not sure what causes that. When I get like that I just drink a bit of water and try to eat a little something and it usually goes away.

My husband has been fantastic and supportive and the mustang reward was his idea. He doesn't think I am fat, but is supporting my efforts anyway. He hates to see me struggling like I have been and offered up the mustang reward to help keep me on the wagon this time. Honestly I think he is just sick of listening to me whine and thought the mustang would keep me on track....he's probably right because I REALLY want that car!

Anyway that is enough about me! Good luck to all!