Welcome to the Group

Welcome! We would love get to know you, so please tell us a little bit about yourself. You can choose any format you'd like, but most of us here share some or all of the following details:

1. History with weight loss:
2. History with Calorie Count:
3. Reason for joining this group:
4. Some interesting details about yourself, such as your job, your family, your pets and your interests:

And now just go ahead and make that first post!

Hi, name is Christine. I joined CC towards the end of July. This is my second time really trying to lose weight. The first time was with Atkins about 4 years ago. I do lose weight, but when I quit eating the foods you're "allowed" I gained even more weight.

I am joining this group because I am going through alot of medical problems right now. Mentally and physically. Anxiety is one of my biggest mental problems right now.

I am currently a stay at home mom of 2 lil' girls. My oldest just started kindergarten and my youngest is 8 months old.

hiya!  I have not had a lot of history with weight-loss since I have been pretty athletic all my life.  I got a little pudgy around menarche, then lost it after hitting puberty.  I'm 39 years old, 5'3" and am at my all-time heaviest ever, 149.  Actually, that is down a couple of pounds over the last few days.  I've been hovering between 148-152 for about 2 weeks.  While 150 at my height sounds big I'm not, really.  I wear between a size 9-10 in jeans.  I have lifted weights for about 20 yrs as well as done yoga about the same length of time.  I refrain from weight training nowadays because I am trying to lose wt.  I stick to yoga, the treadmill, hanging out with my dog and some exercise vids.  My favorite Levis are an 8, but they are feeling a little tighter than I'd like.  3 years ago I was wearing a 3 at 125 pounds.  So I have gained about 25 pounds in 3 years.  That's about how long I have been in love.  Funny how love & wt-gain seem to go hand-in-hand.

I have had an anxiety disorder for most of my life.  My childhood was pretty abusive so I did not really know I had the disorder until I reached my late 20's.  I had no healthy point of reference.  I had always been anxious and I had asthma as a child as well, I suppose one expression of anxiety.  That and dear old mom smoked and insisted on keeping car windows up while she did it.  Wicked woman.  So, my condition got pretty bad about 5 years ago.   I started having lots of panic attacks, up to a dozen a day and some were so sever I actually had seizures.  I had always had a litany of health issues, again, expressions of anxiety and missed a lot of work.  I was very good at what I did, office admin, IT mgmt, bookkeeping, but my absenteeism caused probs.  I kept getting fired.  So I applied for and got disability.   I was taking Xanax for the panic attacks and Zoloft for the general anxiety from PTSD.  I built up quite a tolerance to the Xanax and was taking 1-3 mg a day.  I came off it after the disability approval came through.  I am taking 100 mg Zoloft now.  I also have terrible insomnia and was taking 50 mg Benadryl to sleep at night for almost a year, but started to develop some side effects from it. So now I take Ambien to sleep.  I've been taking it for about a month.  Works great, if you don't mind walking into walls on your way to bed!  And then there's the amnesia issue. 

I stopped having panic attacks after cutting ties with my abusive mother.  Recently they have started to haunt me again and I have taken small doses of Xanax but it doesn't really help me much.  So i have been on disability for about 3 years now.  I do not have Medicare because the premium and out-of-pocket/copays exceed my expenses on cash-basis.  So I opted out and get my Zoloft on a prescription drug plan via the pharmaceutical company.

So I play HausFrau with my husband.  He is a 3-D designer, woodworker and bass-player.  I sing.  We haven't put any mosic together, yet.  But its coming.  I like all kinds of music except modern country.  I like bluegrass though.  I also don't really like the Mariah Carey or Celine Dion stuff.  If its won a Grammy in the last decade, I prolly never heard it.  I stopped listening to radio when I git sick of hearing Led Zeppelin over & over again, back around 1985.  I was 16. 

We do not have kids, aren't having any.  We both decided long before we met that we weren't having kids, so that is perfect for us.  We have a dog.  She was mine when we met.  i adopted her from thepound about 5-6 yrs ago.  She's about 8 now.  She's a black lab/chow mix.  I think there's a little mystery meat in there too.  Kinda like me.  I'm Welsch/Italian abducted by Romanian Gypsies.  Long story. 

I am about to begin writing a book, a novel or a short-story, I dunno.  I have the story line.  Its a fiction-thing, adventure, thriller.  Came to me in a dream.  I cook very well.  I have lots of recipes in cc.com database so if you need anything just let me know.  I'm also up for IM. See my profile for my account. 

I've been with cc for, oh I dunno, well over a year now.  And I am pretty active in the community.  I just love it here.  My goal weight is nebulously around 130.  I weighed in today at 148.  I had a nice little yoga session this morning and am not feeling too spry (TTOM) so I will be putting the sofa to use.  Since I have been online all morning I'm gonna take a break and hold down the cushions on the couch awhile. 

PM me if ya like.  I'm totally open to making new friends and helping others cope with anxiety and panic.  Been at it many years, lots of therapy. 

 

Hi, my name is Celina. We have very similar stories. The first thing I want to share is MEDS...my father an addict of many, was addicted to Xanex and when came off, suffered fm seizures. RED FLAG, very dngaerous drug! I personally am on Effexor XR and abilify. Have u heard of or tried either of these? My second and most important key to my anxiety is, my relationship with GOD. Trust and releasing my burdens and fears to Him is everything, and very hard! I am at 158, on my period and I am only 5". This is my all time highest. I have 2 girls but, it has been 13 months since my last delivery and my weight should be gone! The last time I weighed in the 120's was when I was Bulemic or training for the marathon. I have a long ways to go but, my husband just agreed to join my in weight loss so, my hopes are high. Good luck to u, know that there r others like u out there, and if I can pray for u-just let me know.

 

Hi, my name is Van.  I do not have a history with weight loss because I've always been quite fit and thin.  I'm 48, 5'8" and currently weigh 152.  My goal is to get to 142.  I know that's not loosing much weight but it is difficult for me to lose even just a little. 

My primary goal right now is to lower my cholesterol.  A couple of months ago it was 223.  It has hovered around 210-220 for the past 8 years when I got it checked for the first time.  My diet is actually quite good - I don't eat fried foods - but donuts, pastries, and desserts are my weakness.  And I do exercise regularly.  My moderately high cholesterol is hereditary.  Another goal is muscle toning.  I'm following Chris Imbo's Peak 10 Fitness program.

I'm taking 100mg of the generic Zoloft (Sertraline).  Been on it since week of Christmas, 2008, a little over a month ago.  Results so far are fair.  I had been on 60mg of Straterra for 4.5 years for ADD.  It helped me a lot!  However, through counseling I recently learned about Social Anxiety Disorder and am thinking that is what I have, although I actually may have a combination of the two.  Discussed issue with my GP and decided to give Sertraline a try.  Experiencing some disappointing side effects.

Like Celina above, trusting God and releasing all of my fears and anxieties to Him is a difficult thing for me to do.  People would probably describe me as somewhat reserved, steady and dependable, adaptable, and thoughtful.  If you're familiar with Gary Smalley's personality types, I'm a Beaver.  My wife and I just celebrated our 20th wedding anniversary.  We have two kids, my son is 15 and my daughter is 11.  Both really good kids.  Two cats, Peanut and Cupcake.  

Hello all... I have had an up and down with weight due to anxiety most of my life. I am not an emotional eater. I mainly don't eat because of emotions. When I go through hard times I tend to stay away from food because my anxiety makes me nauseaus.

This is why I've always gone up and down. My biggest struggles have been with the way people treat me. I, like another poster, am 5'3 and around 147 lbs. I too wear about a size 10 in pants. On top, however, I am much smaller, about a 4-6, depending on what it is. I'm a pear shape, obviously.

I've always been between 130-150 lbs. At my heaviest I was around 155 and EXTREMELY happy, except, of course, for my weight. I was 2 years into a 3 year relationship following high school, living with the guy and fairly happy with him. (comfortable)

Only problem was that I was still struggling with migraines and was finally put on Topamax. In 6 months I dropped down to 130 lbs. Eventually things got crappy between my boyfriend and I and we broke up a year later. I moved out and met a new man less than a month later... he swept me off my feet.

I was so happy! And THIN! And HEALTHY!!! Everything was perfect, for about 6 months. Around that time I stopped taking Topamax because it was almost $300 a month! Way too expensive and my migraines had been much better controlled.

At about that 6 month mark, I finally started to figure out how he really was, wasn't the perfect guy afterall. Needless to say, he was a total jerk. I made the mistake of trying to make it work and things ended up worse for me in the long run. My anxiety shot through the roof and we eventually broke up in July of 2008.

I went to a counselor and she suggested I get on something for my anxiety. In the past when things went wrong with a guy, I hadn't eaten for weeks at a time. I'd lose 15 pounds in a month easy. Of course, I'd gain it back when things got easy again. Anyway, I went to the doctor and she prescribed me Citalopram. (Celexa/Lexapro)

From July to January I was one HAPPY lady! I didn't cry one time! I am the queen of tears too. Things were really looking up. I stuck up for myself, smiled all the time, and I was even promoted! All while gaining 15 pounds!

I ended up going to the doc because she asked to see me in 6 months after starting the Citalopram. Oh I was so mad. She hadn't even mentioned the medication MIGHT make me gain. Seemed like everything I read about it SCREAMED weight gain. Thank goodness I stopped it.

Doc put me on Wellbutrin for a month... made me mean!!! Helped me quit smoking though so that's great!

I stopped that ASAP... now I'm on my way back to the doc tomorrow to talk to her about staying off meds for my anxiety and keeping it under control myself through exercise and prayer.

I've also slowly been suffering from migraines again pretty often and insurance is covering WAY more of my medications so my doctor suggested the last time I saw her that I get on Topamax again. I wasn't quite ready, but now I am. Seemed to help with anxiety the last time.

Ok I've written a life story. There it is. Long story short... I'm trying to lose the weight I gained on my anti-anxiety med that I loved so much!

I'm 24 years old and I have had issues with panic/anxiety disorder from as far back as I can remember. I was always a very worried, paranoid child. I had a somewhat traumatic childhood and I think it affected me more than I sometimes realize.

 

I'm clinically diagnosed with both generalized anxiety disorder and social phobia. I think at the moment I'm dealing with it as best as I can, and I try to force myself into public even though it makes me very uncomfortable, especially more recently again, because of how stressful and unpleasant my life has been the last few weeks.

 

I am a compulsive overeater, and I really feel that my anxiety and stress contribute to my unhealthy eating habits and my problems with losing weight and taking control of my weight loss, fitness, and diet.

 

Glad to find this little group, and hope it's helpful for the motivation and support I need in coping with my anxiety so that it doesn't hinder my progress. Also, I hope that I might be able to support and motivate others who are suffering with anxiety and might need someone who understands to talk to. Feel free to send me a message through my profile. :-)

Mandy,

  For some reason your pic made me think HAPPY, you look like you are a happy sincere person, prayer your right that can do a lot.

  First I guess I should maybe say I am 34, had very bad social panic/anxiety when I was finishing highschool.  I relate it to a high school love, that I went with for almost nine years, since we were 14 or so, until we were in our mid 20's then, I got smart, or maybe we both did.  I suffered alot from anxiety, I literally thought I was loosing my mind at some points, even pondered if I had a more severe type-more mental illness then anxiety/panic dissorder.  So I went to the dr's with my Mother, and nope, I had classic case of good ole anxiety and a little ocd, obessive complusive dissorder.  Yes tend to LOVE to worry, and worry,- and did I mention I like to WORRY! haaa, yes indeed....I would do the most bizarre rituals thinking this would save me from sorta horrible fate, STRANGE, but the facts.  So I started getting worse and worse.  To add to the situation he wasn't helping things any, he loved to call me retarded, crazy, a bitch, a CRAZY whore, yes you name it, he called it out at least once through our relationship.  However, my nerves really, really improved when I decided to move back home with my parents, when he left for a military posting across the country.  LIFE GOT BETTER!

I still have to fight with OCD and anxiety/panic, more generalized anxiety more so now.  I have two children a husband and everyday life, but I sometimes begin to panic, although I have came to the conclusion that I also suffer from S.A.D the seasonal thinger, I tend to become really crazy like panic feeling, every Marchish to about end of May, and I have been told that my VITAMIN D is very low at this time, hence the lack of sunshine.  SO I have decided to take a supplement, or even get the therapy light, or doing tanning beds twice a week for 5 minutes Dr. said,.... it could benefit me.  However, the tanning beds could lead to other more serious complications, so damn if you do, and to hell if you don't...YA!  LOL

However, as I had started out speaking to Mandy,..... PRAYER, I have found that prayer has helped a lot, I pray to God on a reglar bases.  I try to focus and think positive and give thanks for all I have been blessed with.  Especially HEALTH!  I have always went up-and-down with weight due to the same reasons anxiety, I don't wanna eat, then I get better and I wanna eat....it is like a roller coaster sometimes, but so is life I guess in general, one hell of a ride so hang-on and hope you aren't getting off anytime soon! LOL

I do highly recommend Cognitive Therapy, I do believe it is one of the best solutions if wanting to take a non-convention approach to anxiety/panic dissorder, there area some amazing books about this condition.  The number one thing is never loose hope nor faith, and try to have someone you can rely on, but never give up!  God Bless you all.....I feel your pain, I have been there, and always will be to some point, but it is how you deal with it, that makes your life easier......

Hi!  My name is Whitney, I'm 23 and I have been a member of cc for about 2 years now I think. I started dieting in February of '08 and by December I was officially diagnosed with an eating disorder.  I have since been in recovery and have gained about 20 pounds since my lowest weight.  :( 

I am joining this group because I was just recently diagnosed with Social Anxiety Disorder.  I don't know anyone in real life who has this so I'm hoping  to find some friendship and support online with people who know what I am going through.   I'm pretty sure I have had problems with anxiety all my life.  It got really bad in high school and college.  I am a singer and the worst part is the anxiety I get when I go on stage. I have a hard time interacting with my own band members much less the audience or anyone else.  Right now my doctor just put me on meds but I expect to be starting counseling in the near future.

My interests are music. I sing, play piano, guitar, bass, violin. I love to write songs too and reading, movies, shopping, web design, photography, teaching and traveling are all hobbies of mine too. :)

basically stuggled through alot & still struggling. im extremely tired of trying to help others understand my panic disorder so i dont feel guilty about myself.

 

it never helps.

Hi! My name is Kim.  I'm married with three kids -- 14, 11, & 3.  I work full time as a early education teacher; and we have chickens.  I have been fighting my weight since I was about 20 -- when I got married.  I'm 5' 4.5" and currently weigh 173 lbs.  I feel fat!!  About 18 months ago I got down to 155 lbs, but didn't stick to the plan and gained it all back (boo, hoo).

I joined cc last spring to log weight loss and calories (didn't stick to that either).  This school year has been CRAZY with all the cut-backs and such due to the 'economy.'  We are short staffed and sometimes not even legal as far as child/staff ratio. . . And I think that is what has pushed me over the edge.  I'm a very "stick to the rules" type of person and VERY much love to be in control.   So,  when all this is going on at work (may I add that my 3 yr old is in my class,too -- stress!!)  I start having chest pains.  I knew I wasn't dying or having a heart attack, but I did know that it was not normal and I needed to know what was going on.  Since we moved here from out of state 5 years ago, I've only seen a OB-GYN -- so no Family or General physician.  I could not get an appointment fast enough to figure out where these pains were coming from.  To make it worse, no doctors would see me.  They told me that chest pains were serious and they don't have the right equipment to handle it--- MORE STESS SETS IN!!!  It finally got so bad that I had no choice but to go to the ER.  They did all the normal tests - EKG, blood work, x-ray, etc. etc. -- NOTHING!  So the next step was to follow up with a doctor.  I went through my insurance company and found a really good, young doctor.  She immediately thinks that it is 'anxiety' and that I suffer from IBS which flares up with stress (which explains why I felt like I was going to throw up all the time and was having - possibly heartburn aka chest pains).  To which . . . I seek information and support.  My hubby (whom I love and adore) thinks everything will be better if I go on a diet and exercise.  BUT the control freak that I am wants to know everything and NOW.  I go back to the doctor next week to figure out a diet to help with the IBS and how to manage the stress.

I don't even like the idea of any kind of mental disorder because I grew up with a mother that suffered from bipolar disorder.  I watched her suffer and go through many, many different treatments as a child.  My greatest fear in life is that I will get it too. 

BTW -  I was also low on vitamin D -- so I'm wondering how I will get calcium and vitamin D because all the diets I see that are to help control IBS say no dairy.  So between now and the appointment, I will continue to look up IBS diets to try to find answers when I should try NOT to think about it and just wait to see what doc says.  In the mean time, I'm stress eating like there is no tomorrow! 

I thank God that I at least have a sense of humor :)

Thanks for the outlet!!