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!

NOTE:  I tried to post this differently and lost the post 3 times.

Hello, VeeVee Mosher here.  You may call “VeeVee” or “Vee”.  I usually close postings with just “V”.

I have been a CC member since June 7, 2006; stumbling onto the site as most others did, looking for the nutritional breakdown for a certain food (don’t remember which one).  I have been here ever since and have so many true loyal friends, who have helped me survive some pretty serious stuff, not always diet related.  They are true friends and I am truly blessed to have them.

I have 4 adult children (38, 39, 42 & 44).  Those adult children have given us 12 grandchildren ranging in age from 1 year old to 23 years old.  There are two children totally unrelated who have “adopted” us as their grandparents.  Our oldest daughter is a therapeutic foster parent, so our total grandkid count changes from time to time.  Currently, the total grandkid count is 16. 

I have been married to Paul (wonderful, wonderful man!) going on 43 years.  I only weighed 90# when we got married.  No matter how much I gain, he always tells me how beautiful I am every day.  I truly am blessed with him!

I am Accounts Receivable Coordinator for a small telecommunications company in Seattle, Washington.  Since I live approximately 50 miles NE of Seattle, I am on the freeway 3 or more hours a day (lots of fun! NOT) and spend 9+ hours a day in my office.  That does not leave much time at home or for going to the gym.  Saturdays are spent running errands with my husband and Sundays with church.  And, of course, I have to have time to spend (translation: spoil) with my grandchildren.  I am looking into gym membership with a pool and am signed up for swim lessons in November.  I am on the waiting list for lessons sooner.  I did learn to swim a bit a couple years ago, but I want to get better; I am sure as the weight continues to come off, I will get stronger and better.

There is a lot more about me and my progress in my profile should you be interested.

I am looking forward to this group and getting to know/support others going through this journey of getting healthy and fit.

I pray you are all happy, blessed, loved and healthy.

Have a God life,

V

I should introduce myself.  I'm 66, retired and living in a senior citizen apartment complex. 

I gained weight after menopause and can't seem to get rid of it all.  CC has been a wonderful help to me and I've made some progress. 

Hi---

My name is JoAnn and I've been using CC since May of 08.  I did real well for the first few months, but now have kind of fallen off the wagon.  When I started in May I was 237 at 5'5"---my dr. strongly suggested weight loss.   I kept my calories right around 1000/day and started to loose weight.  I cut out all fast food and junk--which helped alot.  I have trouble with excersise because of a hip replacement last winter and reaccuring pscoris on my feet.   I am currently at 207--up and down a pound or so a week--and have stalled there for over a month.  I notice that I haven't been as good about wrinting everything down lately--and even tried the south beach diet.  Any suggestions as how to get back on track with my goal weight of 160????  I turned 60 in July-------------------thanks

Good Afternoon - I'm glad to see some women over the age of 25 on this site!!

My name is Linda and I live in Spokane Washington. I'm 61 years old, a retired buyer.......really enjoying retirement.  I keep busy with my 4 dogs.....dachshunds, gardening, reading, watercolor and yoga classes, and politics (progressive/liberal).  I'm married and have three grown sons.

I've been a member of CC for about 2 1/2 years.  The weight has gone up and down, but my all time high was 180 and I'm at 156 now.  Goal is 140-145.....or a comfortable size 10 pair of pants.  Self deprivation isn't my thing, so I don't intend to kill myself getting down to somebody elses  "ideal".......I'm just shooting for comfortable and healthy.  I have rheumatoid arthritis and thyroid issues.....both of which are pretty well controlled with meds.  The RA is a little restrictive, but I just work through it.

My biggest weight loss challenges are sweets and boredom and a profound lack of interest in exercise. 

Good luck to all of us......glad to have found this group!

Linda

 

 

Hi, I am enjoying reading the posts on this site tonight.  I joined a couple of days ago and am trying to get my weight under control. 

I have 3 children - 41, 39, 31 plus 11 grandchildren - most of who live fairly close to me.  Have been married for 45 years this year and work for a home health company.  I travel most of the week and enjoy working so will probably do so for a couple of years. 

There are 3 dogs at my house and 1 cat - all were strays and came our way.

I have tried other diets and this year lost about 25 pounds and am working to get rid of at least 30 more and keep it off so I stay healthy.  Exercise doesn't come easy so I walk mostly.  I'm hoping that I can stay disciplined enough to get on the site every night and stay with this until I can get the weight off - I think I can't do it by myself any more so will keep reading about others.

Thanks for the site.

Hi. I'm a senior citizen (64 going on 65 soon) and have been overweight most of my life. There were times I was thin, but this was as a result of extreme dieting and pushing to exercise and I gave that up many years ago deciding it wasn't worth the misery to be thin. Anyway, I haven't been happy not being thin, but it took me many years to finally "diet," or eat better. It came about as a sudden change of mind. I was upset that day about 2 years ago and was driving to cool off. I began to get hungry and thought that I should get something to eat, probably a bag of chips because they were cheap. But then, after many years of praying, the thought suddenly took hold of me: why should I kill myself with this type of food? Why shouldn't I spend a few dollars more and buy good food, like fruit? Aren't I worth it? So that changed my opinion. After that I went on a diet and enjoyed most of it. I lost about 60 pounds, went from 230 to 170. I was looking and feeling great. But then ... you guessed it ... something snapped again and I began to lose restraint because I wanted to lose more weight, was eating as little as humanly possible (for me), but could not go lower. I began eating the forbidden foods en masse once again. And of course, the weight came back. I haven't weighed myself because I don't want to, but my clothes no longer fit. I don't feel so well. And then the other day something snapped again. I realized I'm going to HAVE TO eat less, diet, call it whatever you want, if I want to lose weight and keep it off. So ... since then I have been eating less and feeling better. I suppose, for the sake of this board, I should weigh myself (maybe I'll see the damage I've done tomorrow) and I can begin the long process once again. But at least now I know I MUST, absolutely MUST, have self-restraint or control. Take care, looking forward to your replies.

Original Post by docjam:

I kept my calories right around 1000/day and started to loose weight. I cut out all fast food and junk--which helped alot. I have trouble with excersise because of a hip replacement last winter and reaccuring pscoris on my feet. I am currently at 230--up and down a pound or so a week--and have stalled there for over a month. I notice that I haven't been as good about wrinting everything down lately--and even tried the south beach diet. Any suggestions as how to get back on track with my goal weight of 160???? I turned 60 in July-------------------thanks

Hi, I enjoyed your post. But I'm wondering how long did you stick to the 1,000 calories a day diet? Personally I don't think I could do that except for the short term. very short term. Are you still eating so few calories?

I was @ 1000calories for a little over two months---it's really not all that bad once you get started.  I did alot of celery and sugar free jello eating---and boosted my fiber to over 30/day.  I was regular, if nothing else!!!!!   There is a typo in my first into posting--I am currently @ 207--droping 30 # since the first of May.  Looking for ideas, support and moral strength------------

Oh, because if you lost 30 lbs. since May that's pretty good! Of course, a long term diet of celery sticks and sugar free jello probably won't encourage you to do this forever. Therefore, you probably have to get used to the idea of foods you really like but in moderation. For me this is my new approach and I'm thinking it's going to have to be this (eating less moderately) long term forever. I just can't pig out on an every day basis any more and hope I can lose weight (you know, crossing my fingers type and hoping my metabolism mysteriously burns up the extra calories after I continually eat too much). I have finally finally come to realize that. And I'm almost 65, it's taken me virtually a lifetime to come to realize this. Like today, for example. i had to go out and the thought of the buffet was so tempting. But the real food I wanted was the seafood salad they serve. I really didn't want to face the cakes, the ice cream and meatloaf, etc., everything I can't stay away from once I'm there. So I took myself instead to a local restaurant which serves a perfectly good seafood salad platter. I enjoyed it so much and was happier than if I had gone to the buffet knowing that I could not have stayed away without extreme unhappiness ensuing from the cake table as well as fried shrimp, etc. This requires thinking and decision-making, something I don't always like to do. :-) But I was happier for it. Despite the fact my mouth is watering while I'm writing about it, I will probably throw myself in bed shortly and thank God that I didn't shove a bulk of food down my throat tonight and eat until I get sick to my stomach, literally

Luckily sweets have never been my downfall---fast food is another story.  My car just automatically pulled in to every Sonic for onion rings.  It was so much easier to eat a burger an d fries than it was to shop, cook and clean up.  Being single at this point in my life is not always such a blessing.  When I cook, I eat the same thing for the next couple days----I've tried freezing items, but it doesn't work for all---and if you're going to make a mess cooking----I sure don't want to clean up everyday!!!!!!!!  Convience items are out because of the high sodium content---that's really the only thing I check besides calories and fat---sometimes I will avoid items with high sugar.  I'm going to try to find some sort of gym (maybe with a trainer--or even physical therapy) where I can do some type of exersise without screwing up my hip or hurting my feet any more than they already hurt.  It makes exersising very difficult when you hurt to walk.

I know about the exercise, aside from not being particularly thrilled to do it. My ankle kills me and so can't walk for longer than a few minutes before I'm in serious pain. However, that has not stopped me now from dieting. I use the word diet even though I know it is not politically correct. And, you're reminding me that today's the day I weigh myself. I've been avoiding this for months. We'll see just how much damage I've done. My husband loves Sonics, lives for the day we'll move near a Sonics. I can't find anything but junk in a Sonics and it kills me when I have to eat their junk. Well, maybe not "have to" eat it ... of course, I'll give in but not often. I admit those fried onions can be a major temptation. How about putting yourself first, thinking that you're worth the extra money to throw out half of the portion before you begin eating it? I have finally come to the conclusion that I'm worth the extra few dollars it takes to possibly throw away food or buy myself something better to eat. Maybe you can buy the onion rings that you love so much (can't stay away from), throw out or set aside some of them before you begin (take the rest home if you can live that long w/o eating them, freeze them or put them in the fridge for the next day if you can wait that long, otherwise throw 'em out), go across the street to the McDonald's and buy a side salad which is cheap enough. I am rethinking my fast food again. A good snack or quick meal is taking a McDonald's side salad with the low-fat dressing (the Newman's ginger sesame is out of this world, I don't use all of it, it's low fat but high in calories but it's delicious to me) and putting a $.99 hamburger w/o the bun on top of the salad. Add a little of fried onion rings if you must have them, but not all. On the other hand, how about reprogramming yourself re: the onion rings? It works. I know. It takes effort and time but you can reprogram yourself. Use mind control. It works. Envision yourself putting the fried onion rings away and getting something better. Imagine it as you're being tempted and you may find yourself doing what you are imagining. It doesn't hurt too much, lol. Thanks for writing, I enjoy hearing from you, it helps put my mind on the subject, lol, with a willing participant. :-)

OK, the damage is worse than I expected. Yes, I ate myself up to 240! That's worse than when I started, so after losing 60 pounds I gained 70. Well, I hope my new look on things will help me lose weight this week. We'll see. :-)

and here I was hoping it wouldn't be more than 220. ah well

meantime, I didn't see the scale correctly. I read 240 when it was apparently 204. Weigh! Not that it's such a relief. I'm still feeling fat fat fat and know I need to lose weight and am willing to deprive myself (not severely) to do it. Last night I really wanted to eat pretzels (oh boy) but I desisted. I had a better night's sleep because of it.

Well, that was good news----see you weren't as bad as you thought!!!!  Want to see if we can come up with a plan together?

Yup. Love to.

Original Post by docjam:

Well, that was good news----see you weren't as bad as you thouht!!!! Want to see if we can come up with a plan together?

Yeah, I gasped when I saw 240. At least it was 204. Today for some strange reason I'm weighing in at 197.5 right now. I suppose the drop is because I've stopped gorging myself.

I don't weigh daily--I do it once a week on Monday morning (after I use the bathroom-and before I eat)---This seems to give a truer reading--and you're not obsessing over the daily flucuations.  I think I'm going to start using a tape measure every couple weeks, also.

HI, My profile contains the pertinent facts of my existence so I won"t repeat them but will get into the reason most of us are here--the desire to lose our extra pounds. I just found this site a few minutes ago and knew it was the group I wanted to join. I have struggled with extra weight most of my life but I recently decided I wasn't going to struggle any more. I was tired of trying for that magic diet and doing some special exercises that would make me lose weight.

Instead, I finally realized what I was doing was never going to work and I turned my back on all the plans I had so often fought to follow. I turned my back on always thinking " this time if I just follow all the steps I will losr this weight for good," but it never happened. I finally KNEW DEEP WITHIN ME the answer that had always been there: Do not eat more than my body would burn up..... DO IT!, ( it's not so complicated!) just DO IT!

Of course I had almost always known this but my actions hadn't shown it. I knew how to eat and the value of activity but my LASTING actions certainly weren't showing it. Finally I knew I had to change my thinking so completely that I could accept nothing less and would automatically make choices that would support this solution. I knew to DO IT (lose weight) I had to change my mind, and if I could change my mind I would change my life. My being in cc About.com and reaching out to people like you is part of my efforts to do this.

It's interesting that even some doctors are overweight. So it IS a matter of self-control (not knowledge) and that is the issue I'm working on. Like you, I understand basics of proper eating. However, when I was passing a pharmacy today, being I was hungry, the first thought as I passed the place was a bag of chips. Realizing I am working on self-control, I passed on acting on the desire for potato chips. and, as you are also evidently realizing, I realized these chips would not help me lose weight. But at least now I am coming to understand the power of thinking and desisting. It is taking me effort, but like you, I realize after a serious time of gorging myself that I must change my thinking.