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, I'm Lynne.  I turned 45 this year, and I've been struggling with my weight since I was 10!  Well, I really wasn't overweight then, but I definitely had some baby fat.  I diet and exercise, but after I had my kids, it got harder and harder - especially since I'm older, and busier. 

I joined Calorie Count in 9/2007.  I had been on Weight Watchers on line - first in 2002-2005, then again in 2006 - 2007, but I got sick of paying for what I felt was a substandard tool.  I found Calorie Count, and I really like being able to track my calories, not just points.  I think WW is great, and I lost a bunch of weight when I was on it in 2002 (granted - it took almost 2 years!), but I think that the fact that you can eat your points but still be eating crappy really hurt me and slowed my weight loss.

I started this group because I think that being a working mom who is trying to stay fit and eat right has unique challenges.  In order for me to have a fitness routine, I have to get up at 5 AM and work out before my family is awake - this is the only time that I can consistenly work out without taking away from family and job.  It's also difficult to make meals that please both my family and stay within my calorie limits.

I am married (20 years!), and have three absolutely beautiful children - boy, 12, girl, 7, and girl 3.  They are really good kids, my son has a heart of gold and is sweet and affectionite.  My 7yo is like her brother, but a girl :-), and the baby is tasmanian devil!  I love being a mom, it was always my ambition to have children and stay home, but I started working, and changed my mind.  I work full time as a project manager.  I love working, and I feel I have given my kids the gift of the role model of their mother being hard-working and successful.  I have a wonderful child care who has taken care of my children since they were each 9 weeks old.  She is now my best friend, and I know how lucky I am to have this care for my children while I work. 

Other than that, I love to read, and I like wine - not a connoisseur, but I do enjoy a nice glass of Chardonnay.

It is nice to meet you Lynn and it seems htat we have log in commen.

Let me start by saying that I thought by joining this group that I would find the strenght I need to get back to the program. Since I was a pre-teen I have struggled with my self image.  I was the girl in school that everyone found something wrong with, or atleast it seemed that way. As a girl I always thought that I was never skinny enough or pretty enough, the typical teen girl stuff. Now as an adult I still struggle with my weight with the fear that I will be like my father who is obease. I see so many mothers that have children and still wearing bikini's or look like they are still wearing the size they were in high school and it eats away at me.

I joined Calorie Count in May of 2007 after I had quite smoking. For a long time I was doing really well, untill I was laid off in the fall of 2007. While on unemployement I tired very hard to maintain my sucess. But life kept hitting hard with my other half being out of work and me finally going back to work part time (that was all that as available). Over the last couple of weeks I have noticed that my eating habits have gone way off base.

Not only am I a working a mom 20 to 30 hours a week, I am a full time college student. My daughter is 5 who is home every other week. There is some one special that I live with, if you call it that, he is a truck driver and not home alot. I feel like I have all of this under control but I know that some things are slipping, my weight.

I am hoping that by talking to other working mom's I will find what I need to get it together.

Hello to lovlilynne and bobbiemonster... I'm happy to find a group for working moms looking to lose weight. Let me answer the questions...

hmm... h/o weight loss.  Have always been average.  Still many think I'm average... but to me... to be just 18 pounds lighter makes a big difference of how clothes fit.  I'm 5'5" and at 168.  To get to 150 is my goal... and hopefully Ill get there by March. 

h/o cc.... been on again/off again x2 years.  Find it helpful, but when I have computer problems its hard for me to hang in there. (got a new laptop and revamped DSL so should be better now ;)

reason to join group... likeness breeds familiarity.  Common ground and situations leads to understanding.

details.... I'm 34, married to a great guy x7 years, 5 year old daughter and 2 year old english bulldog.  If you knew how much he eats and needs attention... youd see why he counts in that sentance.  I work 8-6 M-Th; 8-12 F as a therapist for children with special needs/developmental delays.  I play for a living and love it.  I've been doing it x12 years and frequently mentor others.  I too believe it helps to set a good example for our daughter... who attends a nearby christian K-4 program/extended care.  I'm from Illinois, but am happy living here in Texas in my husbands hometown.

I try and start some posts... so we can chat about further topics.  As well as add you both to my friends list.  I keep a journal... feel free to add me as a friend (if you'd like) and comment on my journal.  I could also comment on your journals... if you make them :)

HI

My name is kate and I can not seem to lose weight - ha ha My daughter would love that rhyme -

I always have battled with my weight as I am a stress eater boredom eater and well just an eater!

I recently had my second child, a beatuiful baby girl, Erin, who is 3.5 months old. She is the younger sister to shannon, who is almost 3 yrs old. I love them both dearly.

I have recently started back to work and feel overwhelmed with the onslaught of the new tasks being a new mother brings and the ol' tasks prior to giving birth to my second !

I want to lose 17 lbs - for my health, to look better and feel better.

with your help I know I can do it

thanks for listening

Kate

Hello everyone, my name is Cristina. As a mother of three (ages 11, 8 and 4), I have found myself the courage and strength to make my new year's resolution to learn better eating habits (if I lose weight even better!). Within the last year, I see the pounds that have stacked up. When my thoughts of eating were, "I can eat whatever I want, whenever and the quantity does not matter," I knew that I had to make a change.

At the age of thirty, my body is not what it was back in high school. I found myself being at the doctors office more often within the last year - my eating habits were actually taking a toll on my health. I would find that when I would play with my kids, I was short of breath for most times.

In the middle of 2008, I went back out to the workforce. Since then (6 months later) I lost a pound or two, but what I ate was really not making a difference.

I want to lose the 25-30 lbs I need to, for my health.

Thanks fellow group members!

My name is Lee Anne and I am 35, married, and a mother of a 3 year old boy. 

1. I gained a lot of weight after I got married and had success with Weight Watchers online and the HMR program but I had trouble with "maitenance" of my weight. After I had a baby 3 years ago, I really started to focus on losing the "baby weight" and then some.

2. I started calorie count last year and lost 15 pounds. I kept it all off until the holidays and gained back 3.  I also focused on eating 5 fruits and vegetables a day (which is really hard but keeps calories low and, of course, is good nutrition) and drinking lots of water. I count calorie for 6 days and I have one off day every week.

3. I joined this group because I agree that as working moms trying to lose weight we have unique challenges. I think we can learn from each other.

I work 40+ hours a week as an engineer in a manufacturing plant (so that keeps me moving during the day).

I love reading and playing with my son. 

I want to lose another 10-15 pound to feel and look better.

Thanks,

Lee Anne

hello ladies.  here are my stats for you:

mother of a 3.5 year old daughter, and engaged TBM to her dad this May.  I would like to loose a solid 10lbs before the wedding.  I am turning 30 this year (boohoo), I am 5/4" and 132lbs so i need to get down below 125lb.  Married and turning 30 in the same year - you may think, is she crazy?  probably am. 

I was a stick figure in high school and gained the freshman 15 when i went to college.  During my senior year, i slimmed down a bit to a happy weight for me and kept it off until i got pregnant when i was 25.  since then i have a pudge around the middle that i need to get off.  I have recently become committed to regular exercise and trying to eat healthy.  I have just joined Calorie Counter today.  I am an office manager for an engineering firm and work full time, so its hard to stay on track with the workout but i have been getting it in so far!

 

 

Hello!  I just turn 34 a couple of days ago and am on the weight loss train! I have an 8 yr old son who is the love of my life and have been with my boyfriend for 11 years.  I would like to lose weight so I feel better in my skin, look sexy for my boyfriend and so that i ccan play with my son more.  I suffer from a bad back, weak ankles and heel spurs, but I am not letting that get me down.  I currently work full tome at a university and attend college part time and sometimes full time depending on what is available. 

I was an overweight little girl but thinned out in once I turned 15 and was thick but nice up until I got comfortable with my boyfriend.  Once I had my son, I have not been able to lose the weight.

I don't eat bad, my problem is not eating enough.  I use to only eat dinner and skip everything else.  We eat a healthy dinner since my  boyfriend has severe high blood pressure.   So far Calorie Count says I eat with an"A" grade! I just need to exercise which will happen on the weekends when I am able to bikeride.  I get home too late now and then have to aid my family.

I want to lose about 100 lbs (I don't know how much I weigh right now) and be a size 12 again. 

Hi everyone - I am a 32 year old mother of two, wife, and work for the local abstract & title company.  I am definitely a stress eater - and my life has been full of that lately, but also I just plain love food - love the way it smells, love the way it tastes, love cooking it, Yum.  I have always been heavy - wonder why.  But I think that if its possible I would still like to love food but in a more positive way.  I hate organized exercise - but I like playing in the backyard with my kids and walking the dogs - so that is a starting point anyway.

Hi, everybody! I am an almost 25-year-old single mom of an awesome 3-year-old boy. I have a part-time job (about 30 hours a week) and I attend school full-time. I managed to lose all my baby weight after my son was born, but then I got a divorce and now I just keep gaining. I adore food, am definitely an emotional eater. But I'm trying to get healthier so I can keep up with my son, and hopefully get a date someday.

Wow, there's a few of us with 3 year olds!  Fun, isn't it?  My 3yo is my 3rd (and last - the "bonus"), and so I think I am babying her. 

I'm curious on birthdates - Gwen's is 9/18/05.  She is not completely potty trained :-(  She wears pants during the day, but has at least one "accident" each day.  I put her in a pull up at night because she doesn't wake up dry.

When I was doing cc before - 9/07 - 3/08, Gwen was 2 and I struggled with getting up in the morning to work out.  She was still waking several nights a week and/or sleeping with us.  She still sleeps with us several nights, but not waking up, so I'm getting a good, solid nights sleep.  I STILL HAVE TROUBLE GETTING UP AT 5.  I can't use her as an excuse anymore . . .

My son's birthday is 9/4/05. He's potty trained and never has accidents, except at daycare. For whatever reason, he has an accident at least once or twice a week at daycare. I think it's because he's so worn out at naptime that he doesn't wake up when he needs to go.

Hello!!  Well I made it this far...I found CC so Now lets hope I can stick with it.

My story, and I will try to keep it brief is that I have always struggled with weight loss as it is a family trait.  At my heaviest in my 5'4" body I have weighed 275lbs!! OUCH!.  It all came on mostly around each pregnancy (2), but never came off inbetween.  Well around 4 years after my last child I finally lost all my weight. I was down to 145 and I was feeling good! I lost it smart, I became active, in volley ball, softball, dancing and was enjoying life.  That lasted for 4 years.  But even those years of dedicated gym life included ups and downs but still only had maybe 20lbs each way. 

My whole lift up til this time I had pain in my hips but i always thought it was just arthritis from a car accident I was in as a 14 year old.  I could never have been more wrong.  4 years after losing my weight and being the most active I have ever been in my life I fell down the stairs in my house doing laundry.  This was the  begining of what I call the end.  It was determined that I have congenital hip dysplasia and I have since been through three hip altering surgeries one includes a total hip replacement since the first one didn't work!

I am physically disabled and unable to do any thing that requires lower body work out.   So I constantly battle weight loss over and over again. My weight of 152 when my first surgery took place ballooned back up to 195 over a period of 11 years.  I have managed to diet and take diet pills to yo-yo diet but I know this isn't healthy.  I am currently at 167 and would like to get back down to my 145 again.  The trouble is I need to do this without exercise. 

I know this isn't healthy, but I have no other choice.  My body won't let me do other wise. So my only other alternative is to eat healthy and stay moving.

I have chosen to join this group because I NEED to shake that last 21 - 30 lbs FOREVER and I hope to find people here to share the work with that have my same interests.

I am lucky to still be full time employed, I am the mother of a beautiful 16 year old young woman and a 19 year old man, and the luck new wife of a handsome hard working loving husband.

Our favorite things to do are travel, and remodel our house.

Hi Everyone,

My name is Cari. I'm 35, married and a first time Mom to a beautiful little girl named Abigail. She was born November 24, 2007. :-)

My history with weight loss is a long and tumultuous story! I was a heavier girl in my teens and throughout high school. (Heavier, meaning I was probably about 15-20 lbs heavier than most of my friends.) I played sports and was pretty active, but just seemed to always be carrying more weight. It wasn't until my senior year (1992), near the end of it, that I slimmed down. I was starting to go out dancing a lot with my friends and I started smoking (BAD - I know!) I think with working, dancing, smoking and just being busy, I was probably eating less and thus I finally lost weight. At that time was a very happy size 6 and about 130 lbs. I am 5' 8.

I got married at age 19 (Stupid move on my part,) moved from Florida to California with my husband who was in the military. I gained about 15 lbs over a period of 3 years or so, just eating with my husband. Over time, I think I had started to eat the same portions he was eating and that was the problem. I had no business eating that much food. In about 1995, I learned about a revolutionary medical weight loss plan called "Phen - Fen." I lived in California then and it was all the rage! I want to one of the weight loss centers, paid exorbitant amounts of money each month for about a year and lost a TON of weight. It was so easy (it was just 2 pills to take each day) and I was thrilled to be back to a little tiny size 4 or 6 again. The problem was, once you stopped taking the medication, you were hungry again and you gained the weight back, so I kept going in and renewing my prescription every time I would gain some weight. Eventually, Phen-Fen was banned and I could no longer get it. I gained all the weight I had lost back within another couple years. :-( After 7 years, my marriage ended. That's a very long story. While going through a divorce, I lost all the weight again. In fact, I was down to a very unhealthy weight and could fit into a size 2! At 5 ' 8 with a medium build, a size 2 just shouldn't be happening. I was so devastated by the divorce that all I felt like doing was smoking and drinking diet coke. I was eating practically nothing. It was a sad time, but I was happy to be shedding the pounds. I left California after my divorce in 1999-2000 and moved clear across the country to Boston. I just wanted a fresh new start in a place that nobody knew me or knew about my divorce. I managed to keep the "divorce weight" off for several years. I met a wonderful man in 2001 and by 2003, I  moved from Boston to Virginia to be near him. Once again, I started eating with him and putting on some weight, but it was manageable. I guess when I'm in a happy time in my life (especially with a man) I seem to eat more. "Fat & happy" I guess! I would take over-the-counter diet pills here and there to try and help me shed some lbs. Dexatrim, Hydroxy cut, you name it... I probably tried it. Anyhow, I married this man, now my hubby, Toney in 2005. At that time I was a little heavier than I wanted, but still not out of control. I was about 140ish and in a size 8. Since 2005 when we married, I had started gaining a little more weight and by early 2007, I was up to about 155 lbs and in a size 10 or 12. Again, I was still taking various diet pills on and off again that I ordered form online pharmacies - heaven knows what I was taking! I would try to starve myself for several days at a time in a vain attempt to shed some weight. Then... in March of 2007 I got pregnant and it all went out the window!!! Of course I stopped trying to diet and I ate and ate and ate during my pregnancy. For once in my life, I felt like I didn't have to worry about gaining weight and I didn't have to continuously pop diet pills or starve myself. It was so liberating to have a big dish of ice cream when I wanted it or have a big helping of pasta. Needless to say, I gained 54 lbs in my pregnancy. Not an unhealthy amount to gain, but I could have gained just 30 or 35 and been fine. I was up to 209 lbs at my last weigh in before I delivered Abigail. (Holy COW!) I over ate for 10 months and I knew it. I had this grand idea that I would drop the weight easily after I had the baby because I was going to breastfeed. Well, baby Abigail came, breastfeeding was excruciating and didn't work out well for me at all. :-( My master breast feeding weight loss plan failed, miserably. So, I found myself about 6 months after Abby came still overweight and pretty unhappy about it. I was about 185 at that time and in a size 14 or 16. I was (and still am) miserable with my weight. I decided to give Nutri System a try near the end of last year. I really only gave it a good few weeks worth of effort and I did lose about 8 lbs. I still have a cupboard full of NS foods. Darn me for not sticking to any weight loss plan! I found their program a little bit hard to follow b/c being a Mom of a little one, I have precious little time to cut up and prepare salads and such. They require you to add in your own fruits and veggies to their prepared meals and I was just struggling to do that. I might mention that my hubby helps VERY little with the care of our daughter, so, while I have a full time day job, I also have a second, full time job at home. :-( Right now, Abigail is 15 months old and I am down to 176 lbs and in a size 12 (some 14's still.)

I just found Calorie Count online last week and I joined on Monday (3/23.) Another lady here at my work has asked me to be weight loss buddies with her as she would like to shed some lbs in time for her summer vacation. We are logging all of our meals and counting calories and showing each other our food logs and weight progress. We were trying to do all of that on paper until we found this website.

I was wanting to join this group b/c I figured there would be at least a couple ladies who share my same struggles and we could support one another and hold each other accountable.

As I mentioned above, I work full time. I am in the marketing/advertising field for a local bank. I've been in this line of work for about 15 years now. With my husband, work and my daughter, I don't have much time to persue many hobbies anymore. I enjoy attending church (especially the ladies meetings,) reading when I can, and napping! (ha, ha.) Back in the day, I was a big crafter. I'm a very creative type. I love to do rubber stamping, scrapbooking, home decor projects. I like to sing and do so in the car regularly. :-) We are avid Philadelphia Eagles fans.

It is nice to meet everyone. Sorry for the LONNNNGGG post! I hope to make some friends and become weight loss buddies with some of you. :-) - Cari

 

Hi! I'm 28 years old mother of 3 amazing girls!

1. History with weight loss: Well where do i begin... I think that I have tried everything to lose weight some have been successful others not. Ive always gained it back. I've never tried to count calories befor this. Im quite frustrated right now, A day befor I joined cc I joined a gym for the first time and started going 5 days a week. well 2 weeks later I've gained 4 pounds.... I weigh 159lbs now and would love to see 24 gone by the summer and would be satisfied if I could just loose 10 and keep it off.

2. History with Calorie Count: I joined 2 weeks ago

3. Reason for joining this group: I feel I'm not getting the suport I would like  from other groups and I think I would have more in common with you guys with the same interest as me. Where all in the same boat.

4. Some interesting details about yourself, such as your job, your family, your pets and your interests: I work in an office full time sitting at a desk typing away, I was a stay a home mom almost one year ago. I enjoy reading, cooking and now going to the gym I would say crave going to the gym. I love to try new foods and healthy recipies (my kids are so picky) So I dont get to.

I am looking to meet someone on here to keep me motivated and will return the favor to you.

Good Luck to you all!!

Hello, I'm a newlywed mother of 2. A five almost six year old boy and a four year old daugher.

I don't really have a history with weight problems, I've actually been pretty small thru school and even after my second baby, but now I'm a little thick and just join CC earlier this month. I want to lose about 20 lbs. I don't want to get real small ( I love my curves and so does my husband! LOL) but I need to lose some of my stomach and tone my legs. I'm very excited to join and watch my progress as I begin my weight lost journey.

We're actually doing a "Biggest Loser" competion at my job, which made me join the site.

Right now I weigh 155lbs and want to get done to about 135, so I have 20lbs to go. I've been eating a lot better and exercising a lot more as well.

My husband eats whatever he wants all the time and I get a little discouraged, so I am hoping to find someone who is kind of like me so I have someone to feel my pain.

Good Luck! And Thanks for the support!!

Hi, I'm Shelley.  I turned 41 last fall, and I've struggled with my weight since my last pregnancy.  Granted that was 16 years ago, I am still trying to loose that baby weight. 

I am married to a wonderful man (15 years), who always gets me a bowl of ice cream when he gets one for himself, and he never forgets the toppings.  He loves me just as I am and I wish I felt the same way about me that he does.  I have four wonderful children-son (21), daugher (20), twins, boy/girl (16).  They are the joy of my life and bring me so much happiness that I never thought one person could experience.   My oldest daughter and I share the same love of food.  We both work in an enviroment that we sit all day and eating passes the time. 

She recently decided to join the military and found out that she needed to loose 6% body fat.  For her that is about 30 lbs.  I made a committment to her that we could do this together. 

I found Calorie Count today when I was looking for how many calories are in a slice of watermelon.  Gosh was I amazed.  I am looking to become connected to women who struggle with the same things that I do, because I  know I cannot do this alone.  

Hi I'm Megan and I'm 39.  I joined CC today after seeing it mentioned in a magazine article.  I joined because about two months ago I got weighed at the doctors and did not like the number I saw.  Then a month ago my sister passed away - breast cancer that metastisized.  I had started trying to eat better and exercise before that, but now I have a mission.  To be as healthy as I can to be around as long as I can for my 9 year old son and hubby of almost 14 years. 

I've never really dieted before, just watched what I ate, but never really knew how many calories I was consuming or how many I needed to keep it to to be able to loose weight.  When I worked in an office I was able to do well and was loosing weight.  Then 4 years ago I took a job that has me working from home and I quit walking and stopped eating as healthy as I had been.  I am a supervisor of 6 other staff working over a third of my home state and spend my day in front of the computer for the most part.  I get out to meetings about 5 times a month and out with staff about the same.  I work long hours and have little time left over for exercising after work and family responsibilities are done. 

I have two dogs, like to fish, read, crochet, walk and cook.  I'd like to loose about 40 pounds and am glad to find a group of working moms to talk to along the way.

Hi Megan, welcome - I hope you find some support and inspiration here.  We have a couple other threads started here - some on how we fit in excercise, and there's one with links to quick, healthy supper ideas.

It's great that you are thinking about this and trying to nip it in the bud.  I can tell you that after 40, it has gotten exponentially more difficult for me, so if you can get to your desired fitness level now and maintain it, it is much easier than trying to get there in your 40s!

I think exercise is key - not just to lose the weight, but to be more healthy, and to get more toned as you do lose weight.  Many of us struggle with finding time.  For me, I have to get up at 5 AM before anyone else is awake to do it.  Can you take a lunch break and walk?  I suggest investing in an mp3 player and loading it up with some favorite music and listening as you walk.  Also, I just started Jillian Michael's 30 day shred.  It's a 27 minute workout from start to finish, and I think even us busy moms can fit in 27 minutes (the length of one tv sitcom) into our schedules.

Anyway, let us know if you have any questions, and welcome!

1. History with weight loss: I was a thin child and didn't gain weight until college (almost 20 years ago). I packed on the pounds with each of my two pregnancies, lost 45 pounds with WW online about 5 years ago, and have slowly gained back almost every pound. I tried rejoining WW, but hated paying the fees when I felt unmotivated and wasn't using the site. I'm hoping to have the motivation to do so now.

2. History with Calorie Count: No history, A friend introduced me.

3. Reason for joining this group: I need some motivation and to be held accountable in some way. I've had an extremely busy last two years full of excuses for not eating right and exercising. Excuses are over!

4. Some interesting details about yourself, such as your job, your family, your pets and your interests: I'm happily married to a high school science teacher. I have two kiddos (Zoe, 13, and Max, 9). I just found out today that my job has been cut (I'm a paraeducator at a middle school), but I'm not that upset about it because I just graduated with my masters degree in education plus certification and plan to teach in my own classroom as soon as the economy picks up and my school hires a new teacher or two. I love digital scrapbooking, photography, birding, yoga, gardening, cooking, walking, geocaching, camping, and (of course) spending time with my family.