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!

1. History with weight loss: I have always been heavy and have always struggled with losing.  Like many, usually gave up on myself not long after starting a diet and then gain back what I lost plus more.  Not this time though!!!

2. History with Calorie Count:  I have been with CC since Feb'07'.  The tools and community have helped me through many struggles along the way.

3. Reason for joining this group:  I've joined it to find more local people, local ideas, heck, and who knows, maybe eventually a CC get-together.  It doesn't seem there are many out there in the forums from this area.

4. Some interesting details about yourself, such as your job, your family, your pets and your interests:  I've completed about 80% of my weight loss goal and I'm very excited about that.  I am a desk jockey.  My family is my world.  I have a cat but long for a dog as well.  I have lots of interests...walking, jogging, bike riding, swimming, gardening, and I love to play sporty games with my daughter.

I was very heavy as a child than I was able to maintain my weight at 164 I looked good and was healthy.I met and married my husband in early 07 and then gave birth to our gorgeous daughter at the end of 07.I put on 55lbs during the pregnancy and only 21 of those were from baby!I joined cc just this month and I appreciate the burn meter the most.I joined this group because it was on my page and I'm really hoping to find someone who lives near me,to be my "weight loss buddy"!I attend church regularly and my interests are reading,writing poetry,and I love to walk in the woods,I love nature! I am a stay at home mom with 3 wonderful kids 13,11,and 10 months old.The only pets we have are 3 goldfish.I am a certified nurses aide but haven't worked since late last year.I love life,people,and to laugh.   I'm struggling with losing weight I was 206 after having the baby in 9/07 and am now 190 I was told by a DR. that after having a baby Estrogen keeps us from losing weight sometimes and so I really bust my butt,without much progress.I can really use encouragement often and hope to be help for others.

1. History with weight loss: I have struggled through teens and early adulthood with an ed..i finally started seeing the effects on my body and it gave me a huge wake up call..i then have had children and mainly focus on my husband and kids so time for me kind of just went out the window..
2. History with Calorie Count:started not too long ago and find it to be very interesting and helpfull..my hubby even does this now! my goal weight is 127lbs..my short term goal weight is 150..my current weight is 178.  I have an 11.2 drop in my weight..just trying to find out what works for me i guess..
3. Reason for joining this group: i live in southern illinois..and it will be great having people in this area to help keep me motivated with their posts..plus winter is coming up and i will probably need nudged (illinois winters suck, am i right)
4. Some interesting details about yourself, such as your job, your family, your pets and your interests: I am married, no job (well except taking care of the family and all of the household chores..) ha! I am a full time college student with 17 credit hours this semester..have 2 black lab pups and 2 beagles...i am interested in reading, walking, jogging, turning into a health nut...and i love to swim but no swimming pools close..  :( plus i hate bathing suits..anyway thanks for having me..looking forward to losing with you!

Hello!

1. History with weight loss: I was small until I hit puberty, quit gymnastics and got a job at McDonalds all in the same summer. I never had a chance;-) Since then, I have never been a set weight, I'm either going up or going down. Hopefully this is because I have hypothyroidism and when I finally get it under control then I will be able to maintain a healthy weight.

2. History with Calorie Count: I joined CC in April 08, LOVE IT! I never knew how much I was really eating. I've lost 31 pounds and have 15 to go to my first goal. I want to maintain my first goal for 6 months and then try for 20 more.

3. Reason for joining this group: It popped up on my screen, so why not?

4. Some interesting details about yourself, such as your job, your family, your pets and your interests: I live in the NW burbs of Chicago. I love to travel and being a teacher makes it possible to do a lot in the summer... just not this summer because I'm doing some remodeling. I look and sound pretty cool, but I love sci fi and consider myself a bit of a geek. I watch too much TV, but I love it! Lastly, I'm single w/ cat.

1. History with weight loss:

I don't have much experience with weight loss, i joined this website and since i joined i've lost about 10 pounds.  That's about it, i've been pretty athletic most of my life up until about 2 years ago (after graduating from college)

2. History with Calorie Count:

I joined about a month ago under pressure from my fiance.  I started with logging everything I ate but that just became a hassle and now I just participate in discussions and exercise challenges.

3. Reason for joining this group:

Finding other like minded folks like myself.

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

I'm a 3d artist at an architecture firm (think shrek or toy story but only the buildings in the background) downtown, i'm engaged to be married next june!, I have a chihuahua/dachsund mix dog named Peanut (2yo) and a cat (5ish) named Audrey.

Something to add, I live out in aurora and i'm huge into riding my bike, i'm always on the lookout for both casual riders to ride with on the weekends and people who want to push their ride really hard.  The only thing I ask is not to be creepy or weird, i don't want to spend 20 miles on a ride worried that i'll miss my kidney's next time I wake up.

Hi! I'm new to Calorie Count and this group.

The picture I posted is one taken about 3 years ago, in which I worked out 6 days a week and worked about 40-50 hours per week. I picked this picture because I remembered it as a time in my life where I was really happy and had a lot of fun. I felt great, enjoyed my job, did a lot of activities with my son, and spent a lot of time with my family and friends.

I never thought much at all about what I ate, because I never really had to.

I got married and lost my job shortly after, because my husband and I spent so much time fighting, I was always late for work. The more time I had, the less and less I fel like doing anything.

Well, I got rid of my husband and starting hanging out with my friends. The drinking more has added on more weight than I had anticipated. I am looking to lose about 35 pounds by April next year. This would get me back to the weight I was when the picture was taken.

I am going to be 30 in a couple of months and my friends are planning on throwing me a huge birthday party. I am hoping that I can lose at least 10-15 pounds by then.

My calorie intake is right around 1250 and I have increased the amount of activity I have been doing to increase the calories I burn a day.

I'm a yo-yo dieter thats been on cc for two years now.

I live in Chicago.

I work for a conservative trust company, a photography company, and a tech start up. I'm opinionated, sarcastic, and often misunderstood. I live in South Shore, right next to both golf courses and the Cultural Center. I work out at LA Fitness in South Loop where my partner is a spin instructor. 

*waves hello*

1/2. History with weight loss/CC - weellll, less of my history has been about loss than I'd like!  I joined c-c in the summer of... goodness, 2006, was it? At that point, I managed to peel off about 8 pounds (though working a summer job in which I was walking 3-5 miles daily helped a lot, too), but when I got back to school, I found logging calories too time-consuming and stopped.  Which wouldn't have been too bad, except I also stopped eating healthily and exercising, and increased my dosage of a medication one of whose primary side effects is weight gain.  So, I went from someone who'd been a little bit chubby all my life to someone who, by January of this year, was 4'11.5" and 165 lbs.  Now I'm back, exercising regularly and keeping a mental tally of my calories (logging when I need to break a plateau or figure out a problem), and I'm at 144 lbs as of this morning.  Goal weight, for now, is 135; we'll see what I think when I get there.

3. Reason for joining the group -  er, I live in Chicago?  Does that count as a reason?  *shrug*  It seems like another good source of moral support, with the added benefit of potential restaurant recommendations and maybe even exercise/dining buddies.

4. Interesting details - can't promise they'll be interesting, but in any event... I live in Printer's Row with my partner of three years and our crazy standard poodle puppy; I'm a grad student in linguistics at UChicago, where I'll be teaching my first class starting this fall; interests include signed languages (I speak American Sign Language and Quebec Sign Language, and have just started learning British Sign Language), pleasure reading (especially historical mystery, but I'm quite flexible), TV crime dramas streamed from the internet, 'zine making, and eating out when I can afford it.  And, of course, whatever's listed in my profile; I don't even remember what I wrote down.  ;c)

1. History with weight loss:  I was a heavy kid from an overweight family except for a very skinny brother.  I lost 50 lbs my senior year in HS in 1977.  I kept it off and joined an aerobics class and dropped 3 sizes and 10 more lbs.  I was at my lowest at 127 which was way too low.  I gained up to the 140's and then lost control and was up over 265plus.  Likely I was at 300 or over around 1995s.  I finally got down to 135 in 1999, met my hubby to be and was fine until 2003 when the Dr put me on anti depressants.  60lb gain and permanent edema problems that I have to take meds for.  

I'm trying to get back to right around 137-144 which was my best feeling and looking weight.  I turn 50 next year and would like to get this off by then.

2. History with Calorie Count:  I joined in 01/08 but didn't really start til March 16 at 196 lbs.  Currently I'm at 173.  It is slow and there are the occasional  issues with menopause.  I prefer low carb since I absorb white flour and sugar very quickly and then get very sleepy. 

3. Reason for joining this group:  Why not?  I live in the western suburbs of Chicago and it would be nice to trade tips and recipes with people in the same area of the country. 

4. Some interesting details about yourself, such as your job, your family, your pets and your interests:   I'm very boring although some people think I'm funny.  I use to do a lot of things but I'm currently in college (on line) and work full time so any downtime generally finds me messing with the computer and vegging in front of the TV at the same time - my version of multi tasking.  I have 3 furbabies - 2 dogs and a cat.  The cat is in charge - he's my picture icon. They demand a lot of attention, especially at 3 am (they swear there is something in the yard).

 Hubby and I golf on Sunday's.  We use to go out on the Harley everyweek but we have only been out 1x this year - labor day. It's been a busy summer.  He just put in the new privacy fence and split rail last month and we have plans for further remodeling inside next spring.   First I have to trash the house.  I need a dumpster.

I also tend to ramble far from the point and get hopelessly lost.

Hi guys! Good to have a locals forum!

1. History with weight loss: I have a history of ED for the past four years and with that included, have been dieting for the larger part of five years (I am nineteen). Right now my goal is weight maintanence and better body image.

2. History with Calorie Count: I've been here for a few months. I've used online diet aids before but Calorie Count is definitely the best one I've used.

3. Reason for joining this group: I live in the area! And hope that maybe I'll be able to find a gym buddy or join a Chicago yoga group or find some cyclists like me or... friends. Friends would be nice too.

4. Some interesting details about yourself, such as your job, your family, your pets and your interests: I am an artist and currently live with my boyfriend (but we're expecting a breakup pretty soon). I have far too many hobbies.

Hello Chicagoland,

I hope all are doing well. The weather is changing and pretty soon the **** will be flying. Hold on not too fast, we need to enjoy the FALL.

I am Don and have been with CC since 2007 on and off. I started again in May 2008. This reflects my life (55years now) long problem with weight. YO _YO ...up and down. I have probably lost over 1000 lbs. I think CC is good if I focus on doing due diligence and log my information. But again I do not do this. CC does have valuable information which has assisted me when I use it.

I joined this group for two reasons. One because by communication there is support to help you and me and others in the group. Two to make new friends in the Chicagoland area. Standing alone trying to lose weight is difficult and weak, but with two or more it becomes easier and we become stronger.

I am married with two children. My son is a junior at Loyola University and my daughter a junior at DGSHS. We have two dogs and two cats. I am in IT (computers and network admin.) I like to read, refinish furniture, work around home, and eat. I love the Bears along with the CUBS and SOX.

I hope we can become friends and help each other meet our goals.

Contact me or send a message......Don

 

 

 

Hello, all.  I am doing my first post on any site.  It seems that starting with CC is the best place to start.  My friends and colleagues would never suspect that I have spent so much time obsessing over my weight.  I grew up in a family of "tall and thins" thinking I was fat -- I was probably closer to average, but that was never good enough to me.  I also love to eat truly terrible food (junk)< especially when I am feeling bored.

I am 5'7" and currently weigh 179 pounds.  That's down about 13 pounds in the last 8 weeks; I had an accident and had to stay home and have all food brought to me.  That cut down on my evening snacks and my favorite big breakfasts.  I'd like to be able to break my habit of eating more than I need, and of snacking whenever I have time on my hands.

I don't have family and am pretty much free to do and eat what I please, so I know that my biggest challenge is my own discipline.  I'd like to think that using a forum like this is a good step forward, and that some of you will be a support to me.  Thanks!

1. History with weight loss: Have not given weight loss a significant try

2. History with Calorie Count: none, but this website looks promising

3. Reason for joining this group: I live in this area and hope to find help in my area.

4. Some interesting details about yourself, such as your job, your family, your pets and your interests:  I am currently dating Anne for 8 years, we are currently living apart due to my job and her schooling.  We have 2 dogs, Bailey (Puggle) and Kasey (Beagle).  To be very honest, I think we have made eachother overweight as it has never been a big deal to either of us.  Though I believe that this weight is effecting our relationship and our health and want to fix it.

Hello!!  So here is the story-

My History with weight loss-Well...I have spent my adult life (9 years) trying to figure out how to live a healthy lifestyle and eat right. Im not overweight...Im just still trying to achieve my dream body before I wreck it with a pregnancy. So thats what I'm doing here. Im trying to get close to where I was when I was 21. When I was skinny then, it was because I took too many diet pills and ate peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. So this time, I'm trying to loose 17lbs and do it the healthy, sustainable way that will last a life time!

My History with CC- NONE. I don't like counting calories because I might turn into an obsession. But I realized that I kept putting weight back on after I lost it the correct way. So this time I am going to find out where I need to improve by keeping track.

I joined this group because I live in Chicago!

Other things about me: Well, I am super busy. I work full time, I attend Church every Sunday and I also volunteer my time planning and executing activities for the Woman of the Church. So I keep busy with that. But on top of that, I take a sewing class once a week, a craft night once a week, and a family night(with my husband) once a week. So basically...I only have Tuesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays to relax. Its too bad those days are filled with cleaning and dog walking and working out and grocery shopping- and all the other stuff one has to do to keep life going. So anyway...thats me. I love my life. Im happy...I just want to be a little bit lighter and healthier!!

Hello Chicago,

I was perfect until my second angel was born and after that I did not focus on my body and I gain about 25 pound extra in my body and I want to loose about 15 pound by January. I start to look what I eat and start to do exercise 30 minute per day.

The first Reason for joining this group is I live in Chicago and second because I always found that it is very helpful if you have some one to share about your excitement.

Well I work as accountant and I have two beautiful daughters 8 year and 8 month old and my hobby and interest are reading, painting, and wach movies and spend time with my daughters. I am a henna artist and I never get tired doing henna to peoples hand.

Like every one I am very busy too full time job, part time school and full time family.

Thank you,

Hey all!! Here goes:

1. History with weight loss: Not much. I was thin when I was younger. I gained a little wgt going into my 20's, but not much. Oddly enough, I didn't gain much wgt while I was pregnant, I gained it after. When my daughter was born I weighed about 140, which is about 10-15 lbs overwt for me. by the time she was 1, I weighd 165. Go figure. Anyhoo, I lost the wt. and maintained at around 135 for awhile. I didn't really diet, I was just more active for awhile and it just "went away". I went through a very stressful time a few years ago and dropped down to my HS wt of about 120. I've since gained 50 lbs. of "happy fat". I hate it. I'm the heaviest i've ever been.

2. History with Calorie Count: Brand new.

3. Reason for joining this group: Must. Lose. Weight.

4. Some interesting details about yourself, such as your job, your family, your pets and your interests: Job? Yes. Family? Check. Pets? Those too. Interests? If I told you, I'd have to kill you.

Ok, srsly. I'm a db admin, single mom, w/2 cats. I like long walks (no, I really do!), photography, and stuff like that.

Hello Chicago!

BTW~ is it just me, or does the calorie counting make you feel a little OCD too? I'm doing it, because I just have to, but sometimes I feel like a total spazz, reading the nutrition facts on evrything and entering every bite, oz, gram, morsel here. Or maybe it's just me.

 

1. History with weight loss:

• I have always been a overweight child. However, i was always active, doing something. In my youth, I took gymnastics and danced (tap, jazz, baton, and anything inbetween). Then in high school, I started to take up cheerleading and soccer (i went to a small private high school so it was easy to join sports like that). I had lost over 30lbs in high school just by doing that. I also had very easy access to cardio and weight machines since my school was part of a larger community center. After high school, i tried to maintain my weight and ended up dropping about 20 more pounds (i went from 135 to 115!!). The smaller of the weight looked bad on me and I do not intend to EVER be that small (but i never had an eating disorder or any sort... it just kinda... came off. Growth spurt?). Anyway, throughout the years, i have been slowly gaining it. I finally steadied at 135 for a while, but then I met my fiance and he loves food. He loves to eat out and eat greasy, nasty food and well... i got sucked in. I gained 20 lbs since i first met him and now... i'm ready to drop it off, like yesterdays garbage!!

2. History with Calorie Count:

• This is my first time using calorie count. I hope to really get into it at the start of 2009. I went and downloaded the application to my blackberry for easier access. I just hope my work doesn't have this blocked so i can keep track during the day. :)

3. Reason for joining this group:

• I moved to the Chicago area about 6 months ago. I hope to find some people who are interested in being buddies with me to help me lose the weight as well as find some new friends and connections along the way.

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

• I am currently working on my M.A. in industrial and organizational psychology. I will be graduating in May 2010. I hope to also get into the HR field as I find it VERY interesting. I enjoy helping others work towards their goals. :) With that, I work 3 days a week during the day and on those same days, I have night classes so it gets pretty hectic and busy trying to balance lunch and dinner, but I have found some interesting ways. I am an "open arms" type of person and love to socialize and go out. It has been difficult though since I moved as my group of friends are now 500 miles away. C'est la vie, right?

1. History with weight loss: Well for most of my life I've been average/a little chubby until in high school I got to 184 lbs at 15.  I was active, too!  I played year-round volleyball with practice 6 days a week - After constantly thinking about my weight and dealing with other things in my life I started my struggle with ED and by Junior year I was down to 117 lbs.  I was hospitalized for poor health and with a bit of recovery leveled out at 130 until the summer of my sophomore year of college, when I had another relapse and went down to 107 lbs.  Fortunately, with help and support from family and friends I was able to break through...unfortunately that means weight gain.  Steadily over the next 6 years I've put on quite a bit of weight until I was 150 in August of '07 (despite working out regularly and maintaining a good diet).  This past year and a half, however, I have skyrocketed to 185...which is not a place I'd like to be.  Maybe I've come full circle for a reason - now it is time for me to take it off the healthy way.

2. History with Calorie Count:  I just started using calorie counter on December 30th.  I started at 185 and I am down to 181.2 with 2 hour workouts and a 1,200 calorie diet.

3. Reason for joining this group: I've joined to find more people in my area - It would be great to share my successes with other people!  Most of my friends and my husband are super tiny - so I get a bit discouraged when they're eating pizza and mcdonalds and maintaining their size 0.  Grr!!  It would be fun to share info with people who know what I'm going through!

4. Some interesting details about yourself, such as your job, your family, your pets and your interests:  I am a 25 year old special education teacher in the Western suburbs.  I absolutely love what I do!  I got married in August 2007 to my wonderful husband, Matt.  I love going for walks outside, working out, watching the office and anything on Bravo, relaxing, and my New Year's resolution is to be more domestic - ya know, cook more, clean more --that sort of thing!  

Original Post by aflynn83:

1. History with weight loss: Well for most of my life I've been average/a little chubby until in high school I got to 184 lbs at 15.  I was active, too!  I played year-round volleyball with practice 6 days a week - After constantly thinking about my weight and dealing with other things in my life I started my struggle with ED and by Junior year I was down to 117 lbs.  I was hospitalized for poor health and with a bit of recovery leveled out at 130 until the summer of my sophomore year, when I had another relapse and went down to 107 lbs.  Fortunately, with help and support from family and friends I was able to break through...unfortunately that means weight gain.  Steadily over the next 6 years I've put on quite a bit of weight until I was 150 in August of '07 (despite working out regularly and maintaining a good diet).  This past year and a half, however, I have skyrocketed to 185...which is not a place I'd like to be.  Maybe I've come full circle for a reason - now it is time for me to take it off the healthy way.

2. History with Calorie Count:  I just started using calorie counter on December 30th.  I started at 185 and I am down to 181.2 with 2 hour workouts and a 1,200 calorie diet.

3. Reason for joining this group: I've joined to find more people in my area - It would be great to share my successes with other people!  Most of my friends and my husband are super tiny - so I get a bit discouraged when they're eating pizza and mcdonalds and maintaining their size 0.  Grr!!  It would be fun to share info with people who know what I'm going through!

4. Some interesting details about yourself, such as your job, your family, your pets and your interests:  I am a 25 year old special education teacher in the Western suburbs.  I absolutely love what I do!  I got married in August 2007 to my wonderful husband, Matt.  I love going for walks outside, working out, watching the office and anything on Bravo, relaxing, and my New Year's resolution is to be more domestic - ya know, cook more, clean more --that sort of thing!  

 

1. History with weight loss:  I've always felt overweight as a young child.  Looking back at photos, I was a little chubby here and there, but not overweight.  Back then clothes were made differently and for people that were stick thin, so the self image was always poor.  I think I've done it all.  I've done the grapefruit diet, Weight Watchers, starving myself, and TOPS just to name a few.  Of course as soon as you stop "dieting" (hate that word) you gain it all back and then sum.  So I ate myself through two marriages and divorces and a bunch of self-pity.  As life went on I wound up at my highest weight ever.  Heart palpitations, acid reflux, bad knees, out of breath.  I have this most amazing friend that is really into self-improvement and slowly but surely what she told me began to sink in.  As I began to feel better about my inside I started thinking maybe, just maybe it was time for the outside.  This guy I work with entered this Biggest Loser (friends in the neighborhood style) competition in January and I silently thought, I can do this too!  This lead me to find CC.
2. History with Calorie Count:  While searching for a healthy way to eat and change my life (I refuse to use the D word) and make better choices I stumbled upon CC.  I joined in January 2008 and by July 2008 I had lost 40 pounds, eating 1850 calories a day, faithfully journaling and walking 3-4 days a week.  From July thru November 2008 I maintained my weightloss (kudos for me), which I had NEVER been able to do for my entire life.  Ok, holidays were upon us and I was very lax and yes, I gained 7 pounds back.  But you know what?  I was ok with that, because I'm in a good place.  This year I am back on track, faithfully journaling and am now taking in 1650 calories a day.  Somedays I'm not quite there, but as long as I'm between 1500-1650 per day I'm happy.  I worked out yesterday for the first time in months, boy did that feel good.  Never thought I would say, that sweat was awesome!  This year I am part of the BL competition, for me!  I know this is drastic, and if I don't do it, I'm ok with that, but I have to lose 10% of my body weight by March 17th.  I logged my weight on 1/1/09 and as of today (1/4/09) I have lost 7.2 pounds!!!!  Yea for me.  I don't know how, and I'm eating healthy and drinking my water and being more active.  So, I have to lose a total of 29.6 lbs - 7.2 already lost = 22.4 to go for the competition and then continue after that.
3. Reason for joining this group: Maybe I'll find encouragement when the competition is over.  Support.  My ultimate goal is to walk a 1/2 marathon in 2010 (I turn 50 next year).  I'm in the western suburbs, so if you're out there, hollar!
4. Some interesting details about yourself, such as your job, your family, your pets and your interests:  Obviously I like to talk :-)  I'm a single mom of 2 boys ages 28 and 16.  They are my greatest accomplishment.  I run a homebased business and work part-time.  I have 4 cats and 2 dogs.  I know it's a lot, but when I got rid of the husband I wanted unconditional love. 
   
   I've just rejoined the park district to use the fitness center (did a 40 minute workout yesterday) and have signed up for a Zumba class.  That starts tomorrow.  I'm thinking of signing up for a NIA class as well.

So...there it is about me in a nutshell, hope I haven't bored you to death :-)

Tammy