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!

Name: Akhil

weight loss:  I have always been overweight. Had lost around 20 pounds in 2006, but have gained them back. I am 30 years old, 5'5" and weight close to 203 lbs.


Calorie Count:I joined calorie count sometime back, but have recently started watching what i am eating and how much i have eating.


I live in Quincy and work at downtown boston. I thought this might be a good way to meet some dedicated folks and try to help each other to loose some weight and get ourselves as much healthy as we can.


I am a software developer (computer programmer). I am married. I love to play, travel and listen to music. Love to watch NBA, NHL, NFL.

Name: Maleeka

weight loss:  I was skinny as a little kid and then at age 7 put on some chub when my dad died.  I lost all of the weight when I started high school, down to 115 lbs.   And promptly put it all back on plus some after giving birth to my daughter, 185 lbs final pre birth weigh in.  I remember thinking to myself after she was born...OMG she only weighed 8 lb 10 oz....all the rest of this is me.  :(  It took me about a year to lose about about 50 pounds.  And I told myself that i would never let myself get that heavy ever again.  After breaking up with my daughter's dead beat dad, I met the love of my life and we have been together for the past 12 years.  I put on a bunch of weight after we were together about 3 years.  I was in the comfort zone.  I didn't even notice and he didn't seem to mind.  So as the next 7 or 8 years went by I packed on more and more weight.  Topping off at 257 pounds!!!  In 2005, went to Argentina to have gastric bypass surgery.  The doctor hit an artery and changed my life forever.  In the end, the surgery had to be suspended and I ended up having compartment syndrome in my right leg.  I no longer have use of my right foot although I can walk on it, I can't move it.  Over my year long recovery, I had plenty of time to think about my life and how I can make it better.  I realized that I was totally disgusted with the way I ate and that i did not exercise and I was ready to make some big changes.  I started eating better and joined CC back in 2007 and started logging every piece of foot that i put in my mouth.  I joined the "Y" and started taking Aqua Aerobics classes 4 days a week and lost about 26 pounds and got pregnant (long awaited)!!!  Fast forward to 2 weeks ago...i had a beautiful baby boy!!  I went today for a doctor's appointment and I am just about pre baby weight.  

Calorie Count:  I am actually back on CC to start logging my foods again.  I am breastfeeding so I need to eat more calories in order to build and maintain my milk supply.  I am actually having a hard time doing that.  I am just so overwhelmed with a new baby that I feel like I hardly have enough time to eat and before i know it the day is over and I have only eaten about 800 to 1000 calories.  i should be eating between 1800 and 2200 calories a day!!  I have to get some healthy calories in and quick!!

 

I live in Lynn and work in Rowley.  

 

Maleeka - What a friend of mine advised when I was bf'ing is that when it is time to bf, then get your self a snack & drink before sitting down to bf. While your child eats - you should too.

Try to balance out your snacks/meals throughout the day and think about pre-planning some of it. For example, pre-pack snack in baggies, so all you have to do is grab a baggie and your water/juice/tea. When going out with the baby, make sure to pack a snack baggie or two so you do not forget to eat.

It may sound complicated to eat/drink while bf'ing, but you gain more coordination as the baby gets older and you have more experience.

Good luck!

 

Hey everyone, I'm Julia

1. History with weight loss: I have never really had any history with weight loss. I maintain a pretty steady weight and it doesn't fluctuate too much. Since I am pretty young (21) my metabolism works pretty well so I've never really dieted or anything until now.
2. History with Calorie Count: A friend of mine on Livejournal told me check out this site, so far I love it. It forces me to see what I'm really putting into my body. I love how it grades me.
3. Reason for joining this group: I just had all my yearly check-ups. And I really hated what number I saw for my weight. I work out a lot so I know muscle is partly responsible because I don't really feel like I look as much as a weigh. However, I know my eating habits since I've been in college have dramatically changed. I'm a junior now and I've gained something like 20 pounds since I've been here.  I want to reestablish healthy eating habits, even under the stress of school.
4. Some interesting details about yourself, such as your job, your family, your pets and your interests:  I am a junior at Boston University. Aside from the massive amounts of schoolwork I have to do, I also participate in a lot of extracurriculars in the Community Service Center. I also babysit for extra money.  I love working out but I also love eating A LOT and until now I've just eaten whatever i wanted whenever I wanted and as much as I wanted.  I'm here to learn how to control myself pretty much. 

Hola,

I'm Scott and i've been battling weight most of life.  Always a little chubby as a kid, then thinned out in highschool.  Gained some weight in college, then around age 20 i hit the gym and dieted heavily and was in the best shape of my life at age 21.  Since then it has gone down hill.  I was 145 and a skinny fat in senior year of highschool highschool and was 160 at age 21 and felt great, hard, thin, in shape, on top of the world.  Had the same waist at 21 as i did at 17.  My taste for eating out, being lazy, not giving a damn, and making excuses has taken its toll.  I ballooned up to 245 in the winter of 2007.  I joined Jenny Craig at that time and took off about 35 pounds.  In the past year i gained about 15 back and on Jan 4, 2009 i started dieting and heading to the gym again.  I've lost about 12 pounds and have firmed up a little bit.  It's a little depressing when i think about it, only 12 pounds in almost 10 weeks...I know i'm older but damn, my metabolism has really slowed down!!!!  But i'm committed.  I have a few slip ups here and there and still like to eat out frequently, but i also realize that my body isn't going to change overnite.  A friend told me about this site, to track calories.  So that's what i'll do and as well read other people's stories.  I have an open mind and welcome any comments or feedbacks and of course encouragement.  Thanks!

Hi All, I'm Amy.

-History with weight loss: I've actually always been a healthy weight up until probably the past two years, I don't know what happened because there were no major changes around this time, but nonetheless, the weight gain has to go. I had tried weight watchers but I found that they made more excuses for me if I gained weight than I could ever make for myself, and I didn't really want to pay $40 a month for someone to tell me that clearly I had been exercising too much and that's why I gained weight, because I feel that if I exercised too much, I wouldn't really have a problem with weight. :)
2. History with Calorie Count: I actually stumbled upon this website while trying to look up the calorie information for weight watchers, and I decided that I liked this way more, thus I switched.
3. Reason for joining this group: I live in Boston and it just seemed to make sense... plus I'm pretty new to the website, I made an account a month ago, but actually just started using it about 3 days ago.
4. Some interesting details about yourself, such as your job, your family, your pets and your interests:  I'm an accountant for an engineering firm in Boston, I just recently moved in with my boyfriend, I come from a family of 5 children - and my family just eats and never focuses on nutritional information, surprising that only two of us need to lose weight. I'm very out going, and I love dancing (which is probably why I was a skinny kid) and hopefully counting calories the old school way will work :)

Thanks for reading all that!

Hey hey, Mike Dee here.

1. History with weight loss:  I'm on the site to help myself with healthy weight gain.  I've always been a stick figure through high school and college.  I did fill out a bit throughout college and since graduating, but I want those last 15 pounds or so of healthy muscle.
2. History with Calorie Count:  I signed up about a month or so ago and fell off.  I'm more focused now to really get a strict diet mixed with weight training
3. Reason for joining this group:  Optimism makes the world go round.  I don't really have a 'buddy' to get through the whole process with, so I decided why not join the group and see how it goes.
4. Some interesting details about yourself, such as your job, your family, your pets and your interests:  I work with retirement plans (I'm a closet math nerd), my big things are basketball and soccer.  I recently coached a 7th grade travel team and hopefully I will be coaching them again as 8th graders next year.  I am a soccer referee, so that keeps me in shape from April through November!

I don't really like to post in forums much, but this one actually made me feel pretty good about myself.  Good luck to everyone.

Hi My name is Leslie and I live in Newburyport!

I would love to join your group and from what I have read keep me motivated to lose over 70 pounds! I know i have a long way to go but i really do it and hope you might help me accomplish this!

1. History with weight loss: great for 2 weeks and then see some loss and then go off and dont stick to it... then get remotivated .. 2 weeks later go off!

2. History with Calorie Count: A friend at my old job showed me this site and i have always used some of it but not to the full extent. 

3. Reason for joining: I need support and motivation to keep it going longer than 2 weeks.

4. Some interesting details: i work from home selling transportation in the freight and relocation business. I love boats, the ocean, being active. I am a widow, have 2 teenage daughters and being a single mom .. dealing with that fact is overwhelming! I thought it got easier as they got older.. NOPE! just more expensive!

I could use all the tips and motivation advice you can offer me... i hope with joining this we can reach our goals !!  

Hi Everyone,

I'm Valerie, 22 years old, 5'3'', and starting out at 132 lbs.  My goal is 115 lbs on 7/1/09.

1. History with weight loss: Growing up, I was a skinny kid and never had to worry about what I ate.  In high school, I ran cross-country, winter track, and spring track, and I was so focused on schoolwork that food was never really a priority.  I graduated high school at 5'2'' and ~110 lbs.  When I hit college, my metabolism caught up with me (and the buffet style dining hall didn't help).  I stopped running and ate whatever I wanted.  Over the 4 years, I gained about 5 lbs per year -- which incrementally didn't seem too bad, but added up to significant weight gain.  Now that I've graduated, I have more time and energy to focus on getting in shape.

2. History with Calorie Count: I joined about a week ago.  I've never counted calories before, so the website is eye-opening!

3. Reason for joining this group: I live in Mass, and I'm sure people in this group can relate to how the the unpredictable New England weather affects calorie intake and motivation to exercise.  When it's nice out, I'm much more likely to exercise and eat properly than I am if it's cold and rainy/snowy.

4. Some interesting details about yourself, such as your job, your family, your pets and your interests: I graduated from Boston University in May 2008 with a degree in Journalism and a minor in International Relations.  Currently, I work at an office job as a customer service representative.  I love traveling and the Red Sox!

Hi!!!

 

1. History with weight loss: - I am a yo yo dieter...in the past it hasn't been very healthy, but I'm working very hard to maintain 1200 calories a day.  I exercise quite a bit, LOVE to run!!  Right now, I'm looking to lose this weight the healthy way.  :)

2. History with Calorie Count: - I joined in August of 2007, was fairly diligent until about April of 2008 and then fell off the wagon...actually, I just about tossed myself off it.  So now, I'm back and hope to continue using CC even through maintenance as that's the hardest part for me.

3. Reason for joining this group: - I currently live in Worcester, but will be moving to Allston/Brighton/Somerville/Cambridge/Boston (not sure yet) in August/September of this year.  Being 36...it's much harder to meet like minded people...everyone already seems to have their networks, so I'm hoping to meet some nice people who I can maybe occasionally run with/have dinner with/go for walks with....I don't know...Social outlets are important...

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

I'm an interior designer for commercial real estate, I LOVE LOVE my job, been doing it since June of 2008 and never has a day gone by where I didn't love what I do.  I live with my boyfriend and our English Bulldog (Sampson) as well as our two cats.  The reason for our moving to Boston is that my brother is getting his PhD at Tufts Medical.  This year was his first year in five he hasn't lived with me...(it sounds strange...I know...but we're real close, he's 32 and extremely intellegent.  I grew up in Watertown, so I'm looking forward to being back there.  As you can tell from my picture, I'm pretty much fully tattooed...sometimes it turns people off...so I thought I should mention it...

I love love to run and at one point was running 7.5 miles a day and one 11-13 mile day a week, it was great, but then I quit smoking...and it became very hard to run, so I quit that too.   In the interim, I picked up smoking again, and also, I've been running again..as well as watching what I eat.  (again, it sounds odd, I know...)

I guess that's it!  I hope to meet up with some people maybe this summer?

Hi,

I'm Jessica from the Cape...(well, right before the bridges)

History with weight loss: I lost a ton of weight when I was about 15 (i'm 25 now) through WW. My mother made me go cuz i guess she didn't like that I was a chubby kid (?)...or she was saving me from myself. I got really into fitness during that time and the rest is history. I kept the weight off til I was 19 and had my first baby, then I gained about 50 pounds, but was fortunate enough to lose it all plus some when he was about 6 months old. Then I started coaching gymnastics full time, and was in excellent shape until I had another baby when I was 22. I haven't been able to get rid of that weight from my second baby History with Calorie Count: I just joined 2 days ago, but I love it so far. Reason for joining this group: to track my eating. It's absolutley neccessary for any weight loss to happen. Interesting facts about me: I am an aerobics instructor. I teach cardio kickboxing and a low impact dance class. I used to coach gymnastics full-time. Married, no pets, but 2 kids (6 and 2). My favorite shows are The Office (british and american versions), and antiques roadshow.

Hello, my name is Leela. I live in Providence Rhode Island, so I am really a neighbour...but my husband and I come to Boston pretty often and I just want to make more friends in the area.

 

History with weight loss: I was a kid with lots of self esteem issues after I lost my dad at 10. Started binge eating when I was 11, and gained a lot of weight as a teenager. At 19, I started walking regularly and lost some weight. Thanks to becoming a regular exerciser, I stayed at the same weight for fifteen years, and the binges gradually became less severe. I still binge, but its far less extreme than when I was younger.

History with CC: I started a serious effort to lose about 20 lb about four months ago. I am at a good place in my life, very happily married, and I felt like I could make the effort to push myself. I really want to get a little more disciplined about eating, and CC has been great for this. I have lost about 15 lb so far- thinnest I have been since I was 13!

Reason for joining this group: To make friends in the area, maybe go on interesting walks/ treks together...?

Interesting facts about me: I am 33, grew up in India, lived in London where I did a PhD in History,  and moved to Providence two years ago when I married my husband.

 

My name is Renata, and I live in Everett, MA.

1. History with weight loss: All my life. Never really obese, but always overweight. For at least 4 times I lost all the weight I needed and gained right back....
2. History with Calorie Count: I started not long ago, but it seems to be the only way to control my food intake.
3. Reason for joining this group: I live in Everett, and would like to meet more people from here who are going thru the losing weight process also.
4. Some interesting details about yourself, such as your job, your family, your pets and your interests: I am a professional portuguese interpreter, have 2 kids and 1 littel dog. I am a 32 years old brazilian married to a wonderful brazilian guy. I love out doors, parks, amusement parks, carnavals, and fairs. I just love to have fun with my family and friends. I love my God more than anything else, and I live to serve Him.

 

Hey I'm Kay,

i live in Brockton for 3 months now

1. I don't really have an history with weight loss, i've once tried to loose weight and ended up gaining weight.

2. I stubble upon this sight, while trying to find out how many calories was in this verry verry verry good milkshake i had,yummm.  after being disappointed with my answer i decided to go on a diet and hit the gym I've been paying for.

3. My reason for joining the group is the fact that i live around Boston, and would like to meet others in my situation. Also looking for motivation to keep this counting stuff going, im not one to keep up with things.

4. I work overnights and am usually asleep during breakfast, which makes it difficult to eat properly. I grow a large appetite late at night.

Hi!

I'm Anne and I live in Derry, NH.

1. History with weight loss: I had always the skinny kid when I was little. I rarely exercised and ate whatever and how much I wanted I gained a little weight my senior year but was still not fat. After I went to college I continued eating as much as I wanted I did gain some weight but I managed to maintain a healthy weight because I did marching band and carried one of the heaviest instruments a sousaphone. Then after I got done with marching band and found my true love the weight began to pile on. I wasn't exercising and still ate as before. I gained 40 bls in 5 years and then I had my child. I actually lost weight with my pregnancy but that was because I had Gestational Diabetes... I gained all the weight back and then some topping out at 186lbs. I am 5 feet tall.... I was diagnosed with Diabetes about a year ago. I had lost 15 lbs for no apparent reason and was drinking water by the gallon! I still didn't excercise. In my mind's eye I am still a thin teenager. I want my outside to match....
2. History with Calorie Count: Joined 4 days ago
3. Reason for joining this group: to have support, keep on track with diet, get info

Hi, I'm new to Calorie Count.

1. History with weight loss: I am a 45 year old male and I have always been very active and actually skinny right thru high school.  I was in the Air Force a long time and always kept in good shape.  All of a sudden a wall got built right in front of my metabolism when I hit 35.  I am still searching for who built it but I don't have any great leads yet.  Once that wall got built, everything from food to beer just kept putting the weight on me.  I never got really way out of control but when I hit just below 200 lbs (196) at the age of 40 and 5' 7" I decided I needed to get back in shape.  I got really tired of being on the last hole of my belt!  It has been a roller coaster for the last 5 years.  I get really motivated and have gotten down to 168 which I usually keep at until I go on vacation.  Once on vacation, I have a hard time getting back into the gym and my mind says I am at a good weight so I can eat and go out without any worries.  I am now at 180 and trying to get back to 170 range for vacation in October.
2. History with Calorie Count:  I just found this yesterday by accident when I was searching the web to find how many calories were in a sandwich I was going to eat.  I had been with WW online for 5 years and paid way too much money for it! I love this website and tracking what I eat to keep me honest.3. Reason for joining this group:  To talk with people in the local area and stay motivated.  
4. Some interesting details about yourself, such as your job, your family, your pets and your interests:  I am an engineering manager and work any where from 8 to 16 hr days.  I am a morning person (Air Force Training) so I do get up at 4:30 and go to the gym by 5 to start my day.  It's hard at first but once I am in the routine it is not a problem.  I love being outside and love yard work.  I absolutely hate hate hate the winter.  I am just not a person who likes the cold any more.  I grew up here but I think living in alot of warm climates got me spoiled and now I don't like the cold.  I have alot of energy so you would think it would be easy for me to keep the weight off but as I mention early some very evil person built the wall in front of my metabolism

 

Hello! I'm Emily, a college student currently living in Boston.

1. History with weight loss: During my sophomore year of high school I put on a lot of weight--I went from a size 2 to a size 12 due to having an illness which restricted me to bed. It took me about a year to recover and once I got active again I dropped down to my original size. I've made a commitment to staying in shape, I'm determined not to get the "Freshman fifteen". With some motivation and support I'd like to stay in the weight range I was prior to my prolonged illness.

2. History with Calorie Count: I accidentally found this page when I was looking for the amount of calories in an avocado. I liked what I saw and just kept coming back until I finally worked up the nerve to join. 

3. Reason for joining this group: I'm looking to connect with people in the area and keep myself motivated to stay on track about eating healthy and keeping up with this calorie counting thing.

4. Some interesting details about yourself, such as your job, your family, your pets and your interests: Currently I'm a freshman in college just pushing through the daily grind of classes, professors, and work-study jobs. Originally I am from Connecticut, so the change to living in a city like Boston is coming a bit of a shock to me. I have one cat at home, my favorite color is orange, and currently I'm enrolled in a capoeira class at my university in the hopes of gaining some sort of muscle toning.

Hi Everyone!

So I'm Jenna, from the Lowell-area.

1. History with weight loss: Well, I was never a tiny-girl, but growing up played tons of sports. Stopped playing sports after high school and have put on like 20lbs a year since then. Last summer I decided to diet diet, lost 50lbs in about 6 months, but put on 30 in the next 4 months. Now have started being good again, losing about 10 since June, working on losing the other 20... then working down from there.
2. History with Calorie Count: Brand new. Giving it a try! I love the toolbar so far it's my favorite part. I'm going to do my best to record all I can to see trends and areas for improvement.
3. Reason for joining this group: Always good to meet locals trying to lose weight.. I love to hike and go for long walks so always looking for partners!
4. Some interesting details about yourself, such as your job, your family, your pets and your interests: Well, I'm a nurse. Just graduated this year. Love work, but it makes it a bit hard to eat right... workign 12 hour shifts, i eat bfast at 5am, lunch at 1130 and dinner at 8pm, with nothing inbetween... so it's been both good and bad, lots of exercise but i've been binging. So we'll work on it and hopefully this site will help.

 

Hope you're all doign well on your journy towards being healthier! let me know if i can help with anything, or be there for support!

NurseJenna

Hey all...

My name is Andy, I am originally from Worcester, but now like in Somerville... I have always had issues with weight, which wasnt a problem when I played football in HS... but, has been an issue ever since! I have had some success in the past, but, have fallen off the wagon as they say, each time... 

I am extremeley posistive about this go around though. I have gotten a personal trainor at my work(which has a gym in each building!) and he has helped me create a very workable workout schedule, and, shown me that calorie counting isa the most effective and effeciant path to weight loss!!!

Good luck to everyone!

Hey,

My name is Laura. I'm 25 and 5'8". I've been vaguely "trying" to lose weight since I was 15 (though I'd love to weigh now what I did then). I have good (weight) genes and a great family, but I've never taken particular care with my diet/exercise. My weight has been floating upward and I hit my peak at 186. I was frustrated that clothes at popular stores stopped being available for me.

So I'm half way to my (preliminary) goal a year later, and I'm having a re-invigoration of the plan because I'm only 25, darnit! It's time to get it done!

I love animals, but don't have any myself. I volunteer at animal shelters and miss my dogs at home with my parents soooo much!

Eventually I expect I'll become more vegetarian/vegan-ish (never 100%, but maybe 80%?) once I get my eating **** together.