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 Jessica I'm in SE Portland. I been on CC one day, and so far I like the set up a lot. I'm on-line 24/7 it fills like with my school being on-line and all. I like that I can keep this window open and just fill in what I need to. I love the grades that it gives my foods. OK well about me I'm 25, and a stay at home mom. My son is 6 and my little girl is 3. I have never been over weight in my life tell I had my kids. From the age of 14 to 18 I was 100lbs. I had my son and put in 70lbs due to permanent bed rest. After about a year I started dropping the weight and got down to 140 and found out I was pregnant with my second child. I put on all the weight back on and have not been able to drop it. I found out last year I have hypothyroidism and thats my major reason for not loosing the weight. I'm fed up with the weight and want to loss it, it may be slow but its going to go away. I joined this group because it great to see other people from Oregon with the same issues as me. Its just seems some what comforting knowing that there is people all around you dealing with the same issues and I'm not alone.

My name is Vanessa, and I'm married with two children, Zoe, and Ceila. They're not human children, they're cats, but we love them anyway!

I started this because I found out that weight is a huge factor in fertility, and we want to work on having our first (human) child.  I have been overweight since third grade, and since my 21st birthday is coming up, that means it's been a long time since I was thin.  My goal is 180 pounds, and if I reach that, or when I should say, I may decide on another goal.  I currently weigh in at 296 pounds. *sigh*. This is the heaviest I've ever been in my life, due mostly to being unemployed for 6 months, and spending my days lazing about the house. 

My support system bailed on me, but I refuse to give up this time.  Not every day is perfect, but I'm surprised and delighted by the roar of support I've received here.

 

Oh and I live in NE Portland!

My name is Debbie and I am 24 living in SE.

SW/CW: 147

GW: 128

A lot of my friends would most likely roll their eyes and tell me I'm ridiculous if they found out I am currently working on losing weight. I'm 5'8" and weigh 145ish lbs. I realize that in the normal person world, that is perfectly average and not a problem. But it's not normal for me.

I come from a very skinny family. We're all a bunch of bean poles. Last year I started on Depo-Provera, which is known to cause weight gain. For the first six months I didn't see any, which was nice. However, I was training for the Portland Marathon, so my metabolism was super high and I was running 20+ miles a week.

Once the marathon was done, though, I decided to take a "break" from running... it was only going to be for a month, but here it is Feb and I'm just starting to work out again. Unfortunately, my appetite didn't slow down, so while I was no longer working out, I was still eating just as much as when I was training. And THEN, I quit smoking, so instead of going outside for a cigarette when I'm bored during the day, I eat.

In the last three months I've gained 30 lbs, and while I don't think I'm "fat" by any means, I am also extrememly uncomfortable with the weight I'm at. So I've decided that I need to start working out, I need to start eating healthy, and I need to get to a weight where I feel comfortable.

My initial experience with the calorie counter was during my marathon training when I was trying to make sure I was getting all the calories I needed to balance out the running. My doctor was afraid I was going to LOSE weight, so I used it in order to maintain where I was at at the time (116). Now I'm using it the other way, trying to get down about 20 lbs so I can wear my clothes again.

I work full time for the National Guard, I love reading and baking, I'm learning how to cook, I love dancing and live music, and I have a cat name Toufer who has been around since my 12th birthday!

Hi, My name is Kia.  I am 23 and currently living in Hillsboro, OR.  I have always lived in Oregon...grew up in SE Portland, lived in St. Helens for 2 years and moved to Hillsboro about 6 months ago to be closer to work.

I am 5'1...maybe 5'2 on a good day and currently weigh 151.6 lbs.  I have been overweight for as long as I can remember....I have no idea what it would feel like to be skinny, but I definitely want to find out!  I started taking weight loss seriously about two years ago and dropped from my highest weight of 181 lbs to 151 lbs in about 6 months on the Weight Watchers program.  I have been on and off the wagon since then, flucuating between 151 and 165.  My long term goal weight is 115 lbs, I think, we'll see as it gets closer!  To lose weight I am sticking to the Weight Watchers program and trying to exercise at least 5x a week.

As for my interests...I absolutely love the outdoors!  I love to camp, hike, go to the beach, the river, and ride quads.  I also enjoy cooking, trying new restaurants, watching movies, playing video games, cosmic bowling, reading, photography, and going to concerts or live shows.

Hey Everyone, I'm Andrew.  I just joined CalorieCount 3 days ago and am just now getting a chance to check out the forums.  SO, my weightloss background goes a little something like this.  From childhood through age 20 I was overweight.  I reached about 260lbs at 20 and then got motivated.  I joined 24hr fitness and spent a lot of late long nights there (working out when the place was deserted).  By 22 I was down to about 200 and joined the Oregon Air National Guard.  Basic training took my down to 195 and by 2006 I finally made it down to 185.  I was rock climbing, biking, jogging, lifting and doing so many great things that I wish I was still doing today. 

 Now, I'm 26 back at about 250.  I'm 6'1" and should be at around 180.  My motivation???  Most importantly is my son who is 15 weeks old, who I never want to have a weight problem.  Second, in being fit I can be motivation to my loved ones.  And finally I'm the Unit Fitness Program Manager and Health Promotions Manager for 150 people.  Of those 150 people about 10 do not meet the fitness standards of my employer.  It is my job to help them improve but how can I help them when I haven't been able to help myself? 

It starts now.  I have a "top of the line" decade old StarTrac4500 treadmill and a workout bench w/ free weights in my garage, a membership to Nelson's on 82nd, and am paid to workout 5 hours a week by my employer at  provided facilities.  I have no excuse to be in the shape that I am.

I've gotten a little wordy here but I'm ok with it and hope you are too.  I guess you could call this a mission statement.  My goal is to reach 180 by December 1st.  It's agressive, I know but regardless of that, it is something worth reaching for. 

Interesting stuff about me???   I would say there is very little but I'll list what I know and enjoy.  I have a son named Alex who was born on Nov 24th.  Definately a challenge but worth every minute of extra effort.  His mother and I have been together for over two years now and I can still say I love her and mean it everytime.  I'm a Technician with Oregon's Air National Guard near the airport and enjoy what I do.  In addition to my technician position as a vehicle and heavy equipment specialist, I am a trained woodland firefighter (level 2), am my unit's UFPM (unit fitness program manager) and the HPM (health promotions manager).  The last two are just fancy ways to say I record people's scores to see if they pass the fitness test and jump on their backs and ride 'em if they fail.  I enjoy what I do and the life I have at home.  Now I just need to lose this weight. 

Hi, I'm Heidi. I've noticed a few other Vancouver people so I figure I'm in the right place. I've pretty much been lurking on Calorie Count for a few months now and decided it might be nice to havea  little "virtual" support, though I have lots of support in my friends and family.

I come from a family of snackers and candy addicts, plus I'm tall, 6'0", so even when I wasn't overweight, I thought I was. I don't remember ever feeling like I looked "okay." I'm not a yoyo dieter - I just didn't bother. I figured I was fat for life. Then my boss gave me a bunch of sessions at a hypnosis clinic, and something changed. I started losing weight without really paying attention, just not wanting candy or fast food. So I figured, what might happen if I actually TRY. Right now I'm eating around 1500 calories a day, though that goes up and down. I work as a paralegal, I'm a single mom, and I'm going to WSU part-time so time is a precious commodity.

I'm 38, my heaviest weight was 349 (gulp) and now I'm down to 297 (still gulp). I go walking three times a week at lunch (working on getting that up to four or five). Once I'm in better shape I'm going to join a gym, if I can afford it. My reasons are the usual - feeling better, health issues, but mostly my son, who is 9, a total goofy sweetheart, and the love of my life.

Heidi

Hi everyone,

My name's Meredith and I just joined CC today.  I have a combination of feeling motivated and fearing failure.. but it's worth a shot! There's something to be said about being held accountable with what I eat. 

Anyway, I'm 26 and live in SE Portland.  I'm currently 5'7 and 208 lbs. This is the heaviest I've ever been.  I used to be an athlete and swam all of the time.  Then I went to college, gained weight and got up to 190, got fed up and dropped down to 175.  I didn't stick to my exercise routine and kind of stopped being mindful about food my senior year and slowly started gaining weight again.  Now, I'm in graduate school and my lifestyle is on the sedentary side (reading, writing on the computer, sitting in class, etc.)  Therefore, I have to be really proactive this time about scheduling in the time to exercise.  I always have good intentions, it's the follow through that is tough for me.  I also have a complete sweet tooth, and love to eat at night, have a hard time not emotionally eating.. My sister had an eating disorder and my Dad has struggled with diabetes and high blood pressure, so I really want to develop a healthy lifestyle and attitute toward food.

Portland is so bike-friendly.. I think that's the easiest way to get the exercise in.  If I have to get from point A to point B and get on my bike, I can't turn back! I also have a cute pointer mix who loves walks, so I'll have to budget my time to make them longer walks!

It's nice to see other people out there with similar goals -- it makes it seem more manageable! Good luck to everyone.

Hi everybody! :]

I'm Nicole and I live in Vancouver. My current height is 5' 7" and I'm 235+ pounds.

My history with weight loss... is a little different from most people's experiences. To just get this out of the way, I'm very concerned with how I'm viewed by others. So I've started having weight loss problems when I developed Compulsive Over-Eating as a child, and then moved into the EDNOS stage when I was 11 after hearing about anorexia in a magazine. Of course, I was too fat to be considered anorexic, but I had the mind-set of it. I lost 50 pounds, then realized that I was harming myself and shot up to 245, when I had previously started at about 210. My weight has ballooned up and down for the past three months and even though I joined a while ago, now I'm really planning on sticking to healthy weight loss.

There's nothing really that interesting about me... I'm just a normal teenager, haha.

Hi My name is Heather and I live in Milwaukie.  I joined because I need a good place to track my food and exercise and get this weight off.  I did really well last year I started January of 2008 with a group from work we all tried different things so we could see what worked best.  I went from 271 to 245 From January to May.  Then I got laid off and totally lost my whole routine and went back to my bad eating habits.  So I gained back a lot but not all of it.  I decided this year I would try again things are kinda back in order.

 

January of 2009 I was at 261 and I am now at 255.  My 1st goal was to be at 200 by October 3rd because I have a trip planned to Vegas but now I feel that might be too much.  I yo-yo'd real bad the first few months.  Which is what prompted me to come here.  I know last time logging my food and activity helped tremendously.  It made me much more concious of what I was eating.

So I am 5'7" and currently 255 and I do a weigh in every Wednesday so if anyone would like to join a weekly reporting let me know it helps when you have to talk about it.

 

Wishing everyone success in this diet endeavor. 

Hello everyone!

Rob here, I'm originally from beautiful Vancouver, WA but I joined the Army right out of high school and have been living everywhere since (Ft. Lewis, Iraq, Italy, Afghanistan and now Columbus, GA)

I figured I'd link up with some good 'ol Portlanders for virtual support and all that.

I was always a "big guy" being that I was into weight lifting in high school and what not, then the Army made me a skinny guy and I was doing well, but not even thinking about what I ate.  So, after my first tour in Iraq I ballooned up from around 200-210lbs to a hefty 250lbs.  I managed to not be able to do much about it, despite all of the running and other exercises we do. (Goes to show how much your diet affects your weight).  

My saving grace if you will was deploying to Afghanistan, where with the high mountain air and constantly walking up and down those mountains with 100+lbs of equipment I was able to lose 30lbs in 3 months on the winter time.  
That was good as it stayed off during my 16 months there, but when I got back to Italy, I overindulged on some great Italian food and I was back to 245 before I knew it.  

So now, with the help of Calorie Count and my favorite workouts - Crossfit.com  I have lost 17 pounds in 2 months, and 13 since I first utilized Calorie Count.

Good luck to everyone on here!

I'm originally from Idaho.  I moved to Vancouver 2 years ago with my mom, got married in 2008 and moved down to Tualatin.  I was never a very active person and didn't eat well, but all through college I walked to my classes, so it wasn't a problem.  When I graduated in 2008, I couldn't find a job anywhere, and it didn't take long to gain 10 pounds sitting at home searching.  So I decided it was time for a change.  I got a book from Borders called Small Changes, Big Results by Dr. Ellie Krieger.  I've been supplementing that 12-week health and fitness plan with Calorie Count, and have lost 6 pounds in 4 weeks so far. 

I highly recommend the book.  The small changes added a week at a time are not difficult to keep up with, and keeping a food journal helps you stay on track with what you're eating.  After I'm finished I'm going to go through it again with my husband, and hopefully make her healthier eating and fitness plan a lifestyle.

My name is Kelly, I am 25 and I had a baby boy May 20th. Before I got pregnant I weighed 160, and that was after losing 20 lbs. I gained 50 lbs during my pregnancy, but I lost 20 of it after having the baby, so now I am at 190. My goal is to get down to about 130 and also just to be healthy and happy. I just joined Calorie Count today and I joined this group because I thought it would be nice to know other people in the area who are also trying to lose weight. I am a stay at home mom, but I go to school part time. I have a pet chinchilla and a dog. He is actually my roommate's dog, but I spend a lot of time with him. I just started going back to the gym yesterday and I am hoping that going to the gym and using Calorie Count will healp me reach my goal.

I found this sight when I was trying to find a calorie counter online.  I started a calorie based weight loss program after my husband and I had our 30th Anniversary and decided we both needed to lose weight, and thought we'd do it together.  I have been on LA Weightloss, where I lost 100 pounds and walked 5 miles a day, six days a week.  Then I went to eastern Russia where I couldn't control what I ate, and walking in a strange country where I didn't know the language didn't seem like a good idea to me, so I got out of the habit and managed to gain 97 of those pounds back.

 

Although I have my husband and my number one supporter, it doesn't hurt to have more, especially when he will have lost all the weight he needs to lose LONG before I do.

 

I am an accountant and work part time for a nonprofit in my area.  My hobbies are running my kids around (full time job really), and I am a lace maker (bobbin lace and tatting).  My kids are 18, 14, and I have an 8 year old Springer Spaniel mix who has 8 brain cells, most of which are ones that get him into trouble.

Hi Everyone - I live in Vancouver and I have been doing this for the past 3 days.  It has been great for me so far.  I was in WW and got to lifetime and then lost it totally - I am heavier than I was when I joined WW years ago.  So I am determinded to get it together.  I want this to be the last diet I am ever on and for it to last forever! 

This reply is for Kia.  I am also 5'1' and weigh exactly what you do as well and my goal weight is the same as yours.  It is tough being short and overweight, isn't it? I was surprised at the goal weight they gave me on this site.  My WW goal weight was 130.  That's a pretty big difference from the 115 CC says I should weigh. I am trying to use program along with thei site and it is working for me so far, although at 3 days it is a little soon to tell.  Good luck!

Hello, my name is Kerri.  I am 5'7" and currently at 170.  YIKES.  I am 37, work as a small business consultant, have 3 cats and no kids.  I live in inner SE Portland and have been here for about 10 years.  I am a big foodie and Portland is a great place to live if you love good food.  I have always been pretty athletic and weighed around 150 and felt good with that.  I was able to eat what I want as long as worked out regularly.  I was no skinny minny by any means but felt healthy and that is what is most important to me. 

About 3 years ago I got into an accident and tore my knee apart.  I had a few surgeries and with the inactivity that followed, I gained 20-25 pounds.  I have also found it harder to get back into the routine of my workouts.  Mainly, because I still feel a fair bit of pain.  I am finally able to play soccer again so at least I am doing that 1-2 per week albeit with some pain as well.  I worked with a professional coach a year out of surgeries to get my knee healthy enough so I can work out but I believe the extra poundage is the biggest factor in my continued pain and really want to test that theory before returning to the cutter.

I joined CC a few days ago as I was looking for a way to log my food intake and exercise to track my progress.  So far I really like it.  I will post my progress as I continue with the program.  Good luck to everyone out there taking the steps for a healthier life.

Hey everyone!!!!

 I'm Jennifer, I'm 19 and have a 9 month old boy so I gained almost double my weight from being pregnancy :(

I live in Corbett, and am to be married next year April 21, 2010!!

I am 200lbs highest I have ever been, lowest 120lbs and I used to stay between 120-140lbs so being 200lbs is sad.

Looking for a workout buddy!!! Someone who will keep me motivated, and I would do the same in return!!!

Hi Everyone,

My name is Steve and I just turned 40 this year and have decided that I can't keep gaining weight forever.  In the last year I have put on 30+ lbs and for the first time ever I hit 230+ lbs.

My mom just died last month due to a stroke which was preventable if she took care of her health.  She had high blood pressure probably caused by her weight.

My dad died 5 years ago 6 days before his 56th birthday.  The cause of his death was more than likely his weight as he was several hundred pounds overweight.

I don't want my kids to go through the same pain that I have had to endure, so hence my dieting.

I've never been successful at dieting but I have been at it for 2 1/2 weeks and so far so good (don't laugh... I'm bipolar so I loose interest in things fast!).

Anyways, that's my story and I'm sticking to it!

PS - I've lived in the Portland area since 1998 when I moved out here from New York. 

HI my name is Glenda i am 54 years old and loving it . I cant seem to stay on a life change .. i lose 20 lbs and put it back on with in a month. I need someone to push no shove me into exercising .. and support i am tried of being fat. I am in NE Portland area. belong to 24hr but don't go. i work days off by 7 every day. Anyone want to help me??Glenda

Hi, my name is Laurie and am 46 years old and living in SE Portland.  My main goal is to get to my healthy weight while exercising at my local gym and eating as natural as possible (no pre-packaged foods) by cooking at home and out of my garden.  I'm almost there, 3 lbs to go!  I love calorie count!  I've been using it daily for the last 2 1/2 months and don't ever see a need to stop.  It is the best way to keep track of what you're eating.   It has helped me be accountable for my good days of eating and my bad days.  By using the analysis portion, I have been able to watch my fiber, sodium and saturated fat which are very important to me.  I am married and have two dogs, a cat and a house rabbit which keep me very busy.  My history with weight loss is this:  my weight just simply got away from me in the last 10 years and my goal is just to get back to where I should be but as healthy as possible and taking all the time I need.  The slower the better because then the new eating and exercising habits will stick.  I've been at this for the last 3 years and wish I had discovered this program sooner.