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!

Howdy, got asked to noodle around with this nifty new feature!  Assuming there will be a weight lifting group once this is out of beta, and I'll probably join it.  Can we have one for women specifically or do you think that would be overkill?

I think that could be helpful given the existence of guys who appear to get their fitness information from Cosmo or Marie Claire and proceed to give weight training advice based on that. And the mere existence of the Iron Maidens or Ironettes as social proof of the effects of weight lifting would definitely be a plus - that way we might have fewer guys who insist that Suzanna is a figment of my imagination or something.

Original Post by melkor:


1. History with weight loss: Started my journey in 2004 managed to lose 55 lbs with diet and walking only quit smoking and gained too much back
2. History with Calorie Count:  Been here since Aug 2006 so 2 yrs now
3. Reason for joining this group: I want to do more weight lifting
4. Some interesting details about yourself, such as your job, your family, your pets and your interests:  Hmm interersting might be hard I am married 24 yrs in a week - I do medical billing - have 2 beautiful girls ( pics in profile ) I have 2 dogs Sammy is an Aussie mix and my little dude, Ellsworth, is a mix of Miniture Pincher and God only knows what else ( his pic is in my profile too)  He's my little baby boy I never had and I spoil him rotten.  I've been doing weights at home using him as my 20 lbs weight LOl-- I can lift my aussie but not easily !!

 

I didn't even know about this. Have I been blind or is this something new. Ok, I'll bite:

1. History with weight loss: Lost 25lbs in 2004 at Weight Watchers Meetings, slowly gained it back when I moved to Ireland. Lost 10lbs by stopping myself from stuffing my worries into my face after work. Lost a little more then, but being in between homes didn't exercise.

I then decided "that's it" Jan 08! Started exercising again after a 5 month break. Did running & weight lifting but only really started the diet part after I joined weight watchers meetings again. 

I would've had to pay something ridiculous for the use of their website which was ridiculous, so I started looking around and came across this site.  But even though I did not use the WW point system this time, (only the calorie counter here), I still found the meetings every week motivational. Not only that it helped me discover what foods & brands are more 'waist line' friendly over here. And I had the fortune to have a leader that was studying Nutrition.

2. History with Calorie Count:  Started March 08 & I'm addicted to CC, my work (& my sanity about my workload) has suffered but my body has benefited. According to my stats I average about 4 posts a day, usually in the Fitness section. 

Before I came to this site I had a pretty good understanding of fitness but I have learned a good few tips & tricks, much from our group leader here who's day dreams, night dreams & neurons must think about fitness 24/7, 365 days of the year, maybe every leap year he stops for a minute (maybe). I've made some friends as well, even tho virtual friends are some what still weird to me.

3. Reason for joining this group: I like what weights do for my body & I like how I feel after lifting (as long as im recovered from previous workouts). For a few months of the year I concentrate on running as I can't seem to really have the energy to focus on both.  So I usually do mostly running with some weights or mostly weight lifting with some running. 

There are so many weight lifting exercises & ways to lift that I want to keep learning & applying more. I'm on maintenance now & some muscles are showing thru nicely (mostly just when I flex them tho). I am hoping to have my body where I feel comfortable in a bathing suit at least by next summer.

4. Some interesting details about yourself, such as your job, your family, your pets and your interests: Just be warned I often will mention sex & what weight lifting does for my libido. I love dogs, I just can't have one, yet! Im getting married in oct. I have a mostly sit down desk job in a market research company, i try to focus on IT (databases) but mostly do babysitting around here as i am the ops manager. Speaking of which I need to get back to work.

Welcome! It's completely new, just out of beta-testing yesterday as a matter of fact. Welcome to the MySpace of dieting

1. History with weight loss: I began losing about 2.5 years ago, and in the first year took off an astonishing 120lb(approx, I weighed over 360 and scale would tell no more). Ever since I have been battling between 240-255.

2. History with Calorie Count: One year ago yesterday.

3. Reason for joining this group: I have given up completely on cardio as a tool for loss. I start classes on Monday and have free access to the school gym which is way nicer than the membership I pay for.

4. Some interesting details about yourself, such as your job, your family, your pets and your interests: I am a sit on my arse computer admin so I don't get much exercise during the day. I am getting married Nov 8th 2009! And to keep with the form, 4 cats and I only want to go home and play video games but I can't.

 

1. History with weight loss: I tend to yo-yo with my weight and body composition. I am usually within a healthy bmi that is mostly mushy. I'm 5'2 and my highest weight has been 138, and my lowest adult weight has been around 115, although I didn't maintain that for long. Mostly, I want to be able to fit into my clothes comfortably and be healthy and strong. I'm more interested in size and composition than numbers on a scale.

2. History with CC: I discovered CC when my weight hit almost 140 when I was recovering from an appendectomy last year. I've been on-again and off-again during that time. I've learned a lot and been inspired by others through the various tools and forums. My current weight is somewhere between 122-124, but my clothes fit better than they did at that same number from a month ago!

3. Reason for joining this group: I'm new to lifting. After reading so much praise for The New Rules of Lifting for Women, I finally went out and bought it. It made a lot of sense to me and struck a strong chord with my own internal motivators. I've been following Cosgrove's program for three weeks and making much better nutrition choices, too. I'm interested in this group so that I can continue to learn, as well as have a place to ask questions as they come up.

4. A bit about me: I'm a teacher and I love to geek out on the subject of teaching, and how to teach my students to be better readers and writers and learners in general. I love to spend time with friends and family. For my husband and I that often means time around a sporting event, movies, or a meal. I'm not much of an athlete, but I love walking and often have the attitude that the "world is my stair-master." Golf is something I love and I play with husband when the weather and the budget allow.

I've developed a serious crush on weight lifting and I'm loving reading all I can about the subject. My current addiction is anything Alwyn Cosgrove. The teacher in me loves his analysis of data and assessments, and I love his tell-it-like-you-see-it attitude. I'm also interested in finding new authors and articles to read for information as well as inspiration.

kmk33, i loved reading your post.  i agree that ppl who taking weight lifting seriously are the bomb.  i truly think that strength training, when done correctly, is ridiculously effective at making you feel good, look good and function in a healthier way.  i also strongly agree that ppl who are active need no treadmill.  in many cases, cardio is just overkill; so i appreciated your "the world is my stairmaster" comment.  good luck w/the new rules, and keep us posted on your progress!

Thanks for the warm welcome, Caloriecounting me!

I started lifting a bit in High School as part of indoor track training program.  Started going to the weight room religiously with a buddy in college during my freshman year and have been hooked since then.  To me, lifting isn't about preparing for some event or sport.   It's a great way to look and feel good about yourself.  It can also be the most honest form of competition - you can compete against yourself each time you go into that weight room.  Can I eek out one more rep than last week?  Can I lift 10 more pounds than I did last time? Can I do this whole superset in less time than before?  Am I cheating myself by not following form?  You have to be honest with yourself and sometimes we are our harshest critics.  Also, as someone who works at a desk most of the time in a fairly technical role, it's a great change of pace and a way to clear my mind.  I'm definitely grumpier if I haven't had the chance to hit the weight room.

History with weight loss & cc: I had drifted from about 165-170 in college to 180s in grad school and 200 at the end of my Ph.D. (Hey, I was "bulking"!)  I was lifting, but putting on low quality pounds (pizza, wings, fast food).  Got up to 210 at the heaviest but I was still working out on a regular basis and 4 times a week at that.  Switched jobs (and cities) in 2004, stopped working out for a few months and ate out more for lunch and I started to feel the effects of being heavy and out of shape.  Started working out again then counting calories on a spreadsheet and lost 20 lbs in 2 months.  Kept losing over the next year to get down to about 175 (back to a 32" waist from 38 at my heaviest).  Joing CC in November of 2007, about 6 months after I moved again and have been using it to maintain, to track percentages of fat, protein and carbs and to learn about nutrition and getting leaner. 

Reason for joining this group: I love lifting weights.  I track my progress each week and enjoy being in shape.  I think lifting weights and eating right will be the keys to having a healthy life and staying active into old age (when I get there someday).      Between work and family, I manage to hit the gym regularly twice a week (Sun & Wed) and do a short body weight routine at home on Tues & Fri.

Job: Development engineer for a fortune 500 chemical company, Ph.D. in Chemical engineering

Family: Two wonderful little children (6 yr old girl, 3 yr old boy) and a wife who has taught me that marriage is a constant competition for the upper hand.  We're both first child type-A's.

Other interests: woodworking, wine making, philosophy (Objectivism).

Huh. Neat. Has this group thing been going on for a long time and I just never noticed it before? Anyways...

1. History with weight loss: I never had any weight loss troubles because I never had any weight to lose! Not until I hit that brick wall last year (I've since heard that it's a 30's thing). All of a sudden, I couldn't maintain my weight and it started creeping up. I had been used to maintaining 115 which was a great weight for me, but a lifetime of poor eating habits and zero exercise finally took it's toll and I haven't seen that on the scale since last summer. My husband and I bought a bench and weights and (as is typical of me), I jumped in wholeheartedly and then over time gradually phased out of the habit of lifting. (my lifting was ridiculously high amounts of reps with low weight)

2. History with Calorie Count: Joined up in March '08 at the weight of 126. Was very careful about what I ate and exercise (recumbent bike) and began to notice that I was dropping at the rate of 1 pd per week. For some bizarre reason though, I decided to switch things up and started messing with my eating and exercise habits. Then the summer hit and I started doing a lot of vacationing (which = horrible eating and moderate exercise, all cardio in nature). Through a forum post recommendation, I measured my body fat % and realized that it was crazy high for my, so I switched my goal to dropping BF% through strength training.

3. Reason for joining this group: I'm really enjoying the lifting, and am always looking for ways or advice on how to eat better, good ways on how to get lots of protein, and new exercises as well as proper form for the ones I'm currently doing. Plus, I've always had this, I don't know, enamoration with the idea that I could get really really pumped. Rippling muscles, bulging veins, and all that- the natural way, not drug induced!! haha- It's just added fuel to my fire every time I read a post that says it is impossible for a woman to get bulked up.

4. Some interesting details about yourself, such as your job, your family, your pets and your interests: I've been married for 13 years (to the same man!). I stay at home with my 3 kids 6 days of the week, but for the sake of my sanity, I work one day a week at an inbound call center doing hotel reservations- and I really like it. I am very passionate about reading, quilting, and thrift shopping. Purses and shoes are my kryptonite. And I have a kitty named Molly.

 

1. History with weight loss: Never been full on "fat", just had fat, especially when I was younger - probably highest weight my whole life has been 145 or so. That's not bragging or something - just giving a history. Now I'm less into getting skinny as into getting ripped, eating as healthfully as possible 90% of the time, and lifting heavy stuff. After the summer gluttony, I'm back on track and doing really well.
2. History with Calorie Count: Joined a couple of years ago, used it to "count calories" without understanding anything about what those calories needed to be. Now I use it more to keep track of macronutrients and make sure that I'm not going overboard. And I like to read posts and journals. This is the place I can talk about exercising and nutrition and people care - others get tired of hearing about protein percentages.
3. Reason for joining this group: Just came across it and was like "hell yeah". I hope it will be a good place to talk about weightlifting and be inspired.  I usually browse the other forums but am really only interested in weightlifting right now (and jump roping, I guess).
4. Some interesting details about yourself, such as your job, your family, your pets and your interests: Eh, I'm a third year PhD student, into Victorian literature, studying for some killer exams. I teach college (one class, Intro to British Fiction, this semester). I have a fish named "frisky van helsing". I'm from Texas and bleed Texas, whatever that means. I'm into breakbeat and drumnbass. Uh...I give awesome backrubs and footrubs. I don't have an appendix, or tonsils. I love eating plain white rice, but I never do. "Sphinx" is one of my favorite words.

1. History with weight loss: Iv never been overweight but would like to have less fat than i have now
2. History with Calorie Count:Um i joined at havent turned back
3. Reason for joining this group:... I lift weghts, almost never do cardio
4. Some interesting details about yourself, such as your job, your family, your pets and your interests: Umm Im 5'6" weight 165lbs like 16% Fat, umm hmm I weld for a living, also restore cars at a hobby, For family, I Have 6 to many sisters, mom &dad are still around, also have a step mom and stepdad, I had a dog he was a black lab, I had him for 12 years, he just recently died =[

Hi everybody,

I'm delighted about this group and here's my info:

1. History with weight loss: I've always watched what I ate and kept at a reasonable weight range for my height, between 115 in my 20's and 30's and 125 in my 40's. Once I turned the big 5-O the weight started creeping unnoticed until I reached 140lbs. Funnilly, it was at a time when I was most physically active. I was excercising every day but it was only speedwalking. I went on the South Beach diet in October 2003 and lost 10 lbs. in 6 months. I have kept the principles of the diet and started lifting in October 2007. Now, at 128 lbs and 23% body fat I want to get down to 20% body fat. 

2. History with Calorie Count: Joined August 2007, I'm addicted.

3. Reason for joining this group: I want to get better at lifting weights. Edited to add I want to be able to lift myself to a chin up, LOL.

4. Some interesting details about yourself: Female, 57 y.o., 5'3", 128 lbs, 23% body fat. Happily married for 35 years to the same guy, 2 adult sons, looking after my very physically fit 87 y.o. mother who is stage 3 Alzheimer's. Intermediate bridge player and fiber artist.

1. History with weight loss:

ERm ... before joing CC i didn't really have one .. im pretty much one of those people most people hate... thin haha.... i put on abit of post baby weight but nothing most people would call fat ... infact even with it i was still the skinny one out of my friends.

Im a software dev and dancer (poledancing) however i had and accident in feb and i was unable to dance, going from a VERY active life to VERY sedatery wasn't good... i suddenly ballooned ... ok so ballooned is an exagration i gained about 14lbs and when i was cleared as fit i was also cleared my potential employers in the dancing world to be "too fat to hire" ... eek ... so get back my dancing body i needed to lose weight.

2. History with Calorie Count:

erm joined in April i think, i'd never counted caloires before i'd never needed to but having spent about 1 month trying to rid myself of the dreaded fat withot joy i came here .... and with CC's help i've lost a whooping 8lbs ok so 8lbs isn't very impressive .. but thanks to muscle gains etc etc ... i've lost about 10% body fat .. whooohooo see that sounds better dosn't it??

3. Reason for joining this group:

Erm ... since joining CC, joining a gym ... and sort of puting my dancing life on hold for reasons i can't get into without bursting into tears ... im learned to love lifting ...

it's like the best thing ive done with my life since i started dancing i love the way my body is changing and improving, and i figured as all my RL friends are either bored wth my talking about lifting wieghts,  or are blokes who are quite frankly scared of the fact that im a girl who can now bench more than they can i figured id find more support here in my CC family.

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

OOoooh me ... im im a totally OCD maniac who pretty much takes everything given to her and grab's hold of it with both hands.... but i tend to be abit Tooo obbsessive.

Saying that i think my obbessive quality's have gotten me where i am today, i dropped out of school before i got any qualifications and when i said at 25 i wanted to go back, and then go to collage with 2 kids in toe people thought i was compleatly crazy, everyone thought i was an airhead with no brain and that i didn't have th mental capacity to do it, the money or the time... however i worked, and i worked, held down two jobs, looked after my kids and came 3rd in my class...and 6 long years later i have a masters degree in software engineering ... haha 

Pretty much that sums me up ... im totally obbsessive ... nuts but focused and right now im AM going to get a body like one of those Figure Althete girls.. i joined CC willing to settle for an average body but now i want Soooooo much more and im currently debating entering a figure althete competition next summer if i can get the gutts to fill in the damn form.

eeeeeek

 

Hi, thanks for this group.  I really love to talk about getting healthy and weight training in particular.  My info:

History with weight loss:  I've been struggling with my weight since my teens.  In 2000, I got serious about losing the extra weight for the first time and managed to drop 60 lbs.  I felt and looked terrific.  Then I got injured and it all came back.  After sitting on my rear for a year, I began trying again in January 2005.  I've lost 55 lbs. this time around, but have managed to maintain my muscle mass by working out with a personal trainer.  It is really hard for me to lose weight.  Every pound is a struggle.  But, for the first time in my adult life, I'm semi-happy with my body.  I still have about 40 lbs. I want to lose.  I'm thrilled to have definition and increased strength from lifting weights.

History with Calorie Count:  Joined in May 2008.  I'm really more of a lurker, only joining in on a few threads.

Reason for joining this group:  I'm a bit obsessive (okay a lot), and, as with everything I do, getting healthy and fit is an all or nothing endeavor for me.  I'm determined to see the last 40 lbs. gone and weight lifting is the key.  I do engage in cardiovascular exercise, running and Step aerobics mostly, but my main focus right now is weight training (three days/wk., full-body).  I love how powerful and strong I feel after a session.  I recently picked up The New Rules of Lifting for Women and will be incorporating that plan into my sessions to change things up a bit.  

Personal details:  I'm 35 and have a desk job where I sit in front of a computer all day.  I'm married and have a beautiful daughter.  I love to read, work in my garden and clean (that darn OCD thing).  I am absolutely determined to reach my goals to be fit and healthy.  I am going to be that older lady in the gym who has a smokin body the other members envy!

Awesome!

1.  History with weight loss.  I've always been a bit overweight.  5'4" and I'm sure at one point I was up to 185 lb. (not including pregnancy weights!).  Last year had a health scare and decided to get healthy.  I'm down to 155-153 now.   I'd like to get down to 135ish.

2.  History with Calorie Count.  Started her in Feb. 2008 at 172. Love the site, and have recruited lots of new users. 

3.  Reason for joining the group.  Never thought I'd be a weight lifter, but I'm converted.  Had rotator cuff surgery in December and my physical therapy along with all the advocates here got me interested.  I got NROLFW a couple weeks ago and I'm working it. 

4. Some interesting details about yourself.  I'm 44 and I've been happily married for 28 years (yeah, married at 16) I've got 2 kids, 4 beautiful grandkids, and 3 cats.  Only 1 wonderful husband!   I work in IT (computers, mostly Linux).  I love bowling, reading and playing poker.  And lifting heavy weights!!!

 

 

Hi ya!

1. History with weight loss: thin & active as a kid. Average or skinny throughout middle school (depending on who I was living with). Haven't grown in height since I was 12, lol, so I stood 5ft 4in at around 100lbs. by Freshman year I was shipped off to British Columbia, put on meds which messed up my thyroid gland and balooned to 210lbs by Sophomore Year. Lost a bunch when I refused to take meds anymore; got to about 165-170 consistently. Junior year did some drugs, got to about 130lbs. Senior year just leveling out and back to 160lbs. Met my long-tim bf in senior year so those "comfy years" I fattened up to 185 until about age 21. By age 22 I was at 160 and losing. Age 23 I was 135 from diet alone & I met my new bf (body builder) who came with a gym membership and a serious change in diet/attitude. Now at 24 I'm a little heavier (about 138lbs), perfectly clean diet, in the gym 6 days a week (for this set anyhow), and I've lost 12 inches since joining the gym & god knows how much body fat.
2. History with Calorie Count: joined in March 08, and I freakin love this site.
3. Reason for joining this group: #1 bc it's Melkors' group and he's pretty darn smarty-smart so I enjoy reading his researched fluff. #2 bc any advice/input/experience learned is beneficial. #3 bc I love this site, and this is just another awesome perk.
4. Some interesting details about yourself, such as your job, your family, your pets and your interests: I work 5 days a week in the Marketing Division of a local credit union. Then on my off days (mon-tues) I work as a financial advisor for the same CU. So yeah 7 days a week. My family: no kids, live with mom, my grandma & sister are my best friends and we kick it as often as possible. My pets: "Oree" Orlando (Oscar Fish; he's about 4in long now... just a little gupp but he's got big hopes ;D), "Sucka" Mud Sucker (he's about 1 foot long; the last of the previous generation), Chee-Lah the cat I got my mom... it's a weird cat. Love big fish & dogs (house is too small, and I don't have enough time to devote to a dog; plus bf would get jealous ;D). Interests: playing pool, diet & fitness, hiking/biking/walking/running, tanning, cooking/baking, crotcheting, genealogy, bowling, researching fluff online.

enough! I talk too much!

1. History with weight loss: I've fluctuated on my weight my entire life. My highest was 186 lbs, my lowest was around 108. I'm 5'6'', to give a perspective. About a year and a half ago, maybe a little more, I was at my highest and decided to make significant lifestyle changes. I stopped drinking, went vegan again, stopped smoking, and started working out for the first time in my life. I lost all the weight, and got too skinny to boot. At first I was losing in the unhealthy mode we're all familiar with: extreme restriction, obsessive cardio, etc. I ended up screwing over my metabolism and losing a ton of muscle. I started lifting weights but was still eating in a deficit, so I made some gains but then leveled out really quickly. Now, months later, I'm doing my first bulking program because I'd like to get down to 16-18% BF. I was at this range before, but looked scrawny and unhealthy because I didn't have enough muscle. I'm two weeks into the program and have mixed feelings about how it is going. Oh, and I started doing freeweights at the start of the summer and have fallen in love!
2. History with Calorie Count: Started using it around September of last year, so about 1 year in.
3. Reason for joining this group: Weight lifting is my favorite form of training.
4. Some interesting details about yourself, such as your job, your family, your pets and your interests: I'm a vegan, a political activist and a bookworm. I'm a student at the University of Oregon and I study International Studies with a focus on international law and diplomacy, I also study political science.

 

 

Hi Everyone,

Just dropping by to introduce myself. My weight stayed rock steady untill I hit 40! aaarghhh! gettin on a bit! I was very active in the Ju jitsu scene which kept me very fit and my weight was steady at around 154 to  160lbs. Gave up ju jitsu when I changed career and all my keep fit activities went south with it! Gained weight, no surprise there, and weighed 190lbs at my heaviest. 

Finally got around to doing something about it, bought free weights and an elliptical trainer, cut the crap in my diet, and lost 14lbs fairly quickly. Now I've got the bug and I want to get down to 154lbs and get toned, which is where Calorie Count comes in. I'm hoping it's gonna raise my game and give me that extra bit of discipline and advice: which is why I joined this group, i've always admired the focused determination of the weight lifting community.

At the moment i'm concentrating on reaching my target weight and getting fit and toned, after that, I'm thinking about gettin more serious about weight lifting and maybe gaing weight, but this time as muscle!

Now a bit about myself, I'm from Ireland, in my forties, and I'm a trade union organiser. My interests are, music: Greenday, Steve Earle, Kings of Leon are a few of my favs. Also love partying now and again, sad I know lol! I also have a keen interest in politics both local and international, so I guess you could say i'm an old rock dude lefty commie lol