Work from home, looking for virtual diet/fitness buddy

Hi all,

I am in my late 20s, would like to lose about 20 lbs but work from home and am STRUGGLING. I can't find anyone to have a friendly competition to perhaps get me more accountable/more motivated, a la The Biggest Loser. I don't push myself hard enough on the treadmill. I overeat my calories every day no matter what. Help! If there's anyone out there who wants to lose weight with a buddy, let me know! Thanks.

Hey

I'm happy to be your buddy if you like?  I also find motiviation difficult!

I'm in my early 20's, 5'6 and would like to lose 14lbs. x

I love having buddies to update!!  I am in my early 20s, 5'5 and I want to lose a LOT more than you...hahah about 39 pounds (but I have a feeling I'll be happy before I get there)

I'm on here everyday multiple times so just shoot me a message if you want to keep eachother updated!

Great! Thanks ladies, looks like we have a group of 3 going!

I'm in the middle of a 30-day challenge right now trying to form a habit of just having one snack in the afternoon. I get up what seems to be so early that by afternoon, I'm too hungry to just stick to one thing and "think" I have to fuel up for my workout, which leads me to overeat. I don't know how many days I have left on this challenge, but it's making me eat more during the rest of the day so I'm not too hungry in the afternoon. I haven't ruined the challenge yet, but my calories are way too high.

What are your goals? Do you guys use eating plans? I want to try to figure out a way to say, for example, OK, let's weigh ourselves every Monday, or let's figure out the calories we need and do NOT go over it. I have no problem getting on the treadmill, it's the calories I burn on it that I can't get past like 250.

I just wanted to suggest something for eating patterns. What works for me is the clock. 8am, 10am, 12pm, 3pm, 5:30-6pm. I eat 5 times a day and usually plan ahead as to what I am going to eat. That way I don't overeat and I know how many calories ahead of time. Also, if you don't have a problem getting on the treadmill then just try to stay on it longer than you do. Good luck with your weightloss!

I will be your buddy.

I am in my late 20's (29 in may), 5'5 157ish and would like to lose 22lbs. I just got back into exercising regularly, but have been eating over my calorie goal consistently lately.

I lost 30+ lbs in the last year, but haven't lost anything in the past 4 months or so.

I need a buddy to get motivated as well.

I wonder if we could come up with a common goal -- like, now there are four of us. Do we each think, if we start on Monday, or whatever day, that we can each lose a pound by the next weigh-in? We have to be honest, and then we all give ourselves a reward -- maybe something that costs nothing, because I'm on a budget (are you all too? shouldn't we invent "The Cheap Diet Cookbook"?) -- like a half hour in the bathtub with a good book and a face mask or something -- so that we all only get the reward if we all do it, OR, we all set our individual calorie goals and the weightloss winner gets the "prize"? Someone new gets to pick the prize each week? I want to see if some sort of competition gets me motivated. But, of course, if anyone doesn't like these ideas just say so -- I really just need support, bottom line.

I am eating 1700-1800 calories a day, working out about 45 minutes interval training on the treadmill and 10-15 weight training 6 days a week.  I eat about 6 times a day...breakfast, lunch, snack, snack, dinner, snack.  And for some reason...limiting myself to 1200 then bumping up to 1700 or 1800 I feel like I can eat A LOT and I'm always struggling to hit my goal at night so I pick up some peanuts or something.

I recently altered my eating and workout to this, before I was at a total standstill because I wasn't eating enough.  I decided that I'm rewarding myself with a fast food meal after I lose another 9 pounds it is now.  So that's my goal.  Other than that, seeing the lowering graph on this website is enough inspiration for me. 

I have done this before, and have never been motivated enough.  This time I feel like I'm a new person.  I'd rather report in messages than a thread...I forget to check these sometimes but that's just me.

How would everyone feel about a Friday weigh in?  I find it works best for me at the moment.  It means i'll have been good all week and then the weekend of being a little bit naughty won't ruin my weigh in!  Just a thought.

In terms of eating plans, i stick to eating at roughly the same times every day.  I have: -

breakfast at 9,

lunch at 12,

a snack at 3/3.30,

dinner at 6ish and then another snack around 7.30.  Normally fruit with yoghurt.  I stick to a 1500 calorie in take apart from at the weekends when i normally go back up to 1900/2000 but i don't think that's a bad thing as we all need treats. 

My downfall is alcohol.  Is anyone else struggling with drinking less?

We could also swap healthy recipes.  So say we do main meals and everyone posts a healthy chicken recipe or something? 

I don't mind doing messages, i didn't realise that you guys had replied to this until just now!  Doh!

I'm new to this site -- so you guys would rather use the "Mailbox" feature? I love your idea about recipes, too...

I don't struggle with alcohol any more. I have to MAKE myself drink so my family doesn't think I'm pregnant. It's really annoying. We're not even trying, and I have to fend them off with beer and wine. Really pathetic, like get off my back. ANYHOO...

I am up for Friday weigh-ins if no one objects. I'll be embarassed, but I guess that's where we all start sometimes. I have to figure out my calorie goal before fessing up to that...so many different estimates, so confusing.

So -- what do you guys think? Any volunteers to start off the first message to all on Friday, with a recipe maybe? I'll do it if no one else wants to. So are we in agreement we should include:

A- your starting weight

B- your calorie goal(s), even if they change day to day

C- a recipe

D- the week's reward? do we want to reward the biggest loser, or do we all get a reward (of our choice?) if we meet our goals?

We don't have to follow it all to the letter, I guess I am just trying to put a structure in place even if it's just for me, because I feel like I need it. I used to be super successful on South Beach, but now I know it's kinda bad for you...

Hahaha!  That's amusing, families are great aren't they!

Maybe rewarding the biggest loser (that sounds mean doesn't it!) would be better than rewarding everyone?

If you don't mind doing the first message that would be great?  We would need to put our starting weight and our new weight or if people would prefer just to say how much they've lost.

I'm not sure where you guys are from but i live in the UK so if i post recipes and you don't know what ingredients are then i apologise in advance as some things differ here from the US.

I'm already feeling more motivated!

I am in too.. I am 29. I weight 142, 5'4", hypothyroid patient and I need to lose 20 pounds . Hope I am not crowding the little group. I am also an Indian. the reason I mention it is because it is very difficult to  count the exact calories in Indian food. Different websites have a different count. That's my challenge anyways...

Hey -- sounds great. Oh, and I am hypothyroid too. Sucks, doesn't it? I started out hyperthyroid as a child and lost so much weight my mom thought I had an eating disorder. Now they've been fiddling with my dose for a year and I blame my weight gain on that, ha ha.

Ok -- I'll send the first email on Friday as long as I can figure it out. Is it easier if I add you all as friends? I am feeling motivated too...had a salad for lunch and am looking forward to my afternoon workout. I also have feet problems, so run/walking may not be best for me but I wrap my feet and ice them and it's all I can do. I refuse to look into exploratory surgery or quit my regimen. Let's just keep up today/tomorrow getting to know each other then!

Friday weigh in sounds better for me too becki7.

I am tend to be a little naughty on the weekend too! That's when I take a day off usually.

I like your idea of a reward. I think it should be if we all make the cut, we all get the prize!

My ideal calorie intake of between 1400-1700, and then I try to work out to make a calorie out of 300-500. Well this is want to do again.

I would love to join your group too! If no one minds. I am trying to lose 15 pound (Down 2 already) but I have trouble with late night snacking and alcohal. it also doesn't help that my husband is trying to GAIN weight. He literally gets to eat twice as much a day as me. We also all seem like we're about the same height, which is a huge motivator for me!

Welcome to you! I'll add you as a buddy too. I'm getting excited...

A little hungry today, but's almost snack/workout time so that's OK I guess. Struggling with what to make for dinner...I'm really not that into pork. I'll have to just suck it up, though, because that's what I defrosted!

Do you have room for another person? I'm 27, 5'3", 128lbs ... always seem to keep coming back to the same point ... I know 128 is probably just where my body wants to be, but I'd just prefer to be a bit less flabby, and eat a little healthier.

I always think the more the merrier...I used to post in groups like this on another site, and I just think it's sad when people stop posting! We could also share exercise goals -- I don't think we really talked about anything specific but obviously it's an integral part of weight loss. I'm good at getting in cardio but flaky doing strength (I find it bo-ring!) so maybe I'll include some goals this week.

Can I play too? I'm 31, 158.5, losing the same 4lbs for the past 4 months. Trying to get to 150. Only 8.5 to go but it seems impossible at times. Things are always easier when you have friends.

Welcome to you too! I had a bad night last night with some soft-bake cookies...I'm so looking forward to some accountability tomorrow.

I'm finding it a real struggle today.  I've stuck what my normal amount of calories but i really want to reach for the chocolate.  I'll have to wait for tomorrow though (i give myself chocolate as a treat on Friday's).  Having to make do with a cup of tea to get myself past the hunger/cravings!