I am new here and need help - desparately!!!

[Guest guest]

I am at my wit's end! I need to lose 100 pounds (although the

wonderful charts at the doctor's office say more like 120 pounds). I

would be satisfied with losing anything right now!!! I am hoping that

this is a group that will give the encouragement and support that I so

desparately need - and that those around me don't seem to understand I

need.

[Guest guest]

Welcome!

> I am at my wit's end!

Take a deeeep breath and relax!

Look over the list's web site, at the Files and Links sections.

Look over this long message I wrote another member about starting a weight

loss plan:

100-plus/message/38936

Keep a food journal for a few weeks - write down not only everything you eat

and drink but why you reached for it in the first place and how you felt

afterwards. Was it really what you wanted? If it was some unhealthy food,

think about what you could have had in its place for the next time you reach

for it. Our Files section has a few lists of healthy, low-cal snacks, or

search the archives for Snacks.

I need to lose 100 pounds (although the

> wonderful charts at the doctor's office say more like 120 pounds).

And according to those charts I need to lose about 150, but that's never

gonna happen in my lifetime. I'll be happy to get back to the 220 I was 24

years ago when I got pregnant with my son and the weight I was at for most

of my young adult life - that's only 58 pounds to lose. My short term goal

is to get back to 250 - I was last there in 2000 for a few weeks after

dropping down from 296 in 6 months. I was eating so few calories to get

there that I couldn't maintain it.

> would be satisfied with losing anything right now!!!

You picked a heck of a wek to start! LOL

Did your doctor offer any suggestions, like any particular calorie level or

food plan to stick to? If not, that email I sent you to has the url for the

Food Pyramid site - use that to start. But for the next week or so,

concentrate on eating smaller portions of the foods you're already eating.

For the holidays, if you're offered a piece of granny's cake that she *only*

makes on Christmas, have a very small piece and enjoy it. Lay off the

alcohol - it counts as fat in your body. Grab a glass of sparkling water or

diet soda, instead. Enjoy yourself, indulge in the holiday foods, but not

too much.

Drink more water, eat more salads. Concentrate on *adding* things to your

daily menus right now, like fruits and veggies and whole grains, instead of

thinking about subtracting foods. You'll do enough of that later, if you

choose. But for now, you're probably stressed out enough with the holiday to

jump feet first into a new food plan.

Take a walk at some time during the day. Nothing too strenuous to start if

you're not used to daily exercise. Stop in your library and look over the

exercise books or videos and look at stretching, toning, light weight

lifting, simple aerobics. Check your tv schedule for exercise programs and

look for chair exercises, like the Sit and Be Fit program. Many women here

swear by water aerobics, Curves, tai chi and yoga. Find something *you* like

to do and do it 3 to 5 times a week, working up to a half hour or more at a

time. Yes, *work up* to that amount. If you're not used to exercise and run

out and try do an hour kick boxing video, all you're going to do is

frustrate yourself at best, injure yourself at worst. Baby steps!

I am hoping that

> this is a group that will give the encouragement and support that I so

> desparately need

Oh, you'll get it here! Unfortunately you joined during the quietest week of

the year - right at the biggest holiday season. Things will pick up

immensely after January 1st, if the pattern follow every other year.

- and that those around me don't seem to understand I

> need.

We understand. It's safe to say that almost everyone here has tried

countless diets and exercise plans over the years. Some of us have been

dieting since we were youngsters, others are on their very first dieting

attempt. The longer your dieting history the harder it is to loose weight,

as those repeated attempts have slowed down your metabolism. Age has a lot

to do with it, too. I'm now 53 and peri-menopausal, hypo-thyroid, and have

been on restricted food plans since infancy, so I have to fight every

calorie not to gain weight. Others are still in their 20's, just started

their first diet ever, and lose 3 to 5 pounds a week with very little effort

(This is really rare, but it *does* happen).

So, how about a little info - approximate age (Just calling yourself in

general terms, like a Baby Boomer, is good enough), dieting history,

activity level along with exercise likes and dislikes, that sort of stuff.

Are you cooking for just yourself or a house full? If you live with others,

how supportive are they towards your dieting attempts and are they willing

to make sacrifices to help you (Probably not, if your intro was any

indication), even if all they do is hide their goodies in places where you

can't find them. In this house, hubby and son are always bringing foods home

that I shouldn't have (Like all the holiday goodies this past week) and

waving them under my nose. Who can resist??

Time for me to start getting dinner ready (Friday is pizza day and I make my

own from scratch). Have a look over the web site, start planning your menus

for next week, find yourself a nice colorful glass to drink all your water

out of, find yourself a pad to keep your journal in (An extra notepad from

the kids' school supplies is fine - decorate it with stickers), and welcome

to the list.

Sue in NJ

[Guest guest]

>Sue and , thank you both for your quick responses. I was

really in the dumps when I wrote that first entry.

A little about myself - I am 37 years old, no kids (though I am

crazy about my dog), on my second marriage. I work at a power plant

and have two science degrees. That is what gets me sometimes - I

have a biology and a chemistry degree - I know all about

biochemistry and how things in the body works and what a body needs

to be healthy, yet here I am. I guess you need a certain amount of

head knowledge - but that only gets you so far. How do you get it

from the head to the mouth?

Surprisingly, I am an active person - I am on my feet and walking

most of the day at work - and have a bike I ride occasionally (sp).

I am pretty muscular - I don't think anybody would guess I weigh

almost 300 pounds (I cringe just thinking that number) - though I am

obviously overweight and don't try to fool myself about that.

In September, I did a 2 day, 150 mile bike ride to raise money for

multiple sclerosis. I was definitely the heaviest person there and

was almost the last person to finish - but I did all but the last 10

miles. I have given myself the goal of a strong finish in next

year's ride (which is in September).

My problem, among many I am sure, is that I am not consistant with

the exercise. And I do not keep track of how much I am eating - and

can probably snack all day long and think nothing of coming home to

make a big dinner. I have a tendancy to get all gung-ho with the

dieting and try to do too much at one time instead of making the

small changes - or I want to see immediate results and when I don't

say it isn't working. I am not usually a quitter, but I find it

very easy to quit.

I do keep a prayer journal, I guess I should get another journal in

which to track my progress with getting healthy again. I have never

been skinny - but was healthy until I hit my early 20's. Without

going into a lot of detail, I grew up in an abusive situation and

moved out as soon as I was old enough, got into some self-

destructive habits until things got real bad, then I did wise up and

stop the drinking, but turned to food to numb myself. I just

exchanged one addiction for another. I feel I have defeated all

those old demons and no longer have those ghosts driving me to self-

destruction - but I have developed some terrible habits that I just

don't have any success at breaking.

But, I am fed up with not fitting any of my clothes. I have a

wonderful husband who tells me all the time he thinks I am beautiful

and I believe that he truly does think that - but I don't feel

attractive or feminine when I outweigh him by almost 100 pounds.

I have been to the doctor and have blood tests drawn - and my

cholestrol and bloods enzymes and sugar are all normal

(miraculoously). At this point, he knows I know what to eat and

what not to eat. He knows I know not to starve myself and if I want

to still be able to ride my bike, I will have to have energy to do

that. I think he is just as eager as I am to see the scale go the

other direction. I do NOT want to take pills or have surgery. I

have a begineer's training program for my bike - which I do not feel

I am a begineer since I have done several long distance rides in the

past - but since I am inconsistent, this program gets me on the bike

every day for 30-45 minutes, which I think would be a great start.

I am beginning the year with a juice fast(for both physical and

spiritual reasons). After that, I know I need to go ahead and be

thinking about it, but haven't really thought that far in advance

yet.

Anyway, that is a little bit about me. I appreciate the open arms

and look forward to getting to know more about all of you.

BJ

[Guest guest]

> >Sue and , thank you both for your quick responses. I was

> really in the dumps when I wrote that first entry.

>

> A little about myself - I am 37 years old, no kids (though I am

> crazy about my dog), on my second marriage. I work at a power plant

> and have two science degrees. That is what gets me sometimes - I

> have a biology and a chemistry degree - I know all about

> biochemistry and how things in the body works and what a body needs

> to be healthy, yet here I am. I guess you need a certain amount of

> head knowledge - but that only gets you so far. How do you get it

> from the head to the mouth?

Sorry for the late response..I've been gone for a lot of the holidays.

Welcome! We sound very much alike, I have a degree in Biology and

Psychology, and a masters in public health! Yet I'm about 300 too! I

am always talked to like I have no idea about health or nutrition.

People assume because I'm overweight, I don't know how my body works!

I always like to tell people that people who are overweight are often

the most knowledgable about food and nutrition, because they have

often tried it all! I too have a hard time putting the knowledge I

have to work.

>

> Surprisingly, I am an active person - I am on my feet and walking

> most of the day at work - and have a bike I ride occasionally (sp).

> I am pretty muscular - I don't think anybody would guess I weigh

> almost 300 pounds (I cringe just thinking that number) - though I am

> obviously overweight and don't try to fool myself about that.

I just joined Curves and when I was weighed in, the woman started the

scale out at 200 pounds. How sweet...but I moved it up two sets of 50

for her :-)

> In September, I did a 2 day, 150 mile bike ride to raise money for

> multiple sclerosis. I was definitely the heaviest person there and

> was almost the last person to finish - but I did all but the last 10

> miles. I have given myself the goal of a strong finish in next

> year's ride (which is in September).

I did the Breast Cancer Three day this past August (walking 60 miles

in three days) ...I did it, but my goal is to do much better at it

next time...I was dying!!!

> My problem, among many I am sure, is that I am not consistant with

> the exercise. And I do not keep track of how much I am eating - and

> can probably snack all day long and think nothing of coming home to

> make a big dinner. I have a tendancy to get all gung-ho with the

> dieting and try to do too much at one time instead of making the

> small changes - or I want to see immediate results and when I don't

> say it isn't working. I am not usually a quitter, but I find it

> very easy to quit.

I'm hoping joining Curves will keep me regular about this. My in-laws

gave me a year membership for Christmas....I'm so cheap I'm hoping

I'll feel awful if I let the money go to waste!

> But, I am fed up with not fitting any of my clothes. I have a

> wonderful husband who tells me all the time he thinks I am beautiful

> and I believe that he truly does think that - but I don't feel

> attractive or feminine when I outweigh him by almost 100 pounds.

I know my husband loves me as well...but I think our relationship

suffers physically because I don't feel attractive...it has nothing to

do with how he sees me.

>

> I have been to the doctor and have blood tests drawn - and my

> cholestrol and bloods enzymes and sugar are all normal

> (miraculoously). At this point, he knows I know what to eat and

> what not to eat. He knows I know not to starve myself and if I want

> to still be able to ride my bike, I will have to have energy to do

> that. I think he is just as eager as I am to see the scale go the

> other direction. I do NOT want to take pills or have surgery. I

> have a begineer's training program for my bike - which I do not feel

> I am a begineer since I have done several long distance rides in the

> past - but since I am inconsistent, this program gets me on the bike

> every day for 30-45 minutes, which I think would be a great start.

> I am beginning the year with a juice fast(for both physical and

> spiritual reasons). After that, I know I need to go ahead and be

> thinking about it, but haven't really thought that far in advance

> yet.

>

> Anyway, that is a little bit about me. I appreciate the open arms

> and look forward to getting to know more about all of you.

>

> BJ

>

Please feels free to e-mail me separately if you want support! It

sounds like we have a lot in common!